O v e r w i n t e r i n g f l o c k s w e r e n o t e d at:
V''alberswick: 25 to the year end. ! inwich: 30 Nov. 5th.
!• idbourne: up to 32 Dec. 2nd. 1 Ikenham: 30 Nov. 12th.
i lixstowe Ferry: 27 Dec. 3Ist. 1 evington: 90 Nov. 25th and 26th.
1 EDPOLL Carduelis flammea Reported from 53 sites. Largest wintering flocks were 80 Minsmere, Jan. 14th; 70 I knield Way, Apr. 2Ist; 60 Thurston, Jan 24th and 50 Long Melford, January to March. The latter was often seen feeding on spent Evening Primrose seed. Small numbers of birds passed S at Landguard during April and May. Breeding behaviour was reported from only 12 sites (40 in 1988) although this is unlikely to reflect an actual reduction in the breeding population. At Haverhill 14 prs bred (16 i-i 1988). A light southerly movement occurred at Landguard on a few dates in October and ovember. Largest second winter flock was 45, Lackford, Dec. 31st. Rather more Mealy Redpolls, C.f. flammea were recorded than in recent years with ports from: sulton Broad: Mar. 1 Ith. 'artlesham: up to ten in Redpoll flock in January. elixstowe: Landguard Pt, one bearing a German ring, May 7th (see Ringing Report),
ramford Pits: Jan. 29th. ong Melford: three in large Redpoll flock in January.
The Martlesham birds were noted amongst a flock of 40 Redpolls which also contained very white individual considered by some observers to be an Arctic Redpoll C. hornemanni >f the race exlipes. This record is currently under consideration by the BBRC.
CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra Reported from 18 sites and, although 11 of these are in east Suffolk, the species was nost frequently seen in the Lackford and Mayday Farm, Brandon areas. Birds were recorded at 12 sites during the breeding season (15 in 1988). Sizeable flocks were ten at Minsmere, Jan. 23rd; eight, Hollesley Heath, Jan. 15th; up to 15, Mayday Farm, Mar. 26th and 18, Lackford, Aug. 18th.
SCARLET ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus A magniflcent male appeared, albeit too briefly, at Minsmere, near the West Hide, on a morning in June. Minsmere: er in song, June 1 Ith (RNM).
This is only the third County record; interestingly the second record was also on June 1 Ith at Lakenheath in 1982.
BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula Minsmere recorded 25 territories and a flock of 12 Nov. 5th; similar flocks were at Long Melford, Oct. 2nd and Redgrave Fen, Oct 14th. Eight were noted in a southerly movement of passerines at Southwold, Oct. 13th and an influx of eight at Landguard, Oct. 23rd is also a notable record. 109