SOG NYD Sponsored Birdwatch

Suffolk BINS NYD challenge – Owl Be Biking

As I was entering the SOG New Year’s Day Sponsored Birdwatch, I thought I would also participate in the Suffolk BINS New Year’s Day Challenge for a bit of fun, although as my mode of transport was bicycle I had no real chance of winning.

I planned the best routes along with calculating distances to encompass as many species as possible. In the end I plumped for the Ipswich area before heading down the Shotley Peninsula.

My first bird was a Robin singing near Holywells Park at 05.33. Returning from Newbourne, I heard a Tawny Owl in woodland at Foxhall. Next a successful hour at Christchurch Park; Mandarin Duck were present which was pleasing as they had not been present the previous two occasions I had visited that week, so this was my best bird. Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing and Stock Dove were among other species seen, but I could not locate a Treecreeper that I had seen earlier in the week. On to Ipswich Wet Dock where I had found a Shag previously, but there was no sign of it now, which was disappointing and this had to go down as my worst miss! Leaving Wherstead Strand about 11.00am, I had reached 50 species and I only picked up a few more at Alton Water, missing the Slavonian Grebe and Goosander. The strong winds on the day caused a lot of the birds to keep to the margins of the reservoir.

In the afternoon I was relieved to get my first Collared Dove at Stutton and in Holbrook Bay I picked up further birds. Then back across to the Orwell via Chelmondiston for Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer, both of which I could not locate. As the sun was going down, I headed for my final destination of Shotley Marshes where I managed to pick up my first Goldfinches and Linnets of the day. Then in the fading light, Brent Geese flying up the River Orwell. I waited hoping to see further owl species and the last bird of the day at 16.03 was a Little Owl at Overhall Farm, Shotley.

I headed home with a total of 75 species and around 30 miles travelled. I failed to see a bird of prey, no Snipe or Black-tailed Godwit, although unlike some of the other teams managed to find a few woodland species in Christchurch Park. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and maybe I might do it again next year!

Gi Grieco