Su ffolk Bird Report
1999
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscícapa slriata Widespread but declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list. T h e first sighting o f the year was o n the incredibly early date o f A p r i l 15th and concerned a i i n d i v i d u a l discovered at A l t o n W a t e r d u r i n g a W e B S count ( I Shakespeare). T h i s is the seconc earliest ever in the C o u n t y and the earliest since 1983 ( A p r i l 9th, Nacton). There were no othi sightings until early M a y when birds were present at Sizewell (3rd), Landguard (6th), Chris church Park, I p s w i c h (also 6th), Sotterley, Combs Lañe W M and Great Barton (all on 8th) an L o n g M e l f o r d (9th). Sightings then became more numerous and widespread on lOth when a moi general arrival appears to have occurred. Passage at Landguard was observed between M a y 6t . and 25th and peaked at f o u r on 20th f o l l o w e d by three o n 21st and 23rd. T h e breeding population o f this species is generally perceived to be at a very l o w ebb, and ther d i d not appear to be any signs o f an improvement d u r i n g 1999. A t A l d r i n g h a m C o m m o n an W a l k s there was a decline to t w o pairs compared w i t h three in 1998, although there was an add tional pair f o u n d nearby at N o r t h W a r r e n where there was none the previous year. T h e number o territories at Combs Lañe W M increased f r o m j u s t one last year to t w o i n 1999. but at Hengrav H a l l j u s t one pair bred (unsuccessfully) compared w i t h three pairs last year. N o t far away a Pakenham, none c o u l d be f o u n d i n the village all summer where there were t w o pairs in 199^ The highest breeding totals carne f r o m M i n s m e r e where nine territories were f o u n d and Wang f o r d w i t h H e n h a m where there were f o u r territories o n the eastern side o f the village. A u t u m n passage was very light and appeared to go almost unnoticed. There were no significan movements reported f r o m the coast, the best numbers c o m i n g f r o m w e l l inland at Hengrave Ha where up to 10 passage birds were noted almost d a i l y d u r i n g A u g u s t . A t Landguard, singles wer recorded o n j u s t f o u r dates in late A u g u s t and were f o l l o w e d b y another on September lOth, fou on September 26th and t w o on October lst. There was o n l y one other October sighting, the last o the year at M i n s m e r e o n 2nd.
RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Rare passage migrant.
Ficedula
parva
T h i s single record increases the C o u n t y total to 42 birds.
Felixstowe: Landguard, first-year male trapped and ringed, May 19th (W J Brame, N Odin, P Oldfield). PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula Fairly common passage migrant.
hypoleuca
S p r i n g passage was very poor w i t h j u s t three records received, all o f w h i c h were f r o m the southeast o f the C o u n t y ; a male trapped and ringed at Fagbury C l i f f on M a y 7th, one at L a n d g u a r d on M a y 13th and a male f o u n d dead o n Orfordness on M a y 30th. A u t u m n passage was better, but still not good w i t h no falls reported. A f t e r t w o at L a n d g u a r d on August 7th, records were received f r o m a total o f 14 other sites, o f w h i c h all apart f r o m t w o (Redgrave and L o p h a m Fen and N u n n e r y Lakes N R , T h e t f o r d ) were coastal. The o n l y other reports relating to more than one b i r d were o f t w o at C o r t o n on A u g u s t 29th, t w o i n Sparrows Nest Gardens, L o w e s t o f t , on September 11 th and t w o at Landguard o n September 6th and 21st.. The last o f the year were singles at C o r t o n and Eastbridge, both on September 29th.
Pied Flycatcher English Nature
122