Look around .... by Brian Taylor
if you have any questions or sightings you'd like to report email [email protected]
if you have any questions or sightings you'd like to report email [email protected]
Flamingos taking shelter from Mistral wind
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Stunning white horse
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Camargue black bulls
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Steppe Grey Shrike up close and personal
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Steppe Grey Shrike aka Saxaul, Lincs
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SEPTEMBER
Later than previous months but we have been away on a river boat holiday on the Rhone in France... lots of clear sunny skies but with an unseasonably early cool Mistral wind blowing up to 45 kilometres per hour. Everywhere in the world climate change is very evident. Local residents expected this strong wind only by the middle of October but c'est la vie... the whole holiday was fabulous and we visited so many new places ... including the wonderful Camargue... a life time bucket list destination. Needless to say I was on the lookout for wildlife and I have included some photos which I hope you will find interesting.
In last Saturday's Times newspaper my attention was drawn to a report of a VERY rare bird drawing crowds of birders to Scotland. I was among many bird watching enthusiasts back in 2008 when a young Steppe Grey Shrike was found in north Lincolnshire. This comical photograph tells it all .. the bird probably had not seen a human being before and was ridiculously confiding .. to the extant that it perched on my head for over 5 minutes whilst friends took some quick shots. My only claim to fame.
Hope you will enjoy
Later than previous months but we have been away on a river boat holiday on the Rhone in France... lots of clear sunny skies but with an unseasonably early cool Mistral wind blowing up to 45 kilometres per hour. Everywhere in the world climate change is very evident. Local residents expected this strong wind only by the middle of October but c'est la vie... the whole holiday was fabulous and we visited so many new places ... including the wonderful Camargue... a life time bucket list destination. Needless to say I was on the lookout for wildlife and I have included some photos which I hope you will find interesting.
In last Saturday's Times newspaper my attention was drawn to a report of a VERY rare bird drawing crowds of birders to Scotland. I was among many bird watching enthusiasts back in 2008 when a young Steppe Grey Shrike was found in north Lincolnshire. This comical photograph tells it all .. the bird probably had not seen a human being before and was ridiculously confiding .. to the extant that it perched on my head for over 5 minutes whilst friends took some quick shots. My only claim to fame.
Hope you will enjoy
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AUGUST
As the year moves on so the natural world provides a more relaxed environment. The flora .. particularly trees .. take on just a hint of browning leaves and most of the birds and animals have completed their breeding cycle. Our site faithful Cuckoo has long since departed on his reverse migratory journey (they actually are primarily African birds: only visiting our shores annually to breed after spending 8 - 9 months in the central African belt) and there are just a few late breeding Common Swifts still around. Also some Barn Swallows with second brood youngsters to feed.
In the first week of the month I was alerted to the distinctive sound of the Stone Curlew calling overhead in the very early hours of the morning. They tend to disperse from their breeding grounds in the county and create a gathering of maybe 60 - 70 birds before finally setting off south to North Africa for the winter. Cavendish Heath here in Suffolk is a well documented site for such gatherings. But there are always new arrivals to brighten our days.
When we first came to Sapiston I made and set up a unique Little Owl box on a birch tree well away from the house and screened from close human contact. We had occupants within the first 3 years and confirmed breeding in 2015. Three babies fledged successfully but then disaster .. the box was taken over by a swarm of tree bees which took months to move on and the owls deserted for the next 5 years. The odd bird would use the box solely for roosting after I fully cleaned out the interior. Last week I needed to make some minor repairs to the box and when I opened the door I was greeted by the face of a young male Little Owl staring sternly at me until I quickly closed the door fully and made a quiet exit. Obviously a first year bird and a sign that the box is being used again by one of the offspring from a pair breeding elsewhere. Utter delight. I have had reports of a family apparently breeding in the area of Honington churchyard and perhaps this is one of the 2024 brood. Fingers crossed that he finds a mate later this year
Although a quieter time generally there is always something new to witness .. Common Buzzards kettling very high up with their youngsters learning about thermals and even Ravens flying high overhead but giving themselves away by the unique gutteral cronking call and the "Ace of Spades" shaped tail.
