Coots have been gathering in large numbers (known as a ‘raft’ of coots) on Peto’s Marsh at Carlton Marshes this week. A total of 64 were spotted by volunteer Andrew Easton, as well as 5 great white egrets and the glossy ibis which has remained on the reserve for some weeks now.

Warden Gavin caught these amazing images of the glossy ibis in flight when it was startled by a passing marsh harrier.

Our wonderful volunteers have been busy clearing gorse and heather from bare ground scrapes at Knettishall Heath this week. These banks are home to a heather bee colony, and the open sandy soils are also crucial for solitary bees and wasps, beetles, spiders and basking reptiles.

The windy weather toppled this alder tree at Newbourne Springs this week. Whilst it’s sad to lose a tree, the fallen giant will provide brilliant habitat for invertebrates such stag beetles as the wood rots, and the exposed soil will be ideal for birds and mammals to scavenge in.

The jack snipe is a secretive and extremely well camouflaged bird which visits marshes, wet grassland and reedbeds in winter. This camouflage resulted in a game of ‘spot the jack snipe’ for the North East Suffolk Team this week, see if you can spot the bird in the pictures below, taken at Hen Reedbeds.

Jack snipe are slightly easier to spot in the field because when on the move they habitually bob up and down as if their legs were made of springs!