Su ffolk Bird Report 2013 accurate reflection of this species' breeding p o p u l a t i o n in Suffolk and nesting at s o m e sites m ist certainly be u n r e p o r t e d . Ten nests w e r e r e p o r t e d at t h e Hen Reedbeds w h i l e at West Stow th re w e r e at least six active nests. At t h e l a t t e r site it was said t h a t "fewer following
their late return because of the cold spring."
pairs nested
this y or
At a n o t h e r heronry, t h e location of w h ch
m u s t r e m a i n confidential because of t h e presence w i t h i n it of breeding Little Egrets, a minim m of 1 1 youngsters fledged. Spring m o v e m e n t was indicated by singles flying n o r t h well o f f s h o r e at Thorpeness on Ma ch 31st and April 6th. A u t u m n a l m o v e m e n t was m o r e p r o n o u n c e d and c o m m e n c e d o n August 1 >th w i t h one flying s o u t h off Thorpeness. Two did likewise o f f Gorleston o n August 1 2 t h and anot er t w o f l e w n o r t h off Thorpeness o n August 31st. One f l e w in off t h e sea over Sizewell o n Septem >er 1 6 t h and a n o t h e r f l e w n o r t h offshore at Thorpeness o n S e p t e m b e r 2 6 t h . Three f l e w in off he sea at G u n t o n o n O c t o b e r 12th but t h e m o s t eye-catching of t h e m i g r a t o r y parties was the 11 w h i c h f l e w s o u t h - w e s t o v e r Benacre Sluice o n O c t o b e r 19th. The f i n a l reference t o visi ale m i g r a t i o n involved a singleton flying south distantly o f f Dunwich o n N o v e m b e r 5 t h . PURPLE HERON Scarce passage
Ardea
purpurea
migrant.
A f t e r f o u r successive blank years, t h e f o l l o w i n g series of reports was especially w e l c o m e : M i n s m e r e : South Levels and reedbed, M a y 7 t h and 8 t h ( M u l t i - o b s e r v e r ) . Lakenheath Fen: M a y 1st t o 6 t h (I Goodall et al). BLACK STORK
Ciconia
nigra
Very rare visitor. Westleton Heath: two adults flying south, 17:05hr May Ist (K D Offord). To see one Black Stork in Suffolk is quite something. To see t w o t o g e t h e r is astonishing. In fact, this is t h e first t i m e t h a t t w o birds of this species have been seen t o g e t h e r in t h e county and is by any measure, a truly remarkable record and t h e observer can count himself fortunate in the extret ĂŹe. WHITE STORK
Ciconia
ciconia
Very rare passage migrant. Cavenham Heath: Apr 25th and May 3rd, considered to be the same bird (M Taylor). If this individual was lurking u n r e p o r t e d in t h e Cavenham area on May 1st, w h i c h seems likely, b o t h W h i t e Stork and Black Stork w o u l d have been present in t h e c o u n t y on t h e same day - and t h e r e c a n n o t have been m a n y occasions in t h e past w h e n t h a t has been t h e case. GLOSSY IBIS
Plegadis fa lei nel I us
Rare but increasing visitor. Oulton Marshes: Dec 19th until Mar 11th 2014 (Multi-observed) Boyton Marshes/Hollesley Marshes: Oct 31st to Nov 9th (D Shepherd, Multi-observed). Orfordness: south over former airfield, Dec 29th (D Crawshaw, M Marsh). Lakenheath Fen: Oct 14th and 15th (K Puttick, N Rolph). This little cluster of late a u t u m n and w i n t e r records kept going t h e species' recent run of appearances in t h e county, a l t h o u g h by recent standards it was n o t a b u m p e r year. There w e r e suggestions f r o m some observers that more than o n e individual may have b e e n involved in t h e B o y t o n and Hollesley sequence. W h e t h e r o r n o t this was t h e case, and
Glossy Ibis Richard Allen 72