Robin - Waveney Wildlife

Robin

Characteristics
The robin’s association with Christmas is appropriate, for it is during the winter months that its colours are most marked, with it’s red breast at its reddest and it’s back a rich brown, both contrasting brilliantly with its whitish under parts. Young birds have speckled plumage and look like young nightingales.

Habitat
The Robin is often seen in town and city gardens, and often accompanies gardeners to search for insects and larvae as the ground is dug over. Away from habitation, it is a shy and retiring, inhabiting woodland hedges.

Behaviour
The robin is tame and likes to come close when anyone is digging the soil, in order to look out for earthworms and other food freshly turned up; when the gardener stops for a break the robin might use the handle of the spade as a lookout point.

Robins often approach large wild animals, which disturb the ground, to look for any food that might be brought to the surface.

Males are aggressive and guard their territory possessively.

The song is a high, pleasant warble and the loud alarm call is a penetrating ‘tic-tic’.
B.A.B.

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

We haven't given up on the Norfolk Broads

We haven't given up on the Norfolk Broads

We want these wetlands to be protected and managed for as long as possible, says Brendan Joyce

Hickling Broad is the largest of the Norfolk Broads and is at threat from sea-level rise. Patrick Barkham's statement that "local environmental groups such as the Norfolk Wildlife Trust have spoken hopefully of valuable new salt water habitats if this part of the Broads is submerged" does not represent our view (Waves of destruction, April 17). We own and manage Hickling Broad and are deeply concerned about its future.

Hickling Broad is part of a unique area for wildlife, valued by many people. The article says: "Even if it is protected with new sea walls, saline intrusion from rising sea levels will irrevocably transform the Broads from a freshwater region into a salty one. Some freshwater species will become extinct in Broadland." The Trust wants to see Hickling and the other broads protected and managed for as long as possible. Concern over the long-term future of the Upper Thurne Broads, however, has to be judged against our attempts to protect this valued wetland. Hickling Broad is suffering from a host of threats, including poor water quality caused by saline intrusion. Progress in tackling these threats, however, is slow and woefully underfunded.

There are concerns over the sustainability of the existing sea defences and some form of managed retreat may be inevitable. Barkham reports that "the government still won't contemplate the question of compensating our climate change refugees of the future". As well as the impact on people, their lives and livelihoods, what happens about compensating for the loss of existing freshwater habitat? We would say that habitat has to be recreated, which is not an easy task. One might find that the costs of actually doing all that are not too far away from the cost of defending the existing line for as long as possible.

The article mentions another of our nature reserves, Cley Marshes on the north Norfolk coast, claiming: "A protective shingle bank is being allowed to fall into disrepair." In reality it is being allowed to re-profile itself naturally and will no longer be artificially managed, which had continually weakened its integrity. While the frequency of seawater overtopping the ridge is likely to increase, the lower, wider profile is expected to absorb more wave energy. Coupled with this, improved drainage of the marshes behind the ridge and a new tidal channel have been created, which should provide continued drainage for approximately 200 years.

Whether we believe in climate change or not, the evidence is that a significant impact could potentially occur over a large area of land. We do not currently have the research that will tell us exactly what we can expect or what we can do.

Steve Hayman, the Environment Agency coastal manager for East Anglia, is quoted as saying: "In the longer term there are really difficult questions to answer here and it may not be possible to maintain the coastline as we know it today." In the meantime our trust believes a huge amount of work is required. We face some very serious issues, and decisions will need to be taken soon to avoid catastrophe.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Brendan Joyce is director of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust
info@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

also see: www.waveneyvalleyblog.com/2008/04/save-norfolk-broads-broads-society.html

Blood Donor Session, Beccles 20 May 2008

Blood Donor Session taking place in

Beccles

on

Tuesday 20th May

at

Great Yarmouth & Waveney PCT HQ,
Board Room, 1 Common Lane North, Beccles

between 10.30-12.30 & 2.00-4.30

Appointment Advisable

please call 0845 7 711 711

Our next will be Tuesday 29th July.

www.blood.co.uk

The Fratellis, Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes - YouTube

Peregrine Falcons Return to Suffolk

Peregrine Falcons are breeding in Suffolk again - for the first time in a staggering 200 years.

The sensational birds of prey, which can hit 200mph in a dive, last thrived in the East Anglian county when King George III was on the throne and Napoleon was rampaging across Europe.

Now a peregrine is sitting on four precious eggs under the Orwell Bridge - just feet away from an endless stream of lorries and cars thundering along the A14.

The fastest living creature on earth last bred in Suffolk in the steeple of the parish church at Corton, near Lowestoft, in the early 1800s as Beethoven finished his first symphony.

Steve Piotrowski, (CRRCT), president of Suffolk Ornithologists Group and ornithological adviser to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, said he was delighted the supreme predators had finally returned.

He said: "Peregrines normally nest on sheer rock faces in mountainous areas. But in recent years, with better protection and conservation measures in place, they have been increasingly venturing into towns and cities to nest on high-rise buildings, power stations, electricity pylons and the like.

It is perhaps not surprising they have chosen to nest on Suffolk's highest structure - the Orwell Bridge. A pair began to spend the winter on the bridge in 1991 and there have been peregrines in the area ever since."

He added: "The view from the bridge gives the falcons a distinct advantage and they are able to swoop down on unsuspecting pigeons and wading birds that feed on the mudflats below. Their prolonged stay raised speculation among local ornithologists that breeding would soon take place.

The birds' presence caused great excitement locally and their spectacular displays became a feature of a day's birdwatching on the Orwell estuary. The Suffolk Ornithologists Group campaigned tirelessly to have a nest box erected in the hope that breeding would take place and one was put up on the bridge in the early 1990s. The group's success was largely down to one of our members, Gary Lowe, and we and the birds are now indebted to him."

Gary, of Boyton, near Woodbridge, worked for Ipswich Borough Council's estates department at the time but was also a council park ranger.

He negotiated with the Department of Transport over the provision of the box as a compensatory measure for a compound placed on the council's Pipers Vale public open space related to works on the bridge.

A peregrine is sitting on four precious eggs under the Orwell BridgeThe nest box the peregrines are using is the original one, paid for by the department.

Mr Lowe, who now works for NPS property consultants, said: "The news that the peregrines are breeding in the box is fantastic. It has been a long wait but it's worth it, especially if the peregrines manage to raise some young to the fledging stage. I hope it's the start of a more widespread recolonisation in Suffolk as peregrines are such magnificent birds and they have had some lean times in the past."

The birds have been studied closely by bird-of-prey enthusiast Rod Plowman, of nearby Chelmondiston. Rod said: "It is really exciting to think that peregrines are breeding with us again after such a long absence. They are spectacular birds and seem to be feeding mainly on the feral pigeons around the Ipswich docks area and the numerous wading birds that use the Orwell estuary."

The peregrine chicks are due to hatch any day and conservationists expect many members of the public will want to see the adults hunting to feed them.

Mick Wright, Suffolk Wildlife Trust's officer for the Orwell estuary, said the best vantage point would be the nearby Piper's Vale country park on the north bank of the river.

He said: "There is plenty of car parking space there and the park offers good views of the bridge and the estuary. It would be wonderful if this pair of peregrines help to show people how important the Orwell estuary is for wildlife and encourages them to show respect for the area while enjoying its natural spectacle."

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk