Holiday in Suffolk - the Hen Reedbeds and Southwold

The reason for a dearth of recent posts is explained. We have been on our hols. Suffolk again.

Wall to wall sunshine for the day we journeyed there, and the day we journeyed back. For the rest of the time, mostly cloudy. Oh well. We stayed in Wangford again, and I was surprised to discover that the hedge behind the cottage contained a singing Cetti's Warbler. I never saw it all week. I am sorry to say that I allowed the World Cup to get in the way of some potential birding time, but I still managed to get to the Hen Reedbeds reasonably frequently.

This local patch is an area of reeds and pools created by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust in 1998 adjacent to the Blyth Estuary. The makers proved the adage "if you build it they will come" as it was soon populated by Bearded Tits, which I saw frequently, Marsh Harriers, and Bitterns.

A female Marsh Harrier

Bittern

A male Marsh Harrier

Across the road the area extended on the landward side of the estuary wall, so you can get a choice of waders on the estuary or marsh birds on the other side. Waders were at a premium, being mid June, and all I saw were Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Oystercatchers, and a single male Bar-tailed Godwit. The pools on this side were overlooked by hides, so you could sit in comfort to look at the Greylag Geese, Little Grebe, and other dross occupying them. However, it also allowed good views of the odd Little Egret.

There was a breeding colony of these in the trees at the head of the estuary, and they were commoner than Grey Herons.

Naturally the holiday was also about tourism, so we visited nearby Southwold with its iconic beach huts, impressive church, and numerous retail opportunities.

The interior of St Edmunds

I will leave this post with a mystery Gull photo. The landfill tip hidden by trees behind Wangford ensured that about 400 large gulls were constantly present. Nearly all were in first-summer and second summer plumage, and for an identification puzzle I found them a nightmare. Certainly plenty were Herring Gulls and and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, but it may be that some were Yellow-legged or even Caspian Gulls. I took some random photos hoping to figure them out later, but this is easier said than done.

Answers on a postcard please

Grey feathers in the mantle suggest Herring, Caspian or Yellow-legged, but it looks rather slender structured to me, like a Lesser Black-backed. Whitish head could be good for Yellow-legged or Caspian ? Dull brown tertials may also point that way, but very worn. I'm not sure what it is.