Systematic List on 26th. In October three were by the lighthouse on 7th, three were at Pig Pail on 25th and two were still present on 27th, making this one of the better years for this scarce visitor to the Ness. Systematic recording of this species has continued for a number of years at Rushmere Primary School where the maximum for the year was 12, January 26th. Other high counts were 18, Alton Water, March 26th, 25, Holywells Park, Ipswich, October 7th and 20, Kate's Hill, Hadleigh, November 15th. At Landguard birds were present all year as usual with one pair also nesting again. Nine birds from previous years survived the winter. Spring passage ran from March 6th to April 7th, with a maximum of five, March 19th. Two flew south, April 7th. The first juvenile appeared on June 20th with very few dispersing juveniles turning up on site from elsewhere until August 10th. Autumn passage was from September 3rd to November 6th with later birds on November 15th and 30th with a maximum of 22, October7th. In the west significant counts came from Livermere Lake with 26, December 6th and Brandon Country Park where 48 were seen, February 16th. GREAT TIT Parus major Very common resident and scarce passage migrant. Amber list (P. m. newtoni). Reports of this ubiquitous species came from 53 sites with breeding confirmed at only five. Found in 91% of the BBS squares surveyed (94%, 2009) with a combined total of 223 birds (274, 2011). At Lound Water Works, 19 territories were recorded and at Sizewell SWT, 48 territories were logged. Breeding was confirmed at West Stow with four chicks being fed by a single adult; only two fledged of which one died. Two were noted on Orfordness, February 25th with singles present in October, on 21st (Holm Oaks) and 23rd (Labi ). A good year for Orfordness! Twenty-two were present at Alton Water, January 22nd and 17, Trimley Marshes SWT, March 24th. In Holywells Park, Ipswich, 28 were recorded on October 7th. As usual birds were present all year at Landguard, with three pairs breeding. Eleven birds from previous years survived the winter. Spring passage ran from February 24th to April 1st with a maximum of nine on March 13th. A new female turned up on May 26th and a new male on June 10th. The first juveniles were noted on May 25th with dispersing juveniles turning up on site from elsewhere from June 1st to August 13th with a maximum of 16 on May 25th. Autumn passage ran from September 8th to October 30th with a maximum of eight, October 7th. At Brandon Country Park, 32 were seen on February 16th. COAL TIT Periparus ater Very common resident and scarce passage migrant. Amber list (P. a. britannicus) This species, more so than its relatives, is mainly confined to woodlands, particularly conifers and therefore abundant in the west. Sightings came from 36 locations with breeding confirmed from seven sites. Coal Tits were found in 27% of the BBS squares surveyed (20%, 2009) with a combined total of 80 (66, 2011). Most sightings were of single-figure groups with the exception of: 40, Tunstall Forest, March 21st and 25, North Stow, The Kings Forest, April 22nd. At Landguard singles appeared on June 13th, 14th and 20th. Racially-unidentified birds (possibly Continental) were at Landguard on October 4th and 30th. Continental Coal Tit Periparus ater ater Scarce passage migrant. Landguard: Oct 12th.
123