Suffolk Birci Report
2008
in the heart of Stonham Aspal, February 2nd. The observer concerned with the latter record failed to inform us if there was a football match taking place at the time of his sighting! GREAT (WHITE) EGRET Ardea alba Rare, but increasing, visitor. This imposing egret is being encountered with some regularity in Suffolk nowadays - dare we speculate that it may one day honour us by breeding in the county? Numerous references of casual observations of unknown provenance on the various bird information services make any assessment of the numbers involved something of a game of chance. It would appear that at least the following records are acceptable, although there were a few other reports for which the observers could not be established and so the situation is somewhat blurred:Minsmere/North Warren: intermittently between the two sites, Jan 1st to Feb 24th, found 31st Dec 2007 (M Gregory et al.). Minsmere: Sep 20th to 28th (multi-observer ringed bird); second bird Sep 26th to 30th (multi-observer unringed bird). North Warren: Apr 5th to 15th (multi-observer), June 4th to 8th (S Mayson, N Andrews et al.), Sep 21st (S Abbott). Rendlesham: two adults in flight, June 28th. The above records suggest a minimum of eight individuals, eclipsing 2007's total of at least five, which was itself a record annual figure for the county. The second bird to appear at Minsmere in September gave us an intriguing insight into this species' wanderings. It was ringed as a chick in France at Lac de Grand-lieu, Loire Atlantique, on May 12th, 2008. Remarkably, this was the second individual of this species to have occurred at Minsmere after having been ringed at the French location. A bird ringed there on May 14th, 2002, was seen at Minsmere, which is 617km north-north-east, on August 30th, 2002. GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. The only heronry from which nest totals were submitted was the one at the Hen Reedbeds where the 12 nests represented an increase
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over the site's nine in 2007. Confirmed breeding also took place at Fritton, Sizewell, The Tips ( i n the parish of Sutton) on the Deben, Woolverstone Wood, Little Wratting, Tendring Hall (Stoke-by-Nayland) and The King's Forest. 66 Migration was observed on several occasions in August and September. On August 24th was clearly a south movement been Lowestoft taking Minsmere. the was over Orfordness September included observers recorded sea Kessingland the place trio over atand remarked On peak 7th -there least seen three on August four Benacre count four and the coming some that came that Southwold same headed 31 of were st, the Sluice local these in inday, 15 off tracked year, off came birds. may the the may although and also sea south inhave past the On 15, off at