Suffolk Birci Report
2000
were received from Livermere Lake this year; whether this marks a lack of records or a continuance of the decline noted there last year is not known. The numbers at Lackford WR, however, were fairly close to last year's totals after a similar decline in 1999 compared with the 1998 totals. Individuals of the small dark 'minima' type were reported from Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford, February 2nd and Livermere Lake, May 7th. Canada Goose x Greylag Goose One at Lackford WR, October 8th. BARNACLE G O O S E Urania leucopsis Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant; Increasingly common feral resident. Amber list. Categories A and E. The regular flock in the Lound Waterworks area increased to a new site record of 185 in the first winter period, and in the second winter period increased significantly again to reach 265. This increase may be due in part to the reduction in disturbance brought about by the closure of footpaths in the area. Both these counts eclipsed all others received. Lound: Waterworks, 185, Jan.20th; 72, Feb. 13th; 265, Oct.29th. Sotterley: Sotterley Park, 30, Feb.7th. Benacre: Broad, 60, Feb. 12th; 30, Mar.5th; 92, Aug.5th; 125, Aug. 10th; 42, Sep.26th. Covehithe: 126, Dec. 10th. Southwold: Town Marshes, 115, Jan.l5th; 82, Jan.l7th; 95, Nov.l2th; 100, Nov.22nd; 76, Nov.26th; 35, Dec.25th. Minsmere: 14, Jan.l6th; 31, Jan.23rd; 14, Feb.l3th; 28, Mar.l9th; 29, Apr.29th. During the summer, one long-staying bird was noted at Suffolk WP, Bramford, up to June 3rd, and two flew south at Landguard, May 16th. Breeding was noted in the wildfowl collection at Fritton Lake where at least 11 pairs had 21 young between them in early July; it is not known if these young were later pinioned or ringed. In the west of the County, recorded as follows: Livermere Lake: Mar.30th. Lackford WR: Apr. 12th and Dec. 15th. Long Melford: one with Canada Geese, Nov.9th. Thetford: Nunnery Lakes NR, two, Mar.21st to 30th; one, Dec.2nd.
PAST
NOTES
There was a very interesting record of nine Barnacle Geese flying south (East Bergholt, Oct.2lst), a species rarely recorded in the County nowadays. Suffolk Bird Report, 1957.
(DARK-BELLIED) BRENT G O O S E Branta bernicla bernicla Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list. Categories A and E. The estuary counts shown in the table indicate that numbers on the Deben and Orwell increased somewhat in the first winter period compared with last year, but numbers on the Stour and the Aide/Ore complex remained fairly static. Estuary counts: Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Dec The highest site-counts received Aide/Ore 227 213 4 0 2 192 62 6 were as follows: Debcn 2139 1869 192 12 0 18 743 1920 Felixstowe: King's Fleet, 1000, Jan.23rd. Orwell 600 776 300 16 1 76 268 214 Falkenham: Creek, 2000, Dec.26th. Stour 561 646 820 554 29 281 340 993 Ramsholt: 1950, Dec.31st. Trimley Marshes: 2000, Feb.22nd. The latest spring birds were a flock of 179 at Erwarton Bay on May 16th and a single bird there on June 14th. The earliest returning birds were noted in August with singles at Havergate Island on 15th and at Erwarton Bay on 28th. Coastal passage proper was noted from around mid-September
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