[ Natural History in East Anglia ]

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

A MAMMAL BONANZA

C.A.Jacobs

Every New Years Day we visit Aldeburgh for a fish & chip lunch returning to Lowestoft via the back roads looking for deer. On January 1^st 2004 Mandy & I passed by a small wood known as the Clamps along the A145 at Henham. To our left we saw a herd of 21 Fallow Deer including a fine stag & two white hinds standing in a sugar beet field. Also present were two Brown Hares & three Muntjac. Finally there was a covey of 27 Red legged Partridges. How unusual is it to get three of Suffolk’s finest mammals in one field?

This certainly brightened up a very wet & miserable day.

Excuse me but are you shooting Ducks?

As tomorrow is going to be the local RSPB groups annual public Xmas Birdwatch I though that as it was a nice day I would have a walk around the ole patch to stake out any good birds to show the public. First up as I walked onto Ness Point at Lowestoft was a fine Rock Pipit. It actually stayed around for a while so I could at last get some good views of this bird that has often been heard & seen only as it flew away from me.

The North Denes had some small pools of water on them & a flock of 14 Turnstones were bathing in them accompanied by several Black headed Gulls & a few Common Gulls. Other than a naked lady alighting from the sea nothing of note was seen.The next stop was Oulton Broad to ave a look for the female Scaup that had been seen hugging the northern bank after binning loads of Coot I managed to find it tight up against the far bank. As I took off my scope & began to drop the legs An elderly couple came up & said. “ Excuse me, but are you shooting Ducks ?” I looked round at them & said “No I’m looking for spies, they came in last night in that boat over there”

“ Oh there’s no need to be funny” she said as they both walked off.Another surprise here was an Emporer x Greylag hybrid mixed in with about ten Greylag , most odd indeed.My final destination was to see the drake Red crested Pochard at Leathes Ham. It too was hugging the far bank but did get to see it & put some other birders onto it as well.

Minsmere 23rd April

Today I met with Carlos who cycled 35miles to Minsmere for the day out with yours truly. Before Carlos arrived I went to Westleton Heath where I had gripping views of Dartford Warblers, Stonechats & Woodlarks. A single Tree Pipit , my first of the year was singing from a shrub & a scope full proved most rewarding. Finally couple of Nightingales were singing in Broom Covert. It was really warm so much so I went out without my long johns underneath my trousers.

Afterwards I walked along the southern part of Westleton Heath bordering a pig field, which was absent of pigs & was starting to green up. Eight Northern Wheatears were scattered here feeding amongst all the rabbits. Two Whitethroats were also seen here. As I scanned the heath further a Fox crossed a rabbit warren & two Red Deer were seen along the field edge.
On arrival at Minsmere I walked the perimeter of the car park & saw three Turtle Doves fly overhead heading northwards. There were loads of Sand Martins too with an estimate of 100 gathered around the cliff face there. From North Hide two Spotted Redshanks were seen along with various wildfowl. As I walked along the north wall I saw Bearded Tit & Reed buntings. It was at the end of the wall I met with Carlos who regaled me with sightings of Barn Owls & Yellowhammers during is cycle ride to Minsmere.

We walked on to east hide where we saw plenty of Avocets (145) on the scrape, 12 Black tailed Godwits & around ten Dunlin. From the Public Hide we scoped Two Little Egrets, Three Common Terns & Two Sandwich Terns. Up around the sluice bushes we saw a Skylark on the ground with, what looked like a Woodlark It was well hidden un the grass but it looked to have a bright supercillium, It appeared out in the open & we saw it was another Skylark. BAH!
As we walked back to the scrape we saw another Little Egret & we bypassed South Hide. In West hide it was pretty poor so we adjourned for lunch. Asparagus soup for Carlos & I had a Chedder Ploughmans.

Carlos decided to leave for his journey home so I walked down to Island Mere & around the wood. Little of note was seen but I came away with a suntan.

Colin J.

Engry Wood Bentley Suffolk

The Vascular Plants of Engry Wood & Pedlars Grove Bentley Suffolk TM111383.

