Systematic List tve recently fledged
juveniles
from
two successful
nests in a heronry."
This follows 2012's first
confirmed breeding in t h e w e s t e r n recording area, w h e n t w o active nests w e r e discovered in a aronry on M a y 29th. In 2012 breeding was also suspected at t w o o t h e r sites in t h e west b u t , in 013, the only reference in observers' notes t h a t raised any such suspicions concerned a singleton the vicinity of a n o t h e r h e r o n r y in June. Elsewhere in t h e county, breeding was proven again at t h e Hen Reedbeds, w h e r e t h e t o t a l of Ă? >/e nests r e p o r t e d equalled t h e previous year's t o t a l b u t was markedly below 2011's total of 14. Monthly m a x i m u m counts, excluding breeding records, w e r e as f o l l o w s : -
irth-east Jth-east est
Jan 5 9 14
Feb 7 7 9
Mar 7 8 4
Apr 15 8 4
May 14 12 2
Jun 26 9 1
Jul 32 51 3
Aug 15 80 5
Sep 16 100 10
Oct 14 29 8
Nov 23 13 12
Dec 3 6 4
The count of 100 in September came f r o m Seafield Bay on 2 9 t h and was b e l o w t h e previous iar's peak c o u n t of 122 at A l t o n W a t e r o n D e c e m b e r 16th. Nevertheless, t h e c o u n t helps t o nsolidate t h e Stour Estuary and its nearby waters as a key post-breeding gathering area f o r this ecies. There is a breeding colony nearby. GREAT (WHITE) EGRET h ore, but increasing,
Ardea
alba
visitor.
"he upsurge of records of this imposing and i m p e r i o u s m e m b e r of t h e h e r o n family w h i c h w e ive experienced in recent years shows no sign of abating. In fact, 2013 became a record year for ie species in Suffolk, w i t h a t o t a l of 64 reports f r o m observers. W h i l e this includes a great deal duplication and is an "all-in" figure w h i c h refers t o s o m e long-staying birds, such a t o t a l w o u l d obably have been u n t h i n k a b l e only a f e w years ago, and w o u l d certainly have been so at t h e t me of Suffolk's first record in 1984. in the north-east recording area, reports f r o m Fritton Lake, St Olaves and Barnby Marshes f r o m nuary 3rd t o 2 4 t h probably referred t o t h e same Individual. This bird may have also accounted r t h e reports f r o m t h e N o r t h W a r r e n area b e t w e e n February 6 t h and 2 6 t h , and Kessingland vels on M a r c h 6th. A spate of r e p o r t s came f r o m t h e N o r t h W a r r e n and M i n s m e r e areas tween April 2 5 t h and May 3rd, including references t o t w o at M i n s m e r e o n April 29th and May d. Singles strode t h e marshes at M i n s m e r e f r o m M a y 30th t o June 5 t h and Carlton Marshes om June 2 9 t h t o July 5 t h , w i t h t h e latter bird or a n o t h e r appearing at nearby O u l t o n Broad o n July 26th. Singles w e r e r e p o r t e d f r o m M i n s m e r e f r o m A u g u s t 1 0 t h t o 1 3 t h and Dingle Marshes f r o m August 19th t o 23rd. Two w e r e seen at M i n s m e r e f r o m September 1st t o 3rd increasing t o t h r e e on i n t e r m i t t e n t dates t o October 24th t h e n decreasing t o t w o u n t i l October 3 0 t h . The reserve's final sighting for t h e year came on N o v e m b e r 10th. O t h e r reports came f r o m Dingle Marshes o n
S e p e tm b e r 2 n d and 1 9 t h and O c t o b e r 1 5 t h and 19th. Two w e r e r e p o r t e d f r o m H a z l e w o o d M a s rh e s on S e p t e m b e r 5 t h and one f l e w south over N o r t h Denes, Lowestoft o n October 17th. In the south-east recording area, t h e year's first r e p o r t came f r o m Bawdsey M a n o r o n M a r c h 31st. There was t h e n a lengthy gap u n t i l o n e spent June 18th and 19th at Pipps Ford, Barking, with another r e p o r t c o m i n g f r o m Chillesford on June 24th. Finally f o r t h e south-east, at least o n e frequented Trimley Marshes o n July 25th. Records f r o m t h e w e s t came f r o m only t w o sites. One f l e w n o r t h over Grove Farm, N o r t o n , o n January 13th and at Lakenheath Fen singles w e r e observed on June 28th and O c t o b e r 18th, w i t h two being present t h e r e f r o m October 2 9 t h t o N o v e m b e r 3rd. GREY H E R O N
Ardea
Common resident,
winter
cinerea
visitor and passage
migrant.
Breeding was c o n f i r m e d at a mere five sites, c o m p a r e d w i t h t e n in 2012. This is surely n o t an
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