— Systematic
List
lower than that of recent years. Further north, peak monthly totals were recorded off both Kessingland (P.Read) and Thorpeness (D.Thurlow) in December (279 off Kessingland and 326 off Thorpeness), while the peak day-count off Thorpeness was made during the first winter period when 150 flew south, January 27th. GADWALL Anas streperà Common resident and winter visitor. Amber list. Categories A and C. Monthly counts from the key sites:
Dingle Marshes Minsmere* North Warren* Aide/Ore Estuary* Orwell Estuary HW Orwell Estuary LW Alton Water Redgrave Lake* Miekle Mere* Barton Mere* Lackford Lakes* Thorington Street Res* * monthly maxima
Jan 38 167 220 130 179 246 116 66 66 51 99 97
Feb 48 114 194 171 204 274 28 44 21 56 IS 34
HW = High Water
Mar 12 124 28 96 14
Apr
Jul ;
22 20 29
Aug ;
200 -
12
-
152 13 6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
_
-
-
-
35 24 6
30
-
-
-
77 11
-
-
-
-
_
§§{8;
110 -
Sep 0 305 12 8 47
Oct 6 330 19 38 63 ..
10 60 100 3 73
-,
17 21 28 12 63 54
Nov 94 378 140 206 166 210 61 75 :
-
22 60
Dec 28 545 66 75 100 259 87 73 103 -
64 130
LW = Low Water
Numbers were particularly high at Minsmere throughout the second winter period, culminating in a county record count of 545, December 14th, the second consecutive year that this record has been broken. Apart from those in the table, other counts of note included 85, Minsmere, May 27th and 175, June 17th; 63, Trimley Marshes, June 10th and 189, September 18th and 80, Lakenheath Fen, February 18th. Following repeated subtle requests over the years in this report for breeding records, it is pleasing to write that 145 breeding pairs were reported (the most ever) from nine coastal and eight inland sites, confirming that the breeding status of this species within the county remains of national significance. On the coast, breeding sites included Minsmere (potentially 63 pairs), Walberswick NNR ( 16 pairs), Sizewell Estate ( 11 pairs), North Warren (ten pairs) and Benacre NNR (eight pairs), while in the west seven broods were present at Mickle Mere in June. EURASIAN TEAL Anas crecca Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Scarce resident. Amber list. There were several impressive counts in late summer involving early-returning birds including 250, Butley River, August 19th; 252, Minsmere, August 28th; 265, Havergate Island, August 30th and a maximum count of 317 at Orfordness in August. Other threefigure counts aside from those in the table included 153, Lakenheath Fen, January 21st; 271, Trimley Marshes, March 8th and 602, Burgh Castle, December 29th. Single pairs holding territory were reported from Hen Reedbeds, Dingle Marshes and Sizewell Belts and two pairs from North Warren, although once again this year there was no confirmation of breeding (the last confirmed breeding in the county was in 2004). Minsmere held good numbers throughout the summer including counts of 54, June 19th and 75, July 15th, and there was a maximum of 40 at Orfordness in June. Coastal offshore passage included the following notable movements:Kessingland: 79 north and 293 south during August; 73 north and 233 south during September and 87 north and 223 south during October. The peak day-count was 156 (five north, 151 south), Aug 21st.
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