It's been a while since my last blog for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, my old laptop was so archaic that it took minutes rather than seconds to download my photos. It normally takes me a while to write up the blog anyway, so it was getting a bit frustrating. Secondly, I'd sort of lost my mojo a bit. Inspiration was hard to come by. I occasionally have a dip in mental health too but nature is a great healer along with close family and friends. I've been out walking at every opportunity always, just not put it down here into words and pictures. Nature is always an inspiration. So it was well overdue, it was definitely time...
So armed with a new laptop, camera and a reinvigorated soul, I set about recording the natural world around me with a renewed purpose.
This was one of my solo away trips. I was visiting Suffolk, the second year on the bounce. May is one of the best times to come. Minsmere and Lakenheath were my destinations once more. These vast expanses of nature reserve are run and managed by the RSPB and there's so much to see.
Lakenheath I had reached on late Saturday afternoon with a view to grab a couple of hours to reacquaint myself with the place, then settle down for the night and attack the following day from early morning.
And early morning it was. I rose by 4am and was out of the van by 5 despite of the 3 degree weather conditions that kept me ensconced in my sleeping back for just that little bit longer.
The forecast was for a mixed bag but essentially cool conditions throughout my trip.
The mix of cloud and sun was pretty good for photography as I began my walk around the tall tree clad reserve which used to be carrot fields. The sun was high already and it was still only 5.30.
Cuckoos are prominent here. It was no surprise that my first shot of a bird was these, it's onomatopoeic two syllable song was ringing out across the reserve every few seconds, even as I lay in my bed. My alarm tone is a Cuckoo also, so I was sitting up at every occasion from 3am ! I must change that for next time I thought...
It was still quite dark so photography wasn't great. I had to adjust the exposure considerably.
It didn't hang around for long however...
It was still no more than 4 degrees so many creatures kept well tucked away. Such as this Sedge Warbler trilling in the dense reedbed.
A Reed Warbler barely more apparent.
RAF Lakenheath was stirring in the distance too. What looked like an Airbus Voyager refuelling tanker , based on the A330 passenger plane, climbed out of the adjacent airbase.
The only dedicated hide on this large reserve is the mere hide which overlooks reedbed and waterways, especially the large pool next to the main path.
Although still only 6am, there was another chap sat in the corner of the hide as I entered, scanning the area through the narrow windows.
After some 30 minutes, he alerted me to a pair of Common Crane gliding over us. I nipped out through the door to grab a few passing shots as quick as I could.
They breed here in small numbers. A rare success in nature after the dedicated reintroduction programme initiated by the Wildlife and Wetland Trust (WWT) over recent years plus a few natural introductions.
Just a few seconds later my hide colleague alerted me to an incoming Kingfisher. Truly one of the iconic and most loved birds in this country. Pure eye candy and luckily it landed opposite us.
It remained on the post for a good couple of minutes.
Then it gave an aerial display I have witnessed a few times. Hovering over a prey territory when a perch is too far away.
No such luck catching a fish this time, maybe the nearby quartering Marsh Harrier put it off?
I left the Mere hide along the boardwalk and past the ever nearby Greylag Geese and continued on my circular route.
Another male Cuckoo teased me with it's call. Locating the actual bird can prove problematic at times. On this occasion very much so. Distant but a record shot, I was confident of a more confiding encounter however.
It was now in the region of 9am with the temperature gradually rising although double figures would barely be met with the slight Northerly. The warblers responded likewise though.
The often shy Sedge was gaining in confidence.
The Reed Warbler was still a little reticent...
Just as I had reached the northern tip of the reserve my occasional scan of the pools and especially reedbeds, located a slight dark anomally within them. A shy Bittern so soon and happily standing on top of the reed stems.
I watched it for some 5 minutes.
It was looking furtive. Well as furtive as a Bittern can get, so I had a hunch it was about to fly...
My hunch having paid off allowed me those extra seconds to capture this enigmatic bird before it disappeared once again into the reeded forest.
