Susie's Lupins - photos

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Barn Owl - Waveney Wildlife

Barn Owl

Characteristics
The upperparts of the Barn Owl are light grey with numerous fine dark lines and scattered pale spots on the feathers. There are buff markings on wings and on the back. The underparts are white with a few black spots, occasionally none.

Feathering on the lower legs may be sparse. The heart-shaped facial disc is white with a brownish edge, with brown marks at the front of the eyes. Its beak is off-white and the feet are yellowish-white to brownish.

Males and females are similar in size and colour, females and juveniles are generally more densely spotted.

Habitat
The Barn Owl is found in virtually all habitats but much more abundantly in open woodland, heaths and moors than forested country. They usually roost by day in tree hollows but have also been found in caves, wells, outbuildings or thick foliage and they often nest in barn lofts and church steeples.

Behaviour
The Barn Owl calls infrequently, the usual call being a drawn-out rasping screech. Adults returning to a nest may give a low, frog-like croak. When surprised in its roosting hollow or nest, it makes hissing and rasping noises and snapping sounds that are often called bill snapping, but possibly made by clicking the tongue.

Barn Owls specialise in hunting small ground mammals, and the vast majority of their food consists of small rodents. voles (field mice) are the single most important food, followed by shrews, mice and rats. Other prey may include baby rabbits, bats, frogs, lizards, birds and insects.

Their prey is mainly caught by night and is usually located by searching up and down likely looking land, particularly open grassland. They also use low perches such as fence posts as looking points from which to seek prey.

Barn Owls rely greatly on their silent flight and extremely acute hearing to locate prey. A velvety pile on the feather surface muffles the sound of the Barn Owls wings. In addition, the leading edges of the wing feathers have a fringe or fine comb, which deadens the sound of the wing, beats.
B.A.B.


www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

More June Flowers - photos

courtesy Keith Moore

Keith's Little Bit of England

Conservation Management, Summer

www.leafuk.org

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
IDEAS FOR SUMMER

AVOID DISTURBANCE TO NESTING BIRDS
It is important to delay management of field boundaries and margins until at least September when you can be confident that birds have finished rearing late broods. Mowing margins or trimming hedges during breaks before harvest or when weather prevents harvesting can be very damaging for local bird populations.

(Peter Cornelius, RSPB)

BEWARE OF NESTING BIRDS AND LEVERETS IF YOU CUT POLLEN AND NECTAR MIXTURES
Pollen and nectar mixtures are often cut in June to promote late-flowering (cutting half of each area to 20cm in June is a requirement of the English Entry Level Stewardship scheme), but try to check that there are no nesting birds or leverets in the mixtures before cutting and seek a derogation to avoid cutting if these are present. An alternative for future years is to cut this half regularly through April until June so that it does not form suitable nesting cover.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR INSECTICIDE USE IN SUMMER
June is the peak month for rearing chicks in the bird calendar – many of these are dependent on insects to provide the chicks with a high-protein diet for healthy development. Adopt the Voluntary Initiative best practice guidance on use of insecticides:

• Know your farm's potential for pest attack; field records are essential in this. Assess the implications of cropping sequences and likely attacks.
• Where possible, take full advantage of varietal resistance.
• Use cultivation techniques and sowing dates to deter attack.
• Use seed treatments where available if significant damage is expected.
• Monitor crops regularly and base management decisions on the results.
• Make absolutely sure a treatment is really needed; treat only when pest thresholds has been exceeded.
• Wherever possible, use insecticides specific to a target pest. Try especially to avoid using broad-spectrum products when the young of birds are dependent on insects for food.
• Apply treatments as accurately and as close to ideal timings as possible.
• Use buffer zones and LERAPs to protect sensitive wildlife habitats and water courses.

DELAY SETASIDE MANAGEMENT
Any rotational set-aside that has not been sprayed yet will be providing important seed food for birds and nesting habitat for skylarks. Does the weed spectrum present problems for following crops? Consult your agronomist for the latest timing to achieve effective control. Non-rotational set-aside should remain uncut until at least mid-July (preferably August) to protect nesting birds, and up to 25% can be left uncut each year which will boost beneficial insects.

IS THERE A NEED FOR BRACKEN CONTROL?
Small stands of bracken, especially in upland situations, can provide useful habitat for some nesting birds, such as twite. However, large blocks of dense bracken are of little use for wildlife. Seek advice on whether spraying, cutting or rolling is the best management for your situation. Cutting and rolling will put ground-nesting birds at risk at this time of year. Spraying can be done later in the year, when the bracken is in full frond.

