Two Grey Partridge coveys, Brown Hares, Linnets, numerous bees, butterflies including the exotic Clouded Yellow. This is not a count from a nature reserve but a building site. Every Friday for a few weeks I have been in Cambridge and have had to take our dog ,who I walk at lunch time, on a next-door building site. Being a spaniel she specializes in finding wildlife.

The Grey partridges are the easiest to find, they fly off into a fenced off corner until we have gone. The dog then focuses on the hares, but being a spaniel relies on her nose investigating the scent where they have been while the hares quietly slip through the fence unnoticed by her. Butterflies, bees and many other insects feed on the flowering thistles and ragwort that have colonised the site.

Cambridge building site

The site is about two acres, the raised areas are where the top soil has been scraped off last year. About half appears to have roughly sown with grass and the rest left to be colonised by plants with wind borne seeds, hence the thistles and ragwort. The plants are sparse and slow growing as the ground is sandy and poor in nutrients. It looks like the site has been cut once at the end of July and has been untouched since then. There is open farmland about 500 metres away

This site waiting to be developed on a Cambridge research park shows that wildlife will thrive if given a little space and left alone. Grey Partridges, Brown Hares and many other species have almost disappeared over much of intensively farmed East Anglia. The young partridges need a mix of seeds and insects to grow and be able to survive the winter. Hares need undisturbed areas for their surface-born young leverets many of which are killed in their forms by farm machinery.

25 miles east from the site where I live in Suffolk there are spaces that are not cropped and meant to encourage wildlife. However these spaces are in most cases over managed, fertilisers and sprays drift into them, most of them are mown several times a year to keep them “tidy”. All of this drastically reduces the value of these spaces for wildlife.

The site in Cambridge surely indicates that leaving the few spaces meant for wildlife alone and doing nothing is the best management option. This could include the unused corner in your garden?

The palette of Suffolk changes from golden yellow to brown over a few weeks in August. Farming is constantly searching for ways to become more efficient and profitable. At no time is this more obvious than harvest, far fewer fields are now left into autumn as stubble. Of course, this affects wildlife that had to adapt to these changes.

Early August fields in Suffolk

Harvest is the busiest time of year on an arable farm. From July the main income of an arable farm is standing out in the fields and needs to be harvested at the right time to maximise the value of the crops. The main challenge is the weather but people and mechanical breakdowns have to be managed as well. Oil seed rape is usually the first crop to ripen followed by winter barley, oats and then wheat.

Robert harvesting oats at Halls Farm Norton. August Suffolk

Long sunny days are ideal for harvest because the grain and seed have low moisture content.  Drying grain after it has been harvested is a major expense in wetter summers. Many farmers also try to speed up harvest and the drying process by spraying crops with herbicide. This is very common with oil seed rape, as often the seed will be dry and dropping from the plants before the thick stalks are dry enough to go through the combine harvester.

In Mid Suffolk the most important crop is wheat as it thrives on the heavy clay soils and provides the main income of most arable farms. The best price can be obtained for milling wheat that is used for making bread flour. Growing milling wheat means doing every thing right for the 10 months it is growing in the field and being lucky with the weather, not least having dry weather at the optimal harvest time. Wheat that is harvested late can lose protein levels and is then classified as much less valuable feed wheat.

Cultivating a stubble field, late July Suffolk

The rapid change from yellow to brown happens for several reasons. The most important crops in Mid Suffolk are mostly sown before the winter. If these can be sown earlier they can get well established before the winter weather and are ready to grow strongly in the spring. Preparing the seed beds early allows post-harvest weeds to be controlled early and soil-conditioning chopped straw to be cultivated in. Winter cereals and rape are sown early to take advantage of the late summer and autumn rain. And, of course the newest tractors and cultivators are so large and powerful that the previous days harvested fields can be cultivated the following morning while waiting for that day’s crops to dry for combining.

