Suffolk Birds 2019

2019 Suffolk Birds

West Area Recorder Colin Jakes, 7 Maltward Avenue, BURY ST EDMUNDS IP33 3XN Tel: 01284 702215 Email: colin@jakes.myzen.co.uk

North-East Area Recorder Andrew Green, 17 Cherrywood, HARLESTON Norfolk IP20 9LP Tel: 07766 900063 Email: waveney@yahoo.com

South-East Area Recorder Gi Grieco, Tel: 01473 402253 Steve Fryett, 4, The Street, MELTON, Woodbridge, IP12 1PW Email: bird-se@sns.org.uk

SUFFOLK BIRDS VOL. 69

A review of birds in Suffolk in 2019

Editor Nick Mason Greatly assisted by Philip Murphy (Systematic List) and David Walsh (Rarer species)

John Richardson (Photos) Phil Whittaker (Artwork)

Published by SUFFOLK NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY Compiled by SUFFOLK BIRD GROUP 2019

Published by The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, c/o The Museum, High Street, Ipswich IP1 3QH © The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright owners.

The SNS is a Registered Charity No. 206084.

ISSN 0264-5793

Printed by Healeys, Unit 10, The Sterling Complex, Farthing Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5AP.

Front cover: Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler – Brian Small The copyright remains that of the photographers and artists.

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CONTENTS

Page

Editorial: Nick Mason..................................................................................................................................... 5 Weather in a changing climate: Edward Jackson.......................................................................................... 8 Review of national and county rarities in Suffolk in 2019: Craig Fulcher................................................... 14 Spoonbills on Havergate Island: Aaron Howe, David Fairhurst, Lyndsey Record......................................... 19 Nocturnal Migration: Phil Whittaker ........................................................................................................... 23 Caspian Gull at Minsmere: John Grant........................................................................................................ 29 Caspian Gulls in the west of Suffolk: Dawn Balmer, Peter Wilson.............................................................. 30 Notes on the changing status of Great Black-backed Gulls in Suffolk: Ed Keeble....................................... 32 The breeding ecology of Breckland Tree Pipits: Niall H K Burton............................................................... 36 When do birds sing during spring: Peter Lack............................................................................................. 40 Two-barred (Greenish Warbler) at Orford, a first for Suffolk: Mark Cornish.............................................. 47 Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere: Henry Page....................................................................................... 52 Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dingle Marshes and Corporation Marshes, Dunwich: Paul Green, Tom Williams, Peter Kennerley............................................................................................................................................ 55 Siberian Stonechat at Hollesley Marshes: Craig Shaw................................................................................ 61 The 2019 Suffolk Bird Report Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 63 Systematic List.......................................................................................................................................... 65 Appendices............................................................................................................................................ 220 Suffolk Ringing Report 2019: Simon Evans............................................................................................ 224 Rare Birds in Suffolk 2019: David Walsh.................................................................................................... 262 List of Contributors................................................................................................................................ 264 Earliest and Latest Dates of Summer Migrants...................................................................................... 266 A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk.................................................................................................... 267 Gazetteer............................................................................................................................................... 272 Index of species:........................................................................................................................................ 274 The artwork in this Report is by: Richard Allen, Peter Beeson, Russell Boland, Ed Keeble, Peter Lakey, Brian Small and Jan Wilczur.

The photographs in this report are by Dave Borderick, Alan Chaplin, Liz Cutting, Ian Goodall, Jeff Higgott, Craig Holden, Peter Kennerley, Eddie Marsh, Chris Mayne, Andrew Moon, Sean Nixon, Henry Page, Peter Ransome and John Richardson.

We would like to point out that many photographs were submitted, all of them of publishable quality. In the end we had to go for those that fitted in best with this year’s bird report.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Notice to Contributors Suffolk Birds is an annual publication of records, notes and papers on all aspects of Suffolk ornithology. Except for records and field descriptions submitted through the county recorders, all material should be original. It should not have been published elsewhere or offered complete or in part to any other journal.

Authors should carefully study this issue and follow the style of presentation, especially in relation to references and tables. Where relevant, nomenclature and order should follow the latest published for The British List by the British Ornithologist’s Union (IOC list from 2018) and available on their web site at www.bou.org.uk. English names should follow the same list.

Contributions should, if possible, be submitted to the editor by e-mail or on a CD/DVD and written in Microsoft Word (Calibri font size 10). If typed, manuscripts should be double-spaced, with wide margins, on one side of the paper only. They must be in the final form for publication: proofs of longer papers are returned to authors, but alterations must be confined to corrections of printer’s errors. The cost of any other alterations may be charged to the author.

Photographs and line drawings are required to complement each issue. Suitable photographs of birds, preferably taken in Suffolk, can be either digital or in the form of 35mm transparencies.

Artwork is also required to complement each issue. A payment of £12 will be made to the artist for each original drawing.

Every possible effort will be made to take care of the original photographs and artwork.

However, photographers and artists are reminded that neither the editor nor the SNS can be held responsible in the unlikely event that loss or damage occur.

Authors may wish to illustrate their papers, but this will be subject to the illustrations being of the standard required by the editor and the decision on such matters will rest with him or her.

Material submitted for publication should be sent to the editor no later than March 1st of each year. Authors of main papers may request up to five free copies of the journal. Any opinions expressed in this Report are those of the contributor and are not necessarily those of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society or the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group.

Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee (at time of printing): Chair: Brian Small Area County Recorders: Colin Jakes (west), Andrew Green (north-east), Gi Grieco/Steve Fryett (south-east) Bird Report Editor: Nick Mason (non-voting) Secretary and BBRC correspondent: Craig Fulcher (sorcsec@gmail.com) Other Committee Members: James Brown, David Fairhurst, Tim Humpage, Scott Mayson, Justin Zantboer.

Rare Breeding Birds Panel: David Walsh ADDRESSES Papers, notes, drawings and photographs: The Editor (Suffolk Birds), The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, c/o The Museum, High Street, Ipswich IP1 3QH. Records: See inside front cover.

Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee – correspondence: The Secretary, SORC, c/o The Museum, High Street, Ipswich IP1 3QH – or sorcsec@gmail.com (craigfulcher@btinternet.com).

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Editorial

Editorial Nick Mason Well I think that there is a lot to get your teeth into in this report. 2019 was a good year for new species for Suffolk – three in all. We also have several interesting articles on wide-ranging subjects. Edward Jackson’s weather report, for instance, goes beyond 2019 and looks at the changing climate and its effect on our avifauna. Craig Fulcher, who is secretary of SORC and now the BBRC Suffolk link, has produced a review of the national and county rarities present in Suffolk throughout the year. Nocturnal bird recording might not be your thing – but may become so after reading Phil Whittaker’s explanation of the procedures involved. Spoonbills back breeding in Suffolk is long overdue and the RSPB trio of Aaron Howe, David Fairhurst and Lyndsey Record fill us in on what has been happening on Havergate Island. Three gull articles are included; our good friend John Grant has a short piece on Caspian Gull behaviour at Minsmere, while we have included the first page of Dawn Balmer and Peter Wilson’s experiences of the same species in the west of the county. Additionally, Ed Keeble has produced a well-researched piece on the changing status of Great Black-backed Gulls in Suffolk. There is an article detailing the ongoing research into Tree Pipit ecology in Breckland by Niall Burton, a subject we remember with fondness here in the east of the county! Peter Lack was busy on his local patch in 2019 researching why and when birds sing and has written it up for us here.

It is quite possible that articles like those mentioned above may be in shorter supply for the 2020 report. Therefore, any Covid-related pieces will be well received. Many will have a scientific basis – so don’t be shy in sending them in. Field notes, that some of these would be, are an important, and interesting, part of the Suffolk Bird Report.

Three new species for Suffolk – but only one of them available for most of us. You have to admire the stamina that Henry Page showed in establishing the identity of the Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere. And he’s at it again - Mark Cornish describes identifying the Two-barred Warbler at Orford which was only seen for a few hours, so it was a shame it had to be on a WeBS day! The Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dunwich stayed around for some time and was well-observed by many, alongside the interesting Western Yellow Wagtail. Paul Green and Tom Williams first found the bird and Peter Kennerley used real birding skills in getting its identification sorted.

There was, amazingly, a second Eastern Yellow Wagtail on Havergate Island. Moving in to a new village and finding a rarity on your doorstep within weeks does not happen often but this was achieved by Craig Shaw who has written-up his finding of the Siberian Stonechat, and how it was finally identified using DNA; this was at Hollesley Marshes and yet another well-watched bird.

Our deepest thanks to all of those who have spent their time producing these articles.

And thanks must go, as usual, to all those who go out to do regular counts and other research.

These records are the mainstay of the report and allow our section writers to produce the graphs and charts that are found throughout. As always, the Orfordness Report and the Landguard Report are both a major source of records – we are so fortunate to have them.

Gi Grieco writes the goose and swan section, Andrew Green the ducks. John Davies has three smaller groups i.e. the game birds, the grebes and the rails and crakes. At this point we have to say a massive thankyou to John Grant who has retired from doing his section after a long, long time. John - your sections were always a joy to read and edit. Fortunately, we were able to find two able replacements. Thankyou to our SBG chairman, Chris Courtney, for taking on the divers and shearwaters and Peter Lack the storks to cormorants. Chris Gregory continues with the raptors and falcons. And now we have a new section writer - let’s hear it for Margie Carter our first, and hopefully not last, female writer, who collated the section detailing Stone-curlew through to the plovers. Welcome! Ed Keeble continues with the remaining section of the waders, James Wright the gulls and skuas and Brian Buffery the terns and auks. Pigeons to woodpeckers is covered by Darren Underwood, Phil Whittaker the shrikes, corvids and tits, Nick Mason the larks 5

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

and hirundines and Peter Kennerley the warblers. An interesting spread of species including the crests, starlings and thrushes is collated by Richard Attenborrow and a similar spread, involving the flycatchers, chats and wheatears by Steve Fryett. The next group, sparrows, wagtails, pipits, finches and buntings has been written again by Paul Gowen with Adam Gretton finishing up with the appendix species.

Our ringing report, written by Simon Evans, is as good as you will get in any bird report.

As usual, Philip Murphy has put in hours of research helping to make the report both accurate, relevant over time and interesting. David Walsh has badgered people for data and accurate information and made task of the writers a lot easier. Laurie Forsyth has proof-read our work.

Phil Whittaker has collated the art work and John Richardson he photographs in the report.

Many thanks to Bill Baston who sorted out the photos for a good number of years.

There is always a reminder needed to get those records in to the recorders. Colin Jakes has been doing that task in the west for over 25 years. A big hand for that stalwart! We are very aware that the spread of birds is not so great in the west as on the coast, but do our best to cover avian events in the west and are keen to receive any articles or notes from there. Andrew Green is another stalwart coordinating the records in the north-east for us. I shall have to ask him how long he has been doing the job (since early 2007 apparently). In the south-east we have had a change. Many thanks go to Scott Mayson who has stood down but will continue to sit on SORC. The task has gone to two people – Gi Grieco who will sit on SORC and our grateful thanks go to Steve Fryett who has taken over the sorting of records and getting them out to whoever needs them, in our case the section writers in this report. In his case emailed records should be sent to birds-se@sns.org.uk.

It is worth mentioning again that we receive many thousands of Birdtrack records. While we try to cover all reports it is possible that some of the pertinent ones could get lost amongst the many thousands. So, please send those pertinent records in to the relevant county recorders Some counties do not include Birdtrack records because of the sheer numbers There are a couple of comments to make about the order we have used in the report. It is the IOC order as it was at the beginning of 2019. Now, please don’t all groan, the order has changed again! So next year’s report will follow the new IOC list, starting with game birds. Much of it stays the same but there will be individual moves in the list – so swifts and nightjars, for instance, are no longer where you might expect them. All this, of course, is based on sound science.

John Richardson

Red Kite 6

Editorial

An interesting observation was the lack of any small birds in the appendix section. One assumes that is more to do with people not bothering to send in records of budgerigars, weaver birds and the like?

Now we all know excellent birders and some of the proof of that is in the articles mentioned above. We also know excellent photographers, some of whom are also good birders. However, do we really need to tolerate those few characters with cameras who charge about with little regard for other birders and, more importantly, for the birds themselves? We have every right to call out this poor behaviour. I make no apology for mentioning this again. No individual is the arbiter of birding behaviour, we all are.

I have to mention the great loss of Ernie Lucking who died in the spring of 2020. Ernie was another stalwart of the birding world, a great birder and good friend. A good friend to all in fact. From a personal viewpoint, Ernie was a regular WeBS counter on the Deben. Always active – one of the first in with his data and always prepared to do another count if necessary. Steve Piotrowski has written an obituary in the summer 2020 Harrier. He will be a great loss to Suffolk birding.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Suffolk’s weather in a changing climate: 2019 Edward Jackson It’s the first week of August and I shouldn’t keep the Editor waiting much longer for this promised annual piece! I’m prompted by the forecast that an extended period of summer heat, well over 30°C, is predicted for the week ahead and also, as if on cue, I’ve seen the Met Office has just released its own UK Weather Report for 2019. So, it feels the time is right to don the research goggles once again, summarise Suffolk’s weather story for the year just past and also to give some meteorological and also climatological context for all the records that follow these pages.

How does Weather relate to Climate?

Despite the oft-quoted British obsession, let’s start by being clear about the difference between weather and climate. The term weather is used to describe the state of the atmosphere at a location at any given moment. Looking outside right now at 14:30hr on August 6th 2020, here in Brantham the sky is virtually overcast with what I judge to be stratocumulus cloud (7/8 cloud cover to use the formal description); there’s no rain or other form of precipitation; the outside thermometer in the shade registers 27°C and in terms of wind, a light breeze (Force 2) is blowing from the west.

There were longer periods of sunshine earlier today, but I don’t have the more sophisticated equipment needed to record the actual hours of sunshine in a day, or to measure air pressure and humidity. However, the basic variables of cloud cover and type; precipitation (rain, drizzle, sleet, snow and hail); temperature (daytime maximum and night time minimum) and wind (reflecting the speed and direction of movement of an air mass due to differences in atmospheric pressure) are simple enough for us all to observe. Our experiences of these changing characteristics are easily woven into everyday conversation.

The Met Office (based in Bracknell until 2003 and now in Exeter) maintains a network of 435 observation stations across the UK. Around 265 of these are known as ‘Synoptic Stations’ and automatically report hourly readings of key variables using digital equipment. The remaining 170 or so are the ‘Climate Stations’ and rely on people rather quaintly called ‘Co-operating Observers’, who take daily readings of temperature, rainfall and other variables at 09:00hr GMT (10:00hr BST in summer), using equipment supplied by the Met Office. These data used to be transcribed from the daily weather logbook onto large format monthly return sheets and sent off in the post, but they are now reported online much more efficiently.

Suffolk hosts five automated Synoptic Stations: Santon Downham on the north-west border with Norfolk; Brooms Barn Experimental Station west of Bury St Edmunds; Cavendish on the upper Stour; Wattisham north of Hadleigh and Charsfield north-east of Ipswich. The only Climate Station is on the lower Stour and officially named East Bergholt, though it is actually in the grounds on the Field Study Centre at Flatford Mill. Successive generations of Field Centre staff myself included - have ensured its continuous operation since the Centre opened in 1946.

When atmospheric variables are subject to regular and systematic observations, whether manually or automatically, the data collected create a time series. Hourly and daily changes can then be analysed and averaged out over the longer timescales of months, years and decades.

Although I have 30 years’ experience of changing weather patterns and therefore a sense of the climate of my home area in south Suffolk, the concept of climate is more usually applied to areas larger than this, at the scale of counties (Suffolk), regions (East of England) and countries (England and then the UK).

As the size of the area under consideration increases, the changes in the atmosphere that generate weather conditions and the averaged sequences we call climate are progressively influenced by external geographic variables. The most important have traditionally been latitude 8

Suffolk’s Weather 2019

(position on the globe in relation to the poles and equator); relief (the shape of the land surface and altitude above sea level) and also proximity to other land masses and large water bodies such as seas and oceans. Vegetation type and the extent of cover can also exert an effect. The average weather or climate of Suffolk has therefore largely been determined by the fact that it’s a county with relatively low relief situated on the eastern side of the UK, which in turn faces the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea and the vast Eurasian land mass to the east.

The averaging of weather data allows us to appreciate and, more importantly, to quantify the concept of the climate of a particular area, including the range of variations that can be expected away from the mean. At the outer edges of this climatic range, in effect bracketing either side of a ‘typical’ climate, are the extremes of rainfall intensity and duration and the opposite of extended periods of drought; exceptionally high and low temperatures; high wind speeds and so on. The frequencies with which these phenomena are expected to occur are usually expressed as time probabilities, such as a 1 in ten-year or 1 in a 100-year event. When it becomes evident and statistically significant that either the average values for key atmospheric variables are shifting away from their long-term means or that the frequencies of extreme weather events are increasing - or that both are happening at the same time, - then we can say with a high degree of confidence that ‘climate change’ is occurring.

All the individual species and populations of Suffolk’s birds reported in these pages have reacted to the timescales of typical seasonal changes in weather patterns. Increasing temperatures in spring trigger physiological changes in males and females in preparation for breeding. Rainfall or lack of it affects the availability of food supplies that determine fledging success and juvenile survival. Wind directions and wind speeds are among the factors that can influence when a migrant species starts its journeys from wintering to breeding area and back again several months later, with the weather on route also critical to their individual survival.

These situations apply all the time to the species we expect to see on a daily or seasonal basis; the regulars on the Suffolk list. The unexpected sightings, the accidental vagrants or wanderers that add spice to the birding year, often arrive as the result of more extreme weather events.

Hurricanes tracking with speed across the North Atlantic carry with them North American waders and landbirds. Strong winds circulating around high latitude anticyclones over Eurasia drive migrants breeding in Siberia (such as Two-barred Greenish Warbler) westwards rather than into south and east Asia. For birds migrating from the high Arctic, a shift off course of just a few degrees of longitude near the pole can be amplified into tens of degrees by strong winds as they attempt to head south. Imagine an orange as the globe and you’ll see how easily this can happen in certain circumstances.

Birds are also responding over the longer time scales associated with a changing climate, as Suffolk and the UK generally become more (or less) favourable for meeting the survival requirements of individuals and populations. The colonisation of Suffolk and elsewhere of species such as Little Egret, described as a vagrant in my treasured 1967 edition of Peterson, Mountford and Hollom, is a natural range extension related to rising annual mean temperatures and particularly the component of warmer winters that makes survival more likely. Confirmed breeding by Cattle Egret, Purple Heron and others may not be far behind.

Significant Weather in 2019 Before summarising the significant weather events of 2019, let’s start by reviewing the bigger picture. If you look for trends behind the headline data for the UK as a whole, the Met Office report for 2019 and the science behind it may not make comfortable reading. Compared with the 1981-2010 long-term average, 2019 was a warmer than average year, as were both 2018 and 2017 before it. February, the final month of winter, was the second warmest in over 100 years, eclipsed only by 1998. On February 26th, a new UK winter daytime maximum temperature record of 21.2°C was set at Kew Gardens in west London.

The four months of March, April, July and December were all a degree or more warmer than 9

Suffolk Bird Report 2018

average overall. A new all-season UK daytime maximum record of 38.7°C was set at Cambridge Botanical Gardens on July 25th, while temperatures exceeded 30°C somewhere in the UK on 10 days during the summer. Combining daytime-maximum and night-time minimum temperatures, the provisional UK mean temperature for 2019 was 9.4°C, which is 0.6°C above the 1981-2010 average. This ranks as the eleventh warmest year in the longer historical UK series dating from 1910, when widespread standardised measurements of temperature officially began. Extending this series back another couple of decades, even allowing for a little more uncertainty, all the top ten warmest years since 1884 have occurred in the 20 years since the year 2000. In contrast, all the UK’s ten coldest years since 1884 occurred before 1964.

In reviewing Suffolk’s weather in 2019, the following season by season summary uses the Met Office format of ‘Winter’ as December, January and February; ‘Spring’ as March, April and May; ‘Summer’ as June, July and August and ‘Autumn’ as September, October and November. The Met Office combines monthly data from the Synoptic and Climate Stations to create averages for the county and region as a whole, smoothing out the variations experienced at particular locations.

However, records from the East Bergholt Climate Station, Santon Downham Synoptic Station and from a third station in Lowestoft that appears to be outside the Met Office network have also been sourced on the AccuWeather website to highlight notable temperature and rainfall data on particular days. As noted above, comparisons of average temperatures and rainfall refer throughout to the Met Office 1981-2010 30-year long-term mean.

Winter: (December), January and February Winter 2018-2019 was milder and drier than average, giving generally favourable conditions for resident and overwintering species. December temperatures across Suffolk were 1.5°C above the long-term average, placing them in the top ten warmest Decembers since 1910. Temperatures fell in the New Year, with the second half of January and first few days of February seeing some sharp frosts. However, these were offset by an exceptionally mild and sunny period lasting for most of the remaining winter period, with daytime maximum temperatures of 18°C recorded at East Bergholt on February 26th and 27th.

December rainfall totals were close to average, but January and February were both much drier giving a winter total around 80% of the long-term average. Snowfalls across most of the county were light and limited to January 24th and February 1st. The mild conditions were matched by sunshine totals that were at least 120% above average. These unseasonal warm, dry and sunny conditions in the second half of the 2018/19 winter generated headlines in some of the media, but with little reference to or analysis of the longer-term implications of these extremes.

Spring: March, April and May Spring 2019 was slightly warmer than expected, with temperatures across the county up to 1.0°C higher than the long-term mean. Rainfall over the three months was around 80% below average, although sunshine was higher at 110%. All these conditions would have been generally favourable through the peak breeding season for most species. The first half of March was unsettled and dominated by winds from the west and northwest, with Storm Freya on 3rd and Storm Gareth on 12th/13th delivering 11 mm and 16 mm of rainfall respectively to Lowestoft and other coastal areas. The second half of the month was more settled, drier and warmer due to the influence of high pressure over the near continent.

April started cool and wet, became warmer for a few days until colder air was drawn across the country by 10th, giving six consecutive days of air and ground frosts around much of the county, just at the time when many summer migrants were expected to arrive. The second half of the month was much warmer and sunnier, with seven consecutive days around Easter of daytime maximum temperatures between 18°C and 23°C. Storm Hannah on 26th/27th brought unusually strong winds, but little significant rainfall. Early May was cool, especially by night, but there were warmer spells later in the month. The highest rainfall totals came on 8th, with variability across 10

Suffolk’s Weather 2019

the county shown by the 30.7 mm recorded at East Bergholt and 20.1 mm at Santon Downham, but only 17.5 mm on the coast at Lowestoft.

Summer: June, July and August Across the UK as a whole, 2019 was the twelfth warmest and seventh wettest summer since 1910. However, Suffolk generally missed out on the experiences of locations further north and west, which in some places received 200% of their average rainfall and subsequent flooding as a result. Summer rainfall totals in the southern half of the county were up to 115% of the longterm average, but the northern half saw totals only around 80%. Sunshine totals were around 110% of the average.

Starting cool and unsettled, the latter part of June and most of July were more settled with some very warm periods. The June spell peaked on June 29th, with 30°C recorded at Santon Downham and 28°C at Lowestoft. Then on July 25th, as the new UK maximum temperature record of 38.7 °C was set in Cambridge, Santon Downham recorded 36°C, East Bergholt 34°C and, under the slightly cooler influence of the coast, Lowestoft reached 33°C. In Suffolk, a heatwave is formally declared when daily maximum temperatures meet or exceed its calculated heatwave threshold of 27°C for at least three consecutive days. At East Bergholt and Santon Downham this July heatwave lasted for five days and at Lowestoft for three days. A second four-day heatwave lasted from August 22nd to 25th at the two inland locations, although Lowestoft was slightly cooler with just one day reaching 29°C. These persistent high temperatures and heatwave conditions will have increased the stresses on birds foraging for food, particularly inexperienced first-calendar-year individuals.

Autumn: September, October and November There was a settled spell in mid-September with plenty of dry sunny weather, but the end of the month was very wet over most of the UK and this generally unsettled theme persisted for most of October and November. Driven by the planet’s rotation, the upper atmosphere midlatitude jet stream circulates west to east in the northern hemisphere and in turn influences the tracks of Atlantic weather systems below it. In autumn 2019, the jet shifted course and pushed these systems further south than usual, meaning that much of England and Wales was wetter than average for October and November.

Daytime maximum temperatures across the county reached 26°C in the first week of September, but as expected had dropped away to highs of 12°C by the last week of November, giving a seasonal mean close to the long-term average. Sunshine amounts also showed little variance from the mean. Suffolk escaped the severe rain and floods that affected many parts of Yorkshire in mid-autumn, but still experienced over 150% of average rainfall in the north of the county and 110% elsewhere.

Return to Winter: December Despite nine nights of air frost recorded in December at Santon Downham and eight at East Bergholt, the 2019-2020 winter would end up being another notably mild ‘cold’ season. By the end of February, the daytime winter temperature across Suffolk would be 2°C above the longterm average. Heavy rainfall events of between 20 mm and 30 mm measured at the Met Office Stations on both December 6th and 20th also contributed to another wetter than average winter.

These temperature and rainfall trends, in particular the reduced frequency of extended periods of frost, snow and ice, increase the survival chances for resident species. When these conditions are also repeated on the near continent, it means visitors from Scandinavia and Eurasia are less likely to cross the North Sea to spend the whole of the winter on Suffolk’s coast, estuaries and inland waters.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

The Elephant in the Room… ….or, to use the only birding metaphor I can think of, The Cardinal Problem. Both the short- and longer-term effects on Suffolk’s birds of more extreme weather events and a changing climate are likely to become much more significant with time. Mention was made earlier of the importance of large-scale geographic features influencing climate. While these characteristics of land and water can explain most regional variations, they assume that atmospheric characteristics remain broadly stable – but unfortunately this is no longer true. Summarising the drivers of modern climate change in a couple of paragraphs is a challenge, but here goes!

The physical effects of introducing carbon dioxide, methane and other gases into the atmosphere through human activities, especially the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, have been well understood for over a century. Natural levels of CO2 and other gases are important in keeping global temperatures at an equable level. However, the increasing blanket of CO2 added to the atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution, around 1800, has reinforced this previously-beneficial greenhouse effect, preventing progressively more of the incoming solar energy from being re-radiated out to space as heat.

Levels of atmospheric CO2 expressed in ppm (parts per million) show inexorable year on year increases. Measurements made since 1958 at the summit of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, along with comparisons of ancient air trapped in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica tell a compelling story, with CO2 levels higher now than they have been for at least 30000 years: 2020: 413 ppm (average for the first week of August) 2000: 369 ppm 1950: 311 ppm 1900: 296 ppm 1800: 280 ppm (the pre-industrial baseline) In other words, the greenhouse blanket of CO2 is almost 50% denser now than in pre-industrial times and as a result global heating is intensifying (global warming is too soft a concept).

350 ppm is considered by climate scientists a ‘safe’ level of atmospheric CO2, around which regional climates could potentially re-stabilise and revert broadly to how they were, but at present we are far beyond that point. To redistribute the higher levels of heat trapped in equatorial regions towards the relatively cooler poles, the global ‘weather machine’ is becoming persistently more and more energised. This is causing an increase in global mean temperatures, as well as in the frequency and extremes of the weather events associated with these energy transfers and forcing climate change.

Concentrations of 450 ppm and above are predicted to lead to at least a 2°C rise of global temperatures above the pre-industrial norm, accompanied by catastrophic and irreversible weather and climate effects for human populations and the species with which we share the planet. As residents of a well-developed nation, we all share some responsibility for what is happening at the global scale and can therefore all have a part to play in the solutions, which despite the starkness of the present situation are achievable.

Learning more about the science and impacts of climate change may prompt us to make significant changes in lifestyle at home and work and maybe to become engaged politically – note the small ‘p’, as these issues transcend simple party politics. As members of the Suffolk birding community we can also make our activities as climate-friendly as possible, for example by increasing the proportion of time we spend watching our own patch – something the related Covid-19 emergency has unintentionally encouraged anyway. Wherever possible, contribute your records to Suffolk Birds and/or to BTO projects such as BirdTrack, Breeding Bird Survey, the ringing and nest recording schemes and other long-term surveys. These data are needed more than ever, to confirm the ways in which Suffolk’s bird species and communities are responding to

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Suffolk’s Weather 2019

climate change and hopefully, maybe, to identify a point in the not too distant future when the damaging weather and climate trends are starting to go into reverse.

In August 2021, as well as summarising 2020’s weather, I hope to be writing in more detail about the ways Suffolk’s birds are responding to this changing climate. In the meantime, please feel free to contribute to this conversation by sharing your thoughts directly or through the pages of Suffolk Bird Group’s quarterly magazine The Harrier.

Email: edward.jackson@uwclub.net References Met Office national and regional weather summaries for 2019 at: www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/summaries/index accessed August 2020 Suffolk weather station summaries for 2019 at: www.accuweather.com accessed August 2020 Wildlife reports in British Wildlife: April 2019 - February 2020

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Review of national and county rarities in 2019 Craig Fulcher JANUARY The year started off quietly with some lingering birds from 2018 with the Rose-coloured Starling in Kesgrave until 11th and Rough-legged Buzzards on January 7th in the Waveney Forest area and at Minsmere and Orfordness, the latter until April 13th.

The first new bird of the year was a drake Green-winged Teal discovered on Dunwich shore pools on 4th that stayed until 7th and another Rough-legged Buzzard was seen over Reydon Smear on 17th. On 19th a smart Siberian Chiffchaff was found along Belstead Brook in Ipswich and proved popular during its stay until 30th. Finally, an adult Black Brant was on Falkenham Marshes with the Dark-bellied Brent flock from 20th until the end of February. An unexpected mid-winter record was that of a Yellow-browed Warbler trapped at Burgh Castle on 6th.

FEBRUARY On 2nd an Iceland-type gull was in the roost at Lackford SWT. It transpired that this was the bird seen previously in Thetford and was being mooted as a Kumlien’s Gull. Initially it was accepted as such but doubts have been aired and opinions split amongst gull experts who have been consulted. Accordingly, it was considered that such a borderline bird could not be safely identified as a Kumlien’s so, at the time of writing, SORC has decided to publish the bird as an Iceland Gull showing characteristics of Kumlien’s Gull. The bird would be seen several times over the next few weeks in the roosts at Lackford and Mickle Mere.

Also, on 2nd the Rough-legged Buzzard in the Reydon area was seen again, this time flying up the Blyth Estuary towards Tinker’s Marshes. Black-throated Divers were seen at Minsmere on 6th and on the Orwell / Alton Water from 17th until 25th. To round off the month, another Greenwinged Teal, this one on Herringfleet Marshes, from 26th until the end of April.

Suffolk’s earliest-ever Swallow was at Sudbourne on 17th.

MARCH It was a quiet start to the month and the first bird of note was a Greenland White-fronted Goose that was seen at Carlton and Oulton Marshes on 21st and 23rd respectively. However, there was quite a surprise in the nets at Landguard on 23rd when they caught a Red-flanked Bluetail. This is the first spring record for Suffolk and continues an increasing national trend of spring arrivals of this once-mythical bird.

Jan Wilczur

White-tailed Eagle 14

Review of national and county rarities in 2019

Also, on 23rd a White-tailed Eagle was seen over Carlton Marshes; this is fast becoming an expected spring occurrence as birds wander from the booming population in Holland and the reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight. On 26th Suffolk birders had the rare opportunity to listen to a singing Siberian Chiffchaff on 26th when one was found at Leathes Ham in Lowestoft; it stayed until April 6th. Lastly, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Minsmere, also on 26th.

APRIL The first BBRC rarity of the year was a presumed returning Savi’s Warbler at Minsmere on 2nd, Suffolk’s earliest-ever record; a second bird arrived at Minsmere on 23rd in what turned out to be a good spring for the species. A smart male White-spotted Bluethroat was at Herringfleet Marshes on 6th and 7th, a typical early-spring date for this species.

On 11th a White-tailed Eagle made an appearance being tracked north from the Blyth Estuary to Oulton Broad via Reydon and Covehithe. Havergate Island played host to an immaculate male Kentish Plover on 16th; this species has become an increasingly scarce visitor nowadays, so much so that it has been added on to the BBRC list of national rarities as from January 1st 2020.

A Black Kite was over Westleton Heath on 19th and, on the same day, there was another notable raptor sighting with a young Goshawk seen at Upper Hollesley Common. Any sighting of this species away from its regular sites in the west of the county is rare, but this was even more interesting as the bird bore a blue ring which, although it couldn’t be read fully from photographs, was almost certainly from a ringing scheme in the Brecks. A White Stork flew south-west over Ipswich Hospital on 21st; the exact origins of many of these birds are often doubtful given the number of free-flying escapees in East Anglia; a reintroduction scheme at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex will only muddy the waters even further.

Suffolk’s second-ever Iberian Chiffchaff made itself popular by turning up in Lowestoft on the Bank Holiday Monday, 22nd; the bird showed well for most of the day before disappearing mid-afternoon. Continuing the Iberian theme, on 22nd a Black Kite went south over Felixstowe Ferry and a Black-winged Stilt flew south over Westleton Heath before joining up with another at Minsmere and staying until 24th.

A mobile and elusive Tawny Pipit was at Southwold on the morning of 26th before flying off west. The same day also yielded a Red-rumped Swallow at Minsmere and a Dotterel on the Alde Estuary. An Alpine Swift was tracked south down the north-east Norfolk coast on 27th and was seen in Suffolk airspace at Corton and Lowestoft before disappearing - despite observers waiting for it further down the coast. Also, on 26th a very obliging, and therefore very popular, male Red-footed Falcon was found at Woodbridge Airfield and attracted a stream of admirers until May 6th.

There was a singing Yellowbrowed Warbler at Gunton on April 23rd – Suffolk’s first spring record.

Red-footed Falcon, Rendlesham, May 6th 15

John Richardson

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

The month ended with another White-tailed Eagle in the north of the county on 30th with a bird seen over Carlton Marshes and Covehithe; it roosted at the latter site and was seen heading north-east out to sea the following morning.

MAY May is one of the most eagerly anticipated months of the year with the prospect of rarities and scarcities turning up if we get the right weather conditions. The 2nd saw the month off to a good start with two Red-rumped Swallows over the rugby pitch at Southwold before departing as quickly as they appeared, as is often the way with this species. The same applied to the Common Rosefinch, also at Southwold, on the morning of 5th, singing in gardens at Gun Hill but unfortunately it soon moved off inland.

A male Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed on Orfordness on 7th; DNA analysis would later prove this bird to be a Western Subalpine Warbler. The Suffolk Serin hotspot of Landguard continued its recent good run of this species with one on 9th. Another Savi’s Warbler was found, this time at the increasingly-impressive Carlton Marshes SWT reserve with a reeling bird there from June 11th to 29th.

Southwold continued its good spring with a cracking male Eastern Stonechat on the evening of 14th on the North Marshes. The bird was submitted as a Siberian (maurus) but subsequently accepted as a Siberian/Stejneger’s in the absence of DNA and given BBRC’s current assessment criteria for this species pair.

The last Savi’s of the spring was a one-day bird at Trimley Marshes on 16th, the fourth of the year. May 2019 saw a large number (by recent standards) of Red-spotted Bluethroats in the Northern Isles and north-east England, and Suffolk didn’t miss out on all the action when a female was found at Landguard on 20th. The following day a Dotterel was discovered late evening on the beach at Kessingland and was still present the next day.

A rather unexpected find on 22nd was a drake Ring-necked Duck at Livermere Lake. Interestingly this bird was the same individual that had been ringed at Abberton Reservoir in Essex and had been seen there, and Bowers Marsh near Basildon in Essex, before its trip to Suffolk where it stayed for six days. A Golden Oriole was singing at Minsmere from 24th to 28th and a female Montagu’s Harrier was seen at Trimley Marshes on 27th before heading off over Felixstowe Docks. A showy Hoopoe is always popular, so the bird at Aldringham Walks on 31st drew many admirers during its one-day stay.