BIRDS NESTING IN HAY AND SILAGE MEADOWS
Several ground nesting birds that require cover are attracted to fields shut up for hay or silage. For these birds to breed successfully, they need sufficient time to complete incubation and for chicks to be able to be moved out of the field before mowing. The length of time needed will vary between species, but will generally be at least six weeks. Ground nesting birds are most commonly found in hay meadows as the grassland management generally results in vegetation that is less dense and cut at a more mature stage.

In fields where waders (snipe, lapwing, redshank, curlew) breed, leave damp hollows/corners uncut as unfledged chicks are most likely to use these areas.

DELAY CUTTING FLOWER-RICH MEADOWS UNTIL AFTER HERBS HAVE SET SEED
Hay meadows that are the product of traditional, low intensity farming support a rich variety of grasses and flowers. Such meadows are now a rare and irreplaceable habitat. Try to maintain the long-established management practices that have created these special areas.

TOPPING
Topping of pernicious weeds may need to be carried out relatively early in the season, but try to cut areas that are not as urgent as late as possible, if at all. Topping reduces the availability of seeds and the taller areas that many insects need to complete their lifecycles and over-winter. Always leave some areas uncut, even if only around edges of fields.

If these management ideas pose any questions, then post them on the discussion forum on www.farmwildlife.info to get your answers.

June Flowers - photo

courtesy Keith Moore

Keith's Little Bit of England

Pied Wagtail - Waveney Wildlife

Pied Wagtail

Characteristics
The pied wagtail is a long-tailed small bird, unmistakable with its bold black, grey and white plumage. The male's summer plumage has a white forehead, cheeks and belly; jet-black crown, nape, throat, breast, back, flanks, tail and wings, but the tail has white outer feathers and the wings have white wing bars and white edges. The non-breeding male's winter plumage is greyer.

The female is mostly dark grey but the crown, throat, breast, rump and tail are black. Juveniles are brownish-grey and often tinged with yellow.


Habitat
Pied Wagtails can be found across the UK and are usually found near water in most habitats, even town centres. They gather together in large roosts, often assembling in trees or on roofs. They can also be seen in open places including fields, farmyards, parks, and meadows.

Behaviour
Pied Wagtails can be distinguished by their constant tail wagging. When they are not standing and frantically wagging their tails up and down they can be seen flying over lawns or car parks in search of food. When in flight, the Pied Wagtail utters a high-pitched "chissick" sound.

Pied Wagtails generally feed on insects that it finds when searching lawns, fields and verges. They build their nest in holes in walls, buildings, or old nests of larger birds, using grass and mosses to construct the small cup-shaped nest. The eggs are smooth, pale grey with dark grey spots, and about 20 mm by 15 mm. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs, and both adults feed the young.
B.A.B.


www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

Mother Shipton Moth in Norfolk - photo

Working in the west of the county this morning, I took my lunch break at Syderstone Common. A short walk across some open grassland kicked out a day flying moth that I've been wanting to see for ages, a Mother Shipton. It eventually settled down where I managed to get a couple of record shots with my old 2 megapixel camera!

This moth gets its name from the witch of the same name who was reputed to have a long crooked nose and chin, check out this moths wing pattern.

Courtesy Andy:

wildlifeaylmerton.blogspot.com

Suffolk Wildlife Photo Competition

Suffolk Wildlife Trust is inviting people to "get snapping" for its annual photography competition, celebrating East Anglia's and Britain's amazing wildlife and landscapes. Young photographers, for the first time, are being offered free entry to the competition.

"If you enjoy taking photos of wildlife or the countryside and would like to have a go at entering your first competition then get out there and get snapping!" said education officer Cathy Smith.

"You stand a good chance of having your photo displayed alongside some of the best amateur photographers in the region - you could even win a prize. We aim to make this a showcase for talented amateur photographers who best capture the beauty and significance of our wildlife and landscapes, and to bring their work to a wide audience in a superb natural setting at Redgrave and Lopham Fen - itself a favourite subject for the lens."

Last year's junior winner was Patrick Norman from Carlton near Saxmundham with his photo of a grey squirrel, while Ryan Edwards from Badingham - one of last year's highly commended junior entrants - has continued to pursue his passion for wildlife photography and recently appeared on BBC's Springwatch filming barn owl.

The closing date is 18th July 2008 and entries are invited in the following categories:

• - Best East Anglian Bird
• - Best East Anglian Mammal, Amphibian or Reptile
• - Best East Anglian Invertebrate
• - Best East Anglian Plant or Fungi
• - Best East Anglian Landscape
• - Best Young Photographer(16 yrs & under)

All winning photos and the best of the rest will be on public display at the competition exhibition at Redgrave and Lopham Fen reserve centre (near Diss), 23-25 & 30-31 August and 6-7 September (10am-5pm).

All entrants are warmly invited to attend the exhibition preview night at Redgrave and Lopham Fen on Friday 22 August. There will be prizes for the strongest images and the overall winning photo will be published in Suffolk Wildlife magazine.

