Friday, 17 January 2025

The Brecks - 14th January 2025

I had a talk to do for Stort Valley RSPB group on Tuesday so I hatched a plan to head down to Abberton for the day where the reservoir is practically overflowing with the water displaced by so many rare and scarce waterfowl, before cutting back across in the evening.

I headed south at 8am but the news of the A12 being closed southbound at Copdock caused me to re-think and divert for a short while to Westleton to have a walk and wait to see if it cleared – Plan B.

A Police car blocked the road in front of me and a car was parked on the wrong side of the Westleton road with what looked like a covered body laid out in front of it - not good. I was directed left towards Dunwich and bumped my way around the block before continuing to my favoured Track 42.  I pulled in and that was that.  Logging work and big lorries precluded any further advance down the track so I sat there in a huff and checked the map once again.

The overturned lorry had clearly not been moved and the traffic was backed up all the way over the Orwell on the A14 and then back up the A12!  Plan C – could I get around Ipswich and then loop back down to Colchester? – nope as there were prohibitive road closures in Needham Market and beyond and the A14 the other way was stuffed too…

Ok, Plan D, give up entirely and head completely cross country to the Brecks.  It was a pleasant route but there was very little to see in the fields with just the odd Buzzard and Red Kite and not one Lapwing of winter thrush flock.  I stopped at Laxfield and Stradbroke and checked the churches for Luffia lapidella finding a couple of each churchyard but nothing else.

Laxfield

Stradbroke

I loved that the moss had embraced John

By the time I wiggled through Diss and then Thetford it was getting cooler and grey but I still pushed on to Santon Downham.  I had a pleasant walk down to the river and along the bank but it was almost devoid of life.  Now it might sound like I am just having a moan as my day was going poorly but I am not; it was simply very quiet, a horrible phrase often used when in fact there is lots to see but on this occasion it was depressingly so.



Some Siskins were in the Alders but I did not see or hear one other finch, four Mallard and two Little Grebes were the only birds on the river,  there were no Tit flocks and I did not even hear the expected Marsh Tits.  A Water Rail called in the ditch alongside but it was like someone had dropped a smothering blanket over the landscape with only the roar of F35s coming into land being heard.



I ambled back to the car and made my way up to Lynford Arboretum which was very busy for a Tuesday lunchtime with a zillion dogwalkers and small people.  I had only heard of one Hawfinch this winter so it was pleasing to find three females and two gleaming males feeding in the ‘tunnel’ along with a good flock of Chaffinch and four Brambling.  There were, however, no Yellowhammers at all.

Hawfinch

I walked down to towards the bridge but there was tree work going on so I turned round and came back through the trees where the first Snowdrops were just opening up.  There were Goldcrests, Nuthatches and Treecreepers and back near the car I heard two ‘peeping’ Firecrest in the firs and hollies.  

Time for lunch and then a wiggle down to Lackford LakesPete G and I used to visit here over 30 years ago when it was just a sailing club with some extra pits which the local bird ringers used to set their nets up around.  I am not sure how Pete got to know the guys there but we were always welcomed into their little ringing hut and watched them process many Redpolls, Siskins and Tits and taken on walks round to see Smew and Goosander on hidden ponds – happy days.

I followed the same trail today although it is somewhat more formalised by the SWT.  The main lake was still frozen in part but held no Goldeneye and only a handful of Pochard and Tufted Ducks, a mob of Coot and a big flock of Black-headed Gulls.  A Great White Egret flew in and a Little Egret was on the scrape but the freeze had moved all of the Snipe on.  There were Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and two Shelduck keeping the water open and a mixed flock of Lesser Redpolls, Siskins and Goldfinches were in the Alders and I spent some time checking through the former for any whiter ones.


Great White Egret

Little Egret



Three Muntjac were seen and one was especially obliging as it clambered up a log to get to seed put out for the birds.  It was only 2.30 but the light was already fading and it was getting cold so I headed back for a coffee before continuing to Bishops Stortford for the talk before the light faded too much and the rush hour began.


Muntjac


The talk went well but the drive back home was unfortunately as horrific as the one back from Yorkshire. The dark roads were invisible and there were frequent light cleaning stops. My poor car had reverted to the burnt jacket potato look…

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