You may recall my reference to Hedgehogs in my July notes and in the latter days of the month one of the new youngsters started to venture out to feed on his own. In fact the photograph I managed to obtain was the result of actually hearing him crunching on beetle wing cases as he foraged in the long grass near to where I was working; these being the hedgehogs' absolute favourite source of food. Numbers of beetles were obviously high and luckily he did not even become aware of my presence Another new life and a joy to watch
Stay watchful, Brian Taylor
As the year moves on so the natural world provides a more relaxed environment. The flora .. particularly trees .. take on just a hint of browning leaves and most of the birds and animals have completed their breeding cycle. Our site faithful Cuckoo has long since departed on his reverse migratory journey (they actually are primarily African birds: only visiting our shores annually to breed after spending 8 - 9 months in the central African belt) and there are just a few late breeding Common Swifts still around. Also some Barn Swallows with second brood youngsters to feed.
In the first week of the month I was alerted to the distinctive sound of the Stone Curlew calling overhead in the very early hours of the morning. They tend to disperse from their breeding grounds in the county and create a gathering of maybe 60 - 70 birds before finally setting off south to North Africa for the winter. Cavendish Heath here in Suffolk is a well documented site for such gatherings. But there are always new arrivals to brighten our days.
When we first came to Sapiston I made and set up a unique Little Owl box on a birch tree well away from the house and screened from close human contact. We had occupants within the first 3 years and confirmed breeding in 2015. Three babies fledged successfully but then disaster .. the box was taken over by a swarm of tree bees which took months to move on and the owls deserted for the next 5 years. The odd bird would use the box solely for roosting after I fully cleaned out the interior. Last week I needed to make some minor repairs to the box and when I opened the door I was greeted by the face of a young male Little Owl staring sternly at me until I quickly closed the door fully and made a quiet exit. Obviously a first year bird and a sign that the box is being used again by one of the offspring from a pair breeding elsewhere. Utter delight. I have had reports of a family apparently breeding in the area of Honington churchyard and perhaps this is one of the 2024 brood. Fingers crossed that he finds a mate later this year
Although a quieter time generally there is always something new to witness .. Common Buzzards kettling very high up with their youngsters learning about thermals and even Ravens flying high overhead but giving themselves away by the unique gutteral cronking call and the "Ace of Spades" shaped tail.
You may recall my reference to Hedgehogs in my July notes and in the latter days of the month one of the new youngsters started to venture out to feed on his own. In fact the photograph I managed to obtain was the result of actually hearing him crunching on beetle wing cases as he foraged in the long grass near to where I was working; these being the hedgehogs' absolute favourite source of food. Numbers of beetles were obviously high and luckily he did not even become aware of my presence Another new life and a joy to watch
Stay watchful, Brian Taylor
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JULY
Well hello again ... we are now past the longest day and into "proper" summer .. so called .. but sadly still few days of warm sunshine and certainly below average July temperatures.
Whilst attending the wonderful new Honington village sign unveiling ceremony I was also able to watch some 4/5 pairs of Common Swift back to their usual under tile nesting sites ... and what a welcome sight. The frenzied group screaming flight is what, for me, makes a real summer. An every day wonder in continental Europe but with declining numbers coming across the channel their return is great to see. They really like our Suffolk traditional S shaped roof tiles so we have the perfect housing stock in many of our villages. Sadly in stark contrast to the poor numbers of Barn Swallows and House Martins; hopefully they are just a bit late arriving after a series of cold weather fronts.
Another wonderfully evocative sound is the call of the Eurasian Curlew. A single bird calling strongly flew low over Rymer Point from the direction of RAF Honington. A previous hot spot for Curlew breeding success locally .. actually on the airfield; the enclosing high perimeter fencing providing good protection from most predators .. critical for these ground nesting birds. The clever fox can of course seek to creep in through the main gate at night but generally the airfield site is a safe haven. Whilst on the subject of predators .. both the Common Buzzard and Red Kite are almost daily visitors to our skies in Honington and Sapiston .. the latter almost guaranteed to get people looking up at the graceful flight of this particular raptor. I vividly remember being so excited back in Covid days when they first started to appear .. now a very common sight .. if you are not sure on identification just look at the long deeply forked tail and slow flapping flight. The buzzard has a short broad tail and holds its wing in an obvious V shape when it flies. Whilst cycling recently through Ixworth I was lucky enough to witness a skirmish directly over the High Street with the inevitable "loser" .. the Kite wheeling away in a panic. The Buzzard is a much larger and stronger bird and if they do get into a fight there are well documented records of the Red Kites being killed by the Buzzard
Despite these poor summer days nature is still throwing up some joyous moments. Maybe 3 weeks ago I was locking up around 9.30 in the evening when I discovered an adult Hedgehog crossing our gravel drive heading for cover. A first for over 11 years!!! The body seemed longer than I could remember and low slung. An experienced friend suggested that it might well have been a pregnant female searching for a nesting site. Today the 15th of July I was clearing up after some decorating and suddenly noted some movement in the border. Often the Wren forages for insects and at ground level. But to my astonishment out walked a tiny Hoglet !! Baby hedgehogs on our land .. I could not believe it !! Later a second smaller baby also appeared around the other side of the house. So at least two have been born and are very much out and about! Fingers crossed that they will survive. Apparently there have been a number of first time sightings this year so do be aware.
