31.08.2025 - Outdoor Meeting : Carlton Marshes

Leader: Cath Robinson
Report: Samita Mukhopadhyay
Bird List: Nick Edwards

Carlton Marshes is a reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. From their website: “1,000 acres of wilderness in the Broads National Park, with floodplain marsh and lowland fen, home to some of the largest populations of wading birds in the East of England.”

About 12 of us met up at the car park at 9:30 am, welcoming 2 new members Jane and Remy. Some birders started logging sightings straight away. The initial plan was to do a shorter walk around the smaller wooded area of the reserve, then return to the Visitor Centre for 10am when it officially opened. However, on arrival all the amenities were already open, so Cath decided to embark on the main walk while the sun was behind us. The weather was lovely; sunny but not too hot. There was a gentle breeze but no gale. We ambled along enjoying the walk and looking at birds who insisted on appearing really Osprey- like!
We expected to see some migrants but none of us expected to see this one. There were no known breeding Ospreys at the reserve this season. Therefore, it was surmised that this was a migratory Osprey from further north, stopping by at this wetland reserve which had good food source for it. Nick Edwards felt that this area sited between Oulton Dyke and the River
Waveney, along with several water bodies in between, would be attractive because many dryer areas had been affected by the recent drought.
We all had brilliant views over a long time, as the bird circled above, swooped down and crossed directly above our path a few times. The identifying characteristics were pointed out (white brow, white underparts with breast band) by more experienced birders like Cath, Mandy, Seamus and Stuart. Shaun also was very well informed from his recent visit to
Rutland; yet he was very excited to see this one –‘in the wild’! Shaun has posted a video of the Osprey on our WhatsApp group.
As we watched the Osprey swooped down and rose with a fish in its talons. It flew over us with the whole silvery fish caught in its talons. As Nick pointed out the fish was carried in the direction of flight, for aerodynamic efficiency. At various points the Osprey was mobbed by gulls and crows. However, when we witnessed a Marsh harrier mobbing it, the size of the Osprey really hit home for us; the Marsh harrier looked tiny!
We saw several other raptors: Buzzard, Hobby, Marsh harrier, Kestrel. Of hirundine we saw House martin and Swallow. There were a couple of sightings of Great Spotted woodpecker. There were several Little egrets, a Great White egret was sighted a couple of times and also a Grey heron. Black-tailed godwits, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Lapwings, Greylag, Egyptian geese and many gulls - juvenile and adult.
On the field we saw a lot of Magpie, Carrion crow and Wood pigeon. A fair few Mute swans. Collared dove, Great tit and Blue tit were seen too, and a solitary Reed bunting. A larger number of very heathy cattle were grazing the fields. Cath informed us about ‘Belted Galloways’. We saw several deer.
We had to discount some of our sightings though. The ‘grouse’ spotted by Seamus was voted to be a pheasant. The ‘owl’ I saw on a boat was made of plastic. The ‘dog’ by the water was a small calf! The set of ‘headless ducks’ on a waterbody were clumps of clay. Although Cath was disappointed not to see the ‘raft spider’, which is known to be present at
the reserve, we had fun looking for it! We finished with a lovely lunch together outside the visitor centre, all buzzing with the joy of seeing the Osprey.

Bird List
Collared dove
Lapwing
Great spotted Woodpecker
Mallard
Mute swan
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Pied wagtail
Hobby
Herring gull
Kestrel
Robin
Osprey
Linnet
Swallow
Reed bunting
Magpie
Black-tailed godwit
Blue tit
House martin
Great tit
Wood pigeon
​Goldfinch
Little Egret
Grey heron
Gadwall
Lesser Black-Backed gull
Cormorant
Marsh harrier
Shelduck
Egyptian Goose
Great White Egret
Pheasant