Seed eating birds used to depend on stubble fields for food into the winter. Large flocks of birds like House Sparrows and Linnets would eat spilt grain and weed seeds. Modern combine harvesters hardly miss anything and most efficient Suffolk arable farms are almost devoid of seed eating birds in late summer and autumn, village gardens and town fringes are where they live now.

Roe Deer in tall summer flowers at Halls Farm, early morning August Suffolk.Capreolus capreolus

Halls Farm and Little Haugh are an exception to this. Stubble is left longer because all of the oat straw is baled and removed which takes time. But the main difference is that much the 5% of land that is not in production is sown with a seed-rich mix of plants that are left all winter, principally for the game birds shot on the farms. Flocks of Skylarks, Yellow hammers, Linnets and other seed-eaters, including scarce tree sparrows, thrive all winter on the food and shelter provided by the small percentage of land not used for arable production.

Seed rich bird mix at Halls farm Noton

The moth-like barn Owl drifts through the old orchard trees every evening just after the sun has gone down at 9.00 pm. In the straw barn, and in the box at the bottom of Halls Farm, hungry young Barn owls are waiting to be fed. The thick, tangled grass and wild flowers in the orchard is full of voles and mice and the adult owls know this. Since early June, providing the weather is dry and still, Barn owls have hunted in the orchard every evening and early morning, hovering or sitting in the old fruit trees listening for the faint sound of their prey before diving down into the grass. The orchard is in front of the farmhouse garden and the Barn owls hunt, oblivious to the Honeywood family sitting in the garden on warm evenings.

Barn Owl hovering hunt, early morning June, Suffolk. Tyto alba

The same narrative takes place across the road at Little Haugh Farm. Barn owls hunt in the parkland around the main house. Much of the grass has been left uncut until now so the Barn owls can catch plenty of food for their young. I have been watching one of the pairs at Little Haugh in the early mornings. The male and female are quite distinctive and they tend to take it in turns to hunt.  One morning I will see the male, who prefers hunting round the trees, the next day the female hunts the more open areas.

Barn Owl with vole fly past, early morning June, Suffolk. Tyto alba

This year we know of four nests at Halls and Little Haugh Farms.  There could be another nest, as adult Barn owls have been seen feeding young in an old Oak tree for a couple of days. It is likely that a pair has nested undetected in an old tree somewhere. This compares with last year when only one pair successfully raised young.

Barns owls are very dependent on the field vole population. In late winter and early spring the females must be very well fed to be able to produce eggs.  If the vole numbers are low the owls will not breed.  In spring 2013 the vole population crashed and many Barn owls died from starvation. This year is much better, already the four broods of young owls are starting to clamber out of their nests and exercise their wings.

Barn Owl pair meet and greet in an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

There are estimated to be 4000 pairs of breeding Barn Owls in the UK, 4 of those pairs are at Halls and Little Haugh farms. This is not by accident; around 5% of the land on these farms is not used for arable production, instead it is managed for wildlife and game birds. The obvious difference from other local farms is that field margins and grassland areas are left to grow and not mown repeatedly. This allows wild flowers and grasses to flower and produce seeds, which in turn benefits insects, mammals and birds. Mowing can control weeds, but looking tidy and giving farm workers something to do in slack times in early summer before harvest could be a factor.

Barn Owl pair, full wing stretch in the middle of an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

Very soon the young Barn owls will leave the nests. The adults may try to breed again and will not tolerate the young owls hunting in their territory. The young owls must find their own hunting and roosting places but this is not easy and many die in their first winter. Halls and Little Haugh have areas that are good for hunting  Barn owls but lack nesting and roosting places. This summer the plan is to put up more nest boxes in these areas so that the young owls can establish their own territories and survive their first winter to breed in the spring. I will report back on this later in the year.

Barn Owl on the move at sunset in an Oak tree. July evening, Suffolk. Tyto alba

At first glance I thought it was a Buzzard. A crow was mobbing a large bird as I opened the gate to drive through and leave the farm; a closer look through binoculars showed it was a Red Kite. On the other side of the gate another large bird was sitting in the hedge, this time it was a Buzzard. A few minutes earlier I had been watching a Kestrel family including five young learning to catch worms and insects on a track.