However, the month ended with a very bittersweet moment for Suffolk birders with the discovery of an initially unidentified bunting at Minsmere on 31st. The bird was found in the dunes behind East Hide in late morning and was originally thought to be an Ortolan but went to ground and could not be relocated. That was until a RSPB resident volunteer found it again in the evening in the dunes by the Sluice Bushes. He got some very good photos which were posted online and the debate over its identity went on late into the night before it was realised that the bird was actually a female Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Not only is this a county first but also the first record for England and the British mainland so would have been a huge draw for birders near and far. Unfortunately, the bird could not be relocated the next day leaving everyone thinking of what might have been.

JUNE Well, June 1st started with all the visiting birders dipping the Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere, although the early birders did have some consolation with a Broad-billed Sandpiper that flew in off the sea onto the south levels. It only stayed for a couple of hours before flying high south. Remarkably, it was relocated later that morning on the river next to Hollesley Marshes before finally settling at Orfordness and the nearby estuary for the next two days.

A female Montagu’s Harrier was found at King’s Fleet on the Deben Estuary on 4th where it would linger for a couple of days before also venturing to Orfordness and Havergate Island later 16

Review of national and county rarities in 2019

in the month. Early June is prime time for Marsh Warblers so two individuals, one at Oulton Marshes on 5th and the other at Fisher Row on 6th were right on cue. A singing Greenish Warbler was a great find in a park in Lowestoft on 7th and from 9th a female Woodchat Shrike was very showy for two days at Kessingland.

A quiet couple of weeks followed before a brief Hoopoe at Landguard on 23rd got things underway again. Landguard Bird Observatory featured the following day too with two European Bee-eaters south over the compound mid-morning and on 26th a Siberian Chiffchaff was trapped there which was later confirmed by DNA. The first Honey-Buzzard of the year was seen over Westleton Heath on 26th and the month ended strongly on 29th with two Bee-eaters flying south over Walberswick Common and then Aldeburgh Marshes and a stunning White-winged Black Tern on the Scrape at Minsmere on 30th stayed until the next day.

JULY July can be quiet but from mid-month we can start to look forward to wader passage picking up, and this was certainly the case when a Marsh Sandpiper was found on the Scrape at Minsmere on 10th, staying until the following day. Also at Minsmere, a Purple Heron was found on 15th but was typically elusive during its six-day-stay.

The wader theme continued on 18th when a Pacific Golden Plover was found on the marshes by the South Wall at Breydon; this bird would stay until 22nd. Amazingly a second Pacific Golden Plover was briefly at Hollesley Marshes on 19th before flying north. There was an unprecedented arrival of Wood Sandpipers in late July including 33 at Minsmere on 28th.

The month ended with two more Honey Buzzards with birds at Brandon on 21st and Dunwich on 25th.

AUGUST This year August was a quiet month and we had to wait for a scarce bird until 13th when a Serin flew south over Landguard. Late summer is a prime time for Ferruginous Duck and Minsmere is the county hotspot so a fine drake there behind South Hide from 20th to 22nd wasn’t a huge surprise. Lastly, the years only Balearic Shearwater was seen to fly north close inshore off Landguard early morning of 23rd.

SEPTEMBER The year’s only Red-necked Phalarope was a smart juvenile on the Scrape at Minsmere on 8th.

The same day saw a juvenile Sabine’s Gull on Havergate Island for a couple of hours late morning before it flew off north.

Friday 13th wasn’t unlucky for one observer who had the good fortune to find a juvenile Red-footed Falcon over Landguard mid-morning before it drifted away. On 20th the first Barred Warbler of the autumn was trapped and ringed on Orfordness. The county’s second European Storm Petrel since 2008 went north off Landguard also on 20th and at the same site a first-winter Red-breasted Flycatcher was trapped and ringed on 22nd.

OCTOBER The month got underway with a firm birders’ favourite in the shape of a Pallas’s Warbler in the Sluice Bushes at Minsmere on 5th, the earliest-ever record in Suffolk of this Siberian sprite. The second Red-breasted Flycatcher of the year was at Sizewell Hall on 7th and on 12th an oftenshowy Barred Warbler was found at Southwold which lingered until 17th.

An unexpected addition to the county list occurred on 13th when a Two-barred Greenish Warbler was discovered at Orford quay carpark. This bird is only the eighth record for Britain but, unfortunately, it was a relatively brief stay and had gone by early afternoon leaving many birders disappointed especially those who had travelled from across the country. The same site also played host to a Siberian Chiffchaff on 20th.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

October 29th saw a late Radde’s Warbler found by the golf club at Southwold at lunchtime and it showed on-and-off until dusk. On 30th a Black-throated Diver was on the Stour Estuary and the month ended on 31st in fine style with six delightful Northern Long-tailed Tits for a few hours at East Lane, Bawdsey.

NOVEMBER A Pallas’s Warbler was in Lowestoft on 1st and a Hoopoe at nearby Burgh Castle and then Bradwell from 3rd to 5th. On 7th, Suffolk’s first Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found by RSPB staff working in the reedbeds at Corporation Marshes, Dunwich. The same bird had been seen very briefly on October 25th but had, frustratingly, disappeared without trace. Its ID was not confirmed until November 7th when a sound recording was obtained and scrutiny of the sonogram revealed it to be a match for the subspecies of plexa / tschutschensis. During its stay until 19th it was often associating with a Western Yellow Wagtail which may have been of an eastern race, but, as we know, these things are far from straightforward at the best of times. The bird was popular with birders from far and wide as it gave people the opportunity to catch up with this recently-split species. A Penduline Tit was a brief visitor behind West Hide at Minsmere for a couple of hours in the afternoon, also on 7th.

In recent years November has started to become the new October with late easterly winds giving hope of vagrants from far afield well into the month. One such species is Hume’s Leaf Warbler and ideal conditions saw the unprecedented arrival of three birds on 9th at Felixstowe, Dunwich and Lowestoft. Also, on 9th a Pallas’s Warbler was trapped at Kessingland sewage works lingering until the next day.

A Dusky Warbler was a fantastic catch at a ringing site in an observer’s garden in Hollesley on 10th and, even more incredibly, it was caught again on 13th. A Rough-legged Buzzard, presumably newly-arrived, was watched over Westwood Marshes, Walberswick NNR by birders watching the Eastern Yellow Wagtail on 10th.

Amazingly on Havergate Island the county’s second-ever Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found on 12th and, once again, sound recordings put it in the same subspecies pair as the Dunwich bird; this bird lingered into February 2020. The next day a Penduline Tit was trapped and ringed on nearby Orfordness.

On 23rd an adult Black Brant was back at Falkenham on the Deben Estuary with the Brent Goose flock with which it remained until at least December 22nd.

The month ended as it started with Pallas’s Warblers at Kessingland sewage works on 25th and Minsmere, 26th and 27th. Lastly for November, a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard arrived at Bawdsey Marshes on 27th and would delight birders well into 2020.

DECEMBER A Siberian Stonechat on 1st got the month off to a great start when it was found at Hollesley Marshes. Some ingenuity by the warden meant DNA could be collected from some strategically placed perches and its identity was confirmed as a Siberian (maurus) making it only the third confirmed Siberian Stonechat for Suffolk. It stayed into early 2020 and proved popular with birders from around the country as they had an opportunity to observe one of the first DNAconfirmed Siberians since the recent split from Stejneger’s Stonechat.

After the initial excitement of the Siberian Stonechat it was a relatively quiet end to the year with a couple of Black-throated Divers on the Orwell Estuary, 16th and 17th and, away from the coast and estuaries, at Suffolk Water Park, Bramford from 29th until early March 2020.

The year ended with an unexpected Little Bunting trapped on 31st at a farmland ringing-site at Wrentham.

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Spoonbills on RSPB Havergate Island, Suffolk

Spoonbills on RSPB Havergate Island, Suffolk Lyndsey Record and David Fairhurst, South Suffolk Coast RSPB Wardens and Aaron Howe, South Suffolk RSPB Coast Site Manager Havergate Island is located on the Suffolk Coast nestled within the Alde/Ore Estuary near Orford. It is Suffolk’s only island and comprises 100ha of predominantly-saline lagoons and shingle habitats. The RSPB purchased the reserve in 1949 following war-time neglect and colonisation

by Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta. The reserve, along with Minsmere, was instrumental in the successful re-establishment of Avocets in the UK. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia have been recorded on Havergate Island since the RSPB first purchased the reserve in 1949. The first record we have is from 1951 with infrequent records through to the late-1990s. From 2002 numbers rose sharply which was no doubt associated with the increased breeding success in the Wadden Sea on the north coast of The Netherlands.

Recorded Spoonbill sightings on Havergate Island

Spoonbill numbers rose year-on-year although most of the birds were non-breeding with juvenile birds arriving in late July to spend the summer feeding and roosting on the island. No nesting attempts were observed but the wardens were hopeful that the island could provide conditions for successful breeding attempts. Model decoy birds were built in 2007 and small nests were constructed on the ground. The team put the decoys out annually and the artificial platforms were deliberately very small. In 2013 surveys were carried out to see if the food supply was adequate. After determining that food was not an issue, attention turned to possible ground predators. As the island is so close to the mainland it can have intermittent visits by ground predators such as Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Eurasian Badger Meles meles and Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra. To combat this, in February 2013 additional artificial elevated Spoonbill platforms were erected in the hopes that nesting areas off the ground would be more enticing.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Spoonbill platforms erected in 2013

2019 breeding season For the first recorded time, 2019 witnessed Spoonbills breeding on Havergate Island. Five pairs nested, eggs hatching in three of them, one of the nests hatched four chicks, but ultimately all were predated. From the first year that the platforms were erected we started seeing Spoonbills on them displaying breeding behaviour such as passing sticks to each other, mutual preening and copulating as well as sleeping on them. This was the case until 2019 when something finally happened! After years of watching the Spoonbills using the artificial nests for displaying and roosting, we finally witnessed a pair, on March 19th, defending territory around the artificial nest, chasing away gulls and being aggressive towards each other. After observing the birds closely, on April 21st we concluded that they were sitting on eggs. The nest was on the ground under the artificial platforms (using material from the platforms and one that had fallen). However, on April 25th the nest site was abandoned for reasons unknown. A number of birds remained on the island (slowly increasing) but no further breeding activity was recorded until June 5th when two (probably a new pair) were seen mating in the same area as the previous nest. On June 9th we had six adult Spoonbills in full breeding plumage and six immatures on the island all around the original nest site. Over the next week we observed a pair on the original nest site and another two pairs that were favouring certain spots close by. As the nest site is a fair distance from the hide it was very hard to see clearly what was going on. However, photos taken with the drone helped to id probable pairs and nests. On June 20th, drone photos confirmed that we had three pairs sitting on nests, all with eggs. On July 3rd a drone flight showed five birds sitting/incubating including the three we originally knew about, with another two nearby. We had 23 birds present on site.

Havergate’s first chicks The first chicks were seen on July 6th being fed by the parents on the original nest. It was very hard to see what was happening on the other nests because of the vegetation. On July 14th we confirmed four chicks in the first nest.

From July 15th onwards, no normal feeding activity could be seen on the nests, although Spoonbills could still be seen. On July 16th we decided to put the drone up to see what was happening. Unfortunately, it looked like all the nests had been predated and then abandoned.

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Spoonbills on RSPB Havergate Island, Suffolk

Drone photo taken July 6th showing sitting birds all on the ground.

Drone pic July 16th. 33 birds present. Dead chicks visible in some nest

We decided to walk out and inspect the failed nests where we found fresh Badger prints in the lagoon mud and up to the nests. We found the dead chicks in the nests, some partly-eaten. We confirmed that three of the nests had chicks in them. The Spoonbills continued to reside on the island and we had our peak count of 34 Spoonbills on July 18th, the highest total ever recorded in Suffolk (D Fairhurst, A Howe, L Record). Numbers then slowly started to decrease.

Looking forward - the year has shown us how vulnerable the colony is and how easily predators can get across to the island. Considering this year’s successes and failures, it was decided to dig out the 350m ditch surrounding the nesting area and install a partially-submerged predator fence. When the water levels are raised there will only be approximately 45cm visible above water. We hope that this will prevent any predators from swimming onto the island in the future.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Newly installed predator fence (the water level is currently low to make the fence installation easier. It will be raised in 2020 ahead of the breeding season)

Let’s hope that they return and nest successfully in 2020.

Historical addendum The exact year when Spoonbills last hatched young in Suffolk is unknown. Ticehurst writing in his avifauna entitled “A History of the Birds of Suffolk” (1932) quoted Sir Thomas Bourne who indicated that Spoonbills were breeding at Trimley beside the Orwell Estuary in 1668. However, there is nothing to indicate when and why they ceased to breed at Trimley. This colony was unknown to an author called Pennant writing in the journal “British Zoology” in 1776. As such, there is the possibility that Spoonbills were still breeding at Trimley into the early years of the 18th century. So, it seems likely that the Havergate chicks were the first to hatch in Suffolk for 300-350 years.

The nearest that Spoonbills had got to hatching out young in Suffolk prior to the events of 2019 is detailed by Steve Piotrowski in his avifauna “The Birds of Suffolk” (2003). At a coastal site, seven birds built three nests in 1997; one egg was laid but this was predated.

At the same site in 1998, five pairs were present and at least three nests were built; apparent incubation took place between early June and mid-August and although it was suspected that hatching occurred, there was no evidence that any chicks fledged.

The same site was occupied again in 2002 when up to 19 birds tended ten nests but no fledging was recorded.

A colony became established in north Norfolk on the Holkham NNR in 2010 when six pairs raised ten young. By 2018, this colony, the largest in the UK, had increased to 28 pairs which raised 48 young.

Philip Murphy

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Nocturnal Migration

Recording nocturnal flight calls: a beginner’s Experience Phil Whittaker Since 2018 I have been recording bird calls in the night sky on favourable evenings from my garden in the Gipping Valley in Mid-Suffolk. My recording sessions have focused on the spring and autumn months, or occasionally in response to weather events that might perhaps induce weather-related movements. Migrating birds fly over Suffolk on a broad front and it is not necessary to live on the coast, or a migration flyway, to be involved in recording nocturnal flight calls.

I must stress that I am not expert at this activity; there are many other enthusiasts involved in this who have a better knowledge and skill at identifying calls and reading spectrograms and processing than I have! I am very much a beginner on a steep learning curve with much still to learn. The process has become known, and abbreviated, as Nocmig or NFC (Night Flight Calls) and more and more birders are becoming involved nationally and internationally in night-time recording from gardens, in both urban and rural areas. It is easy on autumn evenings to sit in your garden and pick up by ear the ‘tseee’ calls of Redwings Turdus iliacus passing over for short periods of time, but much less easy to cover a full ten hours of passage through the night.

Nocturnal recording can fill an important gap in our knowledge of the fascinating phenomenon of bird migration. Night flight recording allows analysis of a full night of calls at leisure on the following day or whenever you please. It is essentially birding whilst you sleep!

Equipment and Recording Many birders I have talked to about my experiences have said that it sounds “too technical” or” I’m no good with computers”. I must admit that I was initially cautious when I started, especially when I looked at a series of daunting-looking spectrograms and was confronted with the prospect of using audio processing software and recording hardware. It can, however, be quite a simple process, albeit a very time consuming one! There is also a wealth of online advice and support that helps considerably.

You can start recording birds at night for free with a mobile phone (what can’t you do with a mobile phone?) and a computer using free, downloadable, Audacity sound-processing software.

My recording set-up is quite basic, and cost-effective compared with some that I have seen. I use an HTDZ shotgun microphone, £20 from eBay, linked to a Tascam DR-05 Recorder, cost £70.

I power this through the long hours of night with a Pebble ancillary battery which I have used for many years as a back-up to charge my phone. I did a bit of DIY to fit the microphone in a plastic pipe with an attached spike that temporarily fixes it into the ground. I put the recorder in a weatherproof bag, switch it on and leave it out, usually, from just after sunset, often until past dawn.

A computer/laptop is required for the processing of the resulting recording and, although not essential, a set of headphones can be useful, especially with faint, or distant, calls. I find it useful to have a good set of external speakers linked to my laptop which allows additional volume control of faint calls. I have experimented with linking up my microphone to dustbin lids, large flowerpots and mixing bowls to try and replicate a parabolic reflector and improve signals from the night sky. As there was no discernible improvement, I now just use my shotgun microphone as a stand-alone (see picture below). A Parabolic Reflector is the, ‘state of the art ‘, microphone for capturing bird calls; I might get one if my interest develops, but they are expensive! All of the equipment that I use is easily transportable and can also be used in the field for daytime recording.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Photo1: shotgun microphone, recorder and battery pack in situ.

Processing and Identification of calls Once made, a recording is loaded into processing software via a laptop.

The programme used for processing is Audacity which is multi-platform and a free download.

It is relatively user-friendly. After adjusting a few basic Audacity settings, the real fun begins!

I scan through the resulting night-hours of recording, visually searching the screen panels of spectrograms on the laptop for visual signs of calls and then listening to them. A spectrogram is basically a picture made of sound. I find the filters available on Audacity particularly useful for removing road noise and other unwanted sound interference which can obscure calls especially at lower frequencies. Some calls quickly become obvious on screen and I have recorded Redwing calls that appear to be almost jumping down my microphone, but others can be very faint and easily missed when scanning hours of recordings. Faint calls can often be identified easier when heard through headphones. It can take between two and three hours or more to process a session after a busy night. This is not done in real time as Audacity allows the process to be speeded-up on screen so that eight hours of recording can be scanned in perhaps two hours.

Analysing calls and spectrograms initially proved very time-consuming. Unfortunately, where I live noise pollution is a problem throughout the night. I live between a busy trunk road and main line railway route, with a military base quite close, so I was confronted with some very strange sounds such as car horns, vehicles braking, train brakes squealing and helicopters, which initially took time to work out and then discount! Also add to this, when sifting through recordings nonavian residents such as rodents, foxes, deer, cows, barking dogs and sheep, all calling within microphone range. Initial spectrograms and sounds of this night-time cacophony caused much confusion, but after many hours of scanning recordings I have started to become better at discounting most irrelevant noises. There is always lots of electrical activity cropping up on my processing screens and I often have no ideas as to what it is!

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Nocturnal Migration

Photo2: Audacity Screen capture

Not being expert at identifying bird calls did not help when I started analysing recordings, but that is partly why I started this journey and I have improved in ability through this experience, albeit slightly! It is still a ‘dark art’ for me in many respects and somehow quite different and totally out-of-context from hearing calls in the daytime. I soon realised that I was never going to identify every call. Xeno-canto is a useful resource; it is an accessible online sound library which provides welcome opportunities to search and listen to calls and compare spectrograms of species that are being considered for identification. Following other birders who are involved on Twitter and Trektellen also provides a useful resource as it is surprising how many birds of the same species are logged at different sites throughout the country or in Europe on the same nights.

Bird call sonogram correlation software that can do all of this for you does exist, but I believe that it is far from comprehensive and is, at the present time, expensive.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Unsurprisingly, I find some calls and spectrograms impossible to identify, especially ‘single calls’ which can be extremely difficult. It took me quite a while to get to grips with migrating Song Thrushes Turdus philomelos and Robins Erithacus rubecula which emit single high-pitched calls.

Even the most experienced Nocmig enthusiasts regard night-flight call identification as a ‘work in progress’ with knowledge still developing. Social media has been useful for me in this respect, as much knowledge and debate is freely shared in relation to specific nocturnal calls. I have spent hours considering and re-considering intriguing calls, discounting them as unidentifiable, then returning to them over and over and asking myself whether could they could be a rarity? Is this a bird? Or just electrical interference? I have a computer folder full of these and maybe I shall one day get around to identifying some. It still surprises me how difficult it can be, for instance, to differentiate the sonograms and recorded calls of Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis which are quite similar unless heard well.

Weather, timings and seasons Weather permitting, I usually aim to make at least one recording a week during migration periods. I have tried recording a few times outside of key times of passage but with only minimal success.

The most fruitful nights have been ones of constant low cloud when birds passing over are probably forced down nearer the garden. Clear nights are generally less successful, as birds are usually passing at higher levels, out of my equipment’s range. Wind and rain should be avoided as there is far too much interference and risk of equipment damage. I am beginning to get a feel for what will be a good night by careful considerations of weather forecasts before deciding to record. Just like day-time birding!

The above graph shows the weekly totals of my hours of recording in 2019.

Outcomes I have logged and saved all of my counts on the Dutch migration site Trektellen which links directly to Birdtrack in Britain. Some of these records have contributed to this edition of Suffolk Birds. These data go automatically to the three Suffolk Bird Recorders from this site and it has proved a time-saving and efficient way of submitting records.

Over the two years I have been recording, I have never had a blank night with no calls (except once when I didn’t turn my recorder on correctly!) - there’s always something calling even if it’s only Coots Fulica atra and Moorhens Gallinula chloropus.

During spring and autumn 2019 I logged significant Redwing passage, with good numbers of migrant Blackbirds Turdus merula and Song Thrushes passing over throughout the night. My peak Redwing count was 332 on October 28th 2019 which is significant if you consider the range 26

Nocturnal Migration

that my basic microphone can cover which is only the small amount of sky above my garden. How many passed over the whole of Suffolk during that night?

Scarcer birds recorded have included: Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus, Whooper Cygnus cygnus and Bewick’s Swans Cygnus columbianus, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra and Long-eared Owl Asio otus. The latter species was a possible migrant, as I have only recorded them in the autumn, but surprisingly two years running so far, but only on a few consecutive nights.

Waders have featured: Whimbrel, Redshank Tringa totanus, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Common Actitis hypoleucos, Green Tringa ochropus and Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola and Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria all passing over.

My main objective has been to record migrating nocturnal bird calls, but I am also interested in local species that call at night. I rarely see Barn Owl Tyto alba in my area these days but I have recorded them more times in 2019 than I have seen them. This included one Barn Owl that sounded like it was attacking my microphone, possibly being attracted to its furry wind muffler.

It can be surprising how many birds call through the night and not just owls: Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla, Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti and Skylarks Alauda arvensis are just some of the many species that have performed well for me during the hours of darkness. It surprised me that Skylarks here usually start off the dawn chorus, often well before any other birds. As many of my recording sessions have extended past sunrise, it is also a great way to experience the dawn chorus without getting up early.

The graph shows the average number of calls of all species recorded on an hours/week basis with peak activity in late October.

Conclusions Through persistence, nocturnal recording can become an interesting and rewarding activity. It provides many valuable insights into the often unseen spectacle of night-time migration. Also, from my perspective, it has enhanced my knowledge of birds both passing over Suffolk and over my local inland patch. In the two years that I have been involved, I have added quite a few yearticks and even a few patch-lifers! It has also improved my ability to recognise a wider range of common and scarce bird calls in a nocturnal context which is completely different from the daytime experience.

Hopefully, there will be more exciting nocturnal ‘finds’ in the next few years, as who knows what will pass over Suffolk in the nocturnal hours on any given night?

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Online Resources: There are plenty of resources to help the aspiring, and experienced, nocturnal-sound recordist available online. The following are some that I have found most useful: audacityteam.org : an accessible programme which is free to download and cross-platform.

Designed for processing and editing music projects, but equally appropriate for processing bird calls after a few minor ‘tweeks’ of its settings. nocmig.com the team running this site are a fountain of useful information and it is indispensable for anyone considering, or actively involved and experienced in, nocturnal recording. The standardised protocol for recording nocturnal monitoring which can be seen on this site provides a useful framework for structuring a programme of recording. Technical advice on appropriate settings and processing calls with Audacity proved invaluable when I started. soundapproach.co.uk: useful advice on every aspect of the process of nocturnal recording and frequently updated with new approaches and innovative ideas. trektellen.org: an online platform for entering and saving recorded data and checking out what other enthusiasts are hearing in Britain and throughout the rest of Europe. Links directly to Birdtrack if appropriate permission is sought from BTO. xeno-canto.org: a comprehensive library of world-wide audio bird calls and accompanying spectrograms. Also contains excellent advice about using Audacity and extensive nocturnal recording advice forums.

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Caspian Gull at Minsmere

Caspian Gull breeding behaviour at Minsmere John Grant Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) is now firmly on many Suffolk observers’ ‘radar’, having progressed from originally being a poorly-known race of Herring Gull (L. argentatus) to official recognition as a full species in 2008. Suffolk Birds continues to refer to it as a “scarce visitor” but many observers are becoming increasingly familiar with the species’ key identification points and, indeed, appreciative of its unique character and beauty.

With its often-sizeable gatherings of large gulls, the Scrape at RSPB Minsmere is one of the best locations in the county - or country - to observe ‘Caspos’ and I have had the pleasure of seeing and enjoying many there in recent years. Even so, I was somewhat surprised to see what I took to be a fourth-calendar-year male ( an individual that retained a few brownish markings in its tertials and exhibited a few fine grey-brown streaks as a ‘shawl’ around its lower nape) in full display mode on Minsmere’s West Scrape at about 18.15hrs on April 15th, 2019.

Viewing from the reserve’s Wildlife Lookout Hide, I noted the bird on a small grassy island about 75 metres away and was immediately struck by its behaviour towards a similarly-aged Yellow-legged Gull (L. michahellis).

The Caspian Gull strutted around the Yellow-legged Gull with its long neck fully extended upwards in a rather haughty ‘giraffe’ pose, its long, thin bill pointing directly upwards as the bird circled its more-demure ‘dance partner’ on many occasions. All the while, the Yellow-legged Gull, which I took to be a female, adopted a submissive, stationary, crouched and flat-backed posture with ‘her’ head outstretched and ‘her’ rear end frequently raised. The Caspian Gull continued to circle the Yellow-legged Gull, breaking off, occasionally to lunge at any Herring Gull that wandered too close. These lunges seemed particularly aggressive and were carried out with both wings held out widely at about 90 degrees to the body, in ‘albatross’ pose. The bird would run towards an interloper and the bill would be jabbed towards the unwanted intruder.

I had never seen such behaviour among either species before so I tried to film it with my mobile phone attached to my telescope. However, infuriatingly, but absolutely typically for me, the phone ‘died’ as soon as I tried to begin! I continued to watch the display, which went on for a total of at least 15 minutes, until the Caspian Gull suddenly took flight high to the south. The Yellow-legged Gull remained on the grassy island, in more conventional pose, for at least another 30 minutes, at which time I left the hide.

I am aware that Caspian Gull often hybridises with other species in some European countries indeed, we sometimes see indeterminate gulls in Suffolk that apparently have mixed parentage and are the cause of much wrangling over identity - and I was left to contemplate that one day this fascinating species might begin to do so in our county. That would pose even more interesting identification questions, no doubt!

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

West Suffolk Caspian Gull sightings 2019 Dawn E. Balmer and Peter M. Wilson

The year 2019 produced apparently unprecedented numbers of Caspian Gulls in West Suffolk with our efforts culminating in up to 131 individual birds sighted. The Lackford Lakes gull roost contained larger than usual numbers (up to 21 different individuals) in January, peaking at ten on February 8th, with the last birds noted, February 16th. In the second winter period seven birds were noted at Lackford, including six on November 30th. Occasional visits to Tuddenham pig fields saw a total of 12 individuals between January 1st and February 21st.

Late winter/early spring saw 13 birds appear in the Mickle Mere gull roost, February 19th – April 12th. As ever, Livermere Lake and adjacent pig fields produced an impressive haul with as many as 81 individuals documented. The gull roost on Livermere Lake, particularly through the summer months, proved highly productive indeed! A dip in sightings was evident in late spring and the last two months of the year. The latter was almost certainly due to both a drop in numbers of gulls and the use of pig fields which were largely out of view.

Although a real effort was made to identify individual birds, it seems possible or likely, that a margin of error crept in, particularly with regard to documenting gulls using the Livermere Lake roost.

Subtracting 10% of the number of individuals identified in the Livermere Lake and pig fields would give a revised total of 73 individuals. As usual birds in their first year were by far the most prevalent with 54% of birds categorised as such. The age ratio of other ages was 25% secondyear, 10% third-year and 11% fourth-calendar-year and older (‘adult types’).

30

Caspian Gulls in the west of Suffolk

Maximum counts were as follows: 9 Lackford Lakes 27/01/2019 6 Livermere pig fields 08/02/2019 10 Lackford Lakes 08/02/2019 5 Mickle Mere 20/02/2019 5 Livermere Lake 14/04/2019 5 Livermere Lake 18/07/2019 8 Livermere Lake 10/08/2019 8 Livermere Lake 04/10/2019

30 Number

20 10 0

J F M A M J J A S O N D Month

Graph to show the number of identified Caspian Gulls in each month of 2019.

It is quite possible that there were birds counted in more than one month.

The whole article with photographs and details of all the individual birds can be accessed by emailing Dawn and Peter at – dawn.peter@btinternet.com

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Notes on the changing status of Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus in Suffolk Ed Keeble Introduction Some recent encounters with adult Great Black-backed Gulls in mid-summer on the Stour and Orwell Estuaries prompted me to look into their changing status in Suffolk. I am most definitely not a gull expert, but we are blessed with gull experts in the county and further afield and they have been kind enough to share their knowledge with me.

Background and summary In Britain, the Great Black-backed Gull breeds along the coasts of Scotland, Wales and southern England, but despite range extensions in the late-20th century as far south as the Farne Islands, it is absent or very scarce as a breeder along the east coast of Englandi.

Consistent with this overall picture, Great Black-backed Gull is mainly a passage migrant and winter visitor to Suffolk, with some oversummering birds, mostly immatures. There has been a substantial increase in numbers reported off the Suffolk coast on passage and in winter.

Great Black-backed Gull has bred in Suffolk in small numbers since at least 1999ii. Since then, it has bred at a number of sites, with a maximum annual total of at least 13 pairs in the county in 2014 (this information not being available to section writers in the 2014 SBR). But it has not been a case of initial colonisation, followed by a steady increase in numbers and occupied sites.

In recent years breeding has only been recorded at Felixstowe Docks and it is not known how many pairs are currently breeding there.

For context, colonisation of Suffolk appears to be well ahead of counties adjacent to us. The first breeding record was as recently as 2013 in Norfolk where at Snettisham one pair, but in 2015 two pairs, nested each year between 2013 and 2018 inclusive, raising a maximum of three young in any one yeariii. So far as I can ascertain, Great Black-backed Gull still has not been confirmed as a breeder in coastal Essexiv. The first breeding record from Greater London was in 2008 and, again so far as I can ascertain, there has not been more than one breeding pair reported in any year since thenv.

Passage and wintering in Suffolk Wintering numbers on the Suffolk coast in the latter part of the 20th Century include many three-figure counts including, for example, an annual peak of roosting birds on the Alde-Ore complex ranging between 150 and 500 during the period 1985-1994vi .

In recent decades higher counts of between 500 and 1000 have been made including one of 600 on Orfordness on November 30th, 2014vii. Very high counts of birds moving offshore off Gorleston were made during this period including 1709 on November 29th 2016 and a record count for Suffolk off there of c2500 on December 8th 2015viii. Off Landguard, recent high counts include 1000 on November 14th 2019 and 1500 on November 20th 2017ix. It is notable that all of these peak counts have come in late autumn or early winter and so they may relate to local or longer-range movements of the population which winters in the southern North Sea or further south into the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. It is also possible that bad weather may force birds which feed and roost at sea to come inshore- as when 1500 roosted on Minsmere Scrape on January 14th 1987x.

It has long been known that a high proportion of Great Black-backed Gulls wintering off the east coast of the British Isles are from Norwayxi and in recent years there have been many readings in Suffolk of colour-ringed birds from Norway. Of 74 colour rings reported by one observer in Suffolk over the period from 2004 to date, 60 were from Norway and 14 from Denmark.xii It has 32

Great Black-backed Gulls

been suggested that a ban on landfilling biodegradable waste in Norway has caused a higher proportion of birds from that population to winter further southxiii. It is possible that this may be a factor in the increase in numbers recorded off Suffolk.

Breeding in Suffolk The following is a summary of all of the proven and potential breeding attempts in the county that I have been able to identify.

Orfordness The first confirmed nesting in Suffolk was in the Orfordness gull colony. Two pairs held territory there in 1998 and breeding was confirmed in 1999, with four pairs in 2000, plus a fifth territorial pair which did not attempt to breedxiv. It is thought that the majority of nests were predated

by Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes and the number of confirmed breeding attempts declined to zero in 2006, with one unsuccessful attempt in 2012xv. Only one chick was proven to have fledged from the breeding attempts at the site over the period.

Havergate Island Breeding has also been confirmed on Havergate Island. The first breeding record was in 2007, with 2 or 3 pairs over the period 2007-2014 and then a decline after that to a single pair in 2015 and 2017, which was the last recorded attemptxvi. There were no breeding records in 2016, 2018 or 2019.

Felixstowe Docks At Felixstowe Docks, the first breeding record was in 2001xvii with an increase to four pairs by 2006xviii and ten pairs in 2014xix. It seems likely that they have bred there each year since then, but coverage has been incomplete. At least two pairs were reported breeding there in 2018xx and in August 2019 a pair was seen feeding two dependent young at Freston on the Orwell Estuary, which may well have come from therexxi.

Pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls are easily missed at warehouse sites, as some roof areas are likely to be out of view. In 2012 an extensive survey of Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus and Herring Gull Larus argentatus colonies was carried out in Suffolkxxii and no Great Black-backed Gulls were reported, but a survey at Felixstowe Docks will hopefully be possible in 2021. This should confirm whether numbers of breeding Great Black-backed Gulls have remained at, or above, 2014 levels.

Other sites Away from the three prime sites, there have been published records from Ipswich (one pair in 2005); from a site in north-east Suffolk (two pairs in 2007); and from an undisclosed location (one pair in 2013)xxiii.

More recently, an adult pair was reported in the mixed-gull colony on a warehouse roof at Lawford (in Essex, but on the Stour Estuary) in 2017xxiv, but they did not breed. A pair then summered on the Stour Estuary favouring a salting on the north shore (in Suffolk) in 2018, 2019 and 2020xxv. These birds were not seen to make a breeding attempt and may have been failed breeders from another locality.

It follows from the above that there was a minimum of 13 pairs in Suffolk in 2014 (ten at Felixstowe Docks and three on Havergate), but it is not clear if the population is decreasing, stable or increasing.

Discussion Historically, the breeding range of Great Black-backed Gull was discontinuous, with an Atlantic population extending into France and a Scandinavian population extending as far south as 33

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Denmark, but with no breeding birds along the coasts on either side of the southern part of the North Seaxxvi. This situation began to change along the north-west coast of Europe in the latter part of the 20th Century, with the French and Danish populations increasing ahead of the first nesting on the German Wadden Sea in 1985 and in The Netherlands in 1993xxvii. There were estimated to be 60-70 pairs breeding in The Netherlands in 2013 to 2015xxviii.

It may be that our breeding birds in Suffolk derive from the population which has established itself relatively recently on the east coast of the southern part of the North Sea. There is considerable connectivity between populations of large gulls in Suffolk and in The Netherlands, with a number of records of Lesser Black-backed Gulls fledged and ringed in Suffolk subsequently breeding in The Netherlands and vice versaxxix. If this is the origin of our breeding birds, it might explain why colonisation has been concentrated in Suffolk and has not yet occurred to any degree further up the east coast of England, at locations which are further from The Netherlands.

The increase in numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls reported on passage and in winter (see above) should also be considered. It is known that birds from Norway have oversummered here as immaturesxxx and the possibility cannot be ruled out that some of these birds have entered the breeding population here as adults, rather than returning to Norway to breed. In view of the small number of breeding adults in Suffolk, however, we do not yet have any ringing returns to confirm from where any of our breeding birds have originated.

