Suffolk Birci Report 2008
Common Buzzards breedtng again in north-east Suffolk Peter J. Dare The Buzzard became extinct as a breeding species in Suffolk, and across much of England, towards the end of the 19th century as a resuit of intense persÊcution by game-rearing interests (Piotrowski 2003). Since about 1985, however, this raptor has been staging a dramatic recovery, spreading back rapidly eastwards from its West Country strongholds to recolonise many former haunts. A more enlightened attitude by landowners and gamekeepers towards this raptor has been an important factor in its recovery. Suffolk began to be resettled in 1999, after a lapse of 125 years, when a pair bred successfully in the west (Piotrowski 2003). This was the prelude to a rapid increase probably driven in part by further immigration from the west. By 2006 about 50 territorial pairs were reported in Suffolk of which about 25 pairs were confirmed as having bred (Gregory 2006). These were mostly in the Breckland and south-eastern districts. In north-east Suffolk breeding was apparently first confirmed in 2006 when I found pairs with young at two locations east of Beccles. One of the estate owners reported having seen birds in the previous year. The process of re-establishment in that area is being monitored by annual surveys. This note summarises the main features of this pioneering Buzzard population, and problems encountered, in the first three years of study, 2006-08. The rectangular survey area now covers 68 km 2 of arable farms, hedgerows with scattered mature trees, and substantial deciduous or mixed woodlands located between the valleys of the rivers Hundred and Blyth. In July 2006, after being alerted to the presence of Buzzards resident on two private estâtes in the northern part of this area, two pairs were observed there with newly-fledged young and one of their nests was discovered. A third pair appeared not to have young. In 2007, after field work was started in early spring, four Buzzard pairs were present in the same area, of which three bred successfully, and another pair (with old nest) was found nearer to the Blyth estuary. In 2008, when the survey was extended southwards to the Blyth valley, another three (possibly four) territorial pairs of Buzzards were discovered; giving an average density of approximately one pair per 8 km 2 . In 2008, six of the eight pairs bred successfully and fledged six (possibly 7) juveniles. For ail three years combined, the 11 known breeding attempts were ail successful. Two pairs apparently did not breed. Observed fledged brood sizes averaged 1.2 juveniles; only two pairs are known to have reared two. This average may be a slight under-estimate, however, as some youngsters might have been overlooked in dense cover. Thus, breeding performance overall is very encouraging - a high proportion of breeders and good success. For nesting, the Buzzards prefer woods that are least disturbed once the winter pheasantshooting season has finished. They also favour large, old and well-branched oak trees that are often close to rides and clearings, to enable easier access. Many woods that appear suitable from the outside were found to contain just a few old trees scattered among dense under-plantings of useless tali, slender ash or sycamore. Woods composed mainly of hornbeam likewise seem to be avoided. Of the six nests found, five were in old oaks and one in a part-grown non-native pine (Pinus sp.). Ail were placed on branches against the trunk or in a central fork some 40-50 ft above the ground and, being new, were quite small and inconspicuous. The 2008 field work to assess the wider population status began with the first fine weather in late February. This is when Buzzard pairs begin to soar and display above their combined hunting/breeding territories and (if necessary) to contest boundaries with neighbours. Frequent spells of sky-watching, from lanes and paths, eventually provided behavioural dues as to likely nesting woods. They also enabled me to detect itinÊrant Buzzards and small groups of passage birds that move through this part of Suffolk each year in March and Aprii 34