There was no evidence of any significant movements although Landguard noted an upturn in records in September, recording this species on 22 dates in September compared with six in August and 11 in October. One at North Warren was seen to catch a Great Green Bush-Cricket Tettigonia viridissima on August 29th. At Culford Park Lake the remains of a juvenile were found on August 17th, apparently killed by a Sparrowhawk. RED-FOOTED FALCON Falco Rare visitor.
vespertinus
Herringfleet: first summer male, May 14th (P R Allard). Westleton: Westleton Heath, second summer male, May l l t h (J C Eaton). Minsmere: first summer male, May 14th to 18th (G R Welch et al.). Female, May 30th (P D Green); 31st (G R Welch).
There would appear to have been at least four birds in the County. This is by far the best showing since the major influx in 1992 when there were at least 10 in Suffolk. To give an idea of its usual rarity, there have been no records in five out of the past 10 years. Of the 20 birds that have been recorded in that period 10 occurred in 1992. MERLIN Falco columbarius Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. This small falcon was recorded at 27 locations and in every month except July. All records were of single birds apart from two at Fritton Marshes on October 26th and two at Orfordness, November 23rd. The majority of records were received from the Breck and the coastal strip. Favoured localities within these areas were Havergate Island, Minsmere and Moulton. At each of these sites Merlin was recorded in five months of the year. Unseasonable records involved one at Havergate Island on June 19th and 21 st; Butley Creek on August 9th; at both Landguard and Corton on August 29th and an immature at Moulton on September 8th. HOBBY Falco subbuteo Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. This species is always very secretive during the breeding season and this year was no exception.Very few definite breeding successes were reported. Although there was a high number of juveniles seen in late summer these may have included passage birds. Thus it is difficult to quantify the breeding population in Suffolk. The first sighting of the spring was at Ipswich on April lOth, followed by singles at Minsmere on April 12th and Levington Creek on April 14th. Records were then widely scattered across the County during the summer, although the coastal area and the Breck were most favoured. Mรกximum counts during the year involved five at Minsmere on May 15th and four at the same site on June 4th.The last of autumn was recorded at Shingle Street, Bawdsey on October 19th.
Hobby
PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus Uncommon but increasing winter visitor and passage migrant. There appears to have been at least four birds in the County in the first winter period. One at Fritton Marshes was seen on various dates in January but not after 25th. A bird was then seen on various dates 58