Lee Woods
Spring BINS Although the coldest March for fifty years meant another quiet spring was in the offing, nevertheless, as this summary of BINS activity shows, there were still some excellent highlights, culminating with a mega in mid-June.
April 2013 A Great Bustard which was photographed at Lavenham caused a flurry of excitement but unfortunately could not be found the next day 17th. The big question is could it have been one of the introduced Salisbury birds, on the wander or perhaps a wild bird from Europe?
March 2013 The Great Grey Shrike was at Wrentham again 3rd and 17th and a Shorelark was on Havergate Island RSPB 27th. Highlights from Landguard NR during the month were an adult Iceland Gull 17th and a Long-eared Owl 20-22nd also several Blackthroated Divers were seen flying past the reserve during the month. A Black-throated Diver was at Felixstowe Ferry until 3rd and up to two Black Brants remained at Felixstowe Ferry until 5th. A Little Auk was off Slaughden 21st. Rough-legged Buzzards were noted over Barrow Bottom 13th, Benacre 15th, Trimley Marshes SWT 18th and Freston Hill 28th. A Hooded Crow was again at Covehithe 5th and 21st and another at Lowestoft 29-30th. A Great White Egret was seen at Kessingland 6th. The four Tundra Bean Geese remained at Reydon until 3rd, whereas six flew over Westleton 3rd and what were presumed the same six individuals seen at North Warren RSPB 1st. On the River Stour there were up to eight Slavonian Grebes and Long-tailed Duck. Three Slavonian Grebes were on Alton Water 18th. Smew numbers at Minsmere RSPB peaked at twelve birds and a good count of eight Hawfinch were at Sotterley Park.
Subalpine Warbler
A very early contender for bird of the year was the discovery of an Eastern Subalpine Warbler that was at Landguard NR 26-27th. This bird proved very popular and was a photographer’s dream as it was showing down to a mere few feet at times!
The icy winds from the continent impeded the arrival of early summer migrants. Only small numbers managed to battle through the rather unseasonal weather that we were experiencing at the time.
(See full list of earliest arrival dates of species at the end of this article on page 22)
18
THE HARRIER – June 2013
Red-rumped Swallow
