S uffolk Bird Report 2011 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus Increasing winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List. Categories A and E. This species has followed the pattern of recent years of large skeins regularly encountered in north-east Suffolk, often noted in flight, with lower numbers further down the coast and a continuation of records from the west. The species is generally seen in the county from January to March and again from October to December but one lingered at Boyton, being noted on Aprii 16th and May 13th while the first birds of the autumn were 24 over Burgh Castle on September 15th on which date nine flew in off the sea at Minsmere and landed on the North Levels. A single bird, of unknown origin, was at Redgrave Fen from September 8th to 13th. Often noted at Flixton with a peak of 1000 on January 11 th; other high counts include 2000 at Blundeston Marshes on January 8th while at the same site 3000 were noted on November 24th and 3000 over Somerleyton on November 30th. Flixton again had several skeins fly over in the second winter period with a maximum count of 3000 on December 5th, whilst the largest flock of the year was when 10000 flew south-east at Burgh Castle from the roost at Berney Marshes on December 20th, of which 1200 landed at Hobland Road, Bradwell. A selection of notable counts include: Burgh Castle: 10000 south-east, Dee 20th, of which 1200 landed at Bradwell; 500 flew north-east at dusk, Oct 29th. Bradwell: 300 over Mill Lane, Dee 24th. Gorleston: 120 north, Dee 21 st. Fritton: Waveney Forest, 250 north-east at dusk, Jan lst. Ashby: 250 west, Dee 3rd. Lound: 150, Nov 18th. Blundeston Marshes: 2000, Jan 9th; 200 south, Nov 2lst; 3000 south, Nov 24th. Somerleyton: 3000 north, Nov 30th. Oulton Broad: 70 west, Jan lst; 48 north, Nov 6th. Oulton: Fisher Row, 80, Jan 2nd. Lake Lothing: 170 north-west, Dee 17th. Ellough: 100 south, Nov 22nd. Barsham Marshes: two skeins totalling 80 north, Nov 6th. Shipmeadow: 120 west over Laurel's Farm, Jan 27th. Flixton: 400 north, Jan lst; 1000 west, Jan 1 lth; 500 west, Feb 25th; 400 north, Oct 20th; 3000 south, Dee 5th; 1000 north-west, Dee lOth. At Minsmere, the species was noted on a number of occasions including 65 which flew in off the sea, January lst, on which date 122 circled South Levels then headed north while another 20 flew "" f Pink-footed Geese north the following day. Other records Su Gough W from the first day of the year include four at Hen Reedbeds, 80 at Lakenheath Fen RSPB which flew over the ' reserve twice during the day and 16 at Mickle Mere. Up to three birds were at Trimley Marshes in January. At Lackford Lakes there were ten on February 17th and on the same day 42 at nearby Clamps Heath, Lackford. There were one or two on North Warren up to March 12th and at nearby Aldeburgh 30 flew south on January 14th. Up to 15 were on Boyton Marshes and nearby Gedgrave Marshes during January and at Melton 65 flew over the fishing lake by Wilford Bridge and carried on up the Deben Valley on January 13th. Seven were present at Timworth on November 23rd, 14 at Sudbourne Marshes on November 26th and 144 flew low south-west over the A12 at Wrentham on December 31 st. A few records from Landguard Bird Observatory included three north January 16th, in October. one south on 13th, two south on 15th and one south on 25th while in November
52