It was a very select group of 5 people who went on this trip. We set off in two cars arriving at Landguard Point, beside the container port at Felixstowe, where the River Orwell meets the North Sea.
Leaving the car park to walk towards the bird observatory we saw many Linnets & Meadow Pipits. The notice board told of eight Wheatear, three Firecrest, a Blackcap, a Brambling & a European race Coal Tit.
As we walked on we saw our first migrant, a Willow Warbler, shortly followed by my best ever views of a Firecrest, the markings showing perfectly in the morning sunshine. The Firecrest was a “life tick” for one of our number.
We carried on to the shingle beach where Ringed Plovers were nesting.
Unfortunately we did not see any Wheatear.
Landguard Point and Trimley Marshes, Suffolk 8th April 2006
Felixstowe container port dominates the skyline at Landguard Point
At the Fagbury Cliff viewpoint
The port as seen from Trimley Marshes
We left Landguard and drove the short distance to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Trimley Marshes. We had lunch before we took the two mile walk to the hides.
Prior to the hides there is a raised platform which overlooks part of the marsh. We had good views of Snipe, Shelduck and many other ducks and Gulls.
We continued towards the hides and, as the tide was out, there were many waders on the mud at the side of the River Orwell. We saw Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit.
A large raptor soared overhead, but flew in front of the sun before we could identify it. Was it a Buzzard? We couldn’t be sure.
The weather stayed fine for us, although it was very windy in exposed places. In all we saw over sixty species.
Dave Jones (photographs - Stuart Harrison)
Willow in flower by the track at Trimley
