Barnacle Geese in Suffolk

18th November 2025

Well, this takes me back to the late 1990s when I went to Benacre Broad to see a rare grebe. As I was walking back south along the cliffs I spotted a large flock of geese flying up the coast which got closer and closer, and eventually got close enough for me to see they were in fact............Barnacle Geese. I was quite excited as I not unreasonably believed they were wild birds that had overshot the Solway Firth, and it was a while later I found out there was a feral flock of about 400 Barnacles based at Covehithe Broad.

And here I am today overlooking North Warren watching about 400 Barnacle Geese. 

There are believed to be 1000+ Barnacle Geese in Suffolk. The birds are part of a naturalised population, and although there have been records of breeding of feral Barnacle Geese in the county, the numbers remain low and in 2022 there were no records of breeding at all, and certainly not sufficient to sustain the current population. The numbers appear to be swelled during the winter months, but more likely to be from the feral population in the Netherlands than wild birds from the north. So enjoy.

Barnacles have always been my favourite geese with their very small size, white face and tiny neat bill.

And love it when they take to the air and call continuously as do other goose species.

Wow, that was a spectacle and what a fly-past.

And now time to say goodbye, to the Thorpeness house in the sky.

An Afternoon at Burwell Fen

17th November 2025

Middle of November now so time for a visit to Burwell to see what is going on with the owls. We positioned ourselves by the old barn, which is now more appropriately called the ex-barn, and started scanning the fen for any activity. Do you ever get that feeling you are being watched?

All very quiet on the bird front, but there were a few Roe Deer around to add a bit of interest.

This stag had been in a few rut battles judging by the state of its antlers.

At that point a Buzzard flopped across the fen and settled on a fence post. Very distant but worth a shot.................

.......................and then decided to have a preen.

About half an hour before dusk a Barn Owl appeared on the other side of a field and started hunting over a very wide area, and then a second appeared covering a different area. By now the light was going so we starting walking back to the car park when one of the owls crossed the river and sat on a fence post, allowing a few shots at very high ISO.

After a rest it flew off and continued hunting.

And as for the Short-eared Owls? There are definitely two birds present but as testified by the few photos that have been taken, they are flying much later than usual and mostly after sunset, so they will have to wait for another day.

Also nice to have a catch-up with Rick Stead.

A Couple of Hours at Lemsford Springs

12th November 2025

Time for another visit to see how the site is developing as winter approaches. I didn't have to wait long before the first of the usual suspects appeared, a Grey Wagtail, and posed nicely on one of the Kingfisher perches.

Teal were now starting to return and there were four today, thanks to Ian Conn for the count, and here is one of the newly moulted males.

Stock Doves are very common at Lemsford but you have to be quick, as they come down to drink but only stay for a few seconds. Just look at those pastel colours.

The resident male Muntjac put in an appearance....................

.......................and a Water Rail. The Water Rail is the rarest bird here, but can be very secretive and elusive. But today it ventured out by the Sallow for a few minutes before scurrying back to cover, never to be seen again.

Thank goodness for dead trees and I think every reserve should have one, as they provide great posing perches for Herons and Buzzards.

It tried to hide in a leafy Alder but I managed to find a small tunnel through the foliage.

But the star of the show today was this Green Sandpiper.

After half an hour feeding on freshwater shrimps it decided it was bath time and the first step in the process was to gently sink into the water and have a soak.

Then you submerge your head to get that wet.....................

....................and then go for it, submerging your whole body to ensure that every feather is soaking wet.

Then fly to the bank to get those wings dry.....................

..........................and have a preen.

Well another great visit to Lemsford and nice to see Rose and Ian.