Of particular note was Veronica montana in nearby Pedlars Grove & Euphraisa sp in Engry Wood along the track.

24th April 2004 Substrate Clay.

Ajuga reptans (Bugle)

Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard)

Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail)

Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone)

Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley)

Aphanes arvensis agg. (Parsley-Piert)

Arctium minus subsp. minus (Lesser Burdock)

Arum maculatum (Lords-And-Ladies)

Bellis perennis (Daisy)

Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Bryonia dioica (White Bryony)

Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's-Purse)

Cardamine hirsuta (Hairy Bitter-Cress)

Carex sylvatica (Wood-Sedge)

Centaurea nigra subsp. nigra (Black Knapweed)

Cerastium fontanum (Common Mouse-Ear)

Ceratocapnos claviculata (Climbing Corydalis)

Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle)

Conopodium majus (Pignut)

Corylus avellana (Hazel)

Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

Cytisus scoparius (Broom)

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler-Fern)

Dryopteris filix-mas agg. (Male-Fern)

Euphorbia amygdaloides (Wood Spurge)

Euphrasia nemorosa (Common Eyebright)

Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)

Galium aparine (Cleavers)

Galium mollugo (Hedge Bedstraw)

Glechoma hederacea (Ground-Ivy)

Hedera helix (Ivy)

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium (Hogweed)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Hypericum tetrapterum (Square-Stalked St John's-Wort)

Ilex aquifolium (Holly)

Juncus effusus (Soft-Rush)

Lamium album (White Dead-Nettle)

Lamium purpureum (Red Dead-Nettle)

Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

Lysimachia nemorum (Yellow Pimpernel)

Matricaria discoidea (Pineapple-Weed)

Mercurialis perennis (Dog's Mercury)

Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid)

Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Plantago major (Greater Plantain)

Poa annua (Annual Meadow-Grass)

Potentilla sterilis (Barren Strawberry)

Primula vulgaris (Primrose)

Prunus avium (Wild Cherry)

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum (Bracken)

Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)

Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup)

Ranunculus ficaria (Lesser Celandine)

Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup)

Rosa canina agg. (Dog-Rose)

Rubus fruticosus agg. (Blackberry/Bramble)

Rumex obtusifolius (Broad-Leaved Dock)

Rumex sanguineus (Blood-Veined Dock)

Ruscus aculeatus (Butcher's-Broom)

Salix caprea (Goat Willow)

Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Scrophularia nodosa (Common Figwort)

Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel)

Sherardia arvensis (Field Madder)

Silene dioica (Red Campion)

Stachys sylvatica (Hedge Woundwort)

Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)

Stellaria media agg. (Common Chickweed)

Symphytum orientale (Soft Comfrey)

Taraxacum officinale agg. (Dandelion)

Trifolium repens (White Clover)

Urtica dioica (Common Nettle)

Veronica chamaedrys (Germander Speedwell)

Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia

Veronica montana (Wood Speedwell)

Veronica persica (Common Field Speedwell)

Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle)

Herring Fleet Hills Flora

HERRINGFLEET HILLS SUFFOLK

25/4/2004 TM468982

Alnus glutinosa (Alder)

Anagallis arvensis (Scarlet Pimpernel)

Arctium minus (Lesser Burdock)

Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge)

Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-Ear)

Cerastium fontanum subsp. vulgare

Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle)

Claytonia perfoliata (Spring Beauty)

Conium maculatum (Hemlock)

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)

Dryopteris filix-mas agg (Male-Fern)

Erodium cicutarium subsp. cicutarium (common Storks bill)

Fagus sylvatica (Beech)

Galium aparine (Cleavers)

Glechoma hederacea (Ground-Ivy)

Hedera helix (Ivy)

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium (Hogweed)

Humulus lupulus (Hop)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)

Juncus effusus (Soft-Rush)

Lamium album (White Dead-Nettle)

Lamium purpureum (Red Dead-Nettle)

Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

Luzula campestris (Field Wood-Rush)

Malus domestica (Crab Apple)

Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-Me-Not)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)

Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Plantago major (Greater Plantain)

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum

Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)

Ranunculus ficaria (Lesser Celandine)

Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)

Rosa canina agg. (Dog-Rose)

Rubus fruticosus agg. (Blackberry/Bramble)

Rumex acetosa subsp. acetosa

Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella

Rumex obtusifolius (Broad-Leaved Dock)

Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel)

Silene dioica (Red Campion)

Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle)

Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)

Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)

Stellaria media agg. (Common Chickweed)

Taraxacum officinale agg. (Dandelion)

Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage)

Ulex europaeus (Gorse)

Urtica dioica (Common Nettle)

Veronica persica (Common Field Speedwell)

Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-Leaved Speedwell)

54 species recorded.