For more information and an application form please contact Oka Russell, Photo Competition, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke House, Ashbocking IP6 9JY,

Tel: 01473 890089 or

email info@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/swt/pn/photocomp08.html

Red Tailed Bumblebee in the Waveney Valley

Spotting a Little Tern in East Anglia - Waveney Wildlife

Little Tern
Sterna albifrons

This small chattering bird puts on one of the best displays in British skies, an imposing aerial courtship dance that begins when the male calls, carrying a fish to attract a mate. The female responds by chasing him to dizzy heights, before he outwits her by descending at speed with wings held out in a "V" shape.

Little terns can be seen in the UK from April to September, but as they only number about 5,000 they are a difficult bird to spot.

The little tern is grey and white with a short tail and yellow legs, a yellow bill with a black tip, and a white forehead (which distinguishes it from other types of tern). It is fast in flight and has a frantic, jerky wing action.

Where they live
Unfortunately for the little tern, its nesting sites are very popular with humans too, as they favour shallow nests on sand and shingle beaches. The UK's largest little tern colonies are found along the south and east coasts of both Scotland and England. They lay their eggs in nests on the ground and can be quite defensive when breeding.

How to spot them
Good spots for seeing the little tern include Blakeney Point and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Minsmere in Suffolk and Langstone harbour in Hampshire. Watch out for a hovering bird that plunges head first into the water to catch fish. These noisy birds make a high-pitched chattering sound

Source: www.guardian.co.uk/environment

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

Water beads - photo

courtesy Keith Moore

Keith's Little Bit of England

Yellow Iris - photo

courtesy Keith Moore

Keith's Little Bit of England

Bungay Tin River in June! - photo

Chaffinch - Waveney Wildlife

Chaffinch

Characteristics
The colouring of the male Chaffinch at rest is unmistakable; its large double white wing bars, white tail edges and greenish rump easily identify this 14-16 cm long species.

The breeding male is unmistakable, with his reddish under-parts and a blue-grey cap. The female is drabber and greener, but still easily recognisable.

Habitat
The Chaffinch uses a range of habitats, although open woodland is favoured, it is also common in gardens and on farmland. They build nest in hedges and in tree forks; forming a cup of grass, moss and lichens and lining it with hair.

Behaviour
The Chaffinch seeks seeds and insects for food from gardens, parks and farmland.

The powerful song starts slowly, accelerates down the scale and ends up with an exuberant flourish, it is repeated up to five or ten times a minute. The alarm call is very well known, and its ‘fink’ or ‘vink’.
B.A.B.


www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

Garden Flowers in June - photos

June bugs! - photos

courtesy Keith Moore

Keith's Little Bit of England

A Holiday in Norfolk - YouTube

Great Tit - Waveney Wildlife

Great Tit

The Great Tit is the biggest, brightest and nosiest member of the Tit family.

Characteristics
Great Tits are easy to recognise, with a broad black line (broader in the male) down its otherwise yellow front. The neck and head are black with white cheeks and ear coverts. Upper parts are olive. It has a white wing-bar and outer tail feathers. In young birds the black is replaced by brown, and the white by yellow.

Habitat
Their preferred habitat is forest, parks, gardens and farmland hedgerows. The Great Tits nest is usually in a tree or wall but it is not averse to a nest box, letterbox or drainpipe.

Behaviour
The Great Tit is a vocal bird, it has a vast variety of distinct calls (in the region of eighty different calls), and some of them uncomfortably shrill to the human ear. The most familiar call is a "teacher, teacher", also likened to a squeaky wheelbarrow wheel.

The Great Tit is extremely adept at finding ways to reach food and they are primarily insectivores. They prefer protein rich caterpillars during breeding season to feed their young. A study published in 2007 found that Great Tits helped to reduce caterpillar damage in apple orchards by fifty percent.
B.A.B.


www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

Open Farm Sunday June 1st 2008

www.leafuk.org

ALL GEARED UP FOR OPEN FARM SUNDAY
We're all geared up for another repeat success of last year's Open Farm Sunday.

Over 200 of you have already registered to open your farm on the 1st June and it looks set to be another great day for the whole of the industry.

Our new Open Farm Sunday website has been a bit hit and we hope it will make registering and preparing for your event even easier. The resource packs are now being posted out to host farmers, which include lots of goodies like polo shirts, posters, activity booklets, road side boards, stickers and postcards to help make your event a huge success.

The first lot of Open Farm Sunday workshops are going really well and we hope to see lots more of your during the next few months at our remaining events.

Whether you've taken part in Open Farm Sunday for the last couple of years, are opening up for the first time this year, or just thinking about it - please come along to one of our workshops to find out more.

For further Open Farm Sunday news click here.

A view from under the blossom - photos