A few years in the past I used to be a motoring correspondent. It was a lot simpler, and much more enjoyable, to write down about Porsches reasonably than Peugeots, or Ferraris than Fiats. There’s one thing of a parallel in writing about birds. Describing encounters with rarities, and even scarce birds, is rather more interesting than widespread on a regular basis birds, or noting outings when little of particular curiosity is seen. Nonetheless, all of us have days after we don’t see quite a bit, and when nothing surprising seems to quicken the heartbeat, however they’ll nonetheless be pleasurable. Final Monday was simply such a day.
It dawned vivid, chilly and sunny, however there was a haziness within the sky that steered the sunshine wouldn’t final. It didn’t, but it surely remained vivid sufficient in the midst of the morning to tempt me out for a stroll alongside the Little Ouse, the river that defines the border between the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. It’s a modest little river. It rises simply a few miles east of my home, then flows nearly straight west for 37 miles till it joins the Nice Ouse, which drains into the Wash.
Emma and the Little Ouse. Emma is on the Norfolk facet of the river: the alternative financial institution is in Suffolk
I selected to stroll alongside the Little Ouse at Santon Downham. That is about 20 miles from residence, and right here the river has gained adequate middle-age unfold to be sufficiently big to be known as a correct river, and although it’s hardly fast-flowing, it waters transfer with adequate urgency to remind you that they’re clearly heading someplace. There’s a slender bridleway (footpath) on the north financial institution that runs parallel to the river, and it was right here that I walked.
One of many sights of the stroll is that Emma, my spaniel, can be a part of me. She’s an excellent birdwatching canine, as she potters alongside fortunately with me, staying shut and resisting the temptation to swim or chase birds or beasts. I all the time carry a lead and whistle, however on this event I had no trigger to make use of both. It’s noteworthy that in our 90-minute stroll we didn’t meet one other particular person.
A Little Egret surveys from its lofty perch
Our stroll began effectively, as initially I noticed a Little Egret perched excessive in a useless tree. It’s fewer than 30 years since Little Egrets began breeding in Britain, so there’s nonetheless one thing of a novelty about them, no less than for birdwatchers of my era. At present they might be comparatively widespread and widespread, however they’re not a fowl I count on to see on a regular basis, whereas such a chic fowl all the time delights the attention.
The egret was perched in a stand of aged poplars which had been planted a few years in the past – the biggest of the timber have large boles many ft in circumference. On earlier events I’ve seen some good birds in these timber, starting from Crossbills to Brambings, however at this time the egret was the one fowl of word.
A juvenile Mute Swan
There was reasonably extra motion on the river, the place six Mute Swans had been feeding actively on the underwater weed. With them had been a few Little Grebes, diving enthusiastically, and rarely staying above the floor for any size of time. They had been surprisingly troublesome birds to identify, and except you regarded laborious you’d have missed them. I used to be to come across a number of extra farther down stream.
The Little Grebes had been simple to miss
There have been a number of Mallard, too, mainly loafing beneath the lee of the far financial institution. They watched me and my canine with a contact of suspicion, however they weren’t sufficiently fearful to do something extra. Mallard weren’t the geese I hoped to see, for within the spring and summer time I can often discover Mandarins right here. These pleasant little Chinese language geese are one in every of my favourites, and one of many few alien birds which have discovered their very own ecological area of interest on this nation, with out upsetting the pure stability. The place the Mandarins go to in winter I’ve no concept, however they do desert the river.
Cautious however not fearful: a drake Mallard
This stretch of the river, with its stands of alder timber, was one of many final strongholds of Lesser Noticed Woodpeckers in Suffolk. Sadly, these diminutive woodpeckers have disappeared, and might be extinct in Suffolk. I did see a flashy Nice Noticed Woodpecker. I’ve taken a lot better footage of those woodpeckers on different events, however the fowl (under) did no less than let me take a shot or two.
A flashy male Nice Noticed Woodpecker
As I walked the odd Moorhen scuttled throughout the water. The previous Suffolk title for these birds is Waterhen, which is actually rather more applicable, as they stay on water, not moors. As soon as, from the boggy, reeded floor to the north of the river, I heard a Water Rail squeal. It’s an unmistakable, nearly pig-like sound, however you’re more likely to listen to a Water Rail than see it, and that was the case at this time.
Dunnock
As I walked on I got here throughout a flock of Siskins, excessive within the alders.They had been feeding so busily that they had been unusually silent, whereas none got here anyplace shut sufficient for me to even think about elevating my digicam. A Robin, after which a Dunnock, had been just a little extra co-operative, whereas I had some enjoyable with a passing tit flock. Each Blue and Nice Tits paused lengthy sufficient to have their {photograph} taken, however the Lengthy-tailed Tits had been simply too fast. I did reasonably higher with a Treecreeper (under) that was tagging together with the tits.
Treecreeper: a follower of the wandering tit flocks
Blue Tit
After a mile and half I turned spherical and retraced my steps. As soon as, from the far facet of the river, a number of Blackbirds chimed their alarms, utilizing their plaintive, muted warning name that steered that they’d noticed a predator. Had they seen an owl, or maybe a fox? I paused, listed and watched, however after some time they calmed down, and I by no means found what the fuss was about.
Nice Tit
My stroll won’t have produced a grand listing of birds (my species complete, logged on BirdTrack, revealed a mere 19 species), however Emma and I had loved the contemporary air and the great autumn colors. It was merely good to be out – no time spent birdwatching is ever wasted. Who is aware of, maybe subsequent time I’ll see one thing extra thrilling, however each Emma and I got here residence comfortable.