Although these birds look strong and aggressive they are in reality vulnerable and they are among the first that fail to breed and to die when conditions turn against them. Last year (2013) Field vole numbers were very low, Barn owls were hunting in daylight and catching very little, they had few if any young, and I saw no young Kestrels at Halls or Little Haugh farms.

Barn Owl hovering hunt, early morning June, Suffolk. Tyto alba

This year has been much better. I have been watching Barn owls hunting very early in the morning to feed their young; they are catching voles about every 10 minutes. Fat young barn owls are starting to come out of their nest sites and to clamber about in tree branches. There are at least four pairs of Barn owls with young at Halls and Little Haugh Farm this year and all of them seem to be finding plenty of food. The Kestrels have done very well too, raising 5 young, and are now teaching them how to hunt for their own food.

Kestrel, eating a worm. Falco tinnunculus www.mikerae.com

A pair of Buzzards is also breeding at Little Haugh in the woods by the river; the adults are very active in looking for food. Estates and farms that run game bird shoots have a reputation for not tolerating raptors and other predators. These two farms show that running a profitable shoot is totally compatible with a high bird of prey population. The Gamekeeper at Little Haugh is relaxed about the Buzzards on the farms and there is little evidence of them taking game birds. In the breeding season he leaves the rats that are shot under the game bird feeders, this is easy food for a growing Buzzard family.

A couple of weeks ago at Halls Farm I saw a Sparrowhawk try to catch a Red-legged partridge sitting in an open field. The healthy partridge was too strong and chased the Sparrowhawk away. Like most predators, birds of prey prefer to hunt for weak or injured prey that are easier to catch.

The healthy Owl and bird of prey population at Halls and Little Haugh farms indicates that there is an equally healthy natural environment that provides plenty of food for them. It also shows that even on land with game bird shooting it is possible to manage possible conflict with young game bird predation by providing alternative food at critical times.

Barn Owl flying with vole in beak, early june morning Suffolk. Tyto alba

Otters leave their spraint as marking under the Blackbourn river bridge at Bardwell. If you are very patient otters can be seen in the river from the bridge. They can also be seen at Ixworth and further upstream towards Tostock. This river flows into Thetford where otters can be commonly seen in and around the town. Lots of other wildlife is linked to the river and its banks including; Tree Sparrows that can be seen in the scrubby fens and woods that line the river, Barn Owls and many insects like Banded Demoiselle damselfly.

The Blackbourne flows through intensively farmed Suffolk and into South Norfolk and for much of its length it can flood after heavy rain. This tendency, and the poorly drained, peaty soil along its banks make farming impractical. The willow woodland, water meadows and scrubby fen are home and highway for much wildlife through mid Suffolk.

Ponds and Willow woodland near the river at Little Haugh

Towards its eastern end the Blackbourne runs through the northern side of little Haugh Farm and very close to Halls Farm in Norton. In addition to being an arable farm, Little Haugh is used for shooting and the land round the river encourages duck and game birds. There is a mix of ponds, rough grassland and woods all lightly managed, overgrown and wild looking. As well as game birds this area is ideal for wildlife, Barn Owls and Buzzards breed here, as well as numerous smaller birds including Warblers, Tits and often Tree Sparrows. Cuckoos are virtually guaranteed every spring. Insects, plants, frogs, and small mammals all thrive here too. However, Foxes and Muntjac Deer are discouraged by shooting.

Comma resting on old Cow parsley

The diverse life that flourishes around the river at Little Haugh is like an investment bank, wildlife can spread out into the surrounding farmland where ever a small bit of suitable habitat is allowed to develop. These habitats can include field margins, hedges and small ponds.

An indication of how significant the area is around the Blackbourne River at Norton is that there are at least 4 pairs of Barn Owls breeding at Little Haugh and Halls Farm. The Total UK Barn Owl population is 4000 pairs. The presence of Otters, Buzzards, Barn Owls and other hunting animals is a clear signal that this is great place for wildlife as well as being profitable farmland and a successful game-bird shoot.

