Highlights

• Nightingales in full flow at Bromeswell
• A host of warblers in song including Reed and Garden Warblers
• Two Cuckoos calling along the River Deben
• A singing Whitethroat scoped on its chosen gorse bush
• A lovely panoramic view down the Butley river towards Boyton
• 12 species of butterflies seen on our walk south from the Froize
• A cracking lunch as always!

After several cloudy days, we were delighted that the sun was out this morning! We met as usual for coffee at 8.30am and I outlined our plans. There was time to get sorted before, around 9am, we headed off. 

It was just a ten minute drive to Bromeswell Green Nature Reserve. This spot is one of several in the Woodbridge area with a healthy population of Nightingales and, having done a recce earlier in the week, I was confident at least two birds would be in residence. We parked up and almost at once we could hear the Nightingales right by the road! One bird was in particularly fine form on the edge of the woodland, giving its traditional whistles and machine gun like rattles. We listened in awe for ages, a magical experience to live long in the memory. There was time, too, to discuss how far these birds had travelled to be with us.

Concentrating on one particular song whilst several other birds are singing too has similarities to picking out one instrument within an orchestra. It isn’t easy, but over the next half an hour or so we heard Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler; I used the Merlin app to help everyone with the specific sounds we were focusing on. I also discussed the dual purpose of male birds singing, to attract a mate and hold down a territory.

We pottered down to the banks of the River Deben. Here a Reed Warbler sang away at close range in a small patch of reeds. We could hear two Cuckoos calling on the far side but they, like most of the songsters this morning, remained out of sight. Two Mute Swans and a female Mallard with a brood of ducklings were spotted on the river itself, whilst a Common Sandpiper whizzed by. Overhead we had several sightings of a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it moved between its nest and feeding area. We also noted a Buzzard, whilst two different sized corvids proved to be Rook and Jackdaw after some initial excitement. 

A Cetti’s Warbler gave its explosive song before, after one last spell with a Nightingale, it was time to return to the cars and drive back to the Froize. The first part of our morning had gone like clockwork. 

After a pit stop we spent a few minutes watching the House Martins feeding over the village then walked east along the road and south onto the footpath. We had just over a couple of hours before lunch, and the plan was to walk as far as we could within the time whilst stopping to look at whatever we wanted to along the way! As expected, the volume of bird song was significantly less than earlier on, but in some ways that made life easier with just one bird singing at a time. We added Chaffinch and Wren to our list and had seconds of Garden Warbler.

Perhaps surprisingly, butterflies were to become a real feature of our walk. The first two, Green Hairstreak and Brown Argus, were only seen fleetingly which was frustrating, but we would have better luck later. We also enjoyed the plants, using apps to identify ones we were unsure of. Common Silverweed was new for most of us.

We headed south past the paddocks and west along the edge of some fine woodland before reaching the reedbed, complete with Reed Warblers, then found a pair of Long-tailed Tits to our left and a ‘tacking’ Blackcap to our right. The path took us south parallel to the Butley river, and we got as far as Crag Pit, around a mile and a half from our base. Here we watched Sand Martins and wondered whether they were finding holes in which to nest. Using the scope we spotted a male Marsh Harrier alongside a Red Kite way downstream, plus a Cormorant on a post. Little Egrets, Shelducks and another Common Sandpiper were a little closer as was a fly-by Oystercatcher. The panoramic view was marvellous, so we were pleased to have reached this point. A Skylark sang high up above us and we were chuffed and surprised to find two boxing Hares!” 

On both the outward and return journeys we found a Common Whitethroat singing in some isolated bushes. Perhaps because of the wind, it was less keen to perch in the open than usual, but eventually we all had good views through the scope and also enjoyed watching it in song flight. The Linnets in the same area were very skittish today.

The butterflies continued to be the source of much joy! Small Copper, Common Blue (my first of the year) and Small Heath were all seen well and photographed along the path, with Green-veined White and Speckled Wood watched along the woodland edge. We would tally a very impressive twelve species in total (plus one other, Painted Lady, seen only by the leader).

There was plenty of chance to chat as we headed back to the Froize, arriving more or less at 1pm. As always there was time to purchase drinks from the bar before we settled down for a wonderful lunch. My preferred choice today was the aubergine curry with a little kedgeree, but the other dishes looked equally splendid. Many majored on the fabulous joint of roast pork. For dessert some opted for pannacotta with exotic fruits, others for warm carrot cake with salted caramel ice cream.

After our meal there was time to reflect on a productive and thoroughly enjoyable morning. Everyone’s highlight was different! The ‘Nightingales and other Spring Songsters’ had duly provided much entertainment, and we had recorded lots of butterflies and flowers as a bonus. We talked about the exciting programme of events taking place over the coming months before heading our separate ways.

David Walsh – May 2025

Full list of butterflies: Large White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (leader-only), Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Heath.