Suffolk Wildlife  

The past couple of months have provided some excellent wildlife sightings. We have had a barn owl roosting in the hay barn for most of the winter; a female I think as it is quite darkly coloured on its back.  We now have a large collection of owl pellets and will dissect a couple to try to identify what it is eating and perhaps we will then alter our management of the meadows to encourage the favoured prey species.  Just recently the owl seems to have found another roost site though it still returns occasionally. As the owl has moved out so the stock doves have moved in looking for a nesting site.

The river has also produced some good sightings.  A kingfisher has been a regular visitor with a favoured perch on a willow branch that has collapsed across the water.  I have become quite good at detecting its presence from the high pitched whistling call and usually hear it before catching a glimpse.  A trick I was once told is that when trying to spot a kingfisher, look for its reflection in the water rather than looking for the bird itself - this way you are more likely to see it before it sees you.

Walking back along the riverbank a couple of weeks ago there was a movement in the water about 30 yards ahead.  Assuming it to be a moorhen or duck I carried on walking but as there was no alarm call I walked away from the river and took a loop around to the point of movement.  Carefully approaching the edge again there was a water vole busily pulling up reed stems and munching the juicy white bases.  This was my first sighting of water vole here for many years and it is great to have them back.

Just as the fieldfares were leaving us so the skylark started to sign - spring is on its way.

 Early Spring 2006