Systematic List Orfordness: 107, Jan.2nd; 120, Jan. 16th and 36, Feb.2nd and Mar.4th. Sudbourne Marshes: 60, Jan. 13th. Felixstowe: golf links, 28, Jan.28th.
A very smart male was at Minsmere on June 8th and what was probably the same bird turned up at Kessingland from June 9th to 11th. These represent only the second and third records for June in Suffolk, after one summered at Aldeburgh in 1968. One at East Lane, Bawdsey, September 17th marked the first arrival of the winter, followed by two at Minsmere, September 18th, then 13 north over the dunes, September 24th. Less abundant in the second-winter period with peak counts from: Kessingland: 100, Nov.27th. North Warren: 32, Oct.6th. Orfordness: 38, Nov.l6th; 41, Nov.20th; 60, Nov.27th; 69, Dec.11th and 115, Dec.20th. Shingle Street: 16, Dec.3rd. Bawdsey: East Lane, 25, Nov.30th; 50, Dec. 18th and 25, Dec.31st.
Y E L L O W H A M M E R Emberiza citrinella Common resident and passage migrant. Red list. Rather low numbers were recorded throughout the year and only two treble-figure flocks were noted. Peak counts were: Minsmere: 26, Mar.29th. Boyton: 100, Dec.25th. Chelmondiston: 36, Dec.31st. Kersey: 35, Feb.22nd. Onehouse: Northfield Wood pheasant pens, 59, Oct.31st and 85, Nov. 13th. Pakenham: 35 on set-aside, Feb.4th. Lackford Lakes: 165 on set-aside, Nov.22nd.
The BBS found Yellowhammers in 67% of the 48 squares surveyed (76% in 1995, 71% in 2000), with a combined total of 129 birds. Other breeding reports included a small increase to 78 pairs at North Warren and Aldringham Walks (74 pairs in 2004), a stable 36 pairs at Minsmere (38 pairs in 2004) and 15 pairs at Snape Warren. 2004 Correction Onehouse: Northfield Wood pheasant pens, 372, Jan.20th, were incorrectly recorded as Reed Buntings.
R E E D BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus Common resident and passage migrant. Red list. Sizeable counts were reported from seven locations across the county as follows: Minsmere: 20, Sep. 1st. Orfordness: 40, Oct.5th and 50, Oct.6th. Boyton: 100, Dec.25th. Trimley Marshes: 40, Mar. 1st. Stowmarket: 44 at reedbed roost, October. Lackford Lakes: silt pond roost, 33, Oct. 1st; 170, Nov. 10th; 170, D e c . l 4 t h a n d 150, Dec.l7th. Lakenheath Fen: 50, Mar. 1st.
The BBS reported Reed Buntings from 21% of the 48 squares surveyed (13% in 1995, 11% in 2000), with a combined total of 14 birds. Other breeding reports included a small decline to 132 pairs at Lakenheath Fen (161 pairs in 2004), 50 pairs at Minsmere (60 pairs in 2004), 12 pairs at Sizewell, a record 40 pairs at North Warren (38 pairs in 2003 and 2004) and 20 pairs 151
Reed Bunting Su Gough