Suffolk Wildlife  

Walking across our field one morning I was aware of a commotion by the edge of the pond and noticed a large brown bird which I first thought was a mallard.  The bird unfolded a huge pair of wings and rose into the air clutching a tiny moorhen chick. It then circled slowly upwards, displaying the distinctive markings of a buzzard, before catching a thermal and drifting off east.

I have seen many buzzards on my trips to Scotland but didn't expect to see one in my own back yard.  However, I believe sightings of buzzards are becoming more common in Suffolk, so keep an eye on the sky.

Linda           

As autumn approaches many roadside verges put on a fresh display of colour.  Plants such as yarrow, hawkbit and bindweed all have deep root systems that enable them to survive summer droughts and flower later in the year.  Yarrow, also known as milfoil, is a particularly tough species steeped in history – Achilles is said to have used it to stem the flow of blood from his wounds.  Yarrow produces flowers in three different colours – white, pink and red tinged.  Large plants can produce more than 3,000 seeds, and so can spread over an area quite quickly.

Another autumn flowering species is the meadow saffron, Colchicum autumnale.  Although a member of the lily family, it has the appearance of a crocus but produces thick fleshy leaves in the spring and mauve flowers on bare white stems in the autumn.  All parts of the plant are poisonous and as it likes to grow in damp meadowland it was usually removed by farmers protecting their stock, making it now quite uncommon.  However, a trip to the Trust reserve of Martin’s Meadows in Monewden during the beginning of September could be rewarding.