Can the next month really be August ... surely this weather will improve ?
Well hello again ... we are now past the longest day and into "proper" summer .. so called .. but sadly still few days of warm sunshine and certainly below average July temperatures.
Whilst attending the wonderful new Honington village sign unveiling ceremony I was also able to watch some 4/5 pairs of Common Swift back to their usual under tile nesting sites ... and what a welcome sight. The frenzied group screaming flight is what, for me, makes a real summer. An every day wonder in continental Europe but with declining numbers coming across the channel their return is great to see. They really like our Suffolk traditional S shaped roof tiles so we have the perfect housing stock in many of our villages. Sadly in stark contrast to the poor numbers of Barn Swallows and House Martins; hopefully they are just a bit late arriving after a series of cold weather fronts.
Another wonderfully evocative sound is the call of the Eurasian Curlew. A single bird calling strongly flew low over Rymer Point from the direction of RAF Honington. A previous hot spot for Curlew breeding success locally .. actually on the airfield; the enclosing high perimeter fencing providing good protection from most predators .. critical for these ground nesting birds. The clever fox can of course seek to creep in through the main gate at night but generally the airfield site is a safe haven. Whilst on the subject of predators .. both the Common Buzzard and Red Kite are almost daily visitors to our skies in Honington and Sapiston .. the latter almost guaranteed to get people looking up at the graceful flight of this particular raptor. I vividly remember being so excited back in Covid days when they first started to appear .. now a very common sight .. if you are not sure on identification just look at the long deeply forked tail and slow flapping flight. The buzzard has a short broad tail and holds its wing in an obvious V shape when it flies. Whilst cycling recently through Ixworth I was lucky enough to witness a skirmish directly over the High Street with the inevitable "loser" .. the Kite wheeling away in a panic. The Buzzard is a much larger and stronger bird and if they do get into a fight there are well documented records of the Red Kites being killed by the Buzzard
Despite these poor summer days nature is still throwing up some joyous moments. Maybe 3 weeks ago I was locking up around 9.30 in the evening when I discovered an adult Hedgehog crossing our gravel drive heading for cover. A first for over 11 years!!! The body seemed longer than I could remember and low slung. An experienced friend suggested that it might well have been a pregnant female searching for a nesting site. Today the 15th of July I was clearing up after some decorating and suddenly noted some movement in the border. Often the Wren forages for insects and at ground level. But to my astonishment out walked a tiny Hoglet !! Baby hedgehogs on our land .. I could not believe it !! Later a second smaller baby also appeared around the other side of the house. So at least two have been born and are very much out and about! Fingers crossed that they will survive. Apparently there have been a number of first time sightings this year so do be aware.
Can the next month really be August ... surely this weather will improve ?
Barn Owl
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Common Whitethroat
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JUNE
I like to cycle deliberately early on a weekend morning when the birds are very active and you sit much higher up than in a car. The only sound is the soft, hardly audible, hum of the tyres which often allow for very special close views when you glide up silently and unannounced. Thankfully, my hearing is still good and I have the ear for picking out most of the common species around us in the wider countryside as I ride out on my chosen circuit. Just minutes from home towards Great Barton it has been a cacophony of song .. Skylarks, Blackcaps, Yellow Hammers, Linnets, Blackbirds and Common Whitethroat.. the latter a summer migrant visitor from Africa .. seemingly holding territory every 70 - 80 metres apart along the field hedgelines. Last Sunday another treat and completely unexpected. Most of us as motorists here in East Anglia have to slow down regularly at this time of year to avoid Red-legged Partridges (aka Frenchies) scuttling along ahead on clockwork legs and this pair were certainly scuttling. However, as I got closer , it became evident that the legs were much too long for a Frenchie and when I got along side, to my delight, I was looking at a recently fledged pair of very young Oystercatchers ... with the mother appearing overhead and calling loudly. I stopped and gently ushered them into the tall verge grass. Oystercatchers are not just members of the wader family that you would see close to water.. they are also an annual breeding bird in the dry fields all around Sapiston. Black and White with long blood red bills.. a really beautiful bird on our doorstep
One last sighting was heart warming but also a worry. As I drove out on the A1088 an adult male Barn Owl flew over .. left to right and thankfully high .. at 9:22am on the section between Honington and Ixworth Thorpe. A wonderful sight .. I just love all owls .. but the timing a real worry. The bird should have been long since back in the nest hole or box fast asleep by dawn or shortly after. It obviously needed to stay out hunting because of the well documented dearth of mice and voles due to this cold and wet Spring and early Summer .. which at the time of writing seems to go on and on! Hopefully, readers will NOT see more hunting Barn Owls in daylight .. We need this stunningly beautiful Owl to survive and increase in numbers from their current low tally throughout the county.