Herring Fleet Hills Flora

HERRINGFLEET HILLS SUFFOLK COLIN A JACOBS 25/4/2004 TM468982

Alnus glutinosa (Alder)

Anagallis arvensis (Scarlet Pimpernel)

Arctium minus (Lesser Burdock)

Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge)

Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-Ear)

Cerastium fontanum subsp. vulgare

Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle)

Claytonia perfoliata (Spring Beauty)

Conium maculatum (Hemlock)

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)

Dryopteris filix-mas agg (Male-Fern)

Erodium cicutarium subsp. cicutarium (common Storks bill)

Fagus sylvatica (Beech)

Galium aparine (Cleavers)

Glechoma hederacea (Ground-Ivy)

Hedera helix (Ivy)

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium (Hogweed)

Humulus lupulus (Hop)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)

Juncus effusus (Soft-Rush)

Lamium album (White Dead-Nettle)

Lamium purpureum (Red Dead-Nettle)

Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

Luzula campestris (Field Wood-Rush)

Malus domestica (Crab Apple)

Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-Me-Not)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)

Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Plantago major (Greater Plantain)

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum

Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)

Ranunculus ficaria (Lesser Celandine)

Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)

Rosa canina agg. (Dog-Rose)

Rubus fruticosus agg. (Blackberry/Bramble)

Rumex acetosa subsp. acetosa

Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella

Rumex obtusifolius (Broad-Leaved Dock)

Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel)

Silene dioica (Red Campion)

Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle)

Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)

Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)

Stellaria media agg. (Common Chickweed)

Taraxacum officinale agg. (Dandelion)

Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage)

Ulex europaeus (Gorse)

Urtica dioica (Common Nettle)

Veronica persica (Common Field Speedwell)

Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-Leaved Speedwell)

54 species recorded.

Herring Fleet Hills Flora

HERRINGFLEET HILLS SUFFOLK COLIN A JACOBS 25/4/2004 TM468982

Alnus glutinosa (Alder)

Anagallis arvensis (Scarlet Pimpernel)

Arctium minus (Lesser Burdock)

Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge)

Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-Ear)

Cerastium fontanum subsp. vulgare

Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle)

Claytonia perfoliata (Spring Beauty)

Conium maculatum (Hemlock)

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)

Dryopteris filix-mas agg (Male-Fern)

Erodium cicutarium subsp. cicutarium (common Storks bill)

Fagus sylvatica (Beech)

Galium aparine (Cleavers)

Glechoma hederacea (Ground-Ivy)

Hedera helix (Ivy)

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium (Hogweed)

Humulus lupulus (Hop)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)

Juncus effusus (Soft-Rush)

Lamium album (White Dead-Nettle)

Lamium purpureum (Red Dead-Nettle)

Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

Luzula campestris (Field Wood-Rush)

Malus domestica (Crab Apple)

Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-Me-Not)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)

Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Plantago major (Greater Plantain)

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum

Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)

Ranunculus ficaria (Lesser Celandine)

Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)

Rosa canina agg. (Dog-Rose)

Rubus fruticosus agg. (Blackberry/Bramble)

Rumex acetosa subsp. acetosa

Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella

Rumex obtusifolius (Broad-Leaved Dock)

Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel)

Silene dioica (Red Campion)

Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle)

Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)

Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)

Stellaria media agg. (Common Chickweed)

Taraxacum officinale agg. (Dandelion)

Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage)

Ulex europaeus (Gorse)

Urtica dioica (Common Nettle)

Veronica persica (Common Field Speedwell)

Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-Leaved Speedwell)

54 species recorded.

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