Russell Boland

Juvenile Great black-backed Gull

Little seems to be known about the behaviour or ecology of the Great Black-backed Gulls which are breeding in the county, in particular whether they are feeding inland, along the coast or at sea. At Landguard, breeding birds from Felixstowe Docks have been seen to steal Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus initially taken by Herring Gullsxxxi and on the Stour Estuary, the summering pair has been seen to catch flatfish at low tide and to hunt Shelduck Tadorna tadorna chicks in late summerxxxii.

34

Great Black-backed Gulls

It is too soon to predict the level at which our breeding population of Great-black Backed Gulls might stabilise. It is notable that the early breeding attempts in the county were within gull colonies at natural sites. It may be that predation by Red Foxes has been, and continues to be, a factor which limits success at such sites and that future breeding attempts may be concentrated on warehouse roofs. The fortunes of the species as a breeder at warehouse sites will depend amongst other factors on how far gull colonies are tolerated or controlled.

Request for observations It may be that breeding attempts by Great Black-backed Gulls are going unnoticed or unreported in Suffolk. Observers are encouraged to submit observations to the relevant recorder so that we can build up a better picture of the breeding status of this species in the county.

Acknowledgments Many thanks to Aaron Howe, John Grant, Mike Marsh, Nigel Odin, Steve Piotrowski, Pete Rock, Paul Roper, Adam Rowlands, Andrew Stoddart, David Walsh and Justin Zantboer for patiently responding to my enquiries and for their help with this note. i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi xii xiii xiv xv xvi xvii xviii xix xx xxi xxii xxiii xxiv xxv xxvi xxvii xxviii xxix xxx xxxi xxxii

Breeding Birds Atlas 2007-11, BTO The Birds of Suffolk, ed. Piotrowski S H. Christopher Helm London, 2003 Andrew Stoddart, pers. comm.

The Birds of Essex 2007 London Bird Reports 2008-2018 The Birds of Suffolk, note ii above Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Suffolk Bird Reports 2014, 2015, 2017 Landguard Bird Observatory The Birds of Suffolk, note ii above The Birds of Suffolk, note ii above Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Steve Piotrowski, pers. comm The Birds of Suffolk, note ii above Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Aaron Howe, pers. comm.

The Birds of Suffolk, note ii above.

Suffolk Bird Report 2016 Pete Rock, pers. comm.

Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Ed Keeble, pers. obs.

Suffolk Bird Report 2012 Suffolk Bird Reports 2005, 2007, 2013 Rick Vonk, pers. comm.

Ed Keeble, pers. obs.

The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol iii Oxford University Press, 1983 Bird Atlas Netherlands https://www.sovon.nl/en/birdatlas Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus. Latest newcomer as breeding bird in the Netherlands Ben J. Koks & Mat G. M. Jongenelen SULA 12(4): 203-208 (1998) Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Mike Marsh, pers. comm.

Nigel Odin, pers. comm.

Ed Keeble, pers. obs.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

The breeding ecology of Breckland Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis Report for 2019 Niall H.K. Burton (niall.burton@bto.org) British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU Report to the Forestry Commission East England Forest District Bird Group Meeting, Santon Downham February 2020

This report presents the latest results of a continuing study of the breeding ecology of Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis undertaken in and around Thetford Forest. The study has encompassed five main elements: • • • •

Territory mapping to assess habitat preferences and monitor numbers; Nest finding to monitor breeding success; Colour-ringing to monitor adult survival rates and movements; Acoustic recording to assess individual variation in song and so also monitor adult survival rates; • A geolocator study to determine the species’ migration routes and wintering areas.

Monitoring breeding success Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Nests found 7 27 28 29 27 24 20 16 19 20 33

Young ringed 11 83 104 121 110 87 61 45 53 66 80

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL

Nests found 30 23 28 24 18 24 37 28 30 34 32 558

Young ringed 93 67 70 77 42 107 116 95 71 109 114 1782

Nest totals include nests found by Ashley Banwell, Gavin Chambers, Greg Conway, Paul Dolman, John Dries, Allan Hale, Ron Hoblyn, Mark Hulme, Simon Pickett, John Secker, Kerry Skelhorn, Mike Toms, John Walshe and Lucy Wright, and data from the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme.

Monitoring survival – colour-ringing and acoustic monitoring A colour-ringing project was begun in 2009, to look at within- and between-year site-fidelity and survival. To date, 200 adult birds have been colour-ringed: 177 males and 23 females.

36

Breckland Tree Pipits

Complementing the colour-ringing study, a new study (funded by Mark Constantine) in collaboration with Charles University, Prague, was initiated in 2016 aiming to evaluate the recording of song as an alternative approach to monitoring annual survival.

Existing study has highlighted the variability of Tree Pipit song repertoires, and that individuals can be reliably identified from recordings of ca. five minutes (containing 20+ songs), and thus the potential for acoustic monitoring of movements and return rates of territorial males (Petruskova et al. 2016. Methods Ecol. Evol. 7: 274-284).

The study’s aims are: • To monitor independent samples of individual male Tree Pipits through colour-ringing and acoustic recording; • To use standard mark-recapture analyses to generate and compare annual survival rates from the two approaches.

Study plots within the forest have thus been divided into those in which birds are being monitored by acoustic recording alone and those in which birds are being monitored through colour-ringing. Since 2016, 86 individuals have been identified through acoustic recording alone on acoustic recording plots.

Apparent annual adult survival for male Tree Pipits in Thetford Forest, based on colour-ring re-sightings (black) and acoustic recording (red)

Male Tree Pipit ‘LBW,C;RBP,M’ King’s Forest 17.04.2018

Migration routes and wintering areas The Tree Pipit is red-listed on the latest list of UK Birds of Conservation Concern (Eaton et al. 2015) and is also listed as a species of principal importance in England under Section 41 (S41) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act. However, there is limited information on the wintering grounds of the British population.

To better understand the migration routes, timing of movements and wintering grounds of British-breeding Tree Pipits and thus potential pressures outside the breeding season, a pilot geolocator project was initiated in Thetford Forest in 2016 with funding from Mark Constantine.

In total, 21 geolocators were deployed (14 on males, seven on females). Eight of these birds (six males, two females) returned to the forest in 2017 – a similar return rate to that of colourringed control birds – and geolocators were recovered from four of the males. Data from these geolocators were presented in the report for 2017 and indicated wintering grounds in west Africa, centred on Guinea, Senegal and western Mali.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

A further six geolocators were deployed on male Tree Pipits in Thetford Forest in 2018. Support was also provided in 2018 to a project to fit 20 geolocators to Tree Pipits (17 on males, three on females) in the Forest of Dean (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund). Two of the Thetford Forest birds returned in 2019 and the geolocators were recovered from these birds. Eight tagged birds also returned to the Forest of Dean in 2019 and three further geolocators were recovered.

Data from these geolocators indicate that Thetford Forest and Forest of Dean birds winter in approximately the same region of west Africa.

The data have also been used in a paper looking at the desert-crossing strategies of ten AfroPalearctic migrant species across Europe (Jiguet et al. 2019). By looking at the light intensity data recorded by the geolocators, this study has shown that, both in autumn and spring, most individual Tree Pipits stop migrating during the day while crossing the Sahara. However, the majority of individuals prolong their nocturnal migration flights into the morning, while a few may perform non-stop flights across a full day.

Day and night light intensity data (X-axis) from geolocators deployed on two Tree Pipits, showing autumn and spring crossings of the Sahara. Smooth patterns in light intensity indicate periods when birds were migrating. In the first figure, nocturnal migration flights extend into the morning for two successive days.

In the second figure, migration flight extends across one and a half days.

From Jiguet et al. (2019)

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Breckland Tree Pipits

With particular thanks to Greg Conway, Ian Henderson and Justin Walker, and, in 2019, Mike Toms and Jeff Riches.

Publications: • Burton, N.H.K. 2009. Reproductive success of Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis in relation to habitat selection in conifer plantations. Ibis 151: 361-372. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474919X.2009.00915.x • Burton, N.H.K. 2007. Influences of restock age and habitat patchiness on Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis breeding in Breckland pine plantations. Ibis 149 (Suppl. 2): 193-204. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1474- 919X.2007.00737.x • Burton, N.H.K. 2007. Intraspecific latitudinal variation in nest orientation among groundnesting passerines: a study using published data. Condor 109: 441-446. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.2.441 • Burton, N.H.K. 2006. Nest orientation and hatching success in the Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis.

Journal of Avian Biology 37: 312-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03822.x • Eaton et al. 2015. Birds of Conservation 4: the population status of birds in the Uk, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Brit Birds 108: 708-746 • Jiguet, F., Burgess, M., Thorup, K., Conway, G., Arroyo Matos, J.L., Barber, L., Black, J., Burton, N., Castelló, J., Clewley, G., et al. 2019. Desert crossing strategies of migrant songbirds vary between and within species. Scientific Reports 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41598-019-56677-4

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

When do birds sing during spring?

Peter Lack Introduction It is generally “known” that most birds sing in the spring to keep rival males away and/or to attract females in to their territory. It is also “known” that some species breed quite early in the year and, therefore, sing quite early and some sing rather later, with summer migrants obviously coming into the latter category. Several resident species may have more than one brood but whether or not they start to sing again after a break is not always clear.

Having said all that, it seems that there are very few data on exactly when each species starts to sing and when each stops. Alexander (1935) published a chart showing the song periods for a whole range of species based on his own qualitative observations over 30-odd years in southern England and the Midlands. He included similar observations of several other species which did not occur in his areas gleaned from correspondence with other observers. However, there were no numbers involved and he fully accepted that it was, at times, difficult to determine what was song and what calls were equivalent to songs, this especially when considering non-passerines and some passerines such as crows. He also noted, a) that there were some differences between different parts of the country, b) that the amount of song especially early in the year was often dependent on the temperature and other weather conditions, and c) that on any one visit not all the individuals of any one species might actually be singing at the time.

This all led to a British Trust for Ornithology survey covering a few species which ran from August 1937 to July 1938 (an all-year survey) to 1939-1940. The species involved were: 1937-1938 and 1938-1939: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Skylark, Yellowhammer; 1939-1940: Song Thrush was retained but Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Willow Warbler and Woodpigeon were added.

Observers were asked to record the amount of song heard daily on a scale of 1 to 3 but no indication was asked for about the numbers of birds involved.

In the event the survey did not really produce many very useful results. Observers clearly interpreted the scale differently and there were evidently some questions about the ability of some of the observers to identify the songs correctly. Also, unlike most surveys today, the methods were not controlled anywhere near tightly enough for comparisons between observers.

However over 80 observers sent in records for the first season, a rather smaller number for the second year and only 30 or so for the third, this last at least partly due to the start of the Second World War. For an analysis of what results were produced see the report of the survey published in British Birds (Alexander 1942).

Feeling that there was research to be done here, over the course of two springs, 2017 and 2018, I covered a standard walk of about 2km around a field counting the number of individual birds I heard singing.

Site and Methods The field in question is about 20 hectares and is what is now called Sayers Breck at the western end of Lackford Lakes Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve – the field was bought by the Trust in autumn 2017 as an extension to the existing reserve. Until 1991 it was an arable field after which it was planted with a Set-Aside mixture and placed under an Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme with sheep grazing the major part of the field and a permissive path all around the edge. There are also substantial numbers of rabbits.

The south and west sides of the field are adjacent to Lackford village gardens, with a buffer of rough grass up to about 50m wide in some places before what is often a substantial old hedge with many trees (almost entirely broad-leaved) along the original boundary. The north side of 40

When do birds sing during spring?

the field is adjacent to a wide water-filled ditch with scrub beyond and with some wet flashes.

Finally, about half the eastern side abuts what is known as Sheepwash Wood with the remainder a substantial hedge with another, often quite wet, grass field on the other side (all part of the Lackford Lakes reserve). Each side is 400-600m long.

I walked the permissive path around the field on average a little under twice a week through the first half of each of 2017 and 2018 (79 times in all). In 2017 I started in mid-February and had to stop after the first week of July as the path was closed during negotiations for the sale of the land to Suffolk Wildlife Trust. In 2018 I started on January 1st and again ended in the first week of July. Each visit took around 40 minutes and it was done in “reasonable” weather conditions usually starting 1-2 hours after sunrise.

For analysis the period has been split into 10-day periods which essentially correspond to the early, mid-and late periods of each month. Excluding January (six visits in all) and early July (three visits) on average therefore I did about 4.5 visits per 10-day period over the two springs.

Results Overall, 15 or more individuals of 28 species were recorded singing (or in a few cases calls interpreted as relating to breeding, eg Pheasant crowing). Clearly the same birds were recorded on multiple visits so the total count of individual birds has to take this into account.

The average number of individual birds heard singing per visit in each 10-day period is given in the table (below). The figures are interpreted below and show different patterns depending on the species.

Totals Overall Total Numbers: Numbers steadily rose from early January to a peak in mid-April after which numbers declined reaching about the level of early February by early July.

Number of Species: As for total numbers the number of species recorded singing rose steadily from early January reaching its highest level in mid-April. The average then remained at this level until early May and only dropped a small amount until early June after which the number dropped off quite quickly.

The individual species Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (crowing): Heard once in January but then not until late February, peaked March to mid-April, then declined a little through the first half of May, and peaked again in the latter part of May before ceasing altogether.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: First recorded mid-February, numbers then increased to 1.2 per visit by mid-April and then declined to half that and not heard after the end of May. Stock Dove Columba oenas: Rather few birds. A few were recorded mid-January to midFebruary and then it was silent until mid-April from when it was recorded intermittently to early July.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus: A steady increase throughout the period from January to the end of June.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: A steady rise from January until the end of April from when numbers stayed more or less steady.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus: First heard mid-April, then a steady rise until late May. Fewer heard in early June and numbers declined sharply after that.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis (yaffle): Heard from late January to early May but not thereafter.

Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus: Highest numbers through January and February after which numbers steadily declined until none was heard after early May. Great Tit Parus major: First heard late January then a steady build up to mid-March when it stayed at about peak numbers until early May when declined sharply.

41

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Skylark Alauda arvensis: First heard late January, numbers rising to 4-5 birds heard from early March until the end of the recording period.

Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti: A low number from January to mid-March after which numbers increased to 2-3 times the January to March total and stayed steady until July.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita: First heard early March from when numbers increased sharply to a peak in late March. After this a steady declining but still a few heard in early July.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: First recorded mid-April, increased to a short peak in mid-May and then decreased sharply.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla: First heard in early April, peaked in late April and numbers remained high until mid-June before declining sharply.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin: Rather few birds. Only heard between late April and late May. Whitethroat Sylvia communis: First heard mid-April with a short peak late April to mid-May and with a sharp decline after that.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes: Rather few until late February when a sharp rise to mid-April.

Numbers then were about level until late June.

Blackbird Turdus merula: None heard until early March, numbers were then high from midMarch to early June after which there was almost no singing at all. It is possible this pattern could be slightly different if the full range of times of day was covered as the species certainly sings most strongly in the period just before and shortly after sunrise - a period which my walks did not cover.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos: Numbers steadily rose from late January to a peak in early April after which the number singing stayed fairly constant but slightly down on the peak until early July.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus: Started mid-January and stayed regular until early March, then declined and not heard at all after the end of March.

Robin Erithacus rubecula: A steady rise from early January to mid-February. Numbers then stayed at this level until mid-April, after which they started reducing sharply; none heard in July.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos: First heard mid-April, stayed singing consistently to early May when declined sharply and stopped completely after mid-June.

Dunnock Prunella modularis: A steady rise from January to a single period peak in early March.

Numbers reduced a bit mid-March to late April and then rose again in early May and remained more or less steady to late June.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs: First heard mid-February after which a steady rise until mid-March from when it stayed more or less steady until mid-June; none after that.

Greenfinch Chloris chloris: A few in late January and early February then a sharp rise reaching a plateau from early March to early April. Fewer were heard mid-April to mid-May and then a slight second peak to mid-June.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis: 1 or 2 singing most visits until late April, more through May to mid-June and then numbers declined again.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella: Rather few birds. Heard only late February, early and late March. It may well be that they moved nearby into The King’s Forest after this.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: Very few heard until late April but a few from then until early July.

A further 11 species were recorded singing over the two springs: Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (1), Tawny Owl Strix aluco (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (2 drumming), Swallow Hirundo rustica (9, mid-April to late June), Coal Tit Periparus ater (10, January, March to early April and early July), Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (10, mid-April to late May), Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus (11, mid-May to late June), Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca (2), Goldcrest Regulus regulus (10, scattered mid-February to early June), Starling Sturnus vulgaris (11, late January to mid-April) and Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret (3).

42

When do birds sing during spring?

Discussion Most of these data simply confirm what has been “known” for quite a while. However, as noted at the start, this is one of the first times that the actual numbers and ratios of numbers between seasons have been recorded systematically. A few points warrant a specific mention. Numbers of many of the resident species built up slowly with many starting to sing in late February. How related this was to the weather was not looked at specifically but anecdotally there often seemed to be more singing on warmer days with some sunshine and with little or no wind. The Blackbird, however, was a major exception and seemed to start with a bang in early March, and indeed this species had a relatively short main season compared with many others.

At the other end of the song period the decline in numbers singing was often rather steeper and there was a particularly sharp drop in those of Blue Tit and Great Tit. The summer visitors though are different. Their peak of singing seemed to be very shortly after they arrived with all singing at once. Also, most of these species seemed to stop relatively early and the decline at the end of the season was often fairly abrupt and usually much more pronounced than for the resident species. This may be due to the fact that many of them only have one brood.

Only two species possibly showed two peaks – Dunnock and Greenfinch – although the numbers given here cannot be considered conclusive. Does the resurgence come shortly after the first brood fledged? Certainly, the Dunnock is well known to have a complicated mating system and the males could perhaps be trying to attract a second (or third!) mate after their first brood is out of the way.

It is also interesting to compare some related species. The three species of thrush all show different patterns with the song periods of Blackbird and Mistle Thrush hardly overlapping and only the Song Thrush having a more prolonged season. The Woodpigeon and Collared Dove (and perhaps Stock Dove) are different from all others in that numbers continue to rise throughout the period; indeed, casual observation shows that later in the year (after June) these are almost the only birds singing and many can be heard during the autumn around dawn. Both species, of course, have a prolonged breeding season.

Through all of this it must be remembered that this is only a small sample in one place over two spring seasons. How representative it is of other places and other years and how singing is related to the weather conditions will only be determined with a much wider survey. The other major factor not included is the time of day. As noted above, Blackbirds and Woodpigeons, at least, often sing very strongly before and around sunrise and the figures given here clearly only relate to what may be just those individuals winding down a bit later in the day than other figures for these species. Having said that, it is clear that there is pronounced seasonality in song production with seasonal patterns specific to each species and this obviously has potential implications for multi-species surveys.

Acknowledgements Dawn Balmer kindly read through an earlier draft and made some useful suggestions for improvement.

References Alexander, H.G. 1935. A chart of bird-song. British Birds 29: 190-198.

Alexander, H.G. 1942. Report on the bird-song inquiry. British Birds 36: 65-72; 86-92; 102- 109.

43

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Table: The average number of individuals heard singing on a visit in each 10-day period (Early, Mid, Late of each month) January to July 2017 and 2018

Mistle Thrush

Little Grebe

Garden Warbler

Great Tit

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Green Woodp

Dunnock

Cetti's Warbler

Cuckoo

Chaffinch

Collared Dove

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Blackcap

Blackbird

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.5

0.5

0.0

0.0

3.0

0.0

3.5

0.0

0.0

E

0.0

4.0

1.0

0.0

2.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.0

0.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

0.0

5.0

0.0

1.0

0.0

0.0

M

0.3

1.0

0.0

5.0

0.0

0.0

0.7

0.0

0.0

2.0

1.3

0.0

2.0

0.7

1.7

0.0

0.0

3.3

0.0

2.3

0.0

0.0

L

0.0

2.0

0.7

0.3

0.0

5.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.3

1.3

1.0

1.3

4.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

3.7

0.0

2.3

0.0

0.0

E

0.0

0.0

2.4

0.2

3.2

0.2

5.8

0.2

0.0

0.6

0.2

0.0

1.4

5.2

1.2

0.4

5.0

0.6

0.0

0.2

3.2

0.0

1.6

0.0

0.0

M

0.0

0.0

2.6

0.0

3.2

0.0

5.2

0.8

0.0

1.2

1.0

0.0

1.6

6.4

0.4

0.8

4.6

0.4

0.0

0.6

4.2

0.0

0.6

0.0

0.0

L

0.0

0.0

3.3

0.0

5.1

0.4

5.9

1.9

0.0

1.1

0.9

0.0

1.1

7.4

0.9

1.3

6.6

0.6

0.0

0.9

5.0

0.6

0.9

0.0

0.3

E

0.0

0.0

3.0

0.0

3.6

0.2

5.2

3.6

0.0

0.4

0.8

0.0

2.8

7.2

0.2

1.6

3.2

0.4

0.0

0.4

4.4

2.6

1.4

0.0

2.2

M

0.0

0.0

3.3

0.0

5.5

0.0

5.5

3.8

0.0

0.3

1.3

0.0

3.3

8.3

1.3

0.5

3.5

1.8

0.0

0.8

5.8

7.5

1.5

0.0

2.0

L

0.0

0.0

4.4

0.0

3.4

0.0

5.6

3.0

0.0

0.0

1.2

0.0

1.4

8.4

0.4

0.2

4.4

2.0

0.0

0.0

6.0

5.8

1.2

1.4

3.2

E

0.6

0.1

4.0

0.3

5.0

0.0

5.0

3.3

1.0

0.0

0.7

0.0

3.0

6.9

0.9

1.6

4.6

2.9

0.4

0.9

5.9

6.4

1.6

2.4

2.1

M

2.3

0.3

3.7

0.0

6.3

0.3

2.7

2.0

1.0

0.0

0.3

1.0

2.0

6.0

1.3

0.7

3.3

3.0

0.7

1.0

6.7

4.7

2.0

3.3

1.7

L

3.0

1.0

2.3

0.8

6.8

0.3

4.5

1.5

1.5

0.0

0.5

1.3

2.5

5.8

2.0

0.5

2.0

2.3

1.5

1.0

4.0

4.0

1.0

3.0

2.5

E

1.0

3.0

5.0

0.0

2.0

0.5

4.0

2.5

0.5

0.0

0.0

1.0

0.0

5.5

0.0

0.0

2.0

1.5

0.5

0.5

5.5

5.5

0.5

2.0

2.0

M

0.4

1.0

2.4

0.6

5.8

0.8

1.6

4.2

0.4

0.0

0.2

1.4

0.6

6.6

2.0

0.2

1.4

2.4

2.4

0.2

5.6

3.6

0.0

3.0

2.2

L

0.4

0.2

2.4

0.8

4.2

0.4

1.2

3.6

0.4

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.2

8.0

2.4

0.0

1.0

2.2

2.0

1.0

3.6

3.2

0.0

2.6

1.8

E

0.5

0.3

3.3

0.0

5.0

0.3

0.3

2.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.0

6.5

2.0

0.0

1.3

1.3

0.3

0.3

6.0

3.8

0.0

3.0

0.5

M

0.8

0.4

3.2

0.4

5.6

0.6

0.6

1.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.0

7.2

1.6

0.0

1.8

1.6

0.4

0.0

5.2

3.6

0.0

1.6

0.0

L

0.0

0.0

1.3

0.0

2.8

0.8

0.0

0.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

4.3

1.0

0.0

0.8

0.5

0.0

0.0

2.8

2.0

0.0

1.0

0.3

E

21

225

19

323

21

300

165

22

24

37

21

108

481

86

52

246

115

37

36

380

237

80

102

94

Total number

Nightingale

3.0

0.0

1.7

0.0

July

Pheasant

0.0

1.0

0.0

June

Robin

0.0

0.0

0.0

May

Reed Bunting

0.0

0.0

April

Skylark

0.0

0.0

March

Stock Dove

0.0

February

Song Thrush

0.0

January

Sedge Warbler

35

Whitethroat

44

32

5.5

Total numbers Recorded

Average no. species per visit

1

14

12

26

26

0.0

1.0

6.0

3

20

12

82

27

0.0

0.3

3.3

3

16

11.3

88

29

0.0

1.3

4.0

5

21

12.4

185

37

0.0

0.8

4.0

5

20

14

219

44

2.0

1.8

6.0

7

24

15.6

405

58

0.1

4.9

8.1

5

23

14.6

287

57

0.0

6.4

7.4

4

21

16.8

286

72

0.3

7.5

8.0

5

22

16.4

352

70

0.0

8.2

9.0

7

32

21.1

582

83

0.0

10.3

11.6

3

27

21.3

221

74

0.0

6.3

9.3

4

28

21.5

297

74

0.0

8.8

9.8

2

24

19

126

63

0.0

8.5

8.0

5

29

20.4

353

71

0.0

9.8

10.8

5

26

18.2

320

64

0.0

9.0

12.0

4

21

15.3

239

60

0.0

9.3

12.3

5

21

14.2

293

59

0.0

8.2

13.0

4

16

11.3

125

31

0.0

3.5

9.5

39

45

0.0

0.0

2.0

3.0

0.0

0.0

3.5

0.0

Little Grebe

Stock Dove

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Cuckoo

Green Woodp

Blue Tit

Great Tit

0.0

1.0

0.0

0.0

5.0

6.0

1.0

0.0

L

2.0

2.3

2.0

0.0

3.3

3.3

0.3

0.0

0.0

1.3

2.3

1.3

0.0

3.7

4.0

0.7

0.0

0.0

E

M

1.0

E

0.0

Pheasant

Feb

Jan M

1.4

1.6

0.4

0.0

3.2

4.0

0.2

0.2

0.2

L

1.6

0.6

0.8

0.0

4.2

6.0

0.0

1.0

0.8

1.1

0.9

1.3

0.0

5.0

8.1

0.0

0.9

1.9

E

Mar M

2.8

1.4

1.6

0.0

4.4

7.4

0.0

0.8

3.6

L

3.3

1.5

0.5

0.0

5.8

8.0

0.0

1.3

3.8

1.4

1.2

0.2

0.0

6.0

9.0

0.0

1.2

3.0

E

Apr M

3.0

1.6

1.6

0.4

5.9

11.6

0.3

0.7

3.3

L

2.0

2.0

0.7

0.7

6.7

9.3

0.0

0.3

2.0

2.5

1.0

0.5

1.5

4.0

9.8

0.8

0.5

1.5

E

May M

0.0

0.5

0.0

0.5

5.5

8.0

0.0

0.0

2.5

L

0.6

0.0

0.2

2.4

5.6

10.8

0.6

0.2

4.2

0.2

0.0

0.0

2.0

3.6

12.0

0.8

0.2

3.6

E

Jun M

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

6.0

12.3

0.0

0.0

2.0

L

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.4

5.2

13.0

0.4

0.0

1.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

2.8

9.5

0.0

0.0

0.5

E

Jul

12

486

683

4518

108

80

52

37

380

683

19

37

165

Total no.

Table: The average number of individuals heard singing on a visit in each 10-day period (Early, Mid, Late of each month) January to July 2017 and 2018

2

16

Total Average per visit

No. of visits

0.0

Yellowhammer

7

0.5

Wren

Overall no. species

2.0

Wood Pigeon

When do birds sing during spring?

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

0.5

0.0 1.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.7

1.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.6

3.2

0.0

0.0

0.4

3.2

0.0

0.6

0.6

5.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

2.6

0.4

3.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

7.5

1.8

5.5

0.0

0.0

1.4

0.0

5.8

2.0

3.4

0.6

0.0

2.4

0.1

6.4

2.9

5.0

2.3

1.0

3.3

0.3

4.7

3.0

6.3

3.0

1.3

3.0

1.0

4.0

2.3

6.8

2.0

8.5

1.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

5.5

1.5

2.0

2.2

9.8

0.4

1.4

3.0

1.0

3.6

2.4

5.8

1.8

9.0

0.4

0.4

2.6

0.2

3.2

2.2

4.2

0.5

9.3

0.5

0.3

3.0

0.3

3.8

1.3

5.0

0.0

8.2

0.8

0.2

1.6

0.4

3.6

1.6

5.6

1.3

0.3

3.5

0.0

0.0

1.0

0.0

2.0

0.5

2.8

24

225

94

486

35

21

102

21

237

115

323

Skylark 0.0 0.0 0.0

8.8

0.0

Cetti's Warbler 0.0 0.0

2.5

3.2

0.0 0.0 0.0

6.3

0.0

0.0 0.0 0.0

1.7

3.3

Chiffchaff 0.0 0.0

2.1

10.3

0.0

Sedge Warbler 0.0 0.0

8.2

2.4

0.0 0.0

3.2

0.0

0.0 0.0 7.5

2.4

Blackcap 0.0

2.0

0.0

0.0 6.4

5.0

0.0 2.2

0.0

0.0 4.9

2.3

0.0 0.3

0.0

22

300

0.0 1.8

3.7

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.0

Garden Warbler 0.8

4.0

0.6

Whitethroat 0.0

0.0

0.0

1.3

4.4

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.3

3.3

1.2

0.0

0.3

0.4

1.0

3.0

1.6

0.0

0.4

0.4

0.5 3.3

4.0

0.0 1.1

0.5

Wren 2.6

4.5

Blackbird 1.2

1.5

2.4

2.7

0.6

1.0

2.0

5.0

0.0

1.0

1.7

5.6

0.7

0.0

36

246

0.0

5.5

0.8

2.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.2

1.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

Song Thrush

5.9

1.3

Mistle Thrush

0.0

0.3

5.2

1.0

0.0

1.0

5.8

1.4

0.0

0.2

5.3

2.0

0.0

0.5

5.0

2.0

0.0

1.0

4.0

3.3

0.0

1.0

3.0

4.6

0.0

0.9

Robin

4.4

Nightingale

0.0

6.6

3.5 0.9

0.8

4.6

3.2 0.6

0.4

5.0

86

481

0.2

4.3

4.0

1.0

0.0

7.2

0.7

1.6

0.0

6.5

2.0

2.0

0.0

8.0

0.5

2.4

0.0

6.6

Dunnock

2.0

Chaffinch

5.5

7.2

0.0

0.2

5.8

7.4

2.0

0.9

6.0

6.4

1.3

0.4

6.9

5.2

0.9

1.2

8.4

1.3

0.4

1.0

8.3

1.3

1.3

0.0

12

0.0

21

1.0

0.0

0.0

0.8

0.0

0.0

Greenfinch

0.6

Goldfinch

0.0

0.3

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.4

0.2

0.0

0.1

0.8

0.4

0.0

2.0

0.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.2

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

4518

0.0

31

Yellowhammer

59

Reed Bunting

60

70

64

72

71

57

63

58

74

44

74

37

83

29

26

27

16

4518

Total Average

125

582

293

352

239

286

320

287

353

405

126

219

297

185

221

88

16

11.3

82

21

14.2

26

21

15.3

32

26

18.2

Total numbers

29

78

20.4

4

19

5

24

32

21.1

4

28

22

16.4

5

21.5 21

16.8

5

27

23

14.6

3

21.3 24

15.6

12

14 20

20

12

7

21

14

5

12.4 7

5.5

4

16

Average no. species

5

11.3

Overall no. species

7

2

3

4

3

5

1

5

2

No. of visits

46

Two-barred (Greenish Warbler) at Orford

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus October 13th 2019 at Orford A first for Suffolk Mark Cornish

The Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Orford Quay, Sunday 13th October 2019 - first for Suffolk and eighth for Britain. Photo taken by Sean Nixon at 12:25.

We all wait for autumn, however, with persistent strong winds of a westerly nature, it would be fair to say it had got to mid-October and autumn was flatly passing by without a lot of ornithological interest on the Suffolk coast. There had been Suffolk’s earliest-ever Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus (top-trumping a bird I’d found at East Lane in 2016 by four days), the normal scattering of Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus inornatus , a couple of Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria and some Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus - and that was it really in a nutshell! There hadn’t been any real decent weather for seawatching and any scarce seabirds were confined solely to birds off East Lane and Thorpeness.

I’d been pretty much laid up in bed for two days with, well not just the ‘man’ version, but actual flu - which wasn’t as bad as it could have been, as there were few birds about as previously mentioned and the weather wasn’t that enticing for cycling. However, on Sunday morning I felt a bit better and not wanting another day of moping around in my pants, sweating with achy limbs, was itching just to get outside for an hour or two. I decided to have a couple of hours birding without going too mad. Now I don’t stray far from the vicinity of the Alde Estuary these days and going to see a bird at Minsmere constitutes a major twitch in my eyes. So, it was a toss 47

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

of a coin on heads – check Orford, or tails – check Aldeburgh. I’d told BINSBIRDER that I fancy Orford at the start of October. I’d developed a small circuit over the last fortnight taking in some impressive areas of habitat and the previous weekend had: Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla and three Ring Ouzels (so as good as anywhere else on the Suffolk coast) – so heads you win – Orford it was.

I arrived at Orford at about 08:45, it was a grey and overcast morning with a moderate southerly breeze which was forecast to strengthen throughout the morning. My initial wander around the village revealed very little migrant activity and the ‘birding force’ didn’t feel strong. There were several Blackbirds Turdus merula kicking about, but no ‘crests’, ‘Chiffs’ or any vis-migging going on! Despite this it was just pleasant to actually be out and, well, you never know. I continued my normal route across the marsh to the river wall and then back to check the Quay area where there was a good number of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis and Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba in the muddy fields. The quay car park and adjacent meadow area are bordered with some taller trees along with lower shrubs and offer some decent passerine cover – indeed I’d seen Pallas’s and Yellow-browed Warblers in this area in years gone by, and Pied Fly Ficedula hypoleuca this year and last year. The ‘quay meadow’ area seemed to offer the best shelter from the wind and when I got there some 20 Blackbirds flew out, but otherwise it was pretty quiet. With little bird activity, my mind wandered to what time the nearby Riverside Cafe opened and about getting a coffee. I thought it opened at 09:30 – happy days – that was only in five minutes time – so decided to hang fire out of the wind in the meadow area until it opened.

Never has the decision to wait to get an over-priced cup of coffee proved such a good one (perhaps the birding force was with me!). With very few birds calling I was drawn to a distinctive trisyllabic call coming from the cover next to me. It was something like a cross between Pied Wagtail and House Sparrow Passer domesticus and I just couldn’t place it in my head (go to link below of my short recording taken on my phone).

Call of bird recorded 09:40, October 13th, Orford Quay - Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler https://www.xeno-canto.org/502436 To give it its due, it kept calling but I just couldn’t see anything. A couple of minutes passed without hearing the call again when I noticed a small bird flick above my head. Before I raised my bins, with my naked eye, I could see a small green and white warbler, two obvious pale wing-bars and a long broad supercilium and thought “nice - a Yellow-browed”, not linking it with the call I’d heard minutes earlier. As it was close, I chose to get my camera out first and try and get a picture or two - I hadn’t managed to photograph either of the Yellow-broweds I’d found last week (Aldeburgh and Orford). As I unzipped the camera case, I heard it give the trisyllabic call – now that’s no Yellow-browed I thought (!), aborted the camera idea and quickly got my bins on the bird. At this point it was moving above me only some 3-4 metres away, but partially obscured by vegetation. It wasn’t amazingly active, but was very vocal. I quickly noted that it had plain tertials, obvious double wing-bars with the greater covert bar being long and evenly broad along the length. It was proportionally rather like a Yellow-browed, if somewhat stouterbilled in appearance. The upperparts were olive-green and the tertials were plain and uniform with the fringes to the secondaries a brighter green. It had a long, broad supercilium and white underparts with a slight yellowy flush to the face. There was a fair bit racing through my mind at this point, but I knew I had to get some (in fact any) pictures of this bird. The lens to my bridge camera was misted up (!) so I quickly wiped it and obtained about ten shots through vegetation and hoped for the best! There was no time to review them at this point so I just gathered what features I could on the bird (later I realised that five were in focus and they did document some of the features – all are on my blog – https://www.blogger.com/profile/12461133038696480946).

The next thing was that I pulled out my phone, set the voice recorder going, and, holding it as high I could towards the bird, took a short recording of its distinctive call – unbelievably, although quiet, you could clearly hear the bird call three times on the recording without much background 48

Two-barred (Greenish Warbler) at Orford

noise and no other birds calling (see link above and sonogram below).

