At last we have located a sizeable starling roost on the Suffolk coast this winter. It's in the North Warren reedbed. An estimated 15-20k starlings gathered on Sunday evening, settling to roost in front of the old railway line viewpoint. They usually gather first on the pylons and wires at Aldringham Walks, before heading to the reedbed where they put on an impressive display. A dusk visit to North Warren should also produce views of marsh harriers and sparrowhawks roosting in the reeded.
Meanwhile, on the grazing marshes, there are two bean geese of the taiga race. This race is very rare in Suffolk, with only two regular wintering flocks int he UK - in the Yare Valley, Norfolk and in the Stirling area of Scotland. It's usually the very similar tundra race bean geese that visit North Warren, but they're yet to return this winter. The white-fronted goose flock is slowly increasing, and there is a pink-footed goose on the marshes too, as well as the usual feral flocks of greylag, Canada and barnacle geese. And, of course, large flocks of the commoner ducks, lapwings, black-tailed godwits and gulls.
As usual, a winter visit to North Warren is a great way to discover nature. Get outdoors this winter and explore.