AUGUST
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Hello again - As I have said previously August is normally a quiet month for the natural world here in our part of Suffolk but thankfully there are always exceptions elsewhere in the county. 18 August was a very exciting day for me .. only an hour away in the village of Cattawade near the White Bridge over the River Stour ... a Hudsonian Godwit!!! The record even made the full 2 centre pages of the Bury Free Press in the Friday 14 August edition. This is a Nearctic (North American) wader that should be in southern Chile or Argentina at this time of the year and has been carried by powerful storm force winds over to our shores. An incredibly rare bird and a lifetime record for me .. only the second happening in 2026. The southern side of the bridge is in Essex but sensibly the Godwit has stayed in Suffolk .. a FIRST for the county. Even twitchers need some bragging rights!
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On the local front at least the Robins have started to sing again after the breeding season and some pairs of Barn Swallows have brought off 3 pairs of fledglings .. remarkable. What a summer it has been. Also we are seeing increasingly large V formation skeins of geese calling loudly .. I just love that sound.
Of course there are very interesting sightings elsewhere in the county but mostly near the coastal strip .. this is a month when a number of different species are dropping in to build up their fat reserves for the long migration south to southern Europe and Africa for the winter. We may be lucky and note Wheatears and Whinchats passing through over the next couple of weeks. They know that winter is inevitably coming and time to move on to warmer climes before it sets in.
Pray for rain
Brian Taylor
PS Apologies for the poor quality photo but only watchable easily with my telescope and it sadly stayed distant at the back of the marsh..too far away for really good definition.
Of course there are very interesting sightings elsewhere in the county but mostly near the coastal strip .. this is a month when a number of different species are dropping in to build up their fat reserves for the long migration south to southern Europe and Africa for the winter. We may be lucky and note Wheatears and Whinchats passing through over the next couple of weeks. They know that winter is inevitably coming and time to move on to warmer climes before it sets in.
Pray for rain
Brian Taylor
PS Apologies for the poor quality photo but only watchable easily with my telescope and it sadly stayed distant at the back of the marsh..too far away for really good definition.
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The rare Hudsonian is slightly smaller and has a key difference in that the underwing is jet black .. only seen when it flies. Also in summer breeding plumage the Hudsonian has a grey head unlike the Black-tailed which is russet brown.
A bit nerdy I know but the bird is still there and some keen birders may like to try their luck! It is usually on North Marsh in Cattawade just off the A137. |