January - villagevoices.org.uk

nationally important
for Redshank and
they can be seen on
any exposed piece of
mud when the tide
is down. One of the
best places to see the
Avocets is around
Ramsholt. They tend
to be on the water’s
edge where they sift
for food with their
upturned beak. They
can also be seen up
the Alde as well and
a flock of 100 or
more flying to roost
can take your breath away.
Boyton RSPB reserve is a good place
to see many of our wintering wildfowl—Mallard,
Teal and Wigeon especially
are using the grazing marshes to
feed. We also are lucky enough to have
the RSPB land at Hollesley as well
which is developing into an excellent
spot for ducks and geese, especially if
it gets cold in the New Year.This was
not meant to be an advert but don’t forget
you can plan your route using the
excellent Walks book that Debbie Pipe
and Pauline Austerfield have created.
Red-line Quaker
On the Heaths winter is a pretty quiet
time on the whole. There are, however,
still birds about although some
of them do migrate. Often in January
Wood Larks will sing if the sun is out
and it won’t be long before they start
to breed, in March. And remember the
poor Dartford Warblers that don’t tend
to leave. Last winter, down in Hampshire
and Dorset, many of them suffered
and died because of the very cold
weather they experienced. Here we
were lucky that we didn’t have it too
bad even though we had a bit of snow.
Nick Mason
www.villagevoices.org.uk
January 2010 page