Warblers’ mixed fortunes January’s severe weather was presumably responsible for there being no breeding season records of Cetti’s Warbler at any of the species’ former breeding sites. However, in the summer months the coastal reedbeds hosted four reeling Savi’s Warblers and across the county there were reports of 49 reeling Grasshopper Warblers. The Lakenheath poplars attracted six singing male Golden Orioles but only two pairs bred successfully at this site; however, a pair bred successfully at a second site rearing three juveniles. A pair of Red-backed Shrikes bred unsuccessfully at an undisclosed site, but many of Suffolk’s birders were attracted to a wellpublicised pair just across the county boundary from Santon Downham at St.Helen’s Well. An unprecedented discovery involved a pair of Serin at a potential breeding site in Mildenhall but there was no known nesting attempt. Willow Tits were present at 20 potential breeding sites of
Paul Gowen
SOG AGM Minutes of the AGM for the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group 16 February 2012 held at Ipswich Holiday Inn Welcome from the AGM Chairman The President (Steve Piotrowski) offered a very warm welcome to the 40 members attending the AGM. Apologies These were received from Jean Garrod, Ken Garrod and Phil Whittaker. Minutes of the 2011 AGM The President explained the 2011 AGM Minutes had not been published in The Harrier during 2011, however, SOG Council had certified their accuracy and a copy was available for members’
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THE HARRIER – July 2012
which at least five were on the coast, whereas in 2010 none was located. Waders’ passage In amongst all of the above highlights there was also a wader passage, of which the principal features were as many as 71 Ruff, Walberswick, 16th April, two early Dotterels, Benacre, 21st April and a trip of 12 Dotterels inland at Icklingham, 11th May – this latter gathering was the largest in Suffolk since August 1967 when 14 were found on Orfordness. Two of the most unexpected sightings involved a Manx Shearwater and a Bittern. The shearwater was found “wrecked” on 22nd June inland at Haverhill where it subsequently died. The Bittern was found on the Esbjerg to Harwich ferry on 30th June, about 250 kilometres north-east of Felixstowe; it was an aggressive individual and upon leaving the ship flew off in the general direction of Orfordness.
inspection if desired. There were no matters arising from the Minutes and those present approved these.
Chairman’s Report The Chairman [Roy Marsh] reported that Council had met four times during 2011; there had been a full programme of indoor and outdoor events with a new joint meeting with Waveney Bird Club arranged for 2012. Four editions of the newstyle Harrier had been published; the new Editor [Phil Brown] was thanked for his efforts. The website continued to be maintained and enhanced by Gi Grieco. The Suffolk Bird report had been produced again on time and the Editor [Nick Mason] was congratulated on the high standard of the publication. The Chairman reported that The Harrier had again been used as a communications tool for SORC and that BINS continued to have strong links with SOG. The Treasurer [Bill Stone] was to be congratulated on the recovery of monies from the Gift Aid Scheme; this had involved much hard work but was most important to the Group’s finances. Jean Garrod was thanked for her continued efforts in organising the outdoor events and the field trip
