Su ffolk Bird Report
2011
produced 44 young. High counts came from a range of sites:— Snape Warren: 35, July 26th. Dennington: 12, Aug 14th. Newbourne: 17, Feb 3rd. Rushmere St Andrew: Mill Stream Nature Reserve, 12, Jan 18th. Hasketon: 15, Feb 13th. Alton Water: 16, Dec 28th. Birds were present all year at Landguard with three pairs breeding. Eleven birds from previous years survived the winter. Spring passage ran from February 28th to April 15th, with a maximum of 25 on Marchi 3th. The first juveniles appeared on May 28th with dispersing juveniles turning up on site from elsewhere in June and July with a maximum of 15, June 3rd and 16th. Autumn passage ran from September 2nd to October 31st, with a maximum of ten on September 18th. COAL TIT Periparus ater Very common resident and scarce passage migrant. Amber list (P. a. britannicus). Reported from 36 sites with confirmed breeding at four locations. At North Warren 53 pairs bred, the "best since 2008" (R N Macklin, RSPB) and at Sizewell SWT 16 pairs bred (15 in 2008). Fifteen were described as being on territory at North Stow, The Kings Forest, April 23rd. Birds appeared at Landguard in June with two on 14th, three on 20th and two on 23rd. Most other records were of between one and three birds with the exception o f : Cavendish: eight, Jan 16th Continental Coal Tit Periparus ater ater Scarce passage migrant. Sightings came from three locations, all in the north east:Corton: disused railway track, Nov 9th (Lowestoft lounge Lizards). Kessingland: Oct 25th (C Darby). Minsmere: Oct 21st (J H Grant). W I L L O W TIT Poetile montana Uncommon resident and scarce passage migrant. Red list. This species continues to maintain a tenuous foot hold in the west of the county with sightings this year from six sites:West Stow: Jan 10th (S Evans). Lackford Lakes: Jan 21 st (J Rankin) pair on territory, April 9th ( Breckland Birding Group). Thetford: three, Jan 23rd (West Suffolk Birders, L Gregory). Santon Downham: Feb 12th (Breckland Birding Group); calling, Mar 12th (J R and P A Kennerley); two, Mar 27th (Breckland Birding Group); singing male, Apr 6th (D F Walsh). Culford: Feb 17th (D Cawdron). Brandon: singing male, Apr 6th (D F Walsh). MARSH TIT Poet ile palustris Fairly common resident. Red list. Reports of this vocally distinctive member of the tit family came from 75 sites, with the majority of records coming from the west of the county. Breeding was confirmed at ten sites. Three pairs bred at North Warren and five pairs bred at Sizewell SWT. Most sightings were of one or two birds, with higher counts from the following locations:North Cove: 12, Dec 29th. Santon Downham: five, Mar 6th. 134