The sun showed spasmodically, lighting up this Great Crested Grebe nicely
Sedge warblers seemed to have territories every few metres and many were now openly proclaiming their patch.
Even passing Tufted Ducks got in on the action.
Considering these used to be carrot fields, this place has taken on a whole new lease of life, rich in biodiversity.
Although my main focus is on birds here, they wouldn't survive were it not for the rich tapestry that keeps them in business.
Along with Sedge Warblers showing so well by now, Reed Buntings were having a field day and the latter probably the most common bird here.
This short window of migration is probably the best time to spot Hobbys' here or anywhere in the country. Undoubtedly they will nest here but with a count of 30 of these raptors last year and the promise of as many this year, this truly is a hotspot for them. I've certainly never witnessed so many raptors in one place in the UK before. Maybe the Red Kite feeding places can only challenge that?
They are fairly easy to pinpoint when on the wing, less so when disguised at roost in amongst the trees. Yet I managed to pick out this individual nestled in the tall trees that surround this reserve.
Their arrival coincides with the flow of hirundines that arrive here to breed for the summer as they do, providing food for them as they go. Their other food source are Dragonflies which just happen to be emerging from the myriad of ponds, lakes and ditches that criss cross the area below.
I watched this bird for a good few minutes and paid for the price of looking at my camera's previous shots when suddenly it flew off.
Down below in the more accessible vegetation I happened across the food source of the Hobby. This individual is a Four Spotted Chaser. I'm amazed that this can provide enough nutrition in something so small and the ability it has to catch this aerial master.
Wrens are very common. Their song, along with the Cuckoo is the true harbinger of Spring for me.
I was now walking the outer perimeter public footpath . To my right was the Little Ouse river, to my left was the reserve. Edging the path were many May Bushes or Hawthorn. Their sweet smell filled my nostrils as I passed by. Each bush seemed to hide a Whitethroat which played hide and seek with me. It's scratchy song chided me as I walked on.
The endless raised river path had a destination. At the back end of Lakenheath over the reedbeds is where the Hobbies gather, hunting the Dragonflies over the water. I sat down on the angled bank and indulged myself....
Inbetween, the Hirundines fizzed around. Swifts too - not part of the Hirundine family but similar in silhouette - joined in the party. I thought the raptors would be trying to catch them but they concentrated on the Dragonflies.
I managed at least one shot of a Hobby in the throes of catching a Dragonfly. Unfortunatley it was a little out of focus, so I made it look arty instead by highlighting the image. You get the scene of the bird catching it's prey however.
Having filled my boots on raptors I mooched my why back to the car park. Route one was barred by a two pair of Greylag families chilling out in a warm sun trap backed by the trees. I retraced my steps to leave them in peace.
I was glad that I did as providence seemed to be on my side. A female Cuckoo was perched in a dead tree back along the alternative path. Only sight gave this up to me. Females don't call like the male. They gurgle and warble in some unearthly way only occasionally.
Even the Whitethroat decided to show at last.
The visitor centre was now just a few metres away, the pool in front of it's boardwalk was full of new life. Along with the Moorhen and their family, the Coot clan were raising their ever demanding chicks.
The bird table and feeders outside the windows of the centre which border the lake were a constant flow of species. The Reed Bunting, so overlooked, yet so ubiquitous. I have had one on the feeders in my suburban garden regularly over the years in all seasons and this year very apparent, flying in the face of it's name. A jazzed up House Sparrow in my book.
I made camp in my van, ventured to the pub for a pie and a pint, then upon my return took a short tour of the reserve. The visitor centre was long closed but the reserve is still accessible night or day.
There was evening song all around me. Less vociferous than the dawn chorus but just as pleasing.
The best shots were left for the end. Little sun showed until the last throes of day. But what a show !
My last day saw me struggle from the pit. 4 degrees doesn't make for any early rise, no matter what the mind thinks is out there to awe upon....
Barely having rubbed the mist from my eyes than two Red Legged Partridge scuttled before me.