Good watching .. more news next month
I like to cycle deliberately early on a weekend morning when the birds are very active and you sit much higher up than in a car. The only sound is the soft, hardly audible, hum of the tyres which often allow for very special close views when you glide up silently and unannounced. Thankfully, my hearing is still good and I have the ear for picking out most of the common species around us in the wider countryside as I ride out on my chosen circuit. Just minutes from home towards Great Barton it has been a cacophony of song .. Skylarks, Blackcaps, Yellow Hammers, Linnets, Blackbirds and Common Whitethroat.. the latter a summer migrant visitor from Africa .. seemingly holding territory every 70 - 80 metres apart along the field hedgelines. Last Sunday another treat and completely unexpected. Most of us as motorists here in East Anglia have to slow down regularly at this time of year to avoid Red-legged Partridges (aka Frenchies) scuttling along ahead on clockwork legs and this pair were certainly scuttling. However, as I got closer , it became evident that the legs were much too long for a Frenchie and when I got along side, to my delight, I was looking at a recently fledged pair of very young Oystercatchers ... with the mother appearing overhead and calling loudly. I stopped and gently ushered them into the tall verge grass. Oystercatchers are not just members of the wader family that you would see close to water.. they are also an annual breeding bird in the dry fields all around Sapiston. Black and White with long blood red bills.. a really beautiful bird on our doorstep
One last sighting was heart warming but also a worry. As I drove out on the A1088 an adult male Barn Owl flew over .. left to right and thankfully high .. at 9:22am on the section between Honington and Ixworth Thorpe. A wonderful sight .. I just love all owls .. but the timing a real worry. The bird should have been long since back in the nest hole or box fast asleep by dawn or shortly after. It obviously needed to stay out hunting because of the well documented dearth of mice and voles due to this cold and wet Spring and early Summer .. which at the time of writing seems to go on and on! Hopefully, readers will NOT see more hunting Barn Owls in daylight .. We need this stunningly beautiful Owl to survive and increase in numbers from their current low tally throughout the county.
Good watching .. more news next month
INTRODUCTION
In your gardens, on your walks, with the kids ... nature has so much to offer. Some in the village may remember the Nature Diary that I penned for the monthly newsletter during the Covid lockdown. A difficult time for all but as we live in an isolated rural part of the parish it was always possible to get out for long daily walks without breaching any necessary restrictions or even make human contact. With an experienced fieldcraft eye, I was able to find much more wildlife in those quiet days than now. But I never stop looking and discovering!
Any serious naturalists will tell you that you never stop learning and marvelling at our amazing planet. Do look back here regularly and can I encourage you to Google (other platforms are available!) online to find the bird, butterfly, dragonfly, animal or insect that you have witnessed. If possible use your mobile to get a photograph. There is a mass of detailed information at your finger tips; enjoy the satisfaction of correctly identifying what you have seen. I have deliberately not added wild plants; I am no botanist but of course use the internet to help with identification.
In your gardens, on your walks, with the kids ... nature has so much to offer. Some in the village may remember the Nature Diary that I penned for the monthly newsletter during the Covid lockdown. A difficult time for all but as we live in an isolated rural part of the parish it was always possible to get out for long daily walks without breaching any necessary restrictions or even make human contact. With an experienced fieldcraft eye, I was able to find much more wildlife in those quiet days than now. But I never stop looking and discovering!
Any serious naturalists will tell you that you never stop learning and marvelling at our amazing planet. Do look back here regularly and can I encourage you to Google (other platforms are available!) online to find the bird, butterfly, dragonfly, animal or insect that you have witnessed. If possible use your mobile to get a photograph. There is a mass of detailed information at your finger tips; enjoy the satisfaction of correctly identifying what you have seen. I have deliberately not added wild plants; I am no botanist but of course use the internet to help with identification.