Now all this happened pretty quickly (over about five minutes) and I hadn’t had that much time to actually think “what is it?” I watched it disappear out of view, but was fairly sure that it hadn’t gone far, so I went into a reflective period and a process of “what it wasn’t”, filtered through my head in a very short period of time: • Yellow-browed had been ruled out straight away – plain tertials, call, etc • It wasn’t right for Arctic (P. borealis) – structurally all wrong, the call, the bill, the long broad wing-bar – so dropped that quickly.

• Greenish (P. trochiloides) – call right, isn’t it a bit late? (not sure?) and that greater covert bar was long, broad and parallel! Not the short, tapering wing-bars I’d seen on Greenish Warblers before.

• At this point my heart rate went up somewhat (not good for a man who had a major heart attack in 2018). I’d seen pictures, read the odd ID account but never actually seen a Twobarred Greenish.

• So, there it was, a call of ‘mahoosive’ proportions by someone who’d never even seen one - “I think I might have a Two-barred Greenish…!?”

Now let’s just hold some horses and all calm down I thought; I’ll phone a few people – well that idea fell flat – none of them answered (I bet some wish they had!) Only one phoned back – Richard Drew – who tells me that my voice was a little shaky: “All right Richard, how busy are you?”

“Yeah pretty, I’ve got people over, why?”

“Well I’ve got this weird warbler at Orford, two wing bars like a Yellow-browed but plain tertials, strange wagtail/sparrow like call” “That does sound interesting…”

“I know it sounds stupid – but I think it might be Two-barred Greenish” “Blimey, is it still there? I’ll phone Dave Fairhurst and see if he can get down as well and call you back” I also phoned my big brother briefly for a bit of sanity and now it had just gone 09:50 and I’d heard it call a couple of times more but not seen it again. I quickly looked at a couple of photos online, checked some features, checked my photos and downloaded a call and felt that it probably was Suffolk’s first Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler. On the back of my camera my pictures seemed to show:

49

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

• A long, parallel, evenly-broad greater covert wing-bar extending to the scapulars formed by extensive pale tips to seven greater coverts.

• A long, broad pale, supercilium, being less distinct in front of the eye with dark loral stripe.

• Plain, uniform tertials with just very narrow slightly paler grey fringes.

• Brighter-green fringes to the secondaries.

• A rather stout, broad-based bill with completely-orange lower mandible, no dark tip.

• Legs greyish at the front and pale pink at the rear and sides.

I decided to release the news and see what happened (I did wonder whether to sit on it as I’m not keen on big groups of people and like birding alone. If I was wrong, well I was wrong, and some people would have great delight in saying so! Whatever, I put out the following message on BINS (first for local news):

A bold call, but it seemed the right thing to do and we all know that everyone’s an expert sat at home on social media, but it’s a different ball game out in the field.

At just after 10:00 the bird reappeared, now much more active and feeding manically on the edge of a small Hazel Corylus avellana. It was now affording excellent views and at just after 10:15 Dave Fairhurst arrived and jammed in with almost instant superb views. A few other birders arrived shortly after, including Richard, and the bird was still showing well with about ten people enjoying good views. It became more mobile and started moving over a slightly wider area and feeding higher up. At about 11:00 it flew high up in a tall Scot’s Pine Pinus sylvestris and, well, didn’t come out, having shown on and off for about an hour between 10:00 and 11:00 and for 45 minutes with other people arriving all the time. There was no doubt that it showed best earlier on (when I first found it at 09:30 and again between 10:00 - 10:30) and had become increasingly more active, quick and mobile as it fed with fly-catching sallies, hovers and rapid darting movements. Perhaps it had just arrived when I found it, appearing more lethargic in its movements and very vocal, calling well over 20 times (it became pretty much silent after 10:00).

I had left when the bird reappeared at the other side of the meadow at 12:25 - getting way too busy for me by then! It apparently showed well, albeit briefly (for 3-4 minutes), and was seen by about 20 people, and some excellent photos were also taken. And that was it, with no further sign to dusk.

The bird had been present for near-on exactly three hours from when I first found it, and it went missing for half of that time. My decision to put the news out quickly (and it was quick) enabled 30 or so fortunate people to connect with what was a cracking little bird and a first for Suffolk - if I’d worried about getting it wrong and sat on the fence nobody else would have seen it! Many Suffolk birders missed the bird - but I guess that’s just birding! (Unfortunately, the WeBS count took precedence – Ed).

50

Two-barred (Greenish Warbler) at Orford

Distribution and status Breeds south-eastern Siberia from Baikal region and northern Mongolia to Ussiriland, south to north-eastern China. Winters in southern China to Indonesia and central Thailand (British Birds October 2018:598) Although Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler had been treated as the Siberian subspecies of Greenish Warbler, the adoption by BOURC of the IOC World Bird List from January 1st 2018 saw this bird elevated to full species status (British Birds October 2017:600).

The seven previous British records have been at Gugh, Scilly, October 1987; Wells, Norfolk, October 1996; Bryher, Scilly, September 2003; Filey, Yorkshire, October 2006; Papa Westray, Orkney, October 2016; Foula, Shetland, May 2017 and St. Aldhem’s Head, Dorset, October 2017.

51

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia at Minsmere May 31st, 2019 First for Suffolk Henry Page Friday 31st May (2019) … what I thought would be a seemingly normal day at Minsmere turned into a MEGA cascade of events. I was currently living on site and involved in the RSPB’s internship programme for practical conservation. Living on site really has its perks and I was usually out on the reserve long after people had gone home or well before they’ve arrived… which was the key to this discovery. It was a blisteringly hot day and my morning was spent changing the battery and doing repairs on the Sand Martin Riparia riparia fence and other odd jobs. I also saw my first ever Broadbordered Bee Hawkmoth Hemaris fuciformis as I was heading back to the office for lunch.

I returned with the camera and, typically, the Bee-Hawkmoth had long gone. Then I was told by Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere Beach, Henry Page one of my colleagues that a Hoopoe Upupa epops May 31st had been seen at Aldringham, which he really wanted to see in his lunch break, and kindly invited me along. So as soon as his shift finished, he drove past to give me a lift there. Then all off a sudden my radio went off “I’ve just had a report from visitors that they’ve just seen an Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), which they think could even possibly be a Cretzschmar’s Bunting which would be mega for the reserve but it has flown south”. My colleague, hearing the message as well, then said… “are you staying here then or coming to see the Hoopoe?”. I jokingly said “nah I’ll come to see the Hoopoe” - famous last word!

After returning from the briefest glimpse of a Hoopoe I’ve ever had, I worked the rest of the day and finished around 17:30pm. In the office there was talk that staff members and a number of birders had been out looking for this bunting sp. with no sign whatsoever. At this point I thought that as it was a wonderful sunny evening I might as well have a walk along the coast before heading back home to Norfolk for the weekend. My thoughts were the same as earlier when the initial message came through saying ‘flown south’ that the chances of actually finding this thing would be a needle-in-a-haystack situation… near impossible in my mind. But I tried my luck and set myself the challenge of walking from North Wall to the Dunwich Heath National Trust border and then walk the whole stretch south to Sizewell.

Deserted dunes greeted me; everyone had gone home for the day leaving me peacefully with the Dartford Warbler’s Sylvia undata, Stonechats Saxicola torquatus, Linnets Carduelis cannabina and all the other regulars. I got as far as a kilometre away from the Sizewell dome and had a young farmer’s message for a meeting at the pub for 20:00 that sounded very appealing at that point.

So, I gave up and headed back towards the Sluice. Less than a minute later I noticed ‘an oddlooking Linnet’ at distance perched on the gorse. Usually in the dunes in the past when looking for anything unusual, or visitors asking for identification help, the saying ‘if in doubt, it’s a Linnet’ is said more often than not. However, as soon as I looked through my bins the excitement and 52

Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere

adrenaline really kicked in as I was looking at a beautifully-coloured bunting with a noticeable eye ring… I’d found it! Consequentially, being a wildlife photographer at heart, I got the camera out and took a number of shots as it flitted along the gorse in and out of the sun… my photographicfailing streak had ended third time lucky.

Less than a couple of minutes later it was unfortunately flushed as a cyclist raced past me at speed and I lost the bird from view in a flock of Linnets flying erratically then dropping down back in the scrub near the Sluice bushes. Interestingly, in all the time I was watching it, it was associating closely with the Linnets. At this point I knew I had to get the news out; I quickly took some “back-of-the-camera” shots with my phone as my camera battery was about to die because I had left the charger at home before heading to Suffolk for the week. In the same fashion, my phone was also on, left with 5% battery, after being out on the reserve all day.

This isn’t a regular finder’s account where as soon as I saw the bird, I confirmed the ID and rattled off a number of ID features confirming Cretzschmar’s. I had never seen a Cretzschmar’s Bunting before, but I knew what an Ortolan looked like from images taken at Waxham, Norfolk which was a bird that I had wanted to visit the year before. From my “back-of-camera” shots, the eye ring looked bright and the slight overexposure from the phone picture made the throat look yellowish. I drafted out a tweet but, unbelievably, as soon as I pressed send, the battery expired.

I knew the tweet hadn’t gone out so I had a manic long walk back to the cottage, where I waited for the phone to charge up sufficiently before getting in the car to drive to the nearest area with a phone signal.

I sent out a new rushed tweet after looking briefly at the back-of-camera shots, as by this point my camera had died as well. Saying ‘found at 18:24’ along with the location and a comment of ‘looks Ortolan to me’ with the phone photos. At this point my phone was overwhelmed with notifications of people congratulating me on clearing up the ID of the ‘mystery’ bunting.

However, one tweet stood out from the rest. Some very astute ID features noticed and commented upon by Mike Buckland alluded to the fact that it might well have been a Cretzschmar’s Bunting not Ortolan. I drove back home to Norfolk where I arrived around 22:00 and downloaded the images in order to have a proper look at them… something didn’t seem right. On closer review the bird didn’t look like an Ortolan as I had thought, as illustrated in ID books or in photos on Google. It didn’t have a bright white eye-ring as the phone shots eluded it was slightly more subtle compared with Ortolan and the throat was more of an orangey/rusty colour with stripes. Mike’s comment prompted me to post some high quality/unedited photos to confirm the identification dilemma.

In the later hours of the evening and into early morning of June 1st, fuelled by excitement, I read up on accounts of previous records of Cretzschmar’s on Fair Isle, and tried to learn as much as I could about the species. I also discussed identification with multiple people who had been kept awake by the idea of Cretzschmar’s Bunting… in Suffolk! The more I researched and the more I discussed, I further confirmed in my head that the bird I had been looking at… was in fact a Cretzschmar’s Bunting. A beautiful adult female, which should have been in Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus or the Levant for breeding; the species winters in Sudan and northern Eritrea. This female is one of the very few records of the species wandering to western Europe. This is the first record for mainland Britain, a Suffolk “first” and the seventh British record – five of the previous six British records had been in May/June. On that note, at a silly hour of the morning, I eventually had a reply from Mike as to his thoughts on the photos – “‘Cretzschmar’s!!”.

At this point my 80% sure went to 100% sure, but I soon realised that I may have inadvertently caused mayhem at Minsmere so to speak. If a mega of this magnitude was relocated, hundreds of people would be turning up at the visitor centre, the team would have a serious shock to the system, and all because I put the news out. So, I checked what time sunrise was, had a quick shower and snack at 03:00 and arrived back at Minsmere and was back in the dunes by 04:30hr trying to relocate the bird – having had no sleep. I was planning, if the bird was re-found, to help with the overflow car parking. As it was, unfortunately, there was no sign of the bird; a number 53

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

of keen birders from Norfolk and Suffolk were searching for the bunting and it was fantastic to meet up with many birding friends, old and new. All was not lost though; as a consequence of so many birders being present a Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus was group-found as it flew in off the sea with a Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and landed on the South Levels. I soon had a text alerting me of its presence, and this was a comforting distraction from searching for the bunting for many.

By 21:10hr on the Saturday evening I finally called it a very, very long day… I was exhausted.

Despite the disappointment of the bird not reappearing, reflecting back on recent weeks, the reserve had had an incredible streak of birds. Two reeling Savi’s Warblers Locustella luscinioides, Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus occasionally flying over the border into the bushes on North Marsh, Broad-billed Sandpiper, self-found Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus and refound Cretzschmar’s Bunting. I was extremely proud to be working alongside such fantastic staff on one truly special reserve. Congratulations to John Norgate and other observers on the initial find and airing the possibility of it’s being Cretzschmar’s instead of Ortolan - it was that possibility and question which motivated me to find the bird and confirm it as a first for Suffolk and mainland Britain.

[Description and range Cretzschmar’s Bunting is very similar to Ortolan – as mentioned above. It differs in several ways, however. It has a clear white eye-ring. The head, breast and lateral throat stripes are leadgrey with a red-brown throat (compared with the yellow of Ortolan). Overall, it has a rusty-brown appearance (Collins Bird Guide, 2nd edition, Svensson, Mullarney and Zetterstrom).

It is found in rocky and scrubby areas of south-eastern Europe, southern and western Turkey and parts of the Middle East.

The six previous British records, all on islands, have been on Fair Isle in June 1967, June 1979 and April/May 2014, Stronsay, Orkney, May 1988 and Bardsey, Caernarfonshire, June 2015.]

54

Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dingle Marshes

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis at Dingle Marshes and Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, November 7th to 19th: New for Suffolk Paul Green and Tom Williams October 25th, 2019 had been a fairly ordinary working day that involved checking the Konik ponies and the water levels in the reedbed at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich. With lunchtime approaching, Paul Green decided to walk to the beach and on reaching the shingle ridge almost immediately heard what sounded like the call of a Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava.

Scanning the beach, he soon located what he took to be a Yellow Wagtail feeding around the edge of the saltmarsh. No sooner had he done this than it called and took flight, flying south and calling frequently before landing out of view in the middle of the grazing marsh. He thought that the call sounded quite ‘sharp’ and slightly different from the typical flight call of Yellow Wagtail with which he is familiar. With the bird having disappeared he phoned David Fairhurst for a chat, mentioned the wagtail to him and put the news out as a Western Yellow Wagtail. This sighting generated little interest within the Suffolk birding community and realistically I didn’t expect that it would be seen again.

Fast forward to November 7th. Paul Green’s final job of the day was to check on a contractor who was re-profiling the pools and ditches on the reedbed edge at Dingle Marshes. Tom Williams, the newly-appointed RSPB intern accompanied Paul and, fortuitously, happened to have brought along his camera. As we approached the digger, Tom shouted, “Yellow Wagtail”. We both heard it calling as it flew towards the disturbed earth around the working excavator. Tom managed to get several images of the bird and filmed a short video sequence using his phone before we left.

That evening, the photographs and the video sequence were widely circulated. Opinions were divided but by late evening the consensus was that it was ‘just’ a Western Yellow Wagtail, albeit on a very late date for this species.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, November 8th 55

Peter Kennerley

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Peter Kennerley takes up the story Early the following morning, Peter Kennerley visited Corporation Marshes and located two wagtails in the marsh by the edge of the shingle beach, in the exact location where Paul Green found the original bird on October 25th, and some 700 m from the previous day’s sighting at Dingle Marshes. Over the course of the morning he obtained a series of photographs (plates X and Y) and sound recordings of both wagtails (figs. 1 and 2); these established that one bird was Eastern Yellow Wagtail M. tschutschensis and the other was Western Yellow Wagtail. The news was released that both species of Yellow Wagtail were present. Shortly afterwards he was joined

by Steve Abbott, Nick Mason and Kenny Musgrove who had been searching for the wagtail at Dingle Marshes where it had been seen the previous day. Together, they were able to appreciate the differences in the calls and plumages of the two wagtails.

Subsequently, both wagtails remained faithful to their favoured spot on the edge of the saltmarsh at Corporation Marshes and were enjoyed by many hundreds of visiting birders. Many had the opportunity to study them side-by-side and, crucially, to appreciate the difference in their calls. Some observers reported that three wagtails were present but no evidence has emerged that satisfactorily demonstrates this to be the case.

Identification Both species of Yellow Wagtail and their many distinctive sub-species exhibit considerable plumage variation. In the breeding season, identifying adult males to a particular race is generally fairly straightforward and it is also possible to clinch the identification of some females. Variation and intergrades between races can produce some birds that defy identification, and outside of the breeding season, when sub-species mix freely, it is generally considered unsafe to assign any other than adult males to a specific race. Thus, identifying an individual in first-winter plumage to a particular race is particularly difficult, and establishing the identification in a late-autumn, vagrant context based on plumage characters alone is not possible.

Fortunately, the flight calls of Eastern Yellow and Western Yellow Wagtails differ and this difference is widely accepted as being diagnostic (Bot et al. 2014). Observers of the two wagtails at Corporation Marshes were in the fortunate position of being able to hear these flight calls, at times in quick succession, and appreciate the subtle but diagnostic differences; that of Eastern Yellow had a distinct rasping, buzzing quality which it gave multiple times in flight, and usually called when arriving and departing (fig 1; https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/186816921). In contrast, the Western Yellow Wagtail gave a thinner, weaker flight call (fig. 2; https://macaulaylibrary.org/ asset/187895981).

Fig. 1. Sound spectrogram of the flight call of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis.

Recorded at Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, on November 8th 2019. Four calls given in quick succession as the bird flew and landed. Peter Kennerley

56

Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dingle Marshes

Fig. 2. Sound spectrogram of the flight call of the Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, recorded at Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, on November 8th 2019. This bird typically gave a just single call in flight, and this spectrogram illustrates four separate sequences, three of a single call and one in which two calls are given. Peter Kennerley Bot et al. (2014) provided a useful and detailed discussion of the identification of Yellow Wagtails and suggested other features that might be useful in the separation of Eastern Yellow and Western Yellow Wagtails. These included Eastern Yellow having a longer hind claw and an eye-ring that is broken below the centre of the eye, but they concluded that first-winter Yellow Wagtails are extremely variable and cannot usually be assigned to either species based on morphology alone.

During its prolonged stay at Corporation Marshes, a faecal sample from the Eastern Yellow Wagtail was collected and sent to Dr Martin Collinson’s lab at the University of Aberdeen. They were able to extract DNA from this and Thom Shannon, PhD researcher, commented that: “we managed to retrieve 233 bp of mitochondrial control region sequence. This came back as 100% match for multiple M. tschutschensis sequences of known provenance, which alone confirmed the identification. When we then factored in all Eastern Yellow and all Western Yellow Wagtails sequenced in Genbank, the Dunwich bird was a 98.3–100% match for all Easterns, compared with a 93.8–97.4% match for all available Westerns. All other Motacilla taxa could also be excluded.”

Thus, the identification of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail was initially based on comparison of the flight calls and their sound spectrograms, with the details in Bot et al. (2014) proving essential.

Some months later, further confirmation was forthcoming based on mtDNA sequence (fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Cladogram illustrating the position of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis at Corporation Marshes, seated firmly within the Eastern Yellow Wagtail clade.

57

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Range and other 2019 occurrences An exceptional arrival of Eastern Yellow Wagtails into Britain occurred in autumn 2019, with reports coming from Anglesey, Essex, Isles of Scilly, Norfolk (2), Northumberland and Suffolk (2), between September 25th and December 23rd. Europe also experienced unprecedented numbers in autumn 2019 and into winter 2019/20. Three were found in Sweden between October and December, two in Norway in November and December, and one reached Ireland in January 2020.

Farther afield, two were found on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in November 2019 and February 2020, and one was on Malta in December. Most extraordinary, however, was the discovery of 13 first-winter birds in a rice field near Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, on February 8th 2020. Most of these claims were sound recorded, though not all have yet been accepted and some await a decision by the relevant national records committees.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail breeds widely throughout eastern Asia, from upper Yenisei river in central Siberia east to Kamchatka and south to northern Mongolia, northern China and northern Japan. Its range also extends into North America where it breeds in western and northern Alaska and northern Yukon, Canada. It migrates throughout eastern Asia and winters in southern China and throughout southeastern Asia, the Philippines, and Indonesia and south to northern Australia.

Within this vast range, four races are recognised that fall within two sub-species groupings; the northern pair of M. t. tschutschensis and M. t. plexa, and a southern pairing of M. t. taivana and M. t. macronyx.

Discussion The Eastern Yellow Wagtail preferred to feed along the edges of the pools and generally kept out of the longer grasses favoured by the Western Yellow Wagtail. It occasionally flew onto the shingle, sometimes joining the Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis flock. It wasn’t as confiding as the Western Yellow Wagtail; 25 m was about its limit before it became nervous and backed off. The two wagtails kept apart and were generally not seen side by side. Furthermore, neither wagtail associated with the Meadow Anthus pratensis and Rock Pipit A. petrosus flock in the marsh, but the Eastern Yellow Wagtail tended to fly when the pipits flew and on a couple of occasions it flew towards Dingle Marshes and disappeared, but returned again within 30–45 minutes.

The flight call was so distinctive that when the bird returned after being absent, it could be heard and recognised as being different from that of Western Yellow Wagtail before the bird was located in flight or had alighted. Those who heard the flight call remarked on how distinctive it was, and how unlike that of Western Yellow. It was aged as a first-winter bird based on retained juvenile greater coverts and tertials, and some replaced median coverts.

Remarkably, another Eastern Yellow Wagtail was discovered by David Fairhurst on Havergate Island on November 12th. Even more remarkable, this bird was also feeding around an active digger that was reshaping the earthworks there. This bird shared a similar rasping flight call but the plumage was a monochrome grey-and-white, lacking the green, yellow and brown tones of the Dunwich bird; it remained on Havergate Island until at least February 13th 2020.

The Western Yellow Wagtail Surprisingly little mention has been made of the Western Yellow Wagtail that accompanied the Eastern Yellow at Corporation Marshes. Also in first-winter plumage, the combination of pale grey crown, nape and upperparts, and white supercilium, loral region and breast (the latter still retaining some dark juvenile feathering) created a monochrome appearance, offset only by vivid yellow undertail-coverts. It was often quite confiding, allowing an approach to within 15 m.

When disturbed it typically flew a short distance without calling and alighted again within 25 m.

When it did call, this was limited to just one or two weak calls in flight (fig. 2). It preferred to keep within cover, walking through grasses rather than in the open as did the Eastern Yellow Wagtail.

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Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dingle Marshes

Western Yellow Wagtail, Corporation Marshes, November 8th

Peter Kennerley

Grey-and-white Western Yellow Wagtails are rare in Europe. Aymí (1995) found 59 greyand-white birds in a sample of 5816 trapped birds at the Ebro delta, Spain, and noted that a similar study by Persson (1984) reported only 0.1% in a sample of 20000–40000 in Sweden, though their frequency increased in late autumn. Farther east, grey-and-white birds become increasingly common, with between a quarter and one-third of first-winter M. f. beema (which breeds in central Asia and winters in the Indian subcontinent) being grey-and-white (Bot et al.

2014). An internet search failed to reveal an identical bird in Europe or Africa, but images of similar individuals of the race beema wintering in India appear on Oriental Bird Images http:// orientalbirdimages.org/, although none is an exact match with the Corporation Marshes bird.

It is unlikely that this Western Yellow Wagtail can be assigned to a particular sub-species, nor is it possible to determine where it fledged, and an intergrade between two races remains a possibility. However, November is exceptionally late for a Western Yellow Wagtail in Britain, and an Asian origin is perhaps most likely.

Acknowledgements We should like to thank Thom Shannon, University of Aberdeen, for providing details of the DNA analysis which supported the identification of this bird as Eastern Yellow Wagtail.

References Aymí, R. 1995. ‘Grey-and-white’ Yellow Wagtails in western Europe. Dutch Birding 17: 6–10.

Bot, S., Groenendijk, D. & van Oosten, H. H. 2014. Eastern yellow wagtails in Europe: identification and vocalisations. Dutch Birding 36: 295–311.

Persson, C. 1984. Bestämningsproblem 1: Om svårigheten att skilja avvikande gulärlor från citronärlor. Fågelstudier 2: 81–82.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Eastern Yellow Wagtail https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/186816921

Western Yellow Wagtail https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/187895981

Footnote Philip Murphy has made us aware of the excellent article by Adam Rowlands written in July 2016 – BBRC and Yellow Wagtails (British Birds 109: 389 – 411).

This article clearly sets out the key features that BBRC requires to confirm the identification of vagrant races of Western Yellow Wagtail, and of Eastern Yellow Wagtail. Adam refers to the wagtail that was present at Minsmere between October 17th and November 14th 1964. This bird was identified as being a Citrine Wagtail – this was accepted by BBRC at the time but in 2016 this decision was reversed. The only photograph shows that it is not a Citrine Wagtail and Adam states that “The grey-and-white plumage and late date indicate that this may well have been an Eastern Yellow Wagtail”.

And what of the Yellow Wagtail at Minsmere between November 16th and December 8th 1967 that was claimed to be M. f. simillima – not accepted by BBRC?

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Siberian Stonechat at Hollesley

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus maurus at Hollesley Marshes December 1st 2019 into 2020 Craig Shaw Finding it So here I am sat in my new home in Hollesley starting my RSPB Garden Birdwatch and writing a piece on the finding of the Siberian Stonechat.

Moving home is a stressful process, but birding and going out with the dogs, when not at work keeps me going. Unfortunately, winter is here, which is good for birds but not great for afterwork-birding due to its being dark. I have to make the most of the weekends and having a very good new patch helps. I’ve moved from Corton near Lowestoft, which is good for migrants and seawatching, but quite depressing for most of the year. Hollesley RSPB is the new patch with more water-based habitat, fields for geese and some seawatching still to be had, so it should hold some interest all-year-round and has certainly done that so far. Over 110 species in about 12 weeks!

Anyway, back to the Stonechat. I started straight away familiarising myself with the new patch, covering as much as possible on foot and finding some cracking habitat. Covering more of the site helps in getting lucky and finding that real goodie. However, I didn’t quite anticipate that it would happen after only two weeks!

On the morning of December 1st, I had covered the flash and started heading towards the river bank picking up two European Stonechats Saxicola rubicola. As I got further along the bank, another more-distant Stonechat caught my eye but this bird was extremely pale. It was pouring with rain so I waited and watched for a little time before getting the camera out and reeling off a few record shots. At this point I knew I had something very good; my thoughts were of the Eastern Stonechat that I had seen in Nottinghamshire and one I had seen at Caister in Norfolk in October 2015. I put out a couple of pictures to social media and sure enough, without prompting, people’s immediate reaction was that this bird was indeed an “Eastern” Stonechat.

The Siberian Stonechat at Hollesley Marshes, December 61

Peter Kennerley

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Identification The bird came much closer so I was able to pick out many of the usual features for a firstwinter bird such as the pale colouration, pale throat, un-streaked buffish rump and a tiny hint of a supercilium. This bird had to go out initially as an Eastern Stonechat; S. maurus and stejnegeri are the two we have had in the UK as visitors (only four stejnegeri up to the end of 2018) but separating the two in the field is almost impossible and so DNA was needed to separate them.

Luckily, in time, the warden of the site, Dave Fairhurst, was able to put up some posts with rails on top with the hope that birders could, if fortunate to spot it, collect faeces samples which could be sent off to Aberdeen for the extraction of DNA. This is done by Professor Martin Collinson and his team at the University of Aberdeen. The first batch was a failure as no DNA could be extracted. Fortunately, a second ‘batch’ of faeces was obtained and sent off. This did have extractable DNA which, when tested, resulted in a match coming back as Saxicola maurus maurus, Siberian Stonechat.

If seen at close range, and it often was, it could be seen that its primary remiges were distinctly longer than in S. rubicola. In this, it closely resembles the Whinchat S. rubetra, which, like S. maurus, is adapted to long-distance migration.

British and Suffolk occurrences They are now annual in the UK, the species being a long distant migrant. However, this will be only the third accepted record for Suffolk, the previous two being at Trimley Marshes, which I remember seeing, in 2013 and Orfordness in 2015. There have been ten previous records, between 1977 and 2003, which remain as Eastern Stonechat. (There was no DNA testing of “Eastern Stonechats” until 2012 – the Portland Stejneger’s).

The wintering range of this bird is from southern Asia, from Japan south to Thailand and India, and west to north-eastern Africa. On migration, small numbers reach as far west as western Europe – hence the Hollesley record.

The breeding range covers most of Asia from eastern Turkey and the Ural River east to Siberia south to the Himalayas and southwestern China. It also breeds in the far northeast of Europe, mainly in Russia but occasionally as far west as Finland (Wikipedia).

Over the next five weeks, rolling into 2020, many birders came to see this stunning little bird and all of them should have gone away happy as it was seen almost every day, The car park at the reserve filled up regularly which I think is rather unusual for the site. January 5th (2020) was the last time it was seen.

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Systematic List

The 2019 Suffolk Bird Report Systematic List Introduction The list and its appendices have been written using data supplied by the county’s birdwatchers and conservation organisations. The order has changed and follows the revised BOU list. The raw data have been collated and interpreted by the following:Swans and geese

Gi Grieco

Larks, hirundines

Ducks

Andrew Green

Warblers, inc. Long-t Tit Peter Kennerley

Game birds, grebes to Crane John Davies Divers and Shearwaters

Waxwing, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Starling,

Chris Courtney

Nick Mason

Richard Attenborrow

Dipper, Wren, thrushes

Storks to Cormorants

Peter Lack

Raptors (incl. falcons)

Chris Gregory

Spotted Fly, Robin, chats, wheatears, other Steve Fryett

Oystercatcher to plovers

Margie Carter

flycatchers

Other waders

Ed Keeble

Sparrows, wagtails, pipits, Dunnock

Skuas to gulls

James Wright

finches, buntings

Terns to auks

Brian Buffery

Pigeons to woodpeckers

Darren Underwood Appendices

Shrikes, corvids, crests, tits

Phil Whittaker

Paul Gowen

Adam Gretton

The ‘official’ British list is maintained by the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) and, from 2018, uses the International Ornithological Congress world list. Species are included in various categories according to their status, as follows: • Category A – species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since January 1st 1950; • Category B - species that would otherwise be in Category A but have not been recorded since December 31st 1949; • Category C - species that, although originally introduced by man, either deliberately or accidentally, have established self-sustaining breeding populations; • Category D – species that would otherwise appear in Categories A or B except that there is doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state; • Category E – species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations are not thought to be self-sustaining.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

The main part of the species accounts consists of species that occurred in Suffolk in 2018, which fall into Categories A and C. Where a species is included in multiple categories, this is shown in the initial status summary. Categories D and E do not form part of either the British or Suffolk lists. Species from these Categories that occurred in Suffolk in 2018 are included as appendices to the main list.

The order and nomenclature follow the latest published for The British List by the BOU using the International Ornithological Union list (BOU 2018). This list can be accessed on their web site at www.bou.org.uk English names follow the same list. Subspecies are listed under the main species’ heading, which includes the scientific name.

The records for each species are listed mostly under the parish where the bird occurred, sometimes followed by a more precise location if known. The exception to this is at the river estuaries and larger, well-known sites criss-crossed by several parish boundaries e.g. Walberswick NNR, Minsmere, Orfordness, Alton Water etc. The gazetteer on page 272 gives locations for those sites not easily located on a standard road map.

The order of records is north to south down the coastal region, working round the estuaries, then inland from the northeast to the southwest of the county. To minimise any potential threats to site security, some records of rare breeding birds are published anonymously and under a vague site heading.

As much use as possible is made of systematic monitoring schemes such as the WeBS counts.

Using such co-ordinated data instead of maximum counts gives a better idea of the populations of each species wintering in the county on a given date. However, fluctuations in numbers due to changing weather patterns will affect totals and higher counts are given in the text after the table where appropriate. Counts from North Warren include Thorpeness Meare, Church Farm Marshes and the shoreline between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh; the Alde/Ore Estuary includes the complex of the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers as well as Orfordness, Gedgrave reservoir and Havergate Island; and the Orwell includes Trimley Marshes, Loompit Lake and Bourne Park Water Meadows. Counts from the Stour all refer to the Suffolk side and both sides of the estuary if stated.

The larger part of the report, particularly for the more common species, is based upon ad hoc and Birdtrack records. Data of that type are influenced by the distribution of birdwatchers, the weather and other factors that result in imperfections. We are nonetheless indebted to those observers who have persevered with other studies, such as Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), Constant Effort Sites (CES) and transect counts and for making the results available for use. A summary of the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is given for all those species for which meaningful data are available – further information can be found on the BTO website.

See ‘A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk’ elsewhere in this Report for information on submission of records.

The following definitions are intended as a guide to the relative status of each species: Very common: Occurs in large numbers in suitable habitat and season.

Common: Occurs regularly or widely distributed in suitable habitat.

Fairly common: Occurs in small numbers in suitable habitat and season.

Uncommon: Occurs annually in small numbers.

Scarce: One or two records each year or restricted to specific habitats.

Rare: Occurs less than annually.

Very rare: Less than 15 records in past 30 years.

Accidental: Less than three records in past 30 years.

Included in the status description is a note if the species is included in either the Red or the Amber List of ‘Birds of Conservation Concern’. This is a paper jointly produced by the leading bird conservation organisations in the UK. See Suffolk Bird Report Vol.47: 6-10 for further details.

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Systematic List

The following abbreviations are sometimes used in the systematic list:ad = adult N = bird(s) flying north BBS = Breeding Bird Survey NNR = National Nature Reserve CES = Constant Effort Site R = River CP = Country Park res = reservoir GC = Golf Course S = bird(s) flying south GP = gravel pit SW = sewage works imm = immature WM = Water Meadow Ind. Est. = industrial estate WP = Water Park juv = juvenile WR = Wildfowl Reserve (DARK-BELLIED) BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List. Categories A and E. Predominantly a wintering bird on the estuaries in south-east Suffolk, with passage noted offshore all along the coast with particular peaks on two or three occasions in the autumn, often over a day or two when weather conditions are suitable for their long migration journeys.

As has been the pattern in the last three years, generally lower numbers were encountered on passage off the coastal strip with just one day with a four-figure count noted at two locations.

There were four main blocks of passage; the first peak was September 22nd to 24th followed

by October 1st and 2nd, October 5th to 7th and October 21st. Passage started on September 17th with 16 off Dunwich coastguard cottages, 13 birds south off Easton Bavents on September 19th and 60 south off Minsmere the following day. At the latter site there was a significant count of 1712 on October 1st and 1000 off Southwold on the same day. On October 5th, in the third passage phase, 689 flew south off Southwold and 2450 south off Landguard Bird Observatory, the highest count of the year there. Two hundred and fifty were off Minsmere on October 21st with 20 north and 230 south, the same birds also being noted from Southwold.

The passage records at Landguard are recorded in the table below. Occasionally very small numbers sat on site or offshore.

Monthly totals at Languard Bird Observatory were: Jan Feb Mar Apr N+out 22 10 480 38 S+out 29 80 110 23

May 299 8

Sep 619

Oct 76 5611

Nov 67 772

Dec 137 371

The totals at Landguard in October 20 years ago included 23191 south; of these 14005 were seen in just one day, October 16th 1999 (Suffolk Bird Report).

Some of the largest flocks in the first winter period occurred during February on the Orwell and Deben Estuaries including 800 at Trimley Marshes on February 3rd, 800 on Bawdsey Marshes February 7th and 950 at King’s Fleet and Falkenham Marshes on February 9th. Flock sizes were smaller in the second winter period but included 300 at King’s Fleet on November 24th and 400 on December 14th, in the high tide roost, on a Suffolk Bird Group trip in front of Haddon Hall, Sutton opposite Kyson Point with 450 there on December 22nd. Twenty-five years ago, 2500 were on Ramsholt Marshes on February 20th (1994 Suffolk Bird Report).

