Dunwich Heath
Wildlife Sounds of Dunwich Heath
Dunwich Heath lies on the east coast of Suffolk and is part of the larger Sandlings heathland belt that runs along this stretch of the Suffolk coast, east of the A12.The Sandlings are characterised by their sandy soils with heaths, acid grassland and woodland.
This is one of the few remaining areas of the Sandlings heath of East Anglia. Tree clearance, probably in Neolithic times, permitted heath to become established.
The habitats found around Dunwich Heath include conifer plantations, mixed deciduous woodlands, reed beds, grazing marshland, coastal dunes and cliffs. Dunwich Heath was purchased by the National Trust in 1968 and covers 86.6 hectares. It is now protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is part of a Special Protected Area (SPA) under the European Birds Directive and is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the European Habitats Directive due to its threatened species.
Dunwich Heath is one of Suffolk's most important conservation areas with populations of Dartford Warblers, Nightjars.
Bordering Dunwich Heath is the RSPB reserve of Minsmere famous for its Avocets, Bitterns and Marsh Harriers. To the north west of Dunwich Heath lies Westleton Heath NNR covering 47 ha on either side of the main road between the villages of Westleton and Dunwich. Together Dunwich Heath, Minsmere and Westleton Heath form part of the largest remaining stretch of Sandlings heath.
It is hoped that this first volume of Wildlife Sounds of Dunwich Heath will enable the listener to appreciate the uniqueness of this area and at the same time aid in the identification of some of the less frequently seen species.
Track List
The Woodland Edge
1.Woodland chorus 4'00"
2.Stock Dove (Columba oenas ) 0'52"
3.Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) 0'48"
4.Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) 1'28"
5.Jay (Garrulus glandarius) 1'19"
6.Treecreeper(Certhia familiaris) 1'03"
7.Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 0'53"
8.Great Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocopos major) 1'47"
9.Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) 1'51"
10.Siskin (Carduelis spinus) 1'23"
11.Robin (Erithacus rebecula) 2'16"
12.Woodlark (Lullula arborea) 2'51"
13.The Quarry 1'31"
14.Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) 1'24"
15.Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) 1'10"
16.Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) 1'06"
17.Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) 0'47"
Dunwich Heath
18.Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) 0'51"
19.Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 1'27"
20.Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) 0'28"
21.Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) 2'34"
22.Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) 2'25"
23.Magpie (Pica pica) 0'51"
24.Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) 2'00"
25.Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) 1'19"
26.Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) 2'14"
27.Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) 2'10"
28.Chaffinch (Frigilla ceolebs) 1'23"
29.Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) 0'53"
30.Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrenella) 0'42"
31.Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) 1'42"
North Marsh and Docwra's Ditch
32.Bittern (Botaurus stellaris ) 0'47"
33.Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) 0'55"
34.Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) 2'17"
35.Common Toad (Bufo bufo) 3'03"
36.Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) 0'52"
37.Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 0'44"
38.Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 1'43"
39.Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 0'33"
40.Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 0'35"
41.Greylag Goose (Anser anser) 0'26"
42.Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 0'57"
43.Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) 1'34"
44.Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) 0'27"
45.Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) 1'57