Suffolk Royalty

© David Gill

This pair of beach huts at Southwold celebrates a Royal Couple.

Southwold Sunshine

Southwold © David Gill

Southwold was basking in December sunshine. The Suffolk seaside town seems to have become a post-Christmas destination for visitors.

Southwold Splash

© David Gill

The RNLI inshore lifeboat was heading out to sea this afternoon.

Stour Lighter: Smacksman's Life

Neil Catchpole sang the Smacksman's Life at University Campus Suffolk to celebrate the arrival of the Stour Lighter.

Stour Lighter: ITV Anglia Interview

Stour Lighter © David Gill

There is a short news story (with interviews) about the Lighter on ITV Anglia [here].

Stour Lighter: Busy Press Day

BBC Interviews outside UCS
© David Gill

There has been a steady set of press interviews about the Stour Lighter outside University Campus Suffolk in the Ipswich Marina.

The interviews can be heard on the BBC iPlayer via BBC Radio Suffolk (Mark Murphy).

Stour Lighter In Ipswich Marina

Stour Lighter at University Campus Suffolk
© David Gill

The Stour Lighter can be viewed at the Ipswich Marina outside the Waterfront Building of University Campus Suffolk on Wednesday 26 September 2012.

History Ashore in Ipswich

Stour Lighter outside University Campus Suffolk
© David Gill

The restored Stour Lighter, part of the Managing a Masterpiece project, is on display outside the Waterfront Building of University Campus Suffolk.

• UCS Press Release
• UCS Journalism
• ITV Anglia News

Costa Sizewell

© David Gill

Suffolk was the hottest place in the UK today. The beach at Sizewell was certainly packed to enjoy this taste of summer.

Odonata at Helmingham

© David Gill

A number of odonata were out and about around Helmingham this weekend.

Contemplating the wrong mode of transport?

©David Gill

This swallow appears to have been considering the wrong route this afternoon at Minsmere RSPB Reserve.

Sizewell features in the background.

Minsmere: Burnet Moth

© David Gill

This appears to be a Burnet Moth at Minsmere on Saturday afternoon.

Minsmere

© David Gill

This appears to be a Reed Warbler at RSPB Minsmere reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Any help with the identification gratefully received.

Orford Sun

Orford © David Gill

The view from the top of Orford Castle was brilliant in the July sunshine with clear views over the Ness.

Harrier under attack

Welney © David Gill, 2012

A marsh harrier was not flying unopposed over the marshes at Welney this afternoon. An avocet was in pursuit.

Olympic Flame in Ipswich

Flag flaying at UCS
© David Gill

The Olympic flame reached Ipswich this evening. The weather was perfect and the marina was packed with viewers wanting to catch a glimpse of the runner.

Marsh harriers near Southwold

Female marsh harrier near Southwold
© David Gill

We watched two marsh harriers hunting over the reed beds (Hen Reedbeds) just outside Southwold.

Jubilee Sunshine at Melford Hall

Melford Hall © David Gill, 2012

The sun shone at Melford Hall to enhance the celebrations for the Jubilee weekend.

Blue Butterfly

© David Gill, May 2012

© David Gill, May 2012

We also spotted a blue butterfly in our local nature reserve on the edge of Ipswich. Is this a male Holly Blue?

Ladybird Bed

© David Gill

This ladybird seemed to have found a particularly comfortable place to rest as we had a walk through our local nature reserve on the edge of Ipswich. We counted over 30 seven-spotted ladybirds, mostly on nettles.

Suffolk Matters and the BBC

I was a "sofa guest" of Lesley Dolphin on BBC Radio Suffolk earlier today. The programme is available on the BBC iPlayer.

We touched on archaeology in Suffolk, mobile technology, poetry, and University Campus Suffolk.

Flatford February

© David Gill

It felt that Spring was just around the corner at Flatford Mill.

Kirby Hall

© David Gill

On the way back to Ipswich we had a picnic at Kirby Hall. The house was used as a setting for the film adaptation of Mansfield Park.

There was an added bonus when a pair of red kites flew overhead.

Cormorant Island

© David Gill

There was a large group of cormorants on one of the sand bars at the mouth of the river Ore (opposite Shingle Street) this afternoon. A few black-backed gulls had joined them and, I think, one guillemot.

© David Gill

Shingle Street Sunshine

© David Gill

Spring seems to be around the corner at Shingle Street looking out towards Orford and the river Ore.

Holland in Ipswich

Ipswich Quay © David Gill

We went to have a look at the Dutch vessel moored in Ipswich at the moment. The cormorants seemed to be enjoying diving around it.

Snow melt on the marina

Ipswich Marina © David Gill

After a fresh fall of snow overnight ... the melt seems to have started. However there is still a covering along the pontoons in the Ipswich Marina.

Mistley Towers

© David Gill

Mistley Towers are the remains of a Robert Adam church of 1776.

For further information see English Heritage.

Snow on the marina

Ipswich marina © David Gill

The snow has transformed the waterfront at Ipswich. There are even patches of ice forming in the marina.

Snow Question

Sculpture at University Campus Suffolk © David Gill

There was a light sprinkling of snow this morning that soon disappeared. But by 10 pm this evening the ground was covered and the snow was coming down fast. The marina is now under a blanket of white.