Newbourne Springs, A Suffolk Wildlife Trust Reserve

We had been wondering how long it would be until we saw our first bee of 2023. We didn't have to wait long for on 5 February we found this one drawing pollen from a bunch of catkins at SWT Newbourne Springs, and it wasn't the queen bumble I had been expecting. Look at those bulging pollen sacs. However, it seems that Hazel catkins do not rely on insects for pollination. 

We visit this reserve a few times each year. The photos below show some of the seasonal signs we noticed on our most recent visit. It isn't always the signs that take centre stage; there is little to beat the sound of the trickling stream!

The boardwalk is pretty narrow as it runs along the stream, which is fed by Newbourne Springs.

Signs of new life ...

... and ghostly reeds.

A land of sunshine and shadows.

At this point we veered away from the stream ...

... to an open grassy swathe, before heading back down ...

... to the stream again. This old reed reminded me of a sentinel Heron.

The Jay was at some distance, not far from a corrugated reptile shelter.

My thanks to David for his photo of the delicate female catkin in among ...

... larger male ones. The blue arrow points to the red females.

We may not have seen an actual Grey heron, but there was a Little Egret in the marsh.

Signs of Wild Arum in among the Snowdrops ...

... and our first Primrose of 2923!

More drifts of Snowdrops ...

... and more.

This bird was too high up for my zoom lens, but I think it is a Redwing.

Back to the starting point ...

Newbourne Springs used to supply water to Felixstowe.