News archive

Wednesday, 14 December 2005

DECEMBER MID-WEEK WALK

This walk was along the River Deben above Woodbridge. 25 members enjoyed a dry, mild day as we first walked upstream to look for a common sandpiper that usually lurks in the area. It was not seen where it was expected - that is birdwatching - but they did enjoy a prolonged sighting of a kingfisher sitting on the fencing of a sluice by the river.

The walk down river was equally rewarding. It was high tide and the birds were crammed onto narrow banks on the far side. The members were entertained by flocks of lapwing, parties of golden plover, other flocks of dunlin and knot flying off their roosting sites and swirling about in tight formation flying. These birds would then come down to roost and take off again to repeat the performance. The common sandpiper was seen at this roost site as were a number of other waders. 40 species were seen that morning.