Summer arrived early and although there are great numbers
of Shelduck, mallard, swans, greylag and Canada geese 
there are not as many ducklings, gosling or cygnets as 
we would expect. The very dry weather has been blamed
as has the cold ! However there are hopes that second 
broods will appear before long and meantime there are 
several little broods swimming on the river  and a pair  
of Egyptian Geese have produced a single offspring .


We seem to  have acquired about 40  swans that have 
come from  Mistley  the flock there have been having
a hard time finding food as their numbers had become
unsustainable . Here they are looking wellfed and
seem set to stay on this stretch of the river.


Small birds have done well and in the garden we have 
young robins wrens, goldfinch,chaffinch,greenfinch 
and goldfinch. As well we have great, blue and 
longtailed tits, blackbirds and hedgesparrows.

 
For the first time for several years housemartins 
and swallows have bred here and up the river swifts
hawk over the water.


One great joy is the bats that sweep round the house
at dusk; the little twittering sounds are enchanting.


Skylarks have bred in the fields up the river from 
Marsh Barn and early morning walks with the dog are
enhanced by their songs.


The other thing of note has been the regular song of
the cuckoo , arriving in April and still in evidence
daily.


There seems to be a more than usual amount of birdsong
---it really is a lovely summer


The  'wildlife garden' at Flatford is still in progress
--as usual money is a problem but it is hoped great
strides will have been made by the end of the summer.