Off to the Mere Hide once more. This time I was alone, so I opened all of the windows to grab a sight of anything passing by whilst shuffling from seat to seat.
The ever present Greylag put in a benchmark appearance.
Bearded Tits or Moustached Reedlings as I like to call them, made their electronic 'pinging' calls around me. Sound was easy, sight another kettle of fish...This male gave me a brief sighting but little else.
The individual which was well on show was a Great Crested Grebe which happened to slip quietly past my window.
It hunted before me. There was little wind so the backdrop of newly growing reeds reflected very well in the water, as did the bird.
It never caught a fish however, not in the time I observed it but I was staying on this bird as the light, reflection and colours were in the perfect moment.
I could have carried on shooting for some time but I needed to move on.
Lucky for me I did. Three Cuckoos were calling in the trees around me. Two males and a female. One flew right over my head, this was the best shot in such a short space of time.
When they disappear into the trees it becomes a lottery if you manage to ever see them.
This one perched out in an open tree thankfully.
It remained for a good couple of minutes before flying off into the forest.
Even common terns breed along freshwater estuaries as one pronounced it's arrival along the reserve.
The most Northern point of the path was reached again so I doubled back along by the Western pools. Sedge Warblers were, by now almost in plain sight all around just begging for a photograph
Whitethroats were also getting a little cocky...
Garganey are quite beautiful ducks and can be quite rare through the British Isles as they migrate here from their wintering grounds in Africa. They are seen in very small numbers. I've only ever seen two together at any one time. There are years when they are almost impossible to spot. Whereas some years they are prolific. This year was the latter. Wherever I seemed to be, one would turn up. The male is the most striking of birds.
The Reed Bunting was well ahead in the ubiquitous stakes however. Certainly one of the most prevalent at this reserve.
Those ever present Greylags kept haunting me, all the while keeping a close guard on their young.
The occasional Hobby could be seen in their roosting site.
One of the main trees that dominate and surround the reserve is the Black Poplar. Their flowers dangle like young bunches of grapes.
More Greylag action. I couldn't resist...
I had reached the van for a lazy lunch. The afternoon was to be compiled of a couple of hours mooching before I set off for Saxmundham and the ' Happy Days Retro Vacations' staying in one of the airstream retro caravans that Jenni and Kevin imported from the States.
Now down to the eastern river walk and forward onto the Hobby viewing area....
I sat on the bank firing off any number of shots. The only issue was that it was a tad overcast so photography was a little restricted against the white sky.
Although concentration was focused ostensibly over the reeds on the reserve, turning around I saw a Bittern flying down the Little Ouse river , I scrambled to grab a few shots before it departed.
After last years poor showing on Bitterns here and at Minsmere - which was my next destination - things were beginning to look up.
A few more shots of the Hobbies and I had to leave.
While I was laying on the bank it did cross my mind that I hadn't tucked my trousers in my socks and applied anti bug spray. I've suffered from several tick bites in the last couple of years and I'm in the process of finding out if I've contracted Lymes disease which can be extremely debilitating. The itch on my leg proved to be just such a creature. It was buried deep in my calf so I hurried back to the visitor centre in the hope they had a tick remover. If you try to pull one out and leave the head in it can make matters much worse.
Ticks feed off the blood of mammals such as this Muntjac deer I passed keeping inconspicuous in the grass.
It's a fair walk back to the centre and although generally chilly, when the sun came out it could get very warm. With several layers on I was getting mighty hot at times. My only thought was to relieve myself of my unwanted guest however. The Garganey was still on the pools but sleeping as I hurried past.
Having reached the visitor centre. I explained about my attached friend and my need for it's removal which they accomplished with a tick remover without too much fuss much to my relief.
A really wonderful two and a half of days at Lakenheath. Having spent a little more time here and had a little more patience I was able to see some fabulous sights.
Now on to part 2 of my escapades...
The title of this post is a line taken from the track 'Time, It's Time' by Talk Talk from their album - The Colour of Spring
