Su ffolk Bird Report 2013 2012 Addition: Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, first-winter in roost, Dec 12th. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Common
winter
Larus marinus
visitor and passage migrant.
A few oversummer.
Has bred recently. Amber
list.
At t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e year n u m b e r s w e r e n o t as high c o m p a r e d w i t h 2012. The m a i n roost at Lackford Lakes n u m b e r e d 46 o n January 5 t h increasing t o 64 on February 3rd. One was bearing a N o r w e g i a n leg-ring there, January 21st. Other notable counts f r o m Lackford included 29, February 1 0 t h and 31, M a r c h 21st but no counts w e r e s u b m i t t e d for t h e second w i n t e r period. Towards t h e coast, 150 w e r e n o t e d on t h e M i n s m e r e Levels, February 10th and 200 w e r e at t h e lagoon area o n Orfordness, February 1 6 t h and a n o t h e r 73, M a r c h 10th. At Landguard a m a x i m u m of 200 was n o t e d , January 2 7 t h a n d February 6th. Further n o r t h , a n o t e w o r t h y n o r t h w a r d passage of 92 was recorded o f f Gorleston Cliffs, February 24th. During t h e spring, 190 w e r e n o t e d at N o r t h W a r r e n , April 12th and 150 o n t h e Blyth Estuary, April 23rd. A b r e e d i n g a t t e m p t was c o n f i r m e d at a coastal site, but no i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e b r o o d or success of this was f o r t h c o m i n g . A l a t e - s u m m e r m o v e m e n t of 90 s o u t h was w i t n e s s e d o f f G o r l e s t o n o n August 2 n d and in S e p t e m b e r 144 passed s o u t h o f f Landguard o n 11th. M u c h later in t h e year, 150 w e r e at Landguard o n December 20th. Elsewhere along t h e coast, 174 w e r e o f f S o u t h w o l d , N o v e m b e r 21st and 78 at Trimley Marshes, N o v e m b e r 24th. ROCK DOVE/FERAL PIGEON Very common
Columba
livia
resident from feral stock. Categories
A, C and E.
The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) f o u n d Rock Doves in 9% of t h e 46 squares surveyed (17% in 2 0 0 3 , 1 1 % in 2008) w i t h a c o m b i n e d t o t a l of nine birds. Counts of 50 or m o r e came f r o m : Carlton Marshes: 167, Feb 26th. Bungay: Wainford Mill, 210, Apr 1st. Covehithe/Benacre Broads: 51, Oct 3rd. Sizewell: Power Station, 150, Oct 30th. Bawdsey: East Lane, 56, Apr 15th. Felixstowe: 54, Dec 25th. Stowmarket: 120, Mar 2nd. Eye Airfield: 70, Oct 26th. On Orfordness, Rock Doves were noted only around the Cobra Mist Building w i t h a peak count of 25, December 22nd. They were present all year at Landguard w i t h a maximum of 60, December 20th. STOCK DOVE
Columba
Fairly common
resident
oenas and passage migrant.
Amber
list.
The highest c o u n t o f t h e year was of 150 at Lings Lane, C h e l m o n d i s t o n o n N o v e m b e r 19th. Counts of 52 w e r e m a d e at Barsham Marshes, February 2 7 t h and 5 1 at Pipps Ford, June 11th b u t t h e best c o u n t in t h e w e s t was a l o w l y 23 at Great Livermere, August 11th. The BBS f o u n d Stock Doves in 50% of t h e 46 squares surveyed (50% in 2003, 38% in 2008) w i t h a c o m b i n e d t o t a l of 64 birds. There w e r e signs of occupancy by Stock Doves (adult birds, a nest, eggs or young) in 308 Suffolk C o m m u n i t y Barn O w l Project (SCBOP) boxes/sites, f r o m a t o t a l of 1454 boxes or sites. A m i n i m u m of 24 pairs nested on Orfordness. At least t e n pairs nested in Chantry Park. There was a strong passage s o u t h d o w n t h e coast in late October. At M i n s m e r e 200 f l e w s o u t h on 2 4 t h w h i l e o n 2 9 t h 280 w e r e r e c o r d e d at Thorpeness, 850 at Shingle Street a n d 749 at Landguard. The latter site recorded a t o t a l of 1 0 5 1 south b e t w e e n O c t o b e r 17th and N o v e m b e r 13th, w i t h t h e 749 on O c t o b e r 2 9 t h being t h e m a x i m u m day-total.
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