Lee Woods
Winter 2014/2015, with Suffolk BINS November 2014 The month started with both Ravens showing well at Gedgrave Marshes. A first-winter Red-backed Shrike that was first seen 27th September was last reported on 9th and the Framsden Hoopoe was last seen on 2nd. On 2nd, a Richard’s Pipit was flushed from long grass at Butley Ferry, an adult Iceland Gull was seen briefly on Minsmere’s East Scrape before flying north and a Great White Egret remained on the reserve’s Island Mere for most of the month. A Purple Heron (or aberrant-plumaged Grey Heron) was seen on North Warren’s South Marsh on 4th, 8th and 9th and again on 18th but was elusive throughout. An adult Black Brant was present amongst the Dark-bellied Brent Geese flock at Levington Creek on 4th and Sudbourne on 8th. Strong northerly winds produced several Little Auks off our coast on 4th and 5th. Grey Phalaropes were seen on the Stour Estuary from 6th-9th and one flew south past Minsmere on 10th. A distant Scoter sp., initially thought to be Common, was present on the Stour Estuary at Stutton Ness on 3rd. However, closer scrutiny on 5th resulted in confirmation of Suffolk’s first SURF SCOTER - a great find by SOG stalwart Ed Keeble. Thankfully, the bird remained into 2015 allowing county-listers to add this species to their ever-growing tallies. Other birds frequenting this estuary included Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter and Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes. Two DESERT WHEATEARS were found at Links Road, Lowestoft, and on Gorleston seafront on 5th. The Lowestoft individual was a stunning first-winter male that performed impeccably along the sea wall until 9th and the Gorleston bird was a female that also showed well to an army of admirers until 14th. These two individuals became the fourth and fifth county
records with previous sightings being Landguard 1987 and Easton Bavents 1990 and 2008. A late Yellow-browed Warbler was present by the sewage works at Southwold on 9th and 10th. Highlights from Minsmere on 10th included two Ravens flying south, a Long-eared Owl and a Grey Phalarope that flew south offshore. A Rough-legged Buzzard was noted on 11th and a Shorelark graced the Scrape on 12th. Also on 12th an adult Glaucous Gull was offshore from Landguard and the single Shorelark at Benacre was joined by two further birds that remained throughout the month, commuting to and from nearby Covehithe Broad. A late House Martin was seen over Westleton on 13th and a Swift sp. was spotted over Butley on the same day. A probable Storm Petrel was seen offshore from Minsmere on 14th. A juvenile BLACK STORK dropped into SWT’s Trimley Marshes for a couple of hours on the afternoon of 15th and was briefly seen the next morning before it was flushed by paragliders. This must have been the same individual that flew over Hazelwood Marsh on 17th and then south-east over Bradwell on 24th. Both DUSKY WARBLER and HUME’S WARBLER were found at Hollesley RSPB reserve and Bawdsey Quay respectively with the Dusky staying until 18th and the Hume’s to 17th, although the latter was very elusive. Further DUSKY WARBLERS were found at Felixstowe (opposite Customs House) from 16-20th and Boyton on 20th. There were several sightings of Short-eared Owls throughout the month with the highest count being an exceptional ten at Gedgrave Marsh 17th. It was also encouraging to see several Hen Harriers reported this month. More Waxwings were reported with a single along Artillery Way, Lowestoft, on 19th being joined by two others to remain until 23rd , and five at Creeting St. Mary on 24th.
T H E HA R R I ER – S p r i n g 2 0 1 5
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