Barn Owl, Hunting angel Early morning, June Suffolk. Tyto alba

What made me stop was the constant orange and black movement over the flowers. Small tortoiseshell butterflies, too many to count, flew up as I walked past the hedge and settled again behind me like a Mexican wave. The hedge runs between two fields of oats and apart from an occasional Oak tree it is low, mostly brambles and has nettles and thistles growing along side.

butterfly hedge Halls farm

Standing still meant the butterflies focused on the flowers and on chasing each other. It also allowed me to look more closely. Moth-like Large Skipper butterflies were feeding on the lower bramble flowers, some of the Tortoiseshells turned out to be Commas, and Meadow Browns and Ringlets were low down in the long grass.

Small Tortoiseshell feeding on Thistle at Halls farm

My ears also tuned into the modulated hum of hundreds of bees big and small, hover flies, and the clicking rattle of dragonflies. This unkempt “weed” infested hedge at Halls Farm was alive with insects.

Comma resting on old Cow parsley

Later that day I was a couple of miles away at the Pakenham end of Little Haugh Farm where the soil is sandier. The mixed oak, ash and pine, woodland is cover for game birds and has a wide ride running through the middle. Like the hedge, the ride has lots of brambles, thistles and nettles, but it also has rampant honeysuckle climbing the trees at the ride edge. The flowering honeysuckle was why I came. White Admiral butterflies feed on honeysuckle flowers and lay their eggs on the leaves.  The handsome White Admiral has spread to many Suffolk woods over the last ten years and watching their gliding flight is one of the highlights of summer.

White admiral at Little Haugh

As I was leaving Pakenham woods a spectacular orange Silver Washed fritillary swooped past me, another butterfly doing well in Suffolk.

Siver-washed Fritillary

This summer is proving to be as good as last year for butterflies. The early spring has brought them out early and often in big numbers. The many lightly managed hedges and field margins at Halls and Little Haugh farms are making the summer spectacular with both wild flowers and butterflies.

Since spring started the early morning noise has gradually got worse as people trying to sleep in nearby houses have been woken early and had to keep their windows closed at night. The cause of this morning riot of noise is large numbers of unruly birds competing to sing louder than each other.

The orchard, Halls Farm Norton on a May spring day

Rival Blackbirds and Song thrushes stake claim to fruit trees, trying to outdo each other vocally and then there is insistent background noise from Robins, Whitethroats, Great tits, Dunnocks and many others. Then, to cap it all, Cuckoos move in calling incessantly, and the Pigeons….

Noise is not the only disturbance, white ghostly shapes glide over the orchard in the morning mist, Barn owls distract people watching from further sleep and Roe deer are frequent visitors.

At first glance the orchard could be dismissed as a scruffy acre with a few old trees. There is a mixture of old apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. Where old trees have died, new ones have been planted. At the beginning of June the grass is long with heavy seed heads, and a closer look reveals many smaller flowering plants mixed in with grass as the orchard has not been mown this year. This spring, rare wild Snakes Head Fritillary was found growing here, no one remembers seeing this beautiful little plant here before.

Lucy hunting for Pignuts. Halls farm orchard

Over the last few years the orchard has been managed with a very light touch. Ponies graze round the trees in the winter and very early spring and, if needed, a crop of hay is cut in late summer when all the seeds have dried and dropped to the ground. The ponies only eat the longer growth and their hooves open some bare ground allowing seeds to germinate.

This light touch management has allowed wild flowers to thrive, and birds flock in at all times of the year to feed on the seeds, fruit, and many insects. On some nights this spring we have run a moth trap in the orchard. Last Sunday we counted well over 100 moths and more than 25 different species. Judging by the Barn Owl which hunts daily, small mammals are common as well.

Identifying moths trapped in the Halls farm orchard

Apart from the obvious benefits to wildlife, the orchard makes sitting out in the nearby garden a real pleasure; with a constantly changing scene of delicate wild flowers, buzzing insects and, of course, those noisy rioting birds.