Darren Underwood

Hello Phil. Thanks for your message. Willow Tit is certainly long gone, but Marsh Tit is still quite numerous and there were five Nightingale territories in that general area last year. The area as a whole is now good with several fields in HLS and some EA winter scrapes created along Chad Brook.

The harvestman Rilaena triangularis. Found in woodland leaf litter, Long Melford, Suffolk.

Nice to see some (insect) signs of spring. 😎

It was nice to have some sunshine and warmth today (instead of rain!). The weather tempted out 10 BRIMSTONES, 3 COMMAS and a PEACOCK butterfly at Long Melford in Suffolk; all my first sightings this year.

I did wonder about Megachile species. 👍

It was interesting to be able to see these old solitary bee breeding chamber cells in a block of split wood. There were three 'tunnels' that had been used. Would have been nice to know which species was involved. #longmelford #suffolk

Thanks Tim. Certainly one I will be keeping my eye out for. 👍

My Long Melford local patch produced 598 LINNETS (in flocks of 400, 125 and 73), 93 CHAFFINCHES, 118 FIELDFARES, a flyover SISKIN, singing CHIFFCHAFF, 46 PIED WAGTAILS and 3 GREY WAGTAILS during this morning's walk. #suffolkbirding

Cylindroiulus punctatus (Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede).

Glomeris marginata (Pill Millipede).

Tachypodoiulus niger (White-legged Snake Millipede)

Three common millipedes found in Long Melford woodland this week. Millipedes are a new group for me so I'm starting with the 'easy' ones. 🙂
1. Cylindroiulus punctatus (Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede)
2. Glomeris marginata (Pill Millipede)
3. Tachypodoiulus niger (White-legged Snake Millipede)
#suffolk

A total of 51 bird species recorded on my first Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) local patch walk of February. Highlights included 135 CHAFFINCHES, 130 LINNETS, 330 LAPWINGS, a singing CHIFFCHAFF, 145 COMMON GULLS, 35 MEADOW PIPITS, 2 SISKINS and a WOODCOCK. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding

No, White-fronts have not been here yet this winter. There were still nine at Shalford Meadow today though.

A good local patch walk along the River Stour at Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) this morning produced a male PINTAIL (very good for here), a pair of WIGEON, male GADWALL, 210 LAPWINGS, a pair of STONECHATS, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS, MARSH TIT, 2 WOODCOCK and 44 LINNETS. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding

A group of five queen HORNETS found hibernating under loose bark on a fallen tree at Long Melford, Suffolk today. Hope this doesn't mean my moth trap will be full of them later in the year. 😲

Fallow Deer at Shimpling, Suffolk. A small part of a herd that recently numbered 114+ animals. From the local Landscape Recovery project: 'the highest risk to the success of habitat enhancement and creation in the long-term, is the lack of deer management.' I'd never have guessed! 🦌🦌🦌.......

Six species of moth found in Long Melford (Suffolk) woodland this evening - all by torchlight. Totals were:
Early Moth - 5
Spring Usher - 1
Mottled Umber - 2
Satellite - 5
Chestnut - 7
Winter Moth - 18
Interestingly, 4 of the Satellites and 3 Chestnuts were feeding on overripe rosehips. #mothsmatter

The floodwaters along the River Stour between Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) produced several interesting bird sightings this morning, including a GREAT WHITE EGRET, 3 Shoveler, 28 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 57 Lapwings, a Little Grebe and 25 Pied Wagtails, plus a flyover Siskin.

My first Long Melford (Suffolk) outing of 2026 produced counts of 110 Yellowhammers, 80 Chaffinches, 90 Linnets (in flocks of 60 and 30 birds), a Stonechat, 2 Ravens and (just outside of the parish boundary) a singing male Crossbill. #suffolkbirding

Happy New Year Jeff. Yes, it was a very good day.

Well done David. Good to see you today.

The RED-NECKED GREBE showed nicely at Ardleigh Reservoir, near Colchester, Essex this afternoon. #essexbirding

A very enjoyable (but cold) visit to Abberton Reservoir in Essex today provided sightings of male LESSER SCAUP, 15 SCAUP, 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, 15+ WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 2 SMEW, 3 BEWICK'S SWANS, 3 LITTLE STINTS, 2 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS and a RAVEN. #essexbirding

Yes, very good to see Sean. I only saw smaller flocks there today - I wonder if the frost broke the large flock up. However, there was a flock of 130 Sky Larks on the same field today. 🙂

The highlight of my Long Melford (Suffolk) farmland bird counts today was a flock of 210 Yellowhammers feeding on the edge of a clover ley field. 🙂 Also, 40 Linnets, 18 Chaffinches, 3 Reed Buntings, Stonechat and a Raven.

The highlight of my Christmas Day Long Melford local patch walk was a group of five CHIFFCHAFFS seen feeding together in a sheltered sunny corner at the sewage works. #suffolk

Hello Liam. Blimey, that was quick. Thanks so much for checking and confirming. Guess I need to look harder for chyzeri now. 🙂

Porcellio spinicornis (Painted Woodlouse). Found amongst a pallet of bricks. Long Melford, Suffolk. An attractive woodlouse with a contrasting dark head and yellow spots down the back.

Ok. That's next on the list then. 👍

There are a few (old) straw bales in a small open barn. I did wonder if I should try going through the loose material and 'sweepings'. I also need to start looking under bark as there are four ancient woodlands on the farm.

Will do Liam.

If you're back this way at any time, you would be very welcome to have a look on the organic farm that I have been recording on. 👍