The team at Carlton Marshes were hindered by an interesting puncture in the chunky gator tyre this week. The source of the puncture turned out to be this tusk from a Chinese water deer! Male Chinese water deer use tusks instead of antlers when they battle over females, and it’s likely this tusk was lost during the winter rut. The gator is used to access areas of the wetland too boggy for trucks, so they can transport machinery like chainsaws and brushcutters for reserve maintenance. 

The Carlton Marshes team were delighted to have their first sighting of a black tern over the reserve this week. Black terns used to breed in great numbers in the East Anglian fens many years ago, but water extraction and habitat loss meant they moved on to other breeding grounds. We hope that the habitat creation work to re-wet the landscape at Carlton might lead to them breed there again in future. This bird is likely to be passing over on its migration north from Africa to breed. 

Signs of spring are everywhere at Knettishall Heath, with flowering gorse (with its sweet coconut scent), rowan and cherry blossom. Also, lots of lizards are about, like this one basking in the warmth of the sun. The volunteer work party also uncovered this tiny juvenile newt which was carefully relocated away from the path. 

It’s worth getting up early for skylark surveys when you are rewarded with this magical scene. Singing high above fields and marshes, the unmistakable skylark is a joyful sound of spring and summer. Unfortunately, a 62% breeding population decline between 1970 and 2015 means skylark is now a red listed bird of conservation concern UK. Suffolk Wildlife Trust is working with farmers to improve skylark habitat on farms throughout Suffolk – find out more here. 

Warden Joe recorded more tiny and unusual species on the dry Breckland area at Lackford Lakes this week. 

Bradfield Woods' open air workshop is a rewarding place to spend the day learning a new skill, as participants on our traditional rake making course discovered. They used traditional woodworking tools and learnt methods with David Wheeler, a local craftsman and furniture maker, with some fine hay rakes resulting. 

The North East Suffolk team installed these clever new gates at Darsham Marshes this week. The design means walkers can easily use the pedestrian gates without needing to worry about letting the cows escape. These images show the crossing before and after - great work! 

Warden Lewis was thrilled to see these tadpoles have hatched in the Carlton visitor centre pond.