Peak monthly WeBS counts in the table below: Alde WeBS Deben WeBS Orwell HW Stour WeBS

Jan 124 1438 657 999

Feb 126 1772 1039 1951

Mar 273 1946

Apr 185 1575

65

Sep 121

Oct 89 795

Nov 67 527 149 1200

Dec 25 729 136 2478

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

As usual some birds were noted during late spring and summer; one south off Landguard on June 4th, one on Minsmere Scrape on June 16th, one on Hollesley Marshes, June 24th, one north off Corton cliffs on June 26th and two north off Benacre two days later.

(PALE-BELLIED) BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla hrota Uncommon winter visitor. Amber list.

Birds were recorded in both winter periods as well as on passage. From the end of January and into February a bird was at Trimley Marshes on January 26th and again on February 3rd and 11th.

What is likely to have been the same bird was at Felixstowe Ferry on January 28th and February 2nd. Another individual was on Sudbourne Marshes on February 3rd.

On passage there was one south past Landguard Bird Observatory on September 16th and five flew south past Minsmere on October 17th. At the end of the year five birds were on Aldeburgh Marshes from December 23rd to 31st and included three first-winter birds. A first-winter bird was at King’s Fleet on three dates in December.

BLACK BRANT Branta bernicla nigricans Scarce visitor.

Craig Holden

Black Brant, Felixstowe Ferry, February 6th

There were two records, both photographed, one in each winter period. These are the first records in Suffolk since 2016.

Deben Estuary: Felixstowe Ferry and Falkenham Marshes: intermittently, Jan 20th to Feb 21st (P J Holmes et al.); Falkenham Marshes and Woodbridge, adult, Nov 23rd to Dec 22nd (P J Holmes et al.)

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Systematic List

GREATER CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Common resident. Categories A, C and E. A widespread and common species found throughout the county, along rivers and marshes in the north, east and south and on the lakes across the central and western areas. From the BTO BBS records, Canada Geese were recorded in six 1km-squares, similar to the two previous years.

The number of individuals increased though, rising to 131, but still below levels recorded during the first decade of this century.

There was an increase in breeding records, most likely because more details submitted by recorders rather than an actual increase in the population. The number of breeding sites totalled 31, up from 23 the previous year, while the number of pairs was also slightly up with 52 in 2019 compared with 45 in 2018. What had increased greatly was the number of young reported with a total of 157, much higher than the figure of 38 for last year. The number of breeding sites was fairly even across the three recording areas with the west, as usual, that bit higher than the other two. In the north and north-east the main breeding sites were Redgrave and Lopham Fen with three or four pairs, Carlton Marshes with three breeding pairs and Minsmere where at least 11 young were noted. In the south-east, Hollesley Marshes had a fledging count of 27 and three broods wandered through the Avocet colony causing the Avocets to react angrily. On Orfordness at least 11 pairs nested with seven broods totaling 23 young. At Trimley Marshes there were 21 young. In the west the main site was Livermere Lake with 29 juveniles in five broods.

There were 13 sites that had a flock count of over 100 birds. At Walberswick, 100 on January 2nd and 105 on October 28th were the only high counts in north-east Suffolk. The most frequent were in south-east Suffolk with Hollesley Marshes regularly having triple-figure flocks, the largest of which was 500 on October 10th. Other large counts from the area were 443 on Havergate Island on December 15th, 400 at Boyton Marshes on August 7th, over 260 at White Horse Marsh, East Bergholt on January 7th, 170 on Orfordness on September 28th and 150 on July 1st at Melton riverside which was the best count of the year at the site. There were also six sites in the west with flocks totalling over 100, with both BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford and Livermere Lake having exceeded that number on a few occasions; the highest at the former site was 181 on March 25th while at the latter site there were 301 on November 14th which was noted “as a good count for the west now”. At Little Livermere there were 179 on August 4th, at Higham, near Hadleigh, 150 on September 8th, 137 at Thetford on July 16th and 100 at Hold Farm, Bures on August 3rd.

The monthly WeBS counts:

Alde WeBS Deben WeBS Orwell HW Stour WeBS Lackford Lakes WeBS

Jan 314 1 187 364

Feb 689 16 85 266

Mar 95 52 83 263

Apr 34 49 270

Sep 155 275 327

Oct 503 2 153 323

Nov 197 1 227 378

Dec 614 135 220

75

68

40

38

4

-

11

42

Canada Goose – 25 years ago “The largest count of the year was to be found at Livermere Lake where the flock reached well in excess of 1000 birds during the last quarter of the year, peaking at 1600 on October 20th” – (1994 Suffolk Bird Report).

There were four records of Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid birds; at Trimley Marshes on January 23rd, on The Airfield on Orfordness on March 24th, five at the BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on July 8th and one at Hollesley Marshes RSPB on September 30th.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant; increasingly common feral resident. Amber List.

Categories A and E. A species predominantly found on the coast, often in large flocks, while elsewhere in the county much less frequent. The winter months is when it is most populous with usually a large influx in autumn.

As a breeding species it continues to increase; Minsmere is still the main site with 29 breeding pairs. At Weybread Gravel Pits the number of breeding pairs increased from one to three. There were also two new breeding sites; at Carlton Marshes a pair with three young was present on May 23rd although only one had survived by June 2nd, and Havergate Island which reported fledged young.

The largest groups in the first part of the year were between Southwold and North Warren.

There were 450 at Southwold on January 11th, over 750 flew in to Minsmere from the north onto north Scrape on January 15th and the highest count at North Warren was 251 on the WeBS count on February 2nd. Other records included 50 at Sotterley Park on April 15th and 33 flew north at Ness Point, Lowestoft on May 26th. The only records during the summer months were from the breeding site - Minsmere.

Numbers started building up from September 3rd with 300 at Minsmere and 600 at Easton Broad on September 10th. There were two four-figure flocks, both at Walberswick, involving 1200 on September 18th and 1000 on October 10th. Other large flocks of 500 or more until the end of the year were 500 at Southwold on October 12th, 500 at North Warren October 20th and 750 on Tinker’s Marshes, Walberswick on November 17th with 600 there on December 3rd.

The monthly WeBS counts: Minsmere WeBS North Warren WeBS

Jan 18 120

Feb 94 251

Mar 123 4

Apr 72 -

Sep 65 -

Oct 25

Nov 25 435

Dec 300

In the south-east, apart from the breeding record at Havergate, the only records came from Boyton, Orfordness, Landguard and Hollesley Marshes. Boyton’s highest count was 12 on December 14th, 11 were on Orfordness, December 5th while at Hollesley there were 20 on the final day of the year. There were also records noted off Landguard Bird Observatory from March to October with peak monthly counts in March (76) and August (90); the maximum day-count was of 40 north on March 5th. In west Suffolk the largest counts were both at Centre Parcs, Elveden, with 31 on January 31st and ten on August 19th. There were up to three wandering feral birds noted at Mickle Mere, Livermere Lake and BTO Nunnery Lake, Thetford during the year.

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser Common resident from feral flock. Amber List. Categories A, C and E. A widespread, increasing species with 21 sites that had three-figure flocks across the county.

Over half of these were in the coastal strip and the marshes of north-east Suffolk. Large flocks were noted in the south-east and, although still populous in the west, numbers were down from previous years particularly at Livermere Lake that has had counts into four figures in the past (eg 1285, November 11th 2007). Greylag Goose was recorded from 16 BBS 1km-squares, matching the two previous years and there was a slight rise to 115 individuals counted, up from 113 the previous year.

There was a good amount of breeding information sent in, with a high number of breeding sites reported; 27 in total with the south-east having slightly more than the other two recording areas. In addition, the number of pairs was 73 and there was a total of 332 young, by far the 68

Systematic List

largest number recorded in Suffolk. Some principal breeding records include a fledging count of 130 at Hollesley Marshes, 60 juveniles in 12 broods at Livermere Lake, 37 young in six broods at Culford Park, ten breeding pairs at Lakenheath Fen RSPB and three breeding pairs at each of Herringfleet Mill, Carlton Marshes and Hen Reedbeds as well as at Minsmere where well-grown young of eight, five and four were noted. Additionally, 14 young were at Trimley Marshes, a brood of ten at East Lane and two pairs nested on The Airfield on Orfordness, but the eggs in both nests were predated by Herring Gulls.

Larger flocks were more prominent in the south-east with the highest count of the year of 760 at Boyton Marshes on November 29th; that surpassed the usual peak site of Livermere Lake. Boyton Marshes also had flock counts of 680 on December 14th and 600 on August 7th, presumably the Hollesley and Boyton birds moving between the two sites. On Orfordness a total of 715 on December 28th is a new site record, beating the previous high of 702 in January 2017. Other large counts included 580 on North Warren on January 19th, 400 at Minsmere on September 23rd and 24th, 400 at North Cove/Castle Marsh on October 12th, 559 at Alton Water on January 20th, 500 at Hollesley Marshes on both January 2nd and October 27th, 655 at Livermere Lake on June 20th, 450 at Mickle Mere on January 22nd and 300 at Lakenheath Fen on October 4th.

A selection of WeBS and peak monthly counts:

Dingle Marshes WeBS Minsmere WeBS North Warren WeBS Alde WeBS Deben WeBS Orwell WEBS Stour WeBS Orfordness Hollesley Marshes Alton Water WeBS BTO Nunnery Reserve

Jan 280 143 580 24 1 59 5 560 500 559 219

Feb 15 152 7 445 2 235 46 134 165 324 220

Mar 60 67 23 158 38 178 44 50 350 105 131

Apr 69 21 207 74 6 88 48 101

Sep 321 10 63 333 395 2 350 552 -

Oct 202 35 250 657 27 71 173 70 500 428 -

Nov 202 191 122 221 80 206 320 138 65 358 185

Dec 3 125 170 936 265 216 715 350 212 197

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus Common winter visitor northwards from Lowestoft, uncommon elsewhere. Uncommon passage migrant. Amber List. Categories A and E. After two years with less-frequent large flocks in the north-east, during 2019 there were some higher counts including a huge flock of 20000 at Waveney Forest on January 26th. This is Suffolk’s highest-ever total; the previous record having been 14140 at Bradwell, December 20th 2008.

Another large flock was 8000 at Burgh Castle on January 30th. In the north-east the last record of the first winter period was 14 on Southwold Town Marshes on February 16th. The first returning birds of the autumn were four north off Gorleston on October 3rd followed by 150 north-east over Haddiscoe Bridge at St. Olaves on October 12th. Most records came from the marshes right at the top of the county with fewer records from further down the coast, but these did include 250 at Minsmere on November 9th, 25 at Southwold on November 23rd and up to 15 on Aldeburgh Marshes from November 22nd until the end of the year.

Other large counts from the north-east are as follows:

Breydon South Wall: 450, Jan 1st Herringfleet: 1730+ in a few flocks all heading north, Jan 25th Somerleyton: c.1500, Dec 23rd Blundeston Marshes: 500 over, Jan 1st; 4500, Jan 5th St. Olaves: 800 north, Jan 26th 69

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Lound Lakes: c.500, Jan 3rd Oulton Broad/Marshes: 900, Jan 1st; 1000 over, Jan 14th; 1000, Dec 7th; 2400, Dec 13th; 500 Dec 29th; 600, Dec 30th Carlton Marshes: 1200, Dec 2nd; 500, Dec 7th

In the south-east during the first winter period a single bird was at Hollesley Marshes between January 7th and 9th, then nearby at Boyton Marshes there were five from February 14th until the late date of April 8th. There were two birds at Trimley Marshes on January 22nd with one at the site on February 9th. A single bird was along the River Orwell at Freston and Wherstead Strand on January 21st and 22nd and one at Pipps Ford on January 30th. Later in the year there were 23 at Hollesley Marshes on October 9th then up to two birds there and nearby at Boyton Marshes from November 27th until the end of the year.

In the west a single feral bird was present early in the year at Lakenheath Fen, Lackford Lakes and Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland, while on November 21st there was a flock of 52 at Mickle Mere (the same locality and date as 20 Greater White-fronted Geese).

TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE Anser serrirostris Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List. Categories A and E. At the start of the year, there were two present on the coast at Minsmere on January 2nd and 3rd. The same two birds were also nearby at Leiston, from January 2nd to 5th, associating with Bewick’s Swans in fields along Red House Lane. On Aldeburgh Marshes there were two birds on January 11th, rising to eight on January 18th being last seen on February 3rd by when they had decreased to a flock of six. A flock of four on North Warren on January 29th was likely to have been from the same group. In fields along Gulpher Road, Old Felixstowe there were four birds between January 2nd and 8th. At Falkenham Creek 11 flew in on January 10th. At Trimley Marshes there were two birds present between February 21st and March 9th.

In the second winter period a single bird was at Carlton Marshes on November 9th. At North Warren there was a flock of ten on November 23rd with four remaining the following day. On December 3rd three flew south along Minsmere beach with three birds on Minsmere south levels on December 19th and 20th. At Aldringham Walks three flew south on December 26th.

On the last day of the year there were two birds on Hollesley Marshes. A single bird flew north past Landguard Bird Observatory on November 21st. At Trimley Marshes there were two birds on December 30th and 31st.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Red List (from Green). Categories A and E. Numbers were typical of recent years with Hollesley Marshes becoming a regular site for the species although North Warren remains the site where the species occurs in the highest numbers.

The first record of the year was of 98 at Breydon South Wall in two flocks flying west on January 1st. On January 3rd there were 110 at North Warren (122 having been present there at the end of December 2018), where numbers rose throughout the month reaching 236 by January 31st, the largest flock of the year in the county. Numbers remained between 100 and 200 at North Warren throughout February and started to decrease in March with 31 on North Marsh being the last on March 19th. Other records in the north-east came from Minsmere, once a favoured site for the species, with 11 south over the beach on January 29th, two on the Scrape on February 2nd and the last sighting of the period of 14 flying over on March 21st. Elsewhere, there were two on Carlton Marshes on January 26th and again on February 2nd and 3rd, 64 on Reydon Marshes on February 5th and a maximum of 93 on Aldeburgh Marshes on February 8th.

In the south-east, in the first winter period there were 15 on Hollesley Marshes present regularly up to February 4th when 68 were present. Some of the same birds also moved to and fro between there and Boyton Marshes. Elsewhere, Trimley Marshes held 25 birds on January 5th and then eight on February 25th up until March 11th when the number decreased to seven until March 17th. There were 11 in fields at Gulpher Road, Felixstowe on January 8th.

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Systematic List

The first birds of the autumn were seven flying south off North Denes, Lowestoft on October 5th. For the remainder of the second winter period, in the north-east, flocks were at Aldeburgh Marshes with six on November 16th, including four first-winter birds, rising to 35 including 20 first-winters on November 20th. On Minsmere Scrape there were nine present on November 19th, 32 were at at Carlton Marshes on November 21st and, on the same day, 45 flew south over Corporation Marshes, Dunwich. As is usual they were frequent at North Warren throughout the period with a maximum of 180 on December 29th.

In the south-east seven were at Snape Wetlands RSPB, on November 21st and two at Trimley Marshes on November 23rd through to December 1st. One was present, with Greylag Geese, on Orfordness on the Airfield on December 18th and six flew over the site and continued south on December 28th. Off Landguard, two flew north on November 26th. Flocks were again at both Boyton and Hollesley Marshes; at the former there were seven on November 27th while at the latter the highest count was 40 on December 31st.

In the west there were three sightings; 13 flew over Lakenheath Fen on January 16th and seven were at the same site on February 17th. Finally 20 were at Mickle Mere on November 21st (see Pink-footed Goose).

GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons flavirostris Very rare winter visitor. Red list.

This was the fourth occurrence of this subspecies during the decade, having also occurred in 2012, 2014 and 2018. Both sightings, which were photographed, this year are presumed to relate to the same bird. The overall Suffolk total is now 13 records involving 29 individuals.

Oulton Marshes: Mar 21st (P Jackson) Carlton Marshes: Mar 23rd (A C Easton)

MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Common resident. Amber List. Categories A and C. Found across the county on the rivers, lakes and marshes of Suffolk. During the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Mute Swan was recorded in nine 1km-squares, a typical number when compared with the last four years, while the number of individuals was 129, the second-highest figure recorded to date which reflects the large increase over the last three years.

Breeding records were up from the previous year and compared fairly closely with 2017. There was a similarity in the number of breeding sites across the recording sections with 13 each in the north-east and west and 11 in the south-east. The total number of pairs was 57 while the number of young was 92. Notable breeding records from each area were eight breeding pairs at North Cove/Castle Marsh, four pairs at Carlton Marshes, four pairs at Oulton Marshes, eight fledged at Snape Wetland and 11 young were counted at Trimley Marshes. Two pairs bred at both Culford Park and Lackford Lakes, a brood of seven young was at Mickle Mere, while at both Melford Hall, Long Melford and Stratford St. Mary there were single pairs with six young.

Generally, herd sizes were smaller than last year with each recording area having two counts into triple figures: Somerleyton: 118 in field, Apr 9th Flixton: 119, Jan 13th Hollesley Marshes RSPB: 116, May 7th Falkenham/Felixstowe: King’s Fleet, 120, Feb 11th Sudbury: Brundon, 100, Jan 4th Lakenheath Fen RSPB: 100, Feb 25th

Other large herds included 90 at Herringfleet Mill on March 5th, 83 at Hazlewood Marshes on October 26th, 78 at Butley Low Corner on January 12th, a new record count for Orfordness with 74 on April 24th and 64 at Livermere Lake on June 8th.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Peak WeBS counts Alde WeBS Deben WeBS Orwell HW Stour WeBS

Jan 140 89 151 158

Feb 171 172 84 207

Mar 139 146 66 153

Apr 110 91 143

Sep 102 80 63

Oct 100 95 69 204

Nov 134 178 66 228

Dec 210 78 82 183

An adult bird with pale pink legs was noted at Hollesley Marshes on June 2nd and 4th. Adults of the white ‘Polish’ morph may have pink or grey legs and feet instead of black, but otherwise the adults look alike.

TUNDRA (BEWICK’S) SWAN Cygnus columbianus bewickii Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List.

Tundra Swan was most frequently encountered on the coast in both winter periods, with a few records from both the south-east and west. The same flock was present at Minsmere and along Red House Lane, Leiston from the beginning of the year until mid-February, movement being noted between the sites when 11 were observed flying along Sizewell beach on January 31st.

Both sites had nine present, including two first-winter birds, on January 1st, rising to 11 then up to 13, being last seen on Minsmere Scrape on February 15th. What were likely to have been the same birds, a flock of 11, were seen flying south over both Southwold and Dunwich Heath on February 3rd. During the same period records elsewhere in the north-east included three in off the sea at Slaughden on January 3rd and a sizeable flock of 50 north at Walberswick on February 11th.

There was a similar scenario in the second winter period where Minsmere regularly held a flock, initially of four on the Scrape on November 1st and 2nd. At Easton Bavents four flew south on November 3rd and most likely ended up at Minsmere. Through the rest of November, the number at Minsmere was eight birds, two of which were colour-ringed. One individual was ringed as an adult female at Kashin Island, Russia on August 1st 2016. The other individual was ringed at Pechora Sea, east of Lovetski Island, Russia on August 19th 2018. Numbers at Minsmere rose to 11 in December plus three birds were seen to come in off the sea on December 15th. On December 21st there were 11 birds at Leiston remaining until December 29th.

Records from other parts of the county are as follows: Orfordness: two, on the Ore Estuary near Lantern Marshes, Jan 18th Snape Wetlands RSPB: two, Nov 28th Hollesley Marshes: two, Jan 2nd Melton: three, west over Deben Estuary, Jan 1st Falkenham Creek: seven, Jan 10th Trimley Marshes: two adults, Jan 12th Brandon: eight, Mar 7th.

BTO Nunnery Reserve: five, Jan 10th; one flew over, Oct 3rd Lakenheath Fen: five, Feb 5th; 16, Feb 25th Bardwell: Bowbeck, three over, Jan 3rd

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List. Categories A and E. There were typical numbers of this winter visitor, with larger herds again encountered in the west and single-figure herds on the coast, more regularly in the north-east and less so in the south-east.

Along the coast, Minsmere is a favoured location for this species and again in 2019 this was the case. In the first winter period there were seven birds present on the first day of the year, 72

Systematic List

including five first-winter birds, these remaining until March 28th, reaching a maximum of eight birds from late January to the middle of February. The only other sighting in the north-east was of six that flew north-west over Carlton Marshes on January 26th. In the south-east there were up to three birds from January 3rd to March 20th, mainly at Boyton Marshes and occasionally at nearby Hollesley Marshes. These birds associated with Mute Swans in fields. In the west, around Lakenheath, is the main area for Whooper Swans in Suffolk and they were present at Lakenheath Fen RSPB on a few dates from mid-January to mid-March. The largest herds at Lakenheath were 97 on January 15th and 100 on February 25th. Other sightings in the area were one at Brundon, Sudbury on January 4th, one flying over Lackford Lakes on January 10th and 15 flying over Santon Downham on February 10th.

Whooper Swan maximum herd size 1150 1100 1050 1000 950 900 850 800 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

1100

260

245

200

9

5

11

47

41

9

3

5

6

4

22

222 243 150

20

65

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Fig.1 – Whooper Swan maximum herd size over the last 20 years

The first bird of the autumn was one flying west over Westleton Heath on October 1st then four west at North Warren two days later. Minsmere was again the principal site in the northeast for the second winter period with five birds initially on the Scrape on October 27th. They were present at the site until the end of the year, with a maximum count of eight in November which included four first-winter birds. There was a gap in the sightings at Minsmere showing birds had relocated as following; initially six birds at Dunwich, consisting of three adults and three first-winter birds on November 19th and then at Carlton Marshes on November 22nd and 23rd involving seven, including four first-winter birds. On 23rd one was again present at Minsmere with six at Dunwich on November 30th. Numbers at Minsmere then rose again to seven. Other records from the north-east were of two flying low south past Blythburgh water tower on October 31st, five flying in off the sea and continuing west at Covehithe on November 1st and 17 flying over Carlton Marshes on December 20th.

In the south-east, two birds flew west over Landguard Bird Observatory on October 27th and, what was likely to have been the same birds, were with Mute Swans on the same date at Martlesham Creek. A further single bird flew west over Landguard the following day and on 73

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

October 31st a juvenile flew past the viewing platform at Trimley Marshes. Other movements in the area involved two south over Orfordness on November 6th (first site record since November 21st 2015) and nocturnal flight calls were heard over Pipps Ford on November 16th. From December 13th there were up to three birds present on the Bawdsey peninsula that settled until the end of the year. Initially at Boyton Marshes, they were also noted at Hollesley Marshes and most regularly frequenting fields behind Oxley Dairy, in Hollesley, with the birds regularly seen moving between the sites.

Lakenheath Fen was once again the main site for records in the west including two large herds; 174 at roost on October 18th and 243 at roost on October 31st. Elsewhere a family group of four flew over Brandon Park Heath on October 27th and five were at Mickle Mere on December 27th.

Below is a bar chart detailing herd flocks over the last 20 years in the county, selecting only those on the ground and not passage birds on migration. The years of 2003 and 2004 were a precursor to the increased numbers over the last decade with the area beyond Mildenhall and around Lakenheath holding these larger gatherings.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiaca Locally fairly common resident. Categories C and E. The species is much more prevalent in the west of the county, being found at more sites and in higher flock numbers, with only Alton Water having a significant number elsewhere. The species was found in six of the BBS squares, about average for the last five years, with 11 individuals, slightly lower than in the three previous years.

The total number of breeding sites was 17, of which 11 were in the west with five in the northeast and only one in the south-east. The west predominated, with 15 pairs and a total of 57 young, while in the north-east there were eight pairs with 35 young recorded. Some of the more notable breeding records were from Weybread Gravel Pits, where there were two pairs with five and nine young respectively in April and a third pair with five young in May, Carlton Marshes with an adult and nine young in March and two pairs at each of Lackford Lakes, Livermere Lake and Cavenham Heath, one of the latter with eight young. At Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland there were two broods of seven and two. The only breeding record from the south-east involved a pair with five goslings at Alton Water on July 15th.

During the year there were only two sites in the north-east that had a flock into double figures, excluding pairs with young, which were 13 at Carlton Marshes on January 26th and 30 at Burgh Castle between July 20th and 22nd. At Alton Water there were ten on January 3rd, rising to 18 on January 20th with larger numbers counted during the WeBS surveys at the end of summer; 96 on August 4th and 70 on September 8th. There were two sites in the west that had flocks into triple figures - Hall Farm, Fornham St. Martin with 134 on September 25th and Livermere Lake with 150 on July 6th, the largest-ever flock to be recorded in the county (just surpassing the 149 on the Livermere pig fields, September 23rd 2017). Other sites with sizeable flocks in the area were 40 at Timworth on January 13th, 30 at BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on August 6th, 30 at Troston on October 14th and 29 at Lackford Lakes on July 5th.

At Redgrave Fen on February 17th there was a leucistic female, with pale-brown, instead of black, flight feathers. On the pig fields at Livermere there were two hybrid birds, presumed Egyptian Goose x Ruddy Shelduck, January 19th.

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Systematic List

COMMON SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna Locally common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Alde/Ore Estuary Hazlewood Marshes* Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary Livermere Lake* *monthly maxima

Jan 636 340 398 358 973 137

Feb 656 87 566 345 293 100

Mar 448 150 332 297 286 91

Apr 295 228 290 178

Sep 340 10 7 391 -

Oct 103 1000 83 102 650 15

Nov 333 450 243 161 1093 63

Dec 522 500 237 266 1796 -

Numbers in the first winter period were generally disappointing, although the February WeBS count on the Deben Estuary of 566 on 17th is the highest at this site since 591 were present in March 2012. The only other three-figure counts during this period comprised 136 on the Blyth Estuary, February 13th and 125 at Boyton Marshes, part of the vast Alde/Ore Estuary complex, April 4th. Significant gatherings in May included 100 at Trimley Marshes on 5th, 104 at Minsmere on 24th and 115 at Hazlewood Marshes on 26th, the latter site holding notable numbers through to early summer, including counts of 184 on June 9th and 120 on July 6th. A count of 111 on the Stour Estuary, August 4th was unseasonably high, and WeBS counts continued to rise steadily at this site through the autumn and second winter period, reaching a peak of 1796 on December 15th, the largest concentration in the county for five years (2212, Stour Estuary, December 16th 2014).

There was a welcome increase in the number of reported breeding pairs, particularly from the south-east of the county, with 62 pairs recorded at 17 sites (38 pairs at 14 sites in 2018). On Orfordness, which remains the principal site, 22 pairs raised 121 ducklings of which at least 80 fledged, while ten pairs fledged 28 young at Butley and nine pairs bred at Havergate Island.

The largest coastal daily movement involved one north and 104 south off Felixstowe, December 28th, while southerly passage off nearby Landguard numbered 163 in October, 78 in November and 156 in December.

Field note.

At least 24 birds prospected Landguard in early spring but only two pairs nested, hatching out eight and one ducklings.

LBO Bird List 2019.

MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata Uncommon feral visitor. Small breeding population. Categories C and E. Both nationally, where WeBS data show a 50% increase over the past ten years, and locally, the population of this introduced duck is at an all-time high. A count of 33 in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, September 11th is a county record, while other sizeable congregations included 26 at Brandon Country Park, February 4th, 22 at nearby Santon Downham, May 25th and 24 at Rushmere St Andrew, December 9th.

Reported breeding numbers were the best since the record year of 2016. Despite the repeated attentions of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus, two pairs successfully fledged five and two young respectively at Christchurch Park, while single pairs bred at Ipswich Golf Club, Santon Downham and Middleton, where for the second time in the past four years a brood was seen on the Minsmere River.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Fritton Lake: pair, Apr 15th St Olaves: two, Mar 28th Herringfleet Marshes: up to three regularly, Apr 7th to May 20th, with four, Apr 21st and May 7th and seven (three males), May 5th Lowestoft: Leathes Ham, male, Mar 30th Minsmere: two juveniles, Sep 13th; male, Oct 24th; Nov 6th Middleton: Minsmere River, female with four young, June 6th Hollesley Marshes: May 31st Martlesham Creek: June 26th Ipswich: Christchurch Park, 23, Jan 7th; ten (six males), Mar 9th; eight (seven males), Apr 14th; two pairs fledged five and two young respectively; seven, Aug 8th; 33, Sep 11th; seven, Nov 29th; 22, Dec 9th.

Holywells Park, nine, Jan 31st. Wet Dock, three (two males), Mar 22nd. Bourne Bridge, pair, Apr 26th Alton Water: male, Jan 5th and Feb 2nd to 28th; Apr 5th and 18th Stutton Mill: two males, Feb 21st; male, Nov 12th to 14th Rushmere St Andrew: 24, Dec 9th Purdis Farm: Ipswich Golf Club, three (two males), Mar 22nd; male, Apr 23rd and 30th; nesting pair and additional male, May 8th and 21st; two males, June 17th Santon Downham: Little Ouse River, 12, Feb 24th and Mar 9th; nine, Apr 8th; 22, May 25th; pair with eight young, May 28th; ten, Oct 10th Lakenheath Fen: male, Mar 23rd Brandon: Country Park, ten, Jan 8th; 26, Feb 4th; seven, Mar 2nd; five, Apr 20th; May 4th; three, June 8th; 14, July 27th and Aug 15th; 18, Sep 3rd; 15, Oct 25th; two, Nov 23rd; seven, Dec 19th Thetford: Little Ouse River, six, Feb 16th. Nunnery Lakes, Mar 19th to 24th Cavenham Pits: male, Apr 2nd Stoke-by Clare: Boyton End, three, Feb 2nd Long Melford: male, Apr 6th Cornard Mere: Apr 29th Little Cornard: two, May 12th Nayland/Bures St Mary: Arger Fen, May 18th

GARGANEY Spatula querquedula Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Has overwintered. Amber list.

The first of the spring was at Lakenheath Fen, March 24th, a slightly later date than the recent norm. A total of five arrived at two coastal sites four days later, with records from a further two sites by the end of the month. Breeding was not confirmed, although two pairs were present during the breeding season at Lakenheath Fen and single pairs at Walberswick, Minsmere and Hollesley Marshes. Sightings from late summer onwards concerned singletons at coastal sites, with records from five sites in August, two in September and Minsmere in October, the last being on 25th.

Herringfleet Marshes: male, May 4th to 12th Lowestoft: Leathes Ham, pair, Mar 28th Carlton Marshes: male, May 24th to 28th Covehithe Broad: juvenile, Aug 24th Walberswick: pair present during breeding season Minsmere: pair, Apr 18th; male occasionally, Apr 27th to June 29th; juvenile, July 21st to 27th; two in off sea and landed on reserve, July 28th; Aug 27th; Oct 13th; Oct 25th North Warren: female, May 4th; Aug 27th Orfordness: Aug 13th Boyton Marshes: male, Mar 29th to Apr 8th; up to two regularly, May 4th to 31st Hollesley Marshes: three (two males), Mar 28th; pair regularly, Mar 29th to Apr 16th; two, May 10th; three (two males), May 16th; four, May 17th; five, May 18th; up to two regularly, May 19th to 27th; June 10th; two, July 21st Trimley Marshes: two, Apr 9th; regularly, May 11th to 24th; regularly, Aug 31st to Sep 12th Trimley St Martin: Loompit Lake, male, Sep 17th to 22nd Lakenheath Fen: Mar 24th; pair regularly, Mar 28th to May 5th, with three, Apr 13th, 19th and 21st and four, Apr 22nd; two pairs, May 6th to June 16th; three, July 18th 76

Systematic List Livermere Lake: male, Apr 19th; pair, Apr 21st to 24th Lackford Lakes: Mar 29th

David Borderick

Garganey, Leathes Farm, March 28th

NORTHERN SHOVELER Spatula clypeata Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Amber list.

Monthly counts from the key sites:

Minsmere* North Warren* Alde/Ore Estuary Orfordness* Havergate Island* Hollesley Marshes* Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes* Livermere Lake* Lackford Lakes* Mickle Mere* *monthly maxima

Jan 235 92 340 103 232 52 85 200 23 50 35

Feb 160 136 359 200 92 61 47 100 168 32 60

Mar 125 121 6 289 6 70 47 147 57 10 109

Apr 68 8 120 6 85 27 54 24 65

Sep 36 1 26 45 2 24 76 26 39 -

Oct 92 42 26 30 26 35 71 67 25 63 -

Nov 150 71 101 76 130 50 13 83 134 50 -

Dec 170 95 274 221 198 60 122 141 36 -

Amongst the generally high winter counts, two in particular stand out; a WeBS count of 289 on March 24th on Orfordness, part of the vast Alde/Ore Estuary complex, is the highest at this site since 2007, while a non-WeBS count of 266 at Bury St Edmunds Sugar Beet Factory, January 20th 77

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

is a record gathering for the west of the county, surpassing the 260 at Lakenheath Fen in March 1999. Aside from these counts and those tabulated, no others exceeded 50.

It was another encouraging breeding season, with records received from 22 sites (19 in 2018 and ten in 2017). Breeding was confirmed at Hollesley Marshes (three broods) and Boyton Marshes (two broods), with single broods at Oulton Marshes, Orfordness and Trimley Marshes.

Breeding pairs were also recorded at Minsmere (101, up from 45 last year and the highest since 2012), Walberswick (eight), Snape Wetlands (six), North Warren (four), Dingle Marshes (three), Lakenheath Fen (three), Castle Marshes, North Cove (two), Easton Marshes valley (two), Havergate Island (two), Carlton Marshes, Benacre Broad, Hen Reedbeds, Southwold, East Bergholt, Livermere Lake and Mickle Mere.

Fifteen flew south off Landguard during the period September 9th to December 29th.

A male was seen apparently paired with a female Mallard Anas platyrhynchos on Orfordness, April 6th to 22nd.

GADWALL Mareca strepera Common resident and winter visitor. Amber list. Categories A and C. Monthly counts from the key sites: Minsmere* Alde/Ore Estuary Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes* Lackford Lakes*

Jan 208 189 284 252 274

Feb 114 155 145 32 64

Mar 49 6 24 20 14

Apr 57 10 17 21

Aug 136 11 125 58

Sep 240 79 128 55

Oct 239 15 65 46 72

Nov 302 72 78 29 17

Dec 309 144 140 65 292

*monthly maxima

Although there were no exceptional site counts, total numbers in the first winter period were at their highest since 2010, with gatherings at four locations exceeding 200 (three in the table and additionally 280 at Leathes Ham, Lowestoft, January 26th). Wintering numbers in the UK have continued their recent upward trend and subsequently the threshold for national importance has been increased from 250 to 310. This means that Minsmere, which for the past four years has been the only site in the county supporting non-breeding numbers of national importance, no longer meets this criterion.

Three sites in the south-east of the county logged noteworthy counts in June, with 207 at Trimley Marshes on 4th, 100 at nearby Loompit Lake, Trimley St Martin on 13th and 100 at Hollesley Marshes on 22nd. Additional three-figure counts during the second winter period included 144 at Lakenheath Fen, September 26th; 100 at Pathways Farm, Gunton, November 18th; 150 at Carlton Marshes, December 5th and 136 at Thorington Street Reservoir, December 23rd.

Pleasingly breeding was better recorded than last year with 54 pairs at 20 sites (43 pairs at 14 sites in 2018). A total of 13 pairs bred at North Warren, the highest at this site for four years, and on Orfordness ten pairs raised broods totalling 48 young of which at least 20 fledged.

A total of 15 flew north off Landguard in November with a peak of 13 0n 1st.

