Nature: Photographer Steve Plume showcases the wildlife-rich Suffolk coast
This week I'd like to focus on an area that stretches from the very north of Suffolk at Kessingland and extends down to the Essex border at Manningtree. It covers 155 square miles.
It's a jewel in the Suffolk crown and is classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), taking in such places as Dunwich, Aldeburgh, Orfordness, Bawdsey and Shotley Peninsula. Of course it's Suffolk Coasts and Heaths.
Over time, I suspect most people who enjoy wildlife, the landscape, walking, cycling or family days out will have visited one, some or all of the areas. The area has a great mix of wildlife, such as large red deer herds around Minsmere, huge number of winter migrants on all of the estuaries, and rarities either resident or passing through.
There are large expanses of heather- and gorse-covered heathlands such as Dunwich and Westleton, or Sutton and Hollesley, or reedbeds such as Hen Reedbeds near Southwold, North Warren or Minsmere, plus woodlands around Tunstall and Rendlesham. So it's fair to say that the area has something for everyone and has wildlife all year around. If you wish to find out more then visit the official website at www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org
We must all help to protect it and ensure it continues to thrive. Imagine the traffic these areas get each year, with everyone wanting to enjoy what the area brings for them, so as the public we must also work together. For example, with regards to dog waste bagged or otherwise... you may think it's all right to leave it but multiply that a 100 times a day across the area - that's 36,500 little packages a year (at a conservative estimate) waiting to be stood in, or worse. The same for litter or anything else discarded. If you take a short cut across a heath, think what impact it would have if everyone decided to take a new route across a heath, especially during the nesting season.
Every time we go out to enjoy East Anglia's finest countryside you can see the after-effects of someone else's carelessness. We all love a good time - and we can enjoy one in this wonderful part of the region - but please don't leave mess for someone else to clear up.
Remember the golden rules: 'Take away memories, leave only footprints, kill only time'. And following on from my last column (and thanks for the great feedback), it's clear that concerns over inappropriate behaviour of some photographers stretches far and wide. Off my soapbox now...
Last week I spent a day in these areas, starting at Shingle Street and then on to Hollesley Common and Sutton Heath. Stonechat, northern wheatear, and linnet in abundance, with an unexpected short eared owl still hanging around. Hollesley offered the usual woodland birds but some very nice yellowhammer and siskin and then over to Sutton for my first cuckoo of the year, woodlark and mistle thrush. There were orange-tip and freshly-emerged small copper butterflies and a brief sighting of an emperor moth. Common buzzards were soaring overhead and kestrels hovered looking for food to hopefully feed this year's chicks.
Don't forget if you have any wildlife stories that could be photographed please let me know via steve@ukwildlife.me.uk. See more of my pictures on www.ukwildlife.me.uk
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