Suffolk Birci Report 2005 North Warren: May 2nd (D.Thurlow, R.Macklin). Same bird as at Minsmere.
This former great rarity has now been recorded in Suffolk in four consecutive years. GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Grey Herons are now out-numbered by Little Egrets for much of the year on the main Suffolk estuaries, as comparison of the tables will show. T h e f o l l o w i n g b r e e d i n g r e c o r d s w e r e received: West Stow: The first breeding birds Peak monthly counts at selected sites: returned to the Nov Jan Apr Sep Oct Dec Feb Mar heronry, Feb. 1st. ~ North Warren 5 5 I© ! | | j SSI Brandon: There were Aide/Ore Estuary 27 25 18 II 26 26 I 39 active nests at Deben Estuary 13 4 16 33 20 5 9 12 a heronry in the Orwell Estuary 14 4 11 5 ifsii S Ä 4 16 6 Little Ouse valley, of Stour Estuary 14 7 6 1 0 5 8 4 which 35 were examined; 28 were found to contain young and 36 pulii were ringed. Seven nests were still at the egg stage and four nests were inaccessible, April and May. Lakenheath Fen: one was seen carrying nest material into trees south of the Fen, April 4th.
Two juveniles noted at Lackford Lakes, July 7th, had doubtless fledged from the West Stow heronry and another two juveniles seen at Cavenham Pits on the same day were probably from the same source. At Loompit Lake, May 1st, one was viciously attacked by a Mallard, which was protecting its brood. On Orfordness, May 5th, one was seen to consume a week-old Mallard duckling. The same bird was also reported chasing and eating Pheasant chicks and was almost certainly responsible for the prédation of most of the Avocet young. Landguard Bird Observatory noted coastal movements, with one south, April 11th and autumn passage totalling one north and 20 south between July 2nd and November 1st. Five flew south, September 12th. PURPLE HERON Ardea Scarce passage migrant.
purpurea
North Warren: sub-adult in the reedbed. May 5th to 15th (C.Lodge, D.Thurlow et at). Aldringham: adult and juvenile, Sep.4th (D.Thurlow). Felixstowe: north up the seafront, Jul.31st (P.Oldfield). A n o t h e r three p o s s i b l e r e c o r d s r e m a i n u n d o c u m e n t e d .
GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus Very rare visitor. The long-staying bird which was first seen at Minsmere on July 2nd 2004, remained along the R.Waveney near Burgh Castle until at least early March. Burgh Castle/Belton Marshes: Jan. 1st intermittently to Mar.5th (J.A.Brown, P.Ransome, J.Wright
et al). EURASIAN SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia Uncommon passage migrant. Now increasingly oversummers; List. The following records were received from the principal sites:
has overwintered.
Amber
Minsmere: south, Apr. 19th; one on many dates, Apr.21st to Jul.28th; two, May 16th and Jul.21st. North Warren: Apr. 19th; two, Jun.26th; three, Jun.30th; Jul. 19th to 31st and Aug.óth. Orfordness: Apr. 19th and 22nd; adult. May 1st to 4th, 14th and 28th; adult and first-summer, May 29th to 31st; 1-2 intermittently through June, and three on 29th; 1-3 during July and four on 13th and 23rd; Aug. 1st; two, Aug.2nd and 3rd; Aug.4th and 18th; four, Sep. 18th and three, Sep.21st.
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