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Systematic List

EURASIAN WIGEON Mareca penelope Common winter visitor and passage migrant. A few oversummer and occasionally breed. Amber list. Categories A and E. Monthly counts from the key sites:

Blyth Estuary* Carlton/Oulton Marshes* North Warren* Snape Wetland* Boyton Marshes* Hollesley Marshes* Deben Estuary* Orwell Estuary* Trimley Marshes* Stour Estuary Mickle Mere* Gifford’s Hall*

Jan 438 940 250 500 1450 1037 974 1007 1502 218 100

Feb 100 410 1450 200 1250 1400 1204 947 388 1119 270 84

Mar 325 455 150 716 1200 442 492 471 565 110 350

Apr 8 3 15 180 450 15 8 51 13 50

Sep 100 34 12 16 100 35 20 62 78 -

Oct 200 30 85 130 850 193 450 63 131 40 -

Nov 350 155 529 700 160 650 630 474 305 530 50 400

Dec 400 250 680 480 600 1017 757 300 1427 100 350

*monthly maxima/WeBS

Over the course of the past decade there has been a steady decline in the total numbers wintering along the county’s estuaries. Milder autumns and winters around the Baltic mean that more and more birds are stopping off there and staying for the winter rather than continuing their migration south-westwards. Counts in the second winter period were particularly low, with none exceeding 2000 for the first time since 1986. Aside from the table, the only other threefigure counts received were of 119 at Dingle Marshes, November 17th and 132 at Lackford Lakes, December 21st. Orfordness hosted maxima of 1266, February 17th and 1239, December 15th.

There were June records from four coastal sites, including two males and a female at Trimley Marshes late in the month, although breeding was not suspected.

Early returning migrants involved seven south off Landguard on July 26th and another south past the same site five days later.

The only notable offshore count in the first winter period was a flock of 300 on the sea off Shingle Street, March 23rd. In the second winter period passage off Landguard was a marked improvement on last year, but was still below the average of the last five years. The following significant coastal movements were logged:

Minsmere: 102 south, Oct 5th; 100 north, Nov 15th; 250 south, Dec 28th Thorpeness: 150 north and 80 south, Dec 16th Felixstowe: 166 south, Dec 28th Landguard: two north and 395 south in Sep including peak day-counts of 119 south on 20th and 117 south on 23rd; 69 north and 902 south in Oct including peak day-counts of 153 south on 5th, 14 north and 203 south on 6th and 12 north and 182 south on 30th; 29 north and 251 south in Nov; 24 north and 330 south in Dec including peak day-count of 17 north and 164 south on 28th

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MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Dingle Marshes* Minsmere* North Warren* Alde/Ore Estuary Orfordness* Deben Estuary* Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes* Stour Estuary Alton Water* Livermere Lake* Lackford Lakes

Jan 160 563 166 857 473 117 138 100 246 97 74

Feb 29 200 4 456 295 81 36 54 79 65 300 35

Mar 6 94 60 45 98 57 38 31 51 50 20

Apr 291 65 76 22 227

Aug 152 24 4 185 145 134 222

Sep 6 73 2 150 54 144 87 58 200 89

Oct 112 493 179 249 92 91 69 72 75 66

Nov 52 230 73 251 434 49 45 53 48 148 2000 43

Dec 101 400 77 310 432 100 68 140 79 69 800 69

*monthly maxima

Overall, numbers on the coast in January were well above the norm of recent years, highlighted by an impressive WeBS count of 857 on the Alde/Ore Estuary on 20th, the highest at this site since 903 were present in January 1996. Additional three-figure counts during the first winter period involved 600 at Heveningham Park, January 15th and 151 at Center Parcs, Elveden, February 9th. Numbers remained high at Minsmere through late spring and early summer, with WeBS counts of 165, May 19th and 175, June 16th, while 700 were present at Livermere Lake, May 19th, although records from this site come with the usual caveat that captive-bred birds are released each summer for shooting. Further significant counts during the second winter period included 100 at Carlton Marshes, October 9th, 190 at Sudbury, October 29th and 100 at Mickle Mere, November 2nd. The year’s highest total on the ponds in Christchurch Park, Ipswich was 75 on October 1st.

A total of 131 breeding pairs was reported from 36 sites, the highest number for five years, with 19 pairs at Orfordness (21 pairs in 2018), 12 pairs at Lakenheath Fen and 11 pairs at both Dingle Marshes (nine pairs in 2018) and Hen Reedbeds (six pairs in 2018). The 19 broods noted on Orfordness comprised 123 ducklings, but primarily due to predation the number fledged would have been much lower. A female with a brood of 24 ducklings at Livermere Lake, June 18th was either an example of brood amalgamation, where ducklings of a similar age from more than one nest follow a single female, or egg-dumping, where one or more females lay in another female’s nest.

NORTHERN PINTAIL Anas acuta Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant; a few oversummer. Bred in 2016 and 2018.

Amber list. Categories A and E. Monthly counts from the key sites: Jan Feb North Warren* 297 230 Alde/Ore Estuary* 86 67 Hollesley Marshes* 50 60 Deben Estuary* 99 71 Stour Estuary 144 131

Mar 102 0 47 0 1

*monthly maxima 80

Oct 137 4 70 2 24

Nov 148 33 26 37 58

Dec 150 49 30 100 31

Systematic List

Following a fall in the British non-breeding population from a high during the winter of 2005/06, the threshold for national importance has recently been adjusted downwards from 290 to 200. This means that the county now has three sites achieving this status, with both the Alde/ Ore Estuary and North Warren joining the Stour Estuary, although WeBS counts at the former site fell markedly below the new threshold this year, failing to reach three-figures for the first time since 1992. Aside from those in the table, further gatherings of 50 and above included 105 at Tinker’s Marshes, Walberswick, February 5th, 54 at Levington Creek, October 25th, 110 at Trimley Marshes, November 16th and 94 at the Blyth Estuary, December 22nd.

There was no evidence of breeding, although a male remained at Minsmere into early June and it, or another male, was present at North Warren, June 15th. An unringed female was on Needham Market Lake on July 20th.

The following records were received from the west of the county:

Lakenheath Fen/Washes: Oct 18th Livermere Lake: male, Feb 25th; Sep 25th Lackford Lakes: 1-4 occasionally, Feb 1st to Mar 19th; Nov 15th to 17th; three, Dec 30th Thurston: Grove Farm, male, Dec 21st Barrow: village pond, wary male, Apr 10th Stoke-by-Nayland: Gifford’s Hall, five (three males), Nov 16th; 14, Dec 23rd Higham (near Hadleigh): four, Dec 23rd

The only offshore record in the first winter period concerned two off Minsmere, January 24th.

Otherwise, all coastal movement occurred between September 7th and December 29th, with a peak of 19 south off Felixstowe, December 28th. Cumulative numbers logged off Landguard, although a considerable improvement on last year, were still below the five-year average (see Eurasian Wigeon). The following offshore records were received for the second winter period (all refer to birds flying south unless otherwise stated):

Corton: north, Sep 7th Southwold: two, Sep 19th; north, Oct 30th Minsmere: north, Sep 8th; six, Sep 22nd; four, Oct 5th; eight, Oct 6th; three north, Nov 15th; two, Nov 26th; five, Dec 28th Orfordness: four, Sep 23rd; five, Sep 28th Felixstowe: nine, Nov 16th; Nov 17th; six, Nov 30th; 19, Dec 28th Landguard: Sep 20th and 22nd; four, Sep 23rd; Sep 24th and 29th; three, Oct 5th; Oct 15th; nine, Oct 24th; five, Oct 30th; Nov 7th; five, Nov 23rd; five Dec 12th; four, Dec 19th; 13, Dec 21st; two, Dec 25th; 14, Dec 28th; two, Dec 29th

EURASIAN TEAL Anas crecca Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Scarce resident. Amber list.

Monthly counts from the key sites:

Burgh Castle* Herringfleet Marshes* Carlton/Oulton Marshes* Minsmere* North Warren* Snape Wetland* Orfordness* Boyton Marshes* Hollesley Marshes* Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes*

Jan 120 140 70 1211 690 300 947 300 225 1057 278 612

Feb 235 200 600 281 488 350 700 618 230 293

Mar 221 32 197 254 4 281 150 350 461 99 147

81

Apr 70 300 16 158 25 70 100 90 200 59 20 104

Sep 20 400 650 21 35 130 220 32 266 122

Oct 105 600 896 246 190 900 616 308 263

Nov 1 25 750 220 200 273 230 850 564 300 800

Dec 120 93 200 824 370 820 220 950 1361 274 464

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Stour Estuary Lackford Lakes* Culford Park* Mickle Mere* Gifford’s Hall*

1010 350 123 700 128

341 123 282 350 -

223 25 93 390 20

156 16 310 -

134 100 30

150 114 21 120 -

416 430 41 200 120

937 450 73 70

*monthly maxima

Total non-breeding numbers were generally low. Indeed, the year’s highest WeBS count, of 2316 in January and as usual from the Alde/Ore Estuary, fell for the fourth consecutive year and is the lowest annual county peak since 2000. As a consequence, the county no longer holds any sites of national importance. That said, three counts do deserve special mention. A flock of 700 at Mickle Mere, January 22nd is the largest in the west of the county since 900 were present at Lackford Lakes in January 2010; a count of 600 at Carlton Marshes, October 19th is a new site record, as is the December WeBS count on the Deben Estuary of 1361 on 15th. Other than those tabulated, further notable gatherings included 447 at Bury St Edmunds Sugar Beet Factory, January 20th (see Northern Shoveler); 130 at Tendring Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland, February 5th; 119 at Lakenheath Fen, September 28th and 100 at Staverton Park, Wantisden, December 1st.

Breeding was not confirmed, although a displaying pair was observed at a coastal site in the south-east of the county in early June, and at a coastal site in the north-east one or two were seen regularly throughout late spring and early summer.

Return offshore passage was reported from June 14th, with a maximum day-count of 271 south off Minsmere during easterly winds on October 5th. Numbers peaked off Landguard in December and overall were below the norm of recent years (see Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail). The following notable coastal movements were received: Southwold: 247 south, Oct 5th Minsmere: 134 south, Sep 22nd; 271 south, Oct 5th; 150 north, Nov 15th; 200 south, Dec 28th Landguard: 78 south in July; 103 south in Aug; 519 south in Sep including peak day-counts of 252 on 9th and 137 on 20th; 386 south in Oct including peak day-count of 173 on 5th; 24 north and 103 south in Nov; two north and 530 south in Dec including peak day-counts of 199 south on 20th and 248 south on 28th

GREEN-WINGED TEAL Anas carolinensis Rare visitor.

Herringfleet Marshes: male, photographed, Feb 26th to Apr 24th (R Bell et al.)

Dunwich: shore pools, male, photographed, Jan 4th to 7th (R Burrough et al.)

The 38th and 39th county records comprised a second site record for Dunwich following one in April 2004 and one which stayed in the lower Waveney valley for almost two months.

RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. Categories A and E. Only three single-day records were received. The coastal record in mid-November may be of wild origin from the near-Continent, but the other two records almost certainly involved individuals of captive origin (or the offspring of captive-bred birds). The run of annual records at Lackford Lakes extends back to 2011, with breeding confirmed in three successive years from 2014.

Trimley Marshes: Nov 17th (WeBS) Pipps Ford: May 17th Lackford Lakes: Feb 21st

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Systematic List

COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina Fairly common but declining winter visitor and passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Red list.

Categories A and E. Monthly counts from the key sites: Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes* Alton Water* Lackford Lakes*

Jan 22 78 178 60

Feb 69 27 246 42

Mar 25 15 3 37

Sep 1 9 62 0

Oct 95 95 10 9

Nov 9 42 7 5

Dec 10 47 34 46

*monthly maxima

There was a slight improvement on the low numbers of last year, with the year’s highest count, a non-WeBS count of 246 at Alton Water, February 3rd, the largest concentration at this reservoir for three years (312, September 18th 2016). Besides the tabulated values, the only other gathering to exceed 30 concerned 40 at Livermere Lake on February 19th. As usual numbers were particularly disappointing at sites in the north-east of the county, with maxima of just six at both Minsmere in late June and on the Blyth Estuary in late December.

Breeding reports were favourably comparable with those in 2018. These included two unconfirmed pairs at Covehithe Broad, while single confirmed pairs were noted at Trimley Marshes, at nearby Loompit Lake, Trimley St Martin and in the west of the county at Livermere Lake.

FERRUGINOUS DUCK Aythya nyroca Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.

Minsmere: male, Aug 20th to 22nd (R Harvey et al.)

Minsmere in August is clearly the favoured place and time to search carefully amongst the eclipse and juvenile wildfowl for this rare diving duck, with records from the reserve in six out of the past 11 Augusts. This is the 15th record from Minsmere so far this century.

RING-NECKED DUCK Aythya collaris Very rare visitor.

Livermere Lake: male, photographed, May 22nd to 27th (J L Walshe et al.)

The tenth county record (involving 12 individuals), the first since 2007 and the first record for the west of the county. Interestingly this bird was wearing a metal leg ring, enabling confirmation of its movements before and after its sojourn in Suffolk. It had been ringed earlier in the year at Abberton Reservoir, Essex on January 29th, having been present at the reservoir since the previous autumn. It remained at Abberton until April 26th and was then relocated three days later at Bowers Marsh near Basildon, 40 km to the south-west, where it stayed until May 18th.

It returned briefly to Abberton on May 20th and 21st, before flying 85 km north to Livermere where it was found the following day. After the last sighting at Livermere, it was back at Abberton again on June 11th and settled there for the remainder of the year.

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TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Orwell Estuary Trimley Marshes* Alton Water* Nunnery Lakes* Lackford Lakes*

Jan 49 62 144 148

Feb 50 40 106 168

Mar 53 33 45 162

Sep 36 21 49 100

Oct 50 22 115 61 76

Nov 77 23 58 59 106

Dec 63 54 84 59 89

*monthly maxima

In general, non-breeding numbers were poor, especially during the second winter period. The year’s highest count, the February WeBS count at Lackford Lakes of 168 on 17th, is the county’s lowest annual peak since 1976, when coincidentally 168 were also present at the same site in February of that year. Significant counts additional to those in the table included 51 at the Alde/ Ore Estuary, February 17th (WeBS) and 86 at Redgrave Lake, March 3rd, while Lackford Lakes enjoyed an upturn in numbers in mid-summer with WeBS counts of 55, July 7th and 121, August 4th.

The number of breeding records received was similar to recent years, with a total of 22 confirmed pairs at 12 sites (27 pairs at 17 sites in 2018). Over half of these were in the west of the county and included four pairs at Lackford Lakes and three pairs at both Culford Park and Thorington Street Reservoir.

GREATER SCAUP Aythya marila Fairly common but declining winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

It was a poor start to the year, with records from just three sites between January 1st and March 8th.

Minsmere: four on sea, Jan 22nd; Island Mere, three, Feb 4th; two, Feb 6th Hazlewood Marshes: male, Mar 2nd and 8th Alton Water: male, Jan 1st

There were no further sightings until September 30th, when a female arrived at Minsmere (and subsequently stayed on the reserve for the next four weeks). Records were more frequent during the second winter period and included a group of seven at Seafield Bay on the Stour Estuary for a week in December.

Minsmere: female, Sep 30th to Oct 28th; two offshore, Nov 5th Thorpeness: south offshore, Oct 7th Bawdsey: East Lane, two first-winters, Oct 2nd to 8th; Nov 4th Landguard: south offshore, Oct 4th Trimley Marshes: first-winter male, Nov 6th and 7th and 19th to 28th Stour Estuary: Oct 31st; seven, Dec 9th to 15th

2018 addition:

A male was on the sea off Hopton-on-Sea, June 22nd, the first June record since 1999 (male, Covehithe, May 17th to June 6th).

COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred. Amber list.

The only sightings in the first three months of the year were of two noted regularly on the sea off Gorleston, with three present there on January 8th and March 23rd, and one south off Landguard, March 9th. Records picked up in April and involved a total of 11 off Landguard over 84

Systematic List

four dates and singletons on separate dates off Gorleston, Lowestoft, Kessingland and Minsmere and continued into May, with four off Corton and Lowestoft early in the month and three off Shingle Street on 18th and 19th. There were two records in each of the next two months concerning birds on the sea, with one off Landguard, June 23rd, one off Minsmere, June 26th, two off Landguard, July 9th and one off Covehithe, July 29th.

There were no further sightings until three were on the sea off Corton, September 17th.

Autumn passage was light and the only day-counts exceeding 20 involved 22 north off Lowestoft, October 29th and 30 north off Minsmere, November 15th. The highest counts off Landguard were of ten north, October 30th and nine south, November 7th.

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

During the first winter period there were records from just three locations, and all between January 1st and 19th.

Gorleston/Hopton-on-Sea: five on sea, Jan 1st to 11th (102 off this site, Nov 9th 1972!)

Corton: one north and five on sea, Jan 19th Landguard: two south, Jan 7th

The next sighting concerned a singleton north off Landguard, April 25th and then there were no further records until two flew south off Minsmere on October 7th, heralding the start of an unremarkable autumn passage.

Gorleston: north, Nov 16th Kessingland: three, Dec 14th Dunwich: on sea, Oct 17th and 18th Minsmere: two south, Oct 7th; four north, Oct 29th; south, Nov 15th; two north, Nov 18th; two south, Nov 20th; two south, Dec 14th Southwold: north, Oct 30th; Dec 1st Shingle Street: two south, Dec 28th Felixstowe: two south, Nov 23rd; two north, Dec 1st Landguard: south, Oct 17th; south, Nov 27th

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra Declining non-breeding resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Landguard North South

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

11 18

0 16

17 33

67 25

82 123

6 0

35 99

6 33

17 25

167 62

165 148

57 27

Accumulated monthly totals from daily seawatching at Landguard Bird Observatory are shown in the table, the overall annual total being similar to last year. All significant movements off our coast are summarised below:

Kessingland: 120 south, Dec 26th Minsmere: 150 south, Jan 20th; eight north and 99 south, Nov 15th; 142 north and three south, Dec 7th; 134 south, Dec 14th Thorpeness: 17 north and 160 south, Dec 16th Landguard: 43 north and 70 south, Nov 15th

Although significantly smaller than those of last year, inshore rafts were regularly recorded off Dunwich and Minsmere throughout the year. Rafts of 100 and above are summarised as follows: Dunwich/Minsmere: 100+, Jan 1st to 8th, with peak of 200 on 1st; 100+, Apr 29th to May 24th, with peak of 300 on May 9th and 18th; 100, Sep 19th and Oct 7th; 100+, Nov 3rd to 5th, with peak of 200 on 5th; 100+, Dec 5th to 23rd, with peak of 120 on 23rd 85

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Away from the immediate coastline, singles were present on the Stour Estuary, January 11th and at Lake Lothing, Lowestoft, February 2nd, with two on the Orwell Estuary, April 14th and a male on the Alde/Ore Estuary, June 27th. During the second winter period records from the Orwell Estuary involved singles, October 16th and November 17th, and two, November 12th, while one was on the Scrape at Minsmere, November 27th and 28th and December 8th.

LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

After a blank first winter period, the first since 2012, there was a reasonable spread of records from October 20th onwards, including a popular first-winter male on the River Orwell for the last two weeks of the year.

Gorleston: north, Nov 21st Corton: south, Oct 20th Lowestoft: Ness Point, north, Oct 20th Southwold: north, Nov 15th Dunwich: two on sea, Dec 14th Minsmere: south, Nov 15th; north, Nov 18th; south, Dec 7th Sizewell: north, Dec 2nd Slaughden: south, Nov 6th; south, Nov 15th Bawdsey: East Lane, first-winter on lagoon, Oct 28th Landguard: south, Oct 29th Orwell Estuary: first-winter male ranging between Wherstead and Freston, Dec 15th to 31st

John Richardson

Long-tailed Duck at East Lane, October 28th

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Systematic List

COMMON GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary* Stour Estuary* Alton Water*

Jan 15 11 74 21

Feb 8 12 55 20

Mar 0 0 3 14

Nov 0 4 49 2

Dec 4 30 85 5

*monthly maxima

Wintering numbers in both periods were generally an improvement on the poor figures of last year. The WeBS count of 30 on the Orwell Estuary, December 15th is the highest at this site for three years and a non-WeBS count of 21 at Alton Water, January 1st is the highest at this site for five years. Aside from the table, the only other count to reach double-figures was of 15 on the River Alde at Aldeburgh on January 11th.

A singleton at Herringfleet Marshes, April 16th was the last of spring and was followed by a surprising June record, the second in two years, involving a redhead at Trimley Marshes on 27th.

The next sighting, the sole one in September, concerned two on the WeBS count at Alton Water on 8th. Records did not become regular until the third week of October. Offshore passage was disappointing for the second successive autumn, with a meagre eight logged off Minsmere and seven off Landguard between October 24th and the end of November.

It is somewhat surprising to report that there has been no report of a Goldeneye on Orfordness since October 29th 2017.

SMEW Mergellus albellus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

A fairly typical showing for recent years involving records from three sites, all during the first winter period, with a peak count of three. Long-stayers at both Minsmere and on the Stour Estuary allowed ample opportunity to catch up with this sought-after sawbill, with a redhead remaining at the former site until April 15th, the latest departure since 2001.

Minsmere: redhead, Feb 1st to 23rd; three (one male), Feb 24th to Apr 2nd; redhead, Apr 3rd to 15th Alton Water: Feb 24th (WeBS) Stour Estuary: male, Jan 1st to Mar 30th (see addition below)

2018 addition:

Stour Estuary: male, Dec 3rd to 31st

GOOSANDER (COMMON MERGANSER) Mergus merganser Locally fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Minsmere* Thorpeness Meare*

Jan 14 13

Feb 27 19

Mar 11 17

*monthly maxima

87

Apr 1 0

Oct 1 0

Nov 21 7

Dec 17 16

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Minsmere and Thorpeness Meare were the two most reliable sites to encounter this species in both winter periods and monthly maxima are summarised in the table. These figures do include duplication as birds congregate on the Scrape at Minsmere at dusk to roost and then disperse at dawn, frequently to Thorpeness Meare, as evidenced by a count of 16 flying north over Sizewell late afternoon on November 19th. A roost count of 27 on the Scrape on February 27th is the highest in the county since 2012.

All other records received for the first winter period are as follows:

Carlton Marshes: four, Jan 5th and 12th; Jan 17th; five, Jan 19th and 20th; six, Jan 26th; Mar 6th; eight, Mar 14th North Cove: River Waveney, five redheads, Jan 21st Southwold: male north offshore, Apr 6th Blyth Estuary: two, Jan 3rd Westleton: four, Feb 5th Landguard: south, Jan 10th; three south, Jan 30th; south, Mar 2nd Trimley Marshes: Mar 10th Ipswich: Christchurch Park, male, Feb 9th (sixth successive year recorded) Alton Water: two, Jan 22nd; three (one male), Feb 6th; two redheads, Feb 7th; two males, Feb 19th; three (one male), Feb 20th; five (one male), Feb 24th; two, Feb 25th; three, Feb 26th and 28th and Mar 1st; four redheads, Mar 4th; redhead, Mar 11th; three redheads, Mar 17th Beccles: River Waveney, five, Jan 24th Heveningham: Park, five, Jan 15th; four, Feb 13th Swilland: Apr 6th – remarkable inland record Thetford: Nunnery Lakes, Mar 22nd Lackford Lakes: Jan 9th – as recently as 2015 this was the principal site in Suffolk for Goosander Stoke-by-Nayland: Gifford’s Hall, two (one male), Mar 26th and Apr 7th; male, Apr 15th

An unseasonable redhead was present at Orfordness from May 25th to June 17th, otherwise there were no further sightings until one off Lowestoft on October 7th.

Corton: four south offshore, Oct 20th Lowestoft: offshore, Oct 7th Benacre Broad: redhead, Dec 18th Southwold: redhead south offshore, Oct 26th Blyth Estuary: male, Nov 17th; male, Dec 27th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, redhead, Oct 24th; two redheads, Oct 28th; redhead, Oct 29th Sizewell: two males south offshore, Nov 23rd Hollesley Marshes: redhead, Oct 27th Bawdsey: East Lane, two redheads in off sea, Oct 28th Deben Estuary: two, Nov 17th (WeBS) Felixstowe: five in off sea, Nov 30th Landguard: south, Oct 8th; two south, Nov 21st; south, Nov 28th and Dec 8th and 28th Orwell Estuary: three redheads, Dec 15th Alton Water: two, Dec 15th (WeBS) Thetford: Nunnery Lakes, Nov 9th and 17th Livermere Lake: male, Nov 9th Fornham St Genevieve: Nov 30th Sturmer Mere: redhead, Dec 29th Sudbury: River Stour, Brundon Mill, redhead, Nov 19th Nayland: Dec 29th East Bergholt: Flatford Mill, redhead, Dec 18th; two redheads, Dec 24th

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant.

It is pleasing to report that peak monthly counts from the two principal wintering sites, tabulated above, were a significant improvement on those of recent years. The highest count, a WeBS count on the Suffolk side of the Stour Estuary of 115 on January 20th is the highest since 2014 (150, Stour Estuary, February 7th) and a low-water WeBS count of 93 on the Orwell Estuary 88

Systematic List

in the same month is the highest at this site since 169 were present in March 1979 following a prolonged period of very cold weather. A redhead on the Lagoon at Orfordness, April 20th and 21st was the last of the spring.

Birds returned early to the Stour Estuary, with 11 already back by the time of the September WeBS count on 15th. Offshore return passage, which began with one north off Corton, October 2nd, was light. A total of 60 was logged off Landguard between October 7th and the end of the year, with a peak count of just eight south on October 24th. Records from less-expected locations during the second winter period included singletons on shore pools at Dunwich, October 29th and November 17th and on the Blyth Estuary, November 19th.

Monthly counts from the key sites: Orwell Estuary* Stour Estuary*

Jan 93 115

Feb 16 66

Mar 3 62

Apr 0 17

Sep 0 11

Oct 3 17

Nov 6 34

Dec 76 24

*monthly maxima

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa

Common resident; numbers augmented by releases. Categories C and E.

This species remains widespread and common with over 320 records received. However, evidence of breeding was recorded at only nine sites. High counts of between 40 and 350 birds were recorded at several sites where birds had been released for shooting. Occasional reports were received of recently-released birds being disorientated on roadsides or as road casualties.

A maximum of two birds was seen intermittently on Orfordness early in the year, but with only one there between late September and late November. At Landguard a maximum of three birds was present between late March and late May, then up to two to July 9th and one to the year’s end. There was no suggestion of breeding at either of these two coastal sites.

GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix

Formerly common resident, now localised. Red List. Categories A, C and E.

Liz Cutting

Grey Partridges, Holbrook, February 25th 89

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

It appears to have been a slightly better year for this species with 140 reports from 58 sites; however, breeding or probable breeding was only recorded at four sites, all in the west of the County. The highest count, of 41 birds, was at Ampton; however it was believed that these may have been captive-bred birds released for shooting. Elsewhere counts in excess of 20 birds were recorded at only two other sites.

COMMON QUAIL Coturnix coturnix Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber List.

A much-improved year for this often-shy migrant or summer visitor with 34 reports relating to a minimum total of 17 birds received from 16 sites. The majority of records were of single birds in May and June. However, eight reports, including one of two birds, occurred in July and August suggesting the possibility of breeding taking place. All records are detailed below, birds heard calling unless stated otherwise:

Benacre: flushed from silage field then resettled, June 13th (J Halls) Kessingland: flushed from dunes, July 2nd (N R Jones) Westleton Heath: June 9th (T Speller) Aldringham Walks: flushed, June 9th (L Woods) Thorpeness: flushed along beach north of old caravan site, Oct 5th (B J Bradnum) North Warren: June 18th (Birdguides); presumed same, June 21st (Birdguides) Hazlewood Common: one, possibly two, June 7th to 17th (M L Cornish et al.)

Tunstall Common: May 4th (F Bird) Shingle Street: July 2nd (N Mason) Ramsholt: Aug 13th (Birdguides) Kirton: Corporation Marshes, June 29th (P Holmes) Felixstowe Ferry: Aug 17th-18th (S Piotrowski, Birdguides) Honington: June 14th (N Calbrade); presumed same, June 23rd (H Ewing) Icklingham: Pear Tree Cottage, July 1st-14th; second bird from July 8th-11th (C Gregory et al.)

Lakenheath Fen: Joist Fen, May 7th; June 20th (RSPB) Newmarket Heath: Rowley Mile Course, May 19th (L Bacon)

This is the best “Quail Year” in Suffolk since 2011 when up to 19 birds were located.

COMMON PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus Very common resident; numbers augmented by releases. Categories C and E. This extremely-common species was reported from 147 sites throughout the County. However, confirmation of breeding was received from only ten of these. As with other species of captivebred game birds, large counts, numbering between 50 and 85 individuals, were recorded in the vicinity of shooting estates outside of the breeding season. At least ten broods of young were present on Orfordness. Singles were at Landguard on January 9th, May 14th and October 6th to 19th.

GOLDEN PHEASANT Chrysolophus pictus Scarce resident. Categories C and E. Only four reports were received for 2019, two fewer than last year but, again, all from Euston, including one bird which had been released with a yellow ring. Records are detailed below:

Euston: Jan 15th (E W Patrick); three, Feb 21st (S Abbott); two, Mar 19th (D F Walsh); with a yellow ring, Apr 14th (N Calbrade)

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RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

A welcome return to four-figure counts was experienced during 2019, following a maximum of just 300 during 2017 and 469 in January 2018. However, during the second winter period of 2018 numbers began to accumulate a little culminating in around 600 off Dunwich Cliffs on December 20th. This presaged the c1000 observed from Minsmere beach on January 1st 2019.

Following this, a similar number was recorded south past Kessingland, March 16th.

By contrast numbers in the south-eastern sector, as traditionally experienced, were considerably lower, with the most significant counts being 250 feeding off Orfordness on January 1st, and on the same day 142 moved north and 35 south off Landguard. The only other three-figure count was 279 from Felixstowe Ferry, January 27th.

One well-watched individual, discovered on February 2nd Red-throated Diver, Alton water, February 7th Liz Cutting near Lemon’s Hill Bridge at Alton Water, continued its presence until February 26th giving many birders the opportunity to study the species at closer range than usually possible. Although both Black-throated and Great Northern Divers have been of fairly regular occurrence on Alton Water, for an unknown reason, Red-throated Divers are rare visitors to the reservoir – this year’s bird is the site’s first record since one in 2008 from April 6th to 16th.

Late spring departures were noted from Landguard with a singleton, April 30th and a very late bird on May 29th.

As usual, autumn returnees arrived during September, the earliest being one off Gunton Cliffs on 5th.

Overall, the second winter period proved significantly more productive than the first, with Minsmere beach witnessing 1216, November 16th, and 1019, December 7th. Both of these Minsmere records are courtesy of that redoubtable and assiduous sea-watcher David Thurlow, who also contributed the year’s highest count of 4157 south past Thorpeness on December 16th; this is the highest Suffolk total for almost four years (4945 on January 31st 2016).

In the south-eastern sector the second winter period produced predominantly records of single birds. Movements increased somewhat during December, during which month Landguard recorded a total of 337 (189 north, 148 south).

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Six records, representing a fairly average year for what is now acknowledged to be a much scarcer winter visitor than was once considered. Given the spread of dates and locations it is probable these relate to rather less than six individuals. Certainly, photographs of the February bird on the Orwell Estuary indicated that it may well be the same returning bird seen the previous winter on both the Orwell and Stour Estuaries.

Remembering that this is now a description species when out at sea, the accepted records are: Minsmere: Feb 6th (D Archer) Orwell Estuary: Feb 17th to 24th (J Davidson et al.); Dec 16th and 17th (multi-observer) 91

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alton Water: Feb 26th (C Baines) Stour Estuary: Holbrook, photographed, Oct 29th (E Keeble) Bramford: Suffolk Water Park, Dec 29th to Mar 8th 2020 (LG Woods et al.)

The bird at Suffolk Water Park, excepting those on Alton Water, is the first Suffolk record away from the coast and estuaries since 2002 when one was on Heveningham Hall Lake, December 15th. This is the second site record at Suffolk Water Park, the first having lingered there from March 1st to May 16th 1991.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

A less-than-record year for this species with the usual bias towards the south-eastern sector.

The north-east sector produced 16 reports, all singles, which inevitably will include some duplication of individual birds. There were two spring records, the first from Southwold, March 31st and a very late record concerning, presumably, a single individual observed from Ness Point, Lowestoft on May 10th and 11th by the same observer. The autumn commenced with a sighting from Thorpeness, September 18th from where further single records came at the beginning and end of October. The following month a well-watched individual frequented the lower reaches of the River Alde at Aldeburgh from November 16th to December 8th and another (or possibly the same bird), was at Benacre Broad from December 16th to 31st. An additional six reports came from various locations around Sole Bay during December.

The south-east sector produced a total of 38 records (up from 23 last year), which are likely to relate to around 12 individuals. The first winter period recorded single sightings during the first half of January along the Orwell Estuary of what was most probably the same individual first seen in December 2018 off Levington Marina. Possibly this, or another individual, was then at Alton Water throughout most of February. A late bird passed Landguard Bird Observatory on April 29th and off this site an even later individual was seen feeding offshore for more than two hours on the morning of May 7th, before continuing north. The first autumn returnee in this sector was one south past Landguard on October 5th with no further sightings from this site until November when four were recorded. December produced a few more single birds and what is likely to have been the familiar returning bird to the Orwell, favouring, once again, the reaches adjacent to Levington Creek and Marina. Finally, the only multiple sighting of the year came on December 18th when three birds were observed south past Bawdsey.

Great Northern Diver on Benacre Broad, December 22nd 92

Peter Ransome

Systematic List

EUROPEAN STORM-PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus Rare passage migrant. Amber list Another welcome encounter for the fortunate few assembled at Landguard mid-morning September 20th. The first record since 2017 when one passed Corton Cliffs going north on October 29th, which itself followed a nine-year absence, back to 2008, prior to which records had been annual.

Landguard: north, 10:54hr Sep 20th (W J Brame et al.) – seventh site record

LEACH’S STORM-PETREL Oceanodroma leucorhoa Scarce passage migrant. Amber list.

Suffolk records for this oceanic wanderer have diminished noticeably in recent years, possibly a reflection of the declining population, 94% of which in the UK are to be found on St Kilda, where nest boxes have been introduced in an attempt to reverse this trend. From seven records in 2016 down to two in 2017, the past two years have each produced only a single record. The solitary individual heading north in 2019 was once again observed from Southwold by stalwart seawatcher Brian Small.

Southwold: north, Sep 21st (BJ Small)

NORTHERN FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis Declining passage migrant. Formerly bred. Amber list.

A remarkably-improved year following several consecutive years of significant declines in the number of records.

A total of 145 reported sightings for the north-east sector represents a quite-unexpected 86% increase on 2018.

It was not possible from the data provided to apportion all of the records received from the south-east sector into monthly totals. However, the aggregate total of 77 reports for the year (but many of these being the same bird), still represented an increase over 2018 albeit a more modest 26% in comparison with the north-east sector. Orfordness, however, reported ‘another very poor year for this species’.

As usual all of these figures must be qualified with the likelihood of some duplications although, overwhelmingly, records relate to single observations occurring on individual dates, thereby moderating the probability of this as a factor. As usual, peak movements were recorded during April and September.

Nevertheless, these increases represent a significant, if currently unexplained, departure from the experience of recent years. Further analysis would be required to attempt to determine if there are any correlations with reports from neighbouring counties, a relationship to prevailing weather patterns, increased observations and reporting rates and/or changes to the availability and abundance of food sources. Continued monitoring in future years will help determine whether 2019 will ultimately prove to be anomalous, or represents a more permanent change to the status of this familiar, but nationally still-declining, seabird.

Monthly counts from the key sites:

North-East South-East

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0 0

3 2

16 11

45 16

29 7

9 0

4 0

3 1

27 1

1 0

1 0

7 2

93

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Maximum day-counts were also up on 2018 with double figures being reached on two occasions.

Fourteen passed Thorpeness on April 27th and 17 passed Southwold on September 21st. In the south-east sector, the maximum day-count was eight birds off Landguard on April 27th, which may, however, be misleading as this comprised four birds north and four birds south. Interestingly, April 27th was matched by Orfordness which recorded five birds lingering offshore that same day.

SOOTY SHEARWATER Ardenna grisea Uncommon passage migrant.

Unfortunately, it was another somewhat sparse year for enjoying the wonderful arcing flight of this extraordinary and intrepid ocean wanderer. Total records for the year, from the distribution of dates, show 16 individuals, making one less than the estimated 17 for 2018 and a huge drop from the 100+ records reported as recently as 2015 and 2016.

No ‘Sooties’ appeared during August, the first being a single north past Covehithe on September 6th, which month, as usual, witnessed the majority of observations (Covehithe, 6th; Southwold, 8th; Corton Cliffs, 17th; three, East Lane, 20th; Ness Point, Lowestoft, 21st; Minsmere, 21st; Covehithe, 24th). There were five records during October with two birds observed past Thorpeness on both 2nd and 11th. The final sighting was a singleton past Slaughden on October 23rd.

All but three records came from the north-east sector with 13 individuals - all on separate dates with the exception of September 21st when one flew north past Minsmere and three were observed heading north past Ness Point, Lowestoft.

The south-east sector produced just three records; all were of single birds observed at intervals during the morning of September 20th south past East Lane, Bawdsey. These latter record birds, together with the three detailed above on 21st, constituted the year’s somewhat underwhelming joint-highest day-counts.

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus Uncommon passage migrant. Amber list.

2019, along with 2012 and 2015, shares the unfortunate and ignominious fate of representing the absolute low point of Manx Shearwater records in Suffolk during the modern seawatching era. 2012 had produced only ten records, which were bookended by a single spring sighting in April and the autumn discovery in September of a juvenile at Felixstowe Docks that fortunately was released later at Landguard.

Early historical records derive entirely from instances of wrecked birds following strong westerly gales from locations as far inland as Newmarket Racecourse, as in 1869 (The Birds of Suffolk, Piotrowski, 2003). The first officially documented offshore record wasn’t until 1917 (A History of the Birds of Suffolk, Ticehurst, 1932), when three were reported close in off Kessingland on July 20th. Records remained very sparse during the first half of the 20th century largely due to relatively-limited optics and the fact that the notion of seawatching was yet to catch on.

Consequently, records remained in low single figures throughout the 60s and 70s, a situation that predominated until the latter half of the 1980s when the practice of intensive seawatching became far more widespread. This enabled the gathering of rather more representative data relating to the species’ true status.

Between 1987 and 1997 sightings averaged 41 per year. An analysis of shearwater movements off Covehithe by Peter Dare covering the period 1994-98, published in Suffolk Birds 1998, cites September as the peak month for observations usually in association with north-westerly or north-easterly winds either on the day of the sighting or the day before. However, the peak during the current century has most frequently occurred during June and July when there is less association with such weather patterns.

As per the table below, sightings can fluctuate greatly from year to year. Prior to the low of 94

Systematic List

2012 one must return to 1993 (eight records) and 1985 (five records) for the next lowest totals of recent occurrences.

Suffolk: Manx Shearwater Annual Totals 1994-2019: 1994 55

1995 17

1996 40

1997 23

1998 1999 27 161

2000 246

2001 335

2002 115

2003 2004 84 48

2005 54

2006 63

2007 109

2008 98

2009 158

2010 30

2011 2012 159 10

2013 83

2014 40

2015 11

2016 2017 33 32

2018 26

2019 4

2019 saw no spring or summer records and all sightings involved single birds. The first passed north off Corton Cliffs on September 7th, with nothing further until September 21st with a ‘Manxie’ south past East Lane, Bawdsey and then September 24th with one south past Southwold at 07:18hr and Minsmere at 07:35hr, these being treated as the same individual. 2019’s final record occurred on October 30th when one flew north past Thorpeness.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER Puffinus mauretanicus Rare, but nearly annual, passage migrant. Critically endangered. Red list.

The first occurrence of this species for three years, since the three individual records in each of the months of August, September and October 2016. Sadly, its precipitously-declining population, (over 90% decline in three generations with a projected extinction time of about 60 years), makes future encounters with this species increasingly uncertain.

Landguard: north, 06:25hr Aug 23rd (W J Brame et al.) – fourth site record

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis Locally common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

A further slight increase in records of breeding or probable breeding from 23 sites in 2018 to 25 this year, suggests a continuing improvement in the status of this species throughout the county.

A pair bred, albeit unsuccessfully, on Wilderness Pond, Christchurch Park, central Ipswich, the first site breeding record.

Counts of non-breeding and wintering birds exceeding 20 were received from 12 sites also suggesting a stable or improving situation. The highest individual site-count was of 38 at Martlesham Creek on February 15th (A Tietjen). The results of winter counts at regularlymonitored sites are shown in the table.

Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

55 74 47 46

30 31 27 24

4 6 22 5

3 7 1

24 35 20

14 36 19 18

5 52 28 52

11 55 33 9

RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisegena Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

A very quiet year for this species. In fact it was the worst year for Red-necked Grebe records in Suffolk since 1966 when there was also only one reported (Minsmere, February 6th to 13th): Benacre Broad: probable first-winter, Oct 11th (P Douch)

95

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus Locally common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

There was a slight increase in the number of reports of breeding or probable breeding from 14 sites in the last two years to 18 in 2019. Confirmation of breeding at Alton Water was again received, however there was no indication of the number of breeding pairs. It is suggested though that with 20 individuals recorded in mid-May and 20 again in early June, it still retains its importance as a breeding stronghold for the species. The majority of records outside of the breeding season were as usual from the coastal sites and Alton Water with counts in excess of 100 birds being noted at Alton Water in both winter periods and Minsmere in the first winter period. The highest counts, of 200 birds, were recorded at Minsmere on January 21st (RSPB) and Alton Water on March 4th (D F Walsh). The results of winter counts at regularly-monitored sites are shown in the table.

Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour Alton Water

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2 1 13 28 62

4 1 12 19 157

4 6 26 16 129

1 6 24 197

2 2 21 130

0 2 3 24 75

0 0 26 56 105

12 9 32 9 122

SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

During the first winter period a total of 23 reports was received, relating to one bird at Alton Water from January 6th to April 24th and up to three birds on the Stour Estuary from January 6th to March 26th. With the exception of reports of one bird on the Alde Estuary on October 24th all other reports in the second winter period were from the Stour Estuary during December 17th to 30th with the highest count being five individuals from Stutton Ness on December 17th.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

A second quiet year for this species with 18 records submitted, all but two of which related to a single bird at Felixstowe Ferry from December 8th to 18th. The other two sightings probably also related to just a single bird on the Orwell Estuary at The Strand, Wherstead on December 16th and Freston on December 20th and 21st.

Black-necked Grebe, Felixstowe Ferry, December 18th 96

Craig Holden

Systematic List

WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia Scarce passage migrant.

There was one sighting in 2019.

Ipswich: southwest over Heath Road Hospital, 11:47hr, Apr 21st (D Pearsons)

GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus Scarce but increasing visitor.

There were records (all of single birds) from several sites between Walberswick and North Warren in late March and early April, and it is likely these relate to the same bird. Certainly, the birds recorded at North Warren and Minsmere were considered to be the same individual.

Chris Mayne

Glossy Ibis at Walberswick, March 24th

These records (from several observers) are:

Walberswick: Mar 8th; Mar 17th to 25th; April 5th to 8th Dingle Marshes: Apr 2nd and 5th Minsmere: Mar 24th and 25th North Warren: Mar 25th

Records from other areas:

Carlton Marshes: photographed, Dec 12th (A Hickinbottom) Herringfleet Marshes: May 18th (A Easton) Southwold: Dec 15th and 16th Minsmere: May 18th (RSPB), same as North Warren; north, Dec 5th (RSPB) Thorpeness: May 18th (S Mayson), same as North Warren North Warren: May 18th, 19th and 22nd (D Thurlow) Hazlewood Marshes: photographed, Feb 19th (K Loveridge) Bury St Edmunds: west, Feb 23rd (T Humpage)

EURASIAN SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia Rare summer visitor. Breeding commenced in 2019. Increasingly overwinters. Amber list.

The Eurasian Spoonbill at long last bred again in Suffolk. It had become extinct as a breeding species in UK in the late 17th Century with the last such record in Suffolk being at Trimley in about 1668 (Ticehurst C B, 1932. A History of the Birds of Suffolk. Gurney and Jackson). Details of the breeding in 2019 at RSPB Havergate Island, which involved five nests of which at least one hatched juveniles although sadly all were predated, can be found in an article on page 19. On July 97

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

18th 2019 there was a county record total of 34 on Havergate Island which exceeds the previous total of 29, also on Havergate, on August 14th 2017.

Outside of this there were records all along the coast primarily but not exclusively, in the summer months. Up to nine were present at RSPB Hollesley Marshes between May 30th and June 10th, with larger flocks around Aldeburgh (a maximum of 16 on September 20th) and Hazlewood Marshes where a double-figure flock (up to 25 together) was seen regularly between August 22nd and September 20th. Presumably these last were the source of the Orfordness records of two on site and 15 flying south on August 24th and 19 flying south on September 1st.

Singles flew south off Landguard on September 28th and October 17th.

There were no records inland in 2019.

EURASIAN BITTERN Botaurus stellaris Slowly increasing breeding population, scarce resident, passage migrant and winter visitor.

Amber list (from Red).

Once again, Simon Wooton at the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science has provided us with the UK National summary of Bittern breeding in 2019. Overall, there was a minimum of 200 booming males at 90 sites which is an increase on 2018 of about 5%, a rise which continues the pattern shown over the last 10-15 years.

The Suffolk Coast had a minimum of 28 booming males (26 in 2018 which is a decrease from 32-36 in 2015-2017). How many of these actually nested though is uncertain. RSPB Minsmere had eight booming males with eight nests found. Nests were either found or strongly suspected at at least three other sites along the coast.

The Fens (Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire) though showed an overall increase to a minimum of 43 booming males (up from 25 in 2018 and 26-29 in 2015-2017). At RSPB Lakenheath Fen (which is included in this total) there were 11 booming males which is the highest-ever recorded there, and there were at least five nests but it was suspected that there were more.

Outside of the breeding season there were scattered records along all coastal areas but none was seen inland.

AMERICAN BITTERN Botaurus lentiginosus Accidental.

2018 Correction

Carlton Marshes: “Call not unlike a Eurasian Bittern” (Suffolk Birds 2018:73) to read “Call most unlike a Eurasian Bittern”

CATTLE EGRET Bulbulcus ibis Annual visitor in recent years.

It is difficult to be sure how many different individuals are involved in the following records.

The group of birds at Carlton Marshes noted in the 2018 report (up to four birds late in the year) was seen on many days up to March 10th although there was only a maximum of three. It seems likely that the Kessingland records are from this group and similarly, perhaps, the Benacre birds.

The others are less likely to be these, and the question arises again as to how many were involved in the series of records through the autumn in the Southwold to Minsmere/Sizewell area. The Lakenheath bird is the only one away from the coast: Carlton Marshes: up to three birds seen regularly, Jan 1st to Mar 10th (these assumed to be part of the same group recorded in late 2018); Sep 8th (A Easton) Kessingland: Jan 6th (N Carter); Jan 8th (S Piotrowski); Feb 27th (R Smith) - could well be wanderers from the above group Benacre: two seen regularly, Jan 2nd to 29th Southwold: June 8th (C Darby); Sep 26th (B Small) Walberswick: Nov 10th (R Knight)

98

Systematic List Dunwich: Dingle Marshes: May 19th (T Lowe via RSPB Cambridge) Minsmere: three, Sep 2nd (J Grant); three, Sep 17th (R Wilby); singles, Mar 29th; Aug 18th to 21st; Sep 3rd; Sep 10th to 14th; Nov 18th to 21st (multi-observers) Eastbridge: Jan 27th (G Grieco) Sizewell: Mar 22nd (per BINS) Lakenheath Fen: Sep 28th (S Holloway)

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

As in previous years there were lots of records of a few birds from all over the county but very few of them referred specifically to breeding birds. The annual breeding survey counted 94 nests at 15 sites across the county. Records suggest that birds bred at at least four other sites (one of which certainly failed completely) and probably one other. Only three sites held ten or more pairs (maximum 12), one coastal, and the other two inland. One colony first nested in reeds but all were predated, very possibly by a female otter with two cubs, but two-thirds of them nested again in nearby trees and raised 12 chicks between them. At one inland site at least ten chicks fledged.

The WetlandJan Bird Survey countsMay on fourJun estuaries in the table: Feb (WeBS) Mar Apr Jul areAug Sep Oct Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour

17 17 19 9

11 23 5 2

4 7 2 1

13 7 3

0

0

- 2 2

35 4

9 15 3

Nov

Dec

2 33 19

16 8 7

Away from nesting records and WeBS counts, the highest totals were of 16 on Orfordness on August 25th (see below), 15 at Minsmere on July 16th, 14 at an evening roost at Fritton, Waveney Forest on November 3rd, 12 at Herringfleet Marshes on March 7th and also 12 at Carlton Marshes on January 20th (nine were roosting there on October 13th). Otherwise there were only 22 records of more than five birds which included nine at Lackford Lakes on February 16th and six at Lakenheath Fen on August 28th.

The only specific notes of apparently migrating birds were of two birds which flew out to sea from North Beach, Lowestoft on August 27th one of which turned back, a flock of nine among the total of 16 birds on Orfordness on August 25th were recorded as probably migrants as they were moving around together, and eight seen flying south over Landguard on September 20th.

Birds seen at Landguard involved four singles between February 24th and May 2nd, and 29 (including the eight already noted) between July 4th and October 27th.

PURPLE HERON Ardea purpurea Scarce passage migrant.

This species seems to occur in most years but only one or two birds are involved each time.

2019 was no exception with just the one record. The last year with no records was 2012.

Minsmere: photographed, July 15th to 20th (S Laycock et al.)

GREAT (WHITE) EGRET Ardea alba Uncommon, but increasing, visitor.

As in the last year or two there were multiple records from wetlands throughout the county and in all months, although there were certainly fewer records between April and September than in the winter months. Most were of one or two birds although four were recorded at Dingle 99

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Marshes, Dunwich and Lakenheath Fen several times and on one occasion each at Thorpeness and North Warren, five were at Dingle Marshes, North Warren and Lakenheath Fen at intervals and once at Minsmere, six at Lakenheath Fen on December 16th (RSPB) and seven at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich on April 9th (R Harvey). This latter total is the highest-ever recorded in Suffolk.

Birds were seen much of the time at the main sites of Carlton Marshes, Dingle Marshes, Minsmere, and North Warren, but were seen at times all along the coast from Lowestoft to Trimley Marshes. Orfordness had its first since 2017 (March 24th) and Landguard had three moving south on September 5th, the twelfth site record.

In the west of the county, aside from Lakenheath Fen, birds were seen at Lackford Lakes (nine dates), Cavenham Pits, April 28th, August 18th (two) and August 24th, Nunnery Lakes, Thetford, September 29th, Mickle Mere, October 28th, Denston, November 17th and Gifford’s Hall, Stokeby-Nayland on December 28th.

John Richardson

Great White Egret at North Warren, March 3rd

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta Locally common and increasing resident and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

This species continues to be considered very much as one to be reported specifically even though it is now widespread throughout the county all through the year. A minimum of 60 nests were located, up from 53 in 2018 and the highest figure since 2014 (64). These records came from seven locations, with at least one other regularly used site not checked in 2019. At one site a minimum of 11 chicks fledged but there were no specific data from the others.

Away from the breeding sites, birds were seen in small numbers all over the county and all through the year, although the coastal region and especially the southern estuaries are the hotspot for the species with the majority of the high day-counts occurring there. In 2019 the highest counts were noted on the Deben estuary WeBS counts (64 in September, 60 in October) and 36 on the Alde WeBS count in October. Otherwise 54 birds were on Orfordness on September 7th (attracted to the abundant food in the drying pools on the airfields), 52 at Cattawade on October 10th, 47 on Breydon South Wall on July 19th and counts of 33 (June 26th), 29 (June 24th) and 28 (July 8th) at Trimley Marshes. Inland the highest count was 33 seen from Joist Fen, Lakenheath Fen, flying to roost on July 18th.

Birds seen at Landguard are often considered to be migrants. Observers there recorded a total of nine birds between April 12th and May 13th with a maximum of four flying north on the latter date, 21 between July 1st and October 20th with a peak of 11 flying south on the first date, and a final bird flying south on December 3rd.

100

Systematic List

NORTHERN GANNET Morus bassanus Common passage migrant. Amber list.

Gannets were recorded offshore in every month of the year although the number of observerdays is likely to affect the actual total numbers seen. Having said that it is clear that 2019 was fairly typical of recent years with most birds being seen in spring (mostly going north to breeding grounds) and autumn (mostly south for the winter). There were few in January and February, a big increase in March and April then the numbers dropped off a bit in May followed by relatively few again (though more than in January and February) from June to August. Another surge started in September which reached a peak in November (numbers recorded nearly double any other month) before dropping off substantially again in December. This overall pattern was paralleled very closely by the presumably rather-more-consistent coverage at Landguard.

There were ten day-counts of 100 or more with the highest (the only two over 200) being 250 off Gorleston on April 6th and 233 off Southwold on March 31st, all noted as flying north.

Orfordness noted that numbers were, as in 2018, somewhat fewer than in some previous years.

There were no records inland in 2019, indeed none was noted as doing anything other than flying offshore.

2018 Correction The inland bird in 2017 (Suffolk Birds 2018: 77) was at Thetford.

EUROPEAN SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

As in most years the Lowestoft area produced the majority of the records. Throughout January and February (up to 24th) there were reports of one bird at various sites with two noted on Lake Lothing on January 12th and 14th, Hamilton Dock on January 27th and Oulton Broad on February 9th. The only spring records were of one at Lake Lothing on March 20th, Kessingland on April 6th and Corton Cliffs on April 13th. In the second winter period single birds were noted at Hamilton Dock and Oulton Broad on November 15th, Oulton Broad on November 28th, Hamilton Dock on November 30th and Lake Lothing on December 5th and 21st.

At the other end of the Suffolk coast it is the Orwell and Stour Estuaries which, typically, had the majority of the sightings with records in both winter periods. Singles were seen at Nacton on January 1st, Freston on January 8th, Wherstead on February 21st, under the Orwell Bridge on February 22nd and Holbrook Bay on February 12th, with two birds at Stutton Ness on January 10th and at Fox’s Marina, Wherstead on February 9th. An adult and two juveniles were seen by the Orwell Bridge on January 25th (the two juveniles also on January 26th) and February 9th.

In the second winter period two were at Wherstead Strand on December 16th and singles at Felixstowe on November 17th and December 1st. Landguard reported singles on two dates in January, April 17th, October 24th, November 30th and four dates in December.

In between these main areas, there were also a few additional records; one was on the Sizewell Rigs on February 14th, one at Southwold Boating Lake on November 15th with another at Minsmere Beach on the same date. What was probably a different bird was at Minsmere on November 29th, and there were singles at Slaughden, November 22nd to 25th and Thorpeness on October 7th and 18th and November 29th.

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo Common winter visitor, resident and passage migrant. Has bred since 1998.

The Loompit Lake roost at Trimley St Martin continued to produce the highest numbers in 2019 with, in the first winter period, 3400 flying out on January 20th and, in the second winter period, 3678 on November 19th (counted at Landguard), the latter being the highest count ever in the county exceeding the previous highest (in 2018) of 3403. On two other dates in November there were over 3000, but the only other count elsewhere of 3000 or more was at Thorpeness on 101

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

18th November and 2500 on the same date at Minsmere Beach. Some of these may have been the same birds but it is likely that many were different as there was a count of 2097 roosting on Havergate Island on November 17th with a note saying that many more flew over presumably heading for Loompit Lake.

Landguard reported several counts of over 1000 in January and February and then again from October 20th to the end of the year.

Elsewhere along the coast 2412 were counted along the Alde Estuary on the November WeBS count, about 2000 were at East Lane, Bawdsey on December 3rd and 1510 were counted at Gorleston on January 7th with 1293 there on March 4th. The species was seen throughout the year all along the coastal belt but numbers were not often more than a few hundred, for example Orfordness had a highest count of 800 in December.

Inland only Lakenheath Fen and Lackford Lakes were regular haunts. Lackford had a maximum of 66 on February 16th and only three other counts of over 50 viz 54 on January 1st, 58 on February 18th and 53 on November 23rd and Lakenheath had a highest total of 32. There were a few records from about ten other inland sites.

WESTERN OSPREY Pandion haliaetus Uncommon passage migrant. Amber list.

The 114 reports received in 2019 is the highest total ever received, beating the previous highest in 2015 by one! It was also a substantial increase on the 91 in 2018. Typically, the majority of sightings were in late summer/early autumn and it was also during that period that some lingered longest.

The 26 spring and early-summer reports came from 17 sites, including ten coastal locations.

The first bird was seen at Havergate Island on March 23rd and then one was at Minsmere two days later. One was at Hen Reedbeds on April 2nd, the next at Beccles 18 days later. Sightings in the first half of May indicate that at least one bird frequented a number of locations between the Alde Estuary and Minsmere. Inland, single birds were seen at Thetford in late April and at Lakenheath Fen on two dates in early June: Corton: Sewage Works, Apr 21st Beccles: Apr 20th Hen Reedbeds: Apr 2nd Minsmere: Mar 25th; May 1st and 3rd; May 9th; May 16th.

Thorpeness: May 9th North Warren: May 7th and 9th Hazlewood Marshes: May 4th; May 16th and 17th; June 13th Aldeburgh: May 11th; May 30th Snape Wetlands: June 15th Havergate Island: Mar 23rd Rendlesham Forest: May 3rd Rendlesham/Wantisden/Bentwaters Airfield: May 4th Bawdsey: May 27th Ipswich: Apr 23rd Lakenheath Fen: June 4th and 5th Thetford: Nunnery Lakes, Apr 23rd

Osprey at Lackford Lakes, August 19th

102

Ian Goodall

Systematic List

There were 88 reports from late summer and autumn and once again most were from coastal locations., Apart from an early passage bird seen at Pipps Ford in July, the majority of migrants started returning from mid-August. Favoured locations, such as the Blyth and Alde Estuaries hosted at least one bird, and on one occasion two, for several days from late August to midSeptember and one was present on the Stour Estuary for at least four days in September. In the west an early arrival was at Lakenheath Fen, August 3rd and then from late August onwards into September as many as five were noted including two which seemingly commuted between Lackford Lakes and Lakenheath Fen. At least one remained in the area until September 21st. A late bird which frequented Alton Water for seven days in October was last seen on October 19th.

Burgh Castle: Aug 17th Gunton Warren: Aug 31st Carlton Marshes: Aug 17th; Sep 23rd Benacre Broad: Aug 30th Hen Reedbeds: Aug 27th; Sep 8th; Sep 10th; Sep 15th; Sep 17th and 18th Blyth Estuary: Sep 8th to 18th, with two on Sep 16th; Sep 22nd Walberswick: Aug 22nd Westleton Heath: Sep 29th Minsmere: Aug 15th; Aug 26th; Aug 30th and 31st Leiston: Aug 27th Hazlewood Marshes/Alde Estuary: Aug 27th; two, Aug 30th to Sep 1st; Sep 4th; Sep 8th; two, Sep 10th Orfordness: Aug 25th to Sep 10th; two, Aug 31st Woodbridge: Kingston, Sep 2nd Ramsholt: Sep 12th Landguard Bird Observatory: Aug 13th; Aug 18th Alton Water: Oct 13th to Oct 19th Stour Estuary: Sep 14th; Sep 17th; Sep 20th; Sep 22nd; Oct 13th Pipps Ford: juvenile east, July 11th Stansfield: Sep 1st Newton: Sep 26th Lackford Lakes: two, Aug 29th and 30th, one remaining to Sep 21st Lakenheath Fen: Aug 3rd; two, Aug 26th to 31st; Sep 1st Thetford: Nunnery Lakes, Sep 13th

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD Pernis apivorus Scarce passage migrant. Amber list.

There were just three accepted reports of this species in 2020 ; all were one-off summer observations.

Westleton Heath: June 26th (C Ireland) Dunwich: pale-morph adult male, low east over Mount Pleasant Farm, July 25th (J H Grant et al.)

Brandon: adult male, north-west, July 21st (G Conway)

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Reports came from 140 parishes which is down on last year’s total of 169, but still higher than the 121 in 2017.

Spring passage at Landguard involved singles on thirteen dates between March 19th and May 4th and two on April 28th. In the autumn up to two were noted at Landguard between August 7th and December 30th.

The BBS results from the UK and the East of England indicate that this species is beginning to make a comeback; however, it was found in only four of the 44 BBS squares in Suffolk, compared with eight in 2018 and six in 2017. Confirmation of breeding came from 15 locations across the county.

Hunting observations included one carrying off a probable Kingfisher at Minsmere and another seen attacking a Kingfisher at Cavenham Heath. Elsewhere, one tried to take a juvenile Green Woodpecker at Bowbeck, Bardwell and one was seen carrying off a Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) road kill at Little Livermere.

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One flew in off the sea at Minsmere on October 28th. The only evidence of migrants on Orfordness was of two on each of April 14th and September 1st and 23rd. Finally, a first-winter male was caught and ringed at Kessingland Sewage Works on November 24th.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant; uncommon resident Data collected by Forest Enterprise indicate that the Breckland population continues to grow.

Twelve pairs nested in West Suffolk, all of which were successful. Seven chicks from three broods were ringed and colour-ringed. Monitoring of tagged and ringed birds revealed that a male tagged in 2017 nested just five kilometres from its natal site. Also, a ringed bird photographed in April at Upper Hollesley Common was also identified as originating from the ringing scheme in the Brecks.

There were several off-forest sightings, mainly from the winter months and often involving immature birds.

FIELD NOTE An inexperienced young bird was seen pursuing a Wood Pigeon low over arable fields in the Brecks in February. During the pursuit, which lasted several minutes, the Wood Pigeon successfully managed to stay just out of reach of the hawk which eventually gave up the chase.

C Gregory MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Increasing numbers overwinter. Amber List.

2019 was quite a mixed year for this species. It was recorded in four of the 44 BBS squares compared with two in 2018 and just one the previous year. Although counts of wintering birds were down in the early part of the year, they were considerably higher in the second winter period than in 2018.

Reports from across the county suggest that around 140 birds were present in the early part of the year, compared with 154 in 2018, 135 in 2017 and 95 in 2016.

Selective first winter period counts (four or more present) were as follows: Burgh Castle: eight, Jan 1st Fritton Woods: six, Jan 1st Oulton Broad: 13, Jan 1st Carlton Marshes: nine, Jan 20th Cove Bottom: five, Jan 1st Walberswick NNR: seven, Jan 1st Minsmere: 21, Jan 20th Upper Butley River: eight, Feb 2nd Orfordness: eight, Jan to Mar Hollesley Marshes: four, Jan 26th Lakenheath Fen: six, Feb 25th

Confirmation of breeding came from 20 sites (16 in 2018) and at least 66 pairs were reported, the highest figure since 2011. The number of fledged young noted was 70, slightly down on 2018 but largely because no figures were available from the Benacre and Walberswick areas.

Selected breeding data received: Carlton Marshes: pair just outside the reserve fledged three young North Cove: Castle Marshes, pair fledged two young Benacre Broad: two pairs nested Easton Valley: nine pairs nested, at least three young fledged Hen Reedbeds: three nests were located, one failed, the other two raised a total of three young Walberswick: seven pairs nested 104

Systematic List Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, three pairs nested but no young fledged Minsmere: ten nests produced 12 young North Warren: two nests, four young fledged Snape Wetlands: three pairs bred, seven young fledged Orfordness: three pairs nested, total of seven young fledged Chillesford: three pairs nested on the Butley River, one of which fledged three young Hollesley Marshes: pair nested but failed at the egg stage Levington Creek: pair fledged four young Trimley Marshes: three pairs nested, but no young were confirmed to have fledged Lakenheath Fen: ten pairs nested; nine were successful, with 18 young fledged (the 2018 figures were 13, five and ten respectively) Sites 2004 11 2005 2006 8 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 16 2017 16 2018 18 2019 20

Confirmed breeding pairs Total pairs 44 48 55 64 48 65 70 52 60 55 61 55 62 72 79 58 59 63 63 60 61 60 64 60 65 58 60 64 66 66 66

Min no of young fledged 107 145

92 120 91 85 70

Autumn observations at Landguard Bird Observatory involved a total of nine birds flying south between mid-August and early November with a maximum of three south on September 9th.

The estimated second winter period total was 128 compared with 94 in 2018 and 133 in 2017. The traditional roosts at Minsmere and Lakenheath Fen held the largest numbers by far, accounting for 43% of the estimated total overwintering in the county. Counts involving four or more birds came from the following sites:

Burgh Castle: six, Dec 12th Carlton Marshes: six, Dec 30th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, five, Dec 26th Walberswick NNR/Westwood Marshes: 18, Nov 17th Minsmere: 28, Dec 11th Orfordness/Havergate Island: eight, Nov and Dec Lakenheath Fen: 27, Dec 27th Finally, a bird with an orange wing tag was seen at Blythburgh on February 14th.

HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. Red List.

As has been the case in recent years, apart from 2017, the number of wintering Hen Harriers in Suffolk was in single figures during both winter periods. Reports came from 15 coastal sites in the first winter period and probably involved at least six individuals. In the west of the county a wide-ranging ringtail was recorded at three locations during January and February. Sightings of males came from at least five sites, including Carlton Marshes on January 7th and Levington two days later. Males were also reported at Minsmere, the Upper Butley River and Lavenham during 105

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

March. The long-staying ringtail remained on Orfordness until the end of March and was joined by a second ringtail on March 24th and a third ringtail on March 31st. The only other multiple sightings came from each of Westleton Heath and Sudbourne Marshes where two ringtails were seen together. Other March sightings away from the usual locations included single ringtails at Wrentham and Erwarton. Reports came from ten coastal sites in April, all involving ringtails.

There were also seven reports from five sites in May, again all were of ringtails. The last reported sighting came from Hollesley Marshes on May 25th.

Although there were far fewer reports from the second winter period it is likely a similar number of birds was present in the county as in the earlier part of the year. The earliest returning bird was seen at Carlton Marshes on October 10th and the four other reports from this month included a ringtail flying south offshore at Dunwich Cliffs on October 25th. A male was seen flying east at Levington Creek on November 3rd, and possibly the same bird was subsequently seen at Minsmere on three other dates in the first week of November. The only inland report from November was of a ringtail at Mickle Mere on November 9th. Atypically, all but one of the reports from coastal sites in December involved males. The male seen at Aldeburgh Marshes on December 2nd was probably the same bird seen infrequently on Orfordness from December 5th to the end of the year. Other sightings included two birds on Orfordness (one male) on Christmas Day, a male at Levington Creek on December 28th and a ringtail at Lakenheath Fen on December 4th.

Finally, an injured bird thought to have been a road casualty, was found at Haverhill in midNovember; it was taken to a local vet but, sadly, died following surgery.

Year 1st winter period 2nd winter period

2009 2010 6 15 6 13

2011 2012 22 21 10 15

2013 13 15

2014 13 7

2015 9 7

2016 2017 8 11 6 8

2018 5 6

2019 7 6

MONTAGU’S HARRIER Circus pygargus Uncommon passage migrant. Formerly bred. Amber List.

It was a quiet year for this species with just two birds being reported. The first was an adult female seen flying across the Orwell Estuary in late May. The following month a second-calendaryear female was discovered on the Deben Estuary, favouring the lower reaches around King’s Fleet, Falkenham Marshes and Felixstowe Ferry. The bird remained for three days before heading north-east where it was logged at three coastal locations a few days later.

Havergate Island/Boyton Marshes RSPB: June 9th (D Fairhurst et al.)

Orfordness: 2nd-calendar-year female, June 9th, photographs show this was the same bird seen earlier on Deben Estuary (M Marsh et al.)

Deben Estuary: Falkenham Marshes, 2nd calendaryear female, June 4th to 6th (W J Brame, E Lucking et al.)

Trimley Marshes SWT: adult female flew across Orwell Estuary then northeast, 07:10hr, May 27th (J Zantboer)

Montagu’s Harrier August 19th 106

Richard Allen

Systematic List

RED KITE Milvus milvus Uncommon but increasing winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred in recent years. Green list (from Amber).

This species was widely reported from across the county but was most regularly encountered in the west where pockets of birds are slowly becoming established. BBS data shows a significant slowing down of the colonisation of this species in the east of England and this may be why it still remains very localised as a breeding bird in Suffolk.

The year started off well with news of a large roost in private woodland in the west of the county not far from the Cambridgeshire border. The landowner initially noticed the roost in December 2018 and the number of birds gradually increased into the New Year, peaking on January 19th at 33, which equals Suffolk’s highest-ever total, set at Wrentham on June 8th 2018. Observations revealed that the roost contained a high percentage of juvenile birds, three of which had been tagged as part of a monitoring scheme, two locally and one in Norfolk.

Notable sightings in February included two birds at each of Breydon South Wall, Walberswick and Stoven Hall and three at Stutton Ness on February 19th. A slight increase in the number of birds in the north-east of the county from March was perhaps indicative of prospecting birds rather than migrants. From March to May a minimum of four birds ranged quite widely up and down the coastal margin and were seen at numerous locations between Lowestoft and Orfordness. Most reports involved two birds but four birds were seen at both Oulton Broad in March and Orfordness on March 30th. Other reports of note included three at Stutton Ness and two at Bramford on February 19th, and an immature bird frequented Hollesley Marshes for three weeks from late March. Finally, four were seen at both Burgh Castle and Minsmere in May. The small breeding population in the west had a rather poor year, most likely due to the exceptionally wet weather in May and June. However, although two known nesting attempts in north-west Suffolk failed, a pair successfully bred in the south-west of the county, fledging two young. A third pair remained at a site where breeding was suspected in 2018 but there was no evidence of breeding this year.

The number of reports from the east of the county dwindled in June and July but possible migrants were seen at several sites in late summer/early autumn. Sightings during October included four at Belton, two at Dunwich, three at Minsmere and two at Beccles Marshes. In the west of the county 16 birds had returned to the roost west Suffolk site by early November while two were seen at Gapton Marshes, Bradwell on December 14th.

FIELD NOTE A mass emergence of flying insects during a hot spell in mid-July, over West Stow Country park and the King’s Forest, attracted numerous Black-headed Gulls, Starlings and Hobbies.

A pair of Red Kites also joined the aerial gathering, grabbing the tiny insects with great dexterity in their talons before passing them to their bills.

C Gregory BLACK KITE Milvus migrans Rare passage migrant.

There were just two accepted reports of this species in 2019, both probably involving the same bird at two coastal locations in April.

Westleton Heath: Apr 19th (R Drew) Felixstowe Ferry: Apr 22nd (P J Holmes)

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla Very rare spring and winter visitor. Red list. Categories A and E. Following a blank year in 2018, 2019 proved to be quite an exceptional year for this species.

In March an immature bird was reported from numerous sites as it made its way northwards from Hampshire to the Norfolk Broads. It put in a brief appearance in north-east Suffolk on March 23rd.

A couple of weeks later another bird was seen on April 11th at four locations in Suffolk as it too flew north. Remarkably an adult bird arrived in Suffolk airspace from Norfolk on April 30th.

These are the SORC accepted records for 2019: Breydon Water/Carlton Marshes: photographed, Mar 23rd (multi-observer) Blyth Estuary: 3rd year? east, 09:27hr, Apr 11th (R Hall) Reydon: same, north over church, 10:11hr, Apr 11th (C Buttle) Covehithe: same, north, 10:32hr, Apr 11th (B J Small) Oulton Broad: same, north over Rookery Close, 11:10hr, Apr 11th (J Ferguson) Carlton Marshes: adult south, Apr 30th (J A Brown) Covehithe: adult circled high over South Cove/Covehithe area, Apr 30th, drifted north-east having roosted, May 1st (C Buttle et al.)

Number of individuals since 1950: 1950s 1

1960s 1

1970s 0

1980s 4

1990s 2

2000s 2

2010s 5

2019 3

The two birds in the period 2000-2009 involved two together over North Warren and Orfordness on February 13th 2000.

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

2019 was a much better year for this species; two birds were present in the first winter period and one in the second winter period.

The juvenile bird overwintering on Orfordness at the end of 2018 remained in that area until April 13th but was often elusive and may have wandered.

In the latter part of the year a juvenile bird frequented the Bawdsey peninsular, venturing up the Deben Estuary as far as Ramsholt in early December. It was well-watched, being viewable from the Bawdsey Quay road.

Accepted reports are: Reydon Smear Marshes: Jan 17th.

(D R Eaton) Blyth Estuary: east, Feb 2nd. (B J Small) Minsmere: South Levels, Jan 7th (J H Grant); Mar 26th. (M Buckingham) Orfordness: juv, from 2018 until Apr 13th (Orfordness report, E W Patrick et al.)

Walberswick: Nov 10th. (W J Brame et al) Bawdsey/Ramsholt: juv, Nov 29th until Dec 30th at least (W J Brame et al.)

Rough-legged Buzzard

108

Jan Wilcuzar

Systematic List

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant; increasing breeding population.

This species continues to be recorded in most of the parishes across Suffolk. BBS data show that there was a slight increase of +14% in the east of England in 2018-19 compared with +57% between 2002-2018. This suggests that although the population in this region is still increasing it is doing so at a much slower rate, something which is reflected in the Suffolk BBS data where the species was encountered in 24 BBS squares compared with 26 in 2018 and 21 in 2017. Sadly, the increase in numbers seems to have led to a rise in illegal persecution in some localities.

Double-figure counts between February and May came from 16 sites across the county. High counts during the second half of March into early April were indicative of passage movement and included 14 at Corton on March 23rd and 24th and 15 at Carlton Marshes on April 19th.

Elsewhere, two flew north at Landguard on March 29th and a group of seven at Hollesley Marshes on April 13th probably included passage birds. An observer in Ipswich logged at least 20 birds heading north-east over Christchurch Park during the period from early March to early April.

Inland counts were more difficult to assess, but here too, counts peaked in late March with 17 being seen between Lackford and Cavenham on April 21st, and 18 at the Nunnery Lakes Reserve, Thetford two days later.

Confirmation of breeding was received from 20 sites.

Autumn passage movement was noted at several coastal sites from late September and doublefigure counts came from Benacre Broad (11, September 5th) and Minsmere (12, September 15th).

Numbers on Orfordness peaked at eight on October 20th and three flew south at Landguard on October 27th.

Other observations included an extremely pale individual in fields between Lackford and Cavenham in October and five seen worming in a field near Great Barton on December 5th.

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus Fairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant This often-secretive species continues to be well-reported throughout the county with just over 500 records received from 77 sites, an increase from 69 sites in 2018.

Breeding or probable breeding was recorded at 20 sites which was a slight decrease on the previous two years. The highest number of breeding territories was at Minsmere where a total of 50 was recorded as well as an additional 22 birds being present. Otherwise breeding numbers were in single figures with the exception of North Warren where 20 territories were counted and the Hen Reedbeds which held 18 territories. Water Rails were present throughout the year on Orfordness but there was no proof of breeding.

Outside the breeding season the highest count of individual birds was 17 at Lakenheath Fen on February 17th. Single migrants were at Landguard on January 29th and April 8th.

Alan Chaplin

Water Rail

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

SPOTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana Rare passage migrant; rarely oversummers. Amber List.

No reports were received for this species in 2019.

During the decade 2010-2019 Spotted Crakes were recorded in Suffolk only in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018 involving five birds; the only year with more than one was 2016 with two.

COMMON MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

This common wetland bird was recorded in suitable habitat throughout the county and at all times of the year. Records were received from 158 sites and breeding records, whilst much lower, were received from some 37 sites. Records of both presence of birds and breeding were almost back to the levels recorded prior to 2018 when there was a sudden drop due, it seems, to the devastating effects of ‘the Beast from the East’ in late February and early March 2018. A pair bred, probably successfully, on Orfordness, the first site breeding record since 2012.

The largest individual count, of 53 birds, was recorded at Culford Park on September 14th (D Cawdron), whilst a total of 52 birds were present at Alton Water during the WeBS monitoring on November 17th. Single birds were recorded at Landguard on April 18th and September 10th.

The results of winter counts at regularly-monitored sites are shown below:

Blyth Estuary Alde/Ore Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary Alton Water Minsmere Lackford

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

6 16 1 14 27 3 14

11 16 6 16 34 14 23

4 19 13 11 11 25 13

11 22 4 11 21 9

9 23 8 31 40 13

10 13 10 15 39 49 10

12 27 14 3 52 31 12

7 17 2 17 14 8 9

EURASIAN COOT Fulica atra Common but declining resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Reports received for this species suggest a much-improved picture when compared with the previous year. It was recorded at 59 sites, an increase of 28 on 2018 but a reduction of 12 on 2017, suggesting there is still some uncertainty over population trends.

Breeding or probable breeding was recorded at 20 sites, the same as in 2018. Breeding at Christchurch Park in Ipswich occurred for the first recorded time with the first brood of five young fledging successfully, but the second brood, also of five chicks, all failed to reach maturity (see note below).

Blyth Estuary Alde/Ore Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary Alton Water Lackford

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0 2 7 21 77 236

86 3 217 11 57 145

4 5 67 0 18 54

0 20 2 11 32

4 128 19 68 68

36 0 127 15 59 77

0 157 10 62 113

4 0 111 0 30 32

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Systematic List

Alton Water, the former winter stronghold recorded a highest count of only 77 on January 20th. Elsewhere in the county there were winter counts in excess of 100 birds at five sites, namely Snape Wetland RSPB, Trimley Marshes SWT, Loompit Lake, Livermere Lake and Lackford Lakes. The highest count, of 240 birds, was recorded at Trimley Marshes SWT on September 29th (E Lucking). None has been seen on Orfordness since May 31st 2014.

The results of winter counts at regularly-monitored sites are shown in the table.

Coots on Wilderness Pond, Christchurch Park, Ipswich in 2019 This site’s fourth record of a Eurasian Coot Fulica atra was noted on February 18th and on March 3rd a second bird arrived, constituting the first record of two Coots at this site.

Evidently, they were male and female as on March 11th one of the birds was starting to construct what eventually became an enormous nest based upon a sunken tree trunk.

By March 16th one of the birds appeared to be incubating but it was not until April 12th that the first chicks – three – had hatched with the total increasing to five on April 18th.

These five youngsters were well defended by the adults against the site’s marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus. Thanks to their excellent parents all five juveniles fledged successfully and had left the site by mid-June.

By the fourth week of May the adults were apparently incubating a second clutch. On June 17th, five newly-hatched chicks were with their parents on the pond, albeit close to the nest.

However, the fortunes of the second brood were a complete contrast with the first brood. By June 20th only two chicks remained and none by June 22nd – the cause of their presumed demise is not known. This was apparently the signal for the adults to leave the site with none being noted after June 28th.

Many thanks to Tony Powell who provided much of the information upon which this note is based.

Philip Murphy COMMON CRANE Grus grus Scarce passage migrant. Has bred since 2007. Amber List.

Breeding was again confirmed at Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve with one bird being raised.

However, it was not possible to establish whether it fledged successfully. Breeding has now occurred at Lakenheath Fen for 13 consecutive years with young being raised in at least eight of those years. Small numbers of birds were present all year at Lakenheath with a maximum of four recorded on March 28th and August 21st.

Elsewhere some 42 reports were received from 19 other sites mainly in the north-east of the county. All these records, some of which are likely to have been the same bird, are detailed below: Somerleyton: five, south-east, Apr 18th Barsham Marshes: two, east, Oct 28th Oulton Broad: two, east, Apr 19th Lowestoft: Kirkley, eight, NNW, Mar 1st Carlton Marshes SWT: seven, south, May 9th; two, in to roost, Oct 22nd to 31st Covehithe: two drifting south, May 2nd Southwold: two, north, May 1st Hen Reedbeds SWT: July 23rd Blyth Estuary: two, July 19th to 20th Blythburgh: two, same as above, July 20th Walberswick: Tinker’s Marshes, July 22nd, same as Hen Reedbeds Walberswick NNR: Westwood Marshes, five, May 9th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, two, May 19th; two Oct 20th Minsmere RSPB: north, Mar 29th; over, Apr 28th Eastbridge: west, May 9th

111

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Aldringham Walks: south, May 9th Thorpeness Common: May 9th Aldeburgh Marshes: south, May 9th Redgrave and Lopham Fen SWT: two circled then west, May 14th

EURASIAN STONE-CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus Locally fairly common summer visitor. Occasionally overwinters. Amber List.

The first returning birds recorded in the Brecks were on February 24th and on March 21st in the Sandlings. One was present on Orfordness on May 27th.

Eighty breeding pairs were confirmed in Suffolk, 14 in the Sandlings area and 66 in the Suffolk Brecks, with one additional unconfirmed pair and a further 20 estimated to be present on unmonitored areas giving an overall total of 101 pairs. This is up from 92 in 2018 but lower than the figure of 110 from 2017.

The maximum post-breeding roost count in the Brecks, at Cavenham Heath, was of 107 on September 17th. This is the highest individual site-total since 2011 when 157 were at “a Breckland site”, September 23rd. The last birds, 16 of them, were reported there on October 28th. The last report in the Sandlings was of two birds on October 19th.

Following last year’s fourth site record at Landguard (April 14th) the fifth was recorded in 2019.

Landguard: fifth site record, April 3rd (N Odin, C Ryde et al.)

Ed Keeble

Eurasian Stone Curlew and Hare

112

Systematic List

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus Rare visitor. Bred in 2014.

There were two records received:

Westleton Heath: two south, 07:15hr, Apr 22nd (B J Small) Minsmere: two, (presumed the same birds as above), Apr 22nd and 23rd, one remaining to 24th (R Walden et al.)

The birds at Minsmere were seen mating on North Scrape.

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus Very common winter visitor and passage migrant. Common but declining resident. Amber list.

The highest site-count was from the Orwell Estuary, with 638 recorded on September 15th at Trimley Marshes. The highest inland counts came from Livermere Lake with ten birds on February 22nd and also there were ten at Lackford Lakes on July 9th.

Breeding was recorded with one pair at Hen Reedbeds; two pairs, Dingle Marshes; nine pairs, Minsmere; one pair, Snape Wetland; three pairs Butley River; 21 pairs, with a minimum of eight fledged young, Orfordness; 20 pairs, Havergate Island, four pairs, reared three fledged young, at Hollesley Marshes and one pair raised one young in Felixstowe Docks adjoining Landguard.

Inland, breeding was confirmed at Livermere Lake, Lackford Lakes, Honington, Rushbrooke and Lakenheath Fen. Southerly passage totals off Landguard peaked at 132 in July and 251 in August.

WeBS Data: Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

47 128 1170 647

180 169 89 516

164 128 293 314

120 72 219

59 1581 818

12 74 1140 352

9 15 856 94

9 64 1312 324

PIED AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta Fairly common resident, summer visitor and passage migrant on the coast. Amber list.

The breeding population was at least 308 pairs, up from 233 pairs in 2018. Pairs were noted at a minimum of 15 locations. Records include the following:

Carlton Marshes: five pairs fledged 10 young on Peto’s Marsh. Three of these pairs had attempted but failed on the main Carlton Marshes scrape earlier in the year Benacre Broad: 39 pairs fledged 45 young Covehithe Broad: 13 pairs nested, five young fledged Southwold: three pairs were seen on the Flash with another around the Boating Lake, but nesting was not confirmed at either site Walberswick NNR: six pairs nested, including four on Tinker’s Marsh, but all failed Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, one pair nested, but failed Minsmere: 96 pairs nested, same as in 2018, but predation meant only one young fledged North Warren: two pairs, no young Hazlewood Marshes: early nesting attempts were thwarted Orfordness: 74 pairs nested, up from 52 pairs in 2018, but no birds were thought to have fledged Boyton Marshes: 11 pairs nested, all were predated at egg stage Hollesley Marshes: 49 pairs nested, but predation by Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the egg and tiny chick stages meant no young fledged Trimley Marshes: 11 pairs nested with 17 young fledged, aided by new electric fences Stoke-by-Nayland: Gifford’s Hall, five adults with two fledged young were seen, likely to have bred locally

113

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 2010 2011 Number sites 10 10 Confirmed pairs 229 189

2012 2013 11 9 208 212

2014 7 154

2015 9 215

2016 14 247

2017 2018 16 14 256 233

2019 16 309

Counts of 250 or more, other than WeBS, were as follows: Breydon Water: 300, July 19th Minsmere: 430, Aug 8th Iken: 400, Dec 1st Snape Wetland: 600, Dec 31st Havergate Island: 300, July 20th; 334, Nov 17th

Inland sightings of Avocets were at: Mickle Mere; Lakenheath Fen; Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-byNayland; Lackford Lakes; Cavenham Pits; Livermere Lake and Hall Farm, Fornham St. Martin.

WeBS Data:

Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

702 613 156 128

383 91 42 82

161 1 25 28

4 32 16

5 55 -

306 253 142 101

813 538 116 166

717 517 122 200

The last four-figure estuarine count in Suffolk was in November 2016 when 1157 were on the Alde/Ore Estuary.

They were recorded off Landguard on nine dates between April 22nd and November 23rd with peak counts of four south, June 1st; four south, September 21st and four north, November 18th.

NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus Very common winter visitor and passage migrant. Declining as a breeding species. Red list.

Counts of 1500 or more: Herringfleet Marshes: 1800, Jan 12th.

Carlton Marshes: 1500, Dec 15th.

Great Livermere: 1500, Jan 1st.

Breeding was confirmed at Oulton Marshes with one breeding pair; Herringfleet Marshes where one pair raised young; Carlton Marshes, ten pairs; Hen Reedbeds, two pairs, both of which failed; Dingle Marshes, Dunwich with three pairs all of which were predated; Minsmere 34 pairs, no data; North Warren, 25 pairs; Orfordness 42 pairs fledged 25 young; Snape, Botany Farm three young fledged; Boyton Marshes, two pairs; Hollesley Marshes, 26 pairs fledged 18 young; Trimley Marshes, 23 pairs with 19 young fledged and Swilland, nest with young. In the west of the county, breeding was confirmed at Cavenham Heath; Livermere Lake, two pairs; Mickle Mere, two juveniles seen; Mildenhall Fen, adult with brood; Lakenheath Fen, four pairs and Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland where four pairs were seen “furiously guarding their nests”.

WeBS data:

Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary 1060 2766 59 103 889 Deben Estuary 532 3011 21 19 207 406 861 Orwell Estuary 503 558 28 30 186 463 318 Stour Estuary 688 471 69 59 155 367 392 114

Dec 2734 1747 1087 957

Systematic List

EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

Notable counts of 700 or more were reported as follows: Breydon Water South: 2000, Jan 1st Sudbourne Marshes: 1000, Mar 4th Orford: 1020, Mar 5th Orfordness: 847, Feb 17th; 1650, Feb 23rd; 931, Mar 2nd Havergate Island: 1800, Feb 22nd Bawdsey: East Lane, 800, Jan 11th Levington Creek: 700, Dec 9th Great Barton: 1500, Nov 6th, 13th and 23rd; 1300, Dec 5th

WeBS data: Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

285 167 61 12

1947 1126 622 3589

50 40 -

-

28 200 46

136 346 120 381

320 588 1000 3

98 768 110 0

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva Very rare visitor.

Two records, both second-calendar-year birds, the sixth and seventh for Suffolk: Breydon South Wall: adult, photographed, July 18th to 22nd (P R Allard) Hollesley Marshes: July 19th. (D A Fairhurst)

In the decade 2010-2019, single Pacific Golden Plovers were recorded in Suffolk in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019 (2).

LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis (fulva/dominica) Lesser Golden Plover is used here as previously Pacific and American were lumped together as one species.

Minsmere: Sep 13th (R Drew)

This was submitted by the observer as a Pacific Golden Plover, but, sadly, the brevity of the sighting precluded all of the finer details required for separation of this difficult pair being observed. However, as it was most certainly one or the other and, as such, still an important record, we are publishing it here.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Recorded in every month of the year from coastal sites.

The highest spring passage total was 14 on Orfordness, May 17th. Peak southerly autumn totals off Landguard were 40 in August and 34 in October and a peak daytotal of 12 south, July 21st.

Grey Plovers 115

Ed Keeble

Suffolk Bird Report 2018

Counts of 100 or more came from the following locations:

Havergate Island: 141, Nov 17th; 129, Dec 11th; 130, Dec 15th Stour Estuary: Seafield Bay, 110, Sep 4th Trimley Marshes: 124, Dec 28th Levington Lagoon: 100, Feb 12th Levington Creek: 200, Jan 5th; 150, Feb 24th; 150, Mar 4th

WeBS Data:

Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary

Jan 5 252 145 637

Feb 97 233 132 378

Mar 91 48 122

Apr 4 0 71

Sep 182 162 800

Oct 40 359 218 854

Nov 49 239 82 668

Dec 145 257 341 357

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula Declining resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

Counts of 100 or more: Hazlewood Marshes: 130, May 10th; 108, May 25th; 168, May 26th Trimley Marshes: 160, Aug 25th

Records of breeding in 2019:

Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, two pairs Minsmere: two pairs Orfordness: seven pairs, no young fledged Landguard: six pairs, three young fledged

WeBS Data:

Blyth Estuary Alde Estuary Deben Estuary Orwell Estuary Stour Estuary

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1 34 54 45

28 11 17 15

2 0 15 0

1 3 -

9 212 85

3 57 218 31

32 48 165 44

21 63 13 90

The figures above are depressingly low when compared with those of 2009.

Double-figure reports of birds considered to be of the race tundrae came from: Blyth Estuary: 42, May 24th Hazlewood Marshes: 107, May 9th Orfordness: 30, May 1st; up to 85, May 17th Lakenheath Fen: 16, May 10th

Ringed Plover 116

Russell Boland

Systematic List

Field Note Tundrae Ringed Plovers in west Suffolk In his article “The passage of Waders and Terns through West Suffolk” in the 1975 Suffolk Bird Report (Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 17: 109-115), A J Last commented that Cambridge-based observers in the 1950s had suggested that the passage of Ringed Plovers at inland sites in April and May consisted of birds “destined for breeding quarters in Scandinavia and the arctic”.

The suggestion was not shown to be correct in Suffolk until 1995 when three Ringed Plovers of the race tundrae, which breeds in northern Scandinavia and northern Russia, were noted at Mickle Mere, Pakenham on May 5th accompanied by four Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica. Seven probable tundrae were at Lackford Lakes on May 15th and 16th 1997 and then as many as 20 tundrae were at Lakenheath Fen RSPB on May 1st 2004, the largest group of passage Ringed Plovers ever recorded in west Suffolk.

Tundrae have been noted at west Suffolk sites in six of the eight years 2012-2019 with reports from Mickle Mere, Lackford Lakes, Livermere Lake and Lakenheath Fen. Maximum site-totals of tundrae have included 11, Mickle Mere, May 10th 2016 as well as the 20 mentioned above, counts at Lakenheath Fen RSPB of nine, May 27th 2017 and 16, May 10th 2019. It seems likely that other notable spring gatherings of Ringed Plover at west Suffolk sites, such as ten, Lackford Lakes, April 22nd 1994 and 18, Lakenheath Fen, May 27th 1998, would have included tundrae Ringed Plovers.

Philip Murphy.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant.

The first returning bird was on March 21st on the Minsmere Levels.

The only confirmed breeding came from Pipps Ford where two pairs raised two young.

This is now one of Suffolk’s rarest breeding species.

Birds were recorded at various coastal sites and in the west of the county.

Highest totals came from:

Minsmere: eight, Aug 20th and Sept 3rd.

Lakenheath Fen: seven, Mar 30th.

The last recorded sighting of the year was on Minsmere Scrape on October 1st.

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus Rare passage migrant.

First county record since 2017.

Havergate Island: male, photographed, April 16th (D A Fairhurst).

From January 1st 2020 all records of this species will require acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee.

EURASIAN DOTTEREL Charadrius morinellus Scarce passage migrant. Red list.

There were two accepted records:

Alde Estuary: photographed, Apr 26th (M L Cornish) Kessingland Dunes: photographed, May 21st and 22nd (D Jolly et al.)

As many as 30 Dotterels were recorded in Suffolk during the decade 2010-2019 with the largest ‘trip’ being of six on Tinker’s Marshes, Walberswick on May 14th 2017.

RED KNOT Calidris canutus Locally common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Records in both winter periods were heavily concentrated on the Stour Estuary, as we have 117

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

come to expect. The WeBS high water count data indicate a flock of 13000 in the first winter period and approaching the same size in the second winter period (in both cases taking the Stour Estuary as a whole).

In addition to the high-water WeBS counts reported below, low water WeBS counts were carried out in the 2018/19 season. The low-water count totals of 14056 (January 2019) and 16694 (December 2018) for Knot on the Stour Estuary are the highest-ever recorded there and reflect the trend towards higher numbers of this species wintering in south-east England.

Typically, the wintering flock had largely departed by the end of March and birds did not return in any significant numbers until November.

Away from the regular wintering flocks, there were rather few records in double figures, but as is expected there were reports of small flocks of passage birds in May and into June. These probably relate to long-distance migrants of the nominate race canutus which winters mainly in north-western Africa, and breeds in Siberia. The highest spring count was 60 at Minsmere on May 8th. A few birds oversummered with a peak of 14 at Minsmere during July.

Few birds were recorded in autumn, prior to the return of the winterers in November. Autumn passage off Landguard peaked on October 18th when 33 flew south.

There were no inland reports this year (four in 2018).

WeBS high-water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour (Suffolk shore) Stour (incl Essex)

Jan 0 133 152

Feb 6 0 0

Mar 0 0 0

Apr 0 0

Aug 0

Sep 0 10

Oct 3 12 0

Nov 6 12 70

Dec 599 0 71

12230 13044

11015 11015

190 190

0 50

0 14

99 103

59 59

12198 12218

5395 5415

SANDERLING Calidris alba Locally common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list (from Green).

During the first winter period there were few reports and none of more than five birds.

Spring passage birds were widespread along the coast from late March, but generally in small numbers with the exception of 35 at Landguard on March 21st. There were 13 at Minsmere on May 22nd and 11 at Hazlewood Marshes on May 17th with a few reports of late migrants in early June.

Returning migrants were reported in small numbers from July 6th, with the only count in double figures being 36 at Minsmere on July 26th. Autumn passage off Landguard, July 29th to October 28th, peaked at five on October 2nd.

Only singles or small numbers were reported from coastal sites in the second winter period.

LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta Fairly common passage migrant. Occasionally overwinters.

There were very few reports of Little Stint in the County this year.

Spring passage birds, were recorded as follows:

Covehithe: Broad, July 28th to Aug 1st Minsmere: May 10th with two on 11th; May 31st; three, July 24th and 25th; two, Sep 12th to 17th Hazlewood Marshes: May 17th.

The first sighting of the autumn came from Minsmere on July 26th. Thereafter there were sightings of one to three birds from seven coastal sites, with none after September 2nd. As in 2018, there were no inland records and no wintering birds.

118

Systematic List

TEMMINCK’S STINT Calidris temminckii Scarce passage migrant.

Five birds were recorded on spring passage, including two inland records. This is a good total by recent standards, but there was none reported on the coast north of Trimley. There were three birds at Trimley Marshes on May 10th.

Trimley Marshes: May 8th to 10th (P Oldfield et al.); two, May 10th (J Zantboer et al.)

Mickle Mere: April 19th (D E Balmer, P M Wilson et al.)

Lakenheath Fen: first site record, May 24th (C Moyes, D White et al.)

The bird at Mickle Mere was the earliest-ever record in Suffolk, the previous earliest having been on April 21st and 22nd 2002.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos Scarce passage migrant.

Two were reported.

Minsmere: Sep 12th to 25th (M Doveston et al.)

Stour Estuary: Cattawade, Sep 14th (J Davidson et al.)

Andrew Moon

Pectoral Sandpiper at Minsmere, September 12th

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea Uncommon passage migrant. Has overwintered. Amber list (from Green).

There was a single bird in the Levington Creek/Loompit Lake area from February 5th to 24th (M T Wright et al.). Wintering birds were also noted on the Lower Orwell Estuary on January 16th 2009 and December 24th 2012. Wintering birds are rare in the county with the only returning individual being the bird at Melton on the Deben Estuary, which was present during four successive winters 2008/09 to 2011/12.

Only five birds were seen on spring passage, as follows: Herringfleet Marshes: May 21st Walberswick: May 24th Minsmere: June 7th and 8th Hazlewood Marshes: two, May 26th

119

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Autumn passage was at a similar level to 2018, with approximately 40 birds recorded but with only two sites having peak counts of more than five birds.

Minsmere: 11, Aug 19th; nine, Aug 28th Havergate Island: seven, July 20th.

The first reports of the autumn were from both Havergate and Hazlewood Marshes on July 20th and the last was from Felixstowe on September 30th.

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima Fairly common winter visitor. Scarce passage migrant. Amber list.

The best site for this species remains Ness Point, Lowestoft. Purple Sandpipers were recorded there in the first winter period from January 1st until March 25th with a peak count of 14 on March 2nd. Unusually a single bird was seen there on July 14th, with winterers returning from October 3rd and present until the year’s end with a peak count of 11 on December 28th.

One to three birds were recorded from another five coastal sites (Southwold, Minsmere, East Lane, Felixstowe and Landguard).

Peter Ransome

Purple Sandpiper at Lowestoft, December 30th

DUNLIN Calidris alpina Very common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber List.

The WeBS high water count data in the table below indicate a population of over 13000 on Suffolk’s estuaries in the first winter period, made up of over approximately 7000 on the Stour Estuary (taking the estuary as a whole), 3000 on the Orwell Estuary, 2000 on the Deben Estuary and 1000 on the Alde Estuary. In the second winter period, the WeBS high water count data indicate a population of over 15000 on the same basis.

There was a very good passage in April and May, with the highest count being 1000 at Hazlewood Marshes on May 10th and Orfordness, May 17th. There were also several inland records, including five at Lakenheath on May 10th. Passage continued well into June, with 24 at Hazlewood Marshes on June 7th and a small number at Minsmere throughout the month.

Returning adults were reported from Seafield Bay on the Stour Estuary on June 30th and Hollesley Marshes on July 1st. The peak monthly count of southerly passage off Landguard was 812 in October with a maximum day-total of 438 on October 18th.

120

Systematic List

WeBS high-water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour (Suffolk shore) Stour (incl Essex)

Jan 194 2618 757

Feb 1080 1900 2767

Mar 2 227 84

Apr 3 4

Aug 0

Sep 48 55

Oct 24 787 167

Nov 1167 2107 833

Dec 4415 2379 2202

5925 7849

6378 6687

191 223

258 260

59 54

497 501

2836 2998

3714 3834

5061 6083

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER Limicola falcinellus Very rare passage migrant A second-calendar-year bird visited several locations as follows. Prior to this occurrence, there had previously been 17 records of 18 individuals in the county. It was seen to fly off to sea when leaving Minsmere by birders searching for the Cretzschmar’s Bunting!

Minsmere: June 1st (J Gearty, D Lyness, J A Rowlands et al) Hollesley Marshes: June 1st (P Kennerley) Orford/Orfordness: June 1st to 3rd (M C Marsh et al.)

Andrew Moon

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Orford, June 3rd

121

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Andrew Moon

Ruff, Minsmere, June 30th

RUFF Calidris pugnax Fairly common passage migrant. Small numbers overwinter. Red List.

In the first winter period, reports of five or more birds were as follows: Herringfleet Marshes: 12, Feb 15th Havergate Island: five, Feb 22nd Butley: eight, Jan 12th

Reports of smaller numbers elsewhere included one bird wintering inland at Lackford Lakes.

Spring passage included a modest influx in late March, with the Herringfleet flock increasing to 21 on March 30th and 14 at Minsmere on March 27th. Numbers were lower thereafter, but reports included eight at Hollesley on April 20th. The flock of 21 is the highest total in Suffolk since March 21st 2011 when 65 were at Minsmere.

In autumn, the first record was at Minsmere on June 20th. Numbers peaked early with the best count being 15 at Minsmere on August 10th, with few birds in late autumn apart from a small flock at Lakenheath Fen which peaked at seven birds on September 22nd.

Numbers tailed off rapidly through October and only a few birds were reported in the second winter period, the highest count being six from Carlton Marshes on November 23rd.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa L.l.islandica: Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

L.l.limosa: Scarce visitor. Formerly bred. Red list.

There were three reports of single adult birds of the nominate race limosa, including one displaying at Minsmere on April 19th. Potentially as many as nine juveniles were recorded, all on typically early autumn dates. These are all likely to be from the small, but increasing, breeding population on the Ouse Washes and Nene Washes:

Minsmere: peak of five juveniles, July 24th Boyton Marshes: peak of three juveniles, July 27th to Aug 1st (including one colour-ringed bird) Trimley Marshes: juvenile, July 16th (colour-ringed bird) 122

Systematic List

In relation to the islandica subspecies, numbers in the county in the first winter period reached a peak of 2300 in February (including the Stour Estuary as a whole).

Spring passage peaked in April, with a marked exodus in the last week of the month, as is typical. Records from later in May and in June relate to oversummering immatures and nonbreeders, with lower-than-usual numbers in the county. There was a peak of 156 at Trimley Marshes on May 20th and no three-figure counts from further up the coast.

Return passage was first evident from early July and there was a late increase in numbers in November to approximately 3000 on Suffolk’s estuaries, when the WeBS counts from the estuaries (including the Stour Estuary as a whole) are combined.

WeBS high water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour (Suffolk shore) Stour (incl Essex shore)

Jan 739 151 342 292

Feb 319 169 402 1376

Mar 369 351 704 1179

Apr 12 376 1030

Aug 160 609

Sep 683 990 1006

Oct 509 371 370 453

Nov 935 307 656 951

Dec 56 284 136 1230

438

1409

1179

1065

742

1006

453

964

1230

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica Fairly common passage migrant and locally common winter visitor. Amber list.

Data from the monthly WeBS counts on the principal estuaries are set out in the table below.

As in previous years, there were two distinct peaks in numbers, in February and November, suggesting that there is a regular flock of birds which stage in the county on their way from and to wintering grounds elsewhere. The size of this flock varies from year to year, but usually comprises a few hundred birds.

Away from the Orwell and Stour Estuaries, there were counts of 62 birds on the Deben Estuary on January 23rd (non-WeBS count) and 122 on Havergate Island on December 15th. The latter flock included a bird in breeding plumage which is very likely to be the same individual as was reported in January 2017 at Iken and on the Orwell Estuary.

Spring passage included several flocks of over 50 birds, including 70 at Benacre on April 23rd.

The 13 at Hazlewood Marshes on June 9th may have been oversummering.

WeBS high-water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour (Suffolk shore) Stour (incl Essex shore)

Jan 0 36 16 16

Feb 0 11 0 420

56

420

Mar 8 0 0 0

Apr 12 1 0

Aug 0 0

Sep 0 3 44

Oct 0 4 1 2

Nov 0 20 2 4

Dec 122 22 32 173

8

17

48

68

197

173

123

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus Fairly common passage migrant. Occasionally overwinters. Red list.

Migrants were reported from March 22nd, the first being a bird inland at Lackford Lakes. An excellent passage peaked during the last two weeks of April and first week of May, with over 200 birds recorded. Additionally, Landguard recorded 87 birds offshore over the spring. Peak counts of ten or more birds are set out below.

Beccles Marshes: 12, Apr 30th Oulton Marshes: 27, Apr 25th North Cove: 46, May 5th Southwold: 13, Apr 28th Minsmere: 15, Apr 30th Hazlewood Marshes: 67, May 10th Aldeburgh Marshes: 27, May 5th Havergate Island: 31, April 24th. Also seen on Orfordness Trimley Marshes: 19, Apr 22nd

There were five at Hollesley Marshes on June 14th with further records from the end of the month. Few double-figure counts were made over the autumn, but 25 flew east at Eastbridge on August 24th and a peak of 26 was recorded south off Landguard on July 10th as part of the site’s autumn passage total of 117. Passage tailed off in September and there were just two records in October, at Trimley Marshes on 5th and Minsmere on 7th.

Peter Ransome

Whimbrel in August

EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata Common winter visitor and passage migrant. A few pairs still breed. Red list (from Amber).

Data from monthly WeBS counts suggest that numbers peaked in the County at approximately 2500 in the first winter period. Numbers reduced as birds began to migrate away from the estuaries in early spring. Passage continued into April, with 56 north past Landguard on April 18th.

As in 2018 there were several inland records from February which seem likely to refer to returning breeders. The flock at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford peaked at 47 on March 1st, which is the largest flock recorded in the west of the county since August 25th 2006 (52, Lakenheath Fen) and September 18th 1996 (161, Brandon). Fewer than five breeding pairs were reported.

Return passage was noted from May 28th (Landguard), with a peak in late June and early July.

There were 24 in Seafield Bay on the Stour Estuary by June 19th and Landguard recorded 32 south on June 14th and 122 south overall in the month of June.

124

Systematic List

The total population (including the Stour Estuary as whole) in the second winter period was approximately 2400. The figure of 627 on Orfordness, December 15th is a site-record total.

WeBS high water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Blyth Alde/Ore Deben Orwell Stour (Suffolk shore) Stour (incl Essex shore)

Jan 613 316 457 461

Feb 472 615 387 214

Mar 325 759 363 244

Apr 108 47 463

Aug 0 185

Sep 382 482 1260

Oct 70 209 380 470

Nov 474 251 202 401

Dec 796 353 300 843

695

1075

886

702

855

1266

742

514

921

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos Common passage migrant. A few birds overwinter. Amber list.

The regular wintering bird at Oulton Broad was not reported in 2019. One in January on the upper Orwell Estuary at Ipswich Docks might have been the same individual noted there in January 2018 and, additionally, one was reported at Minsmere on January 7th.

Spring passage was light, with the first report being of one on Havergate on April 4th. There were reports of ten at Walberswick on May 2nd and ten at Livermere Lake on May 16th, a very good inland spring total.

The first returning bird was inland at Lackford Lakes on June 14th. Thereafter there were widespread reports of single birds or small groups, with many more double-figure counts than in 2018. The highest counts were concentrated on the north-east coast of the county in late July and it seems likely that there were at least 100 birds in the county at this time. One at Wilderness Pond, Christchurch Park, Ipswich on July 26th is the third site record. Selected counts are listed below: Gorleston: 24, Sep 2nd Herringfleet Marshes: 11, July 28th Carlton Marshes: 13, July 25th Walberswick: ten, July 27th Blyth Estuary: 15, July 28th Minsmere: 23, July 27th Orfordness: 12, July 27th Alde Estuary: 13, July 30th; 25 plus, Aug 26th

In the second winter period the only reports were from Walberswick on November 10th and Ipswich Docks, November 3rd – this latter bird could well have overwintered, unobserved, in the Docks area.

2015 Addition One at Wilderness Pond, Christchurch Park, Ipswich on August 15th is the second site record, the first having occurred there in July 1973.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus Fairly common passage migrant. Small numbers overwinter. Amber list.

There were widespread records of single birds in the first winter period from over 15 sites, the majority away from the coast; these typically involved one or two birds. Spring passage birds were also well spread, with the highest counts being of six at Lackford Lakes on April 15th and five at Pipps Ford on March 30th.

Return passage was first detected in early June as is typical, with a bird at Walberswick on June 7th and a high count of nine at Herringfleet Marshes on June 9th. There were numerous reports 125

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

of five birds or more over the autumn and selected high counts of ten or more from July and August were as follows: Herringfleet Marshes: 15, July 28th Minsmere: 18, July 27th Aldeburgh Marshes: 13, Aug 29th

As is normal, numbers tailed off during October and into the second winter period during which there were records from over 20 sites, fewer than in 2018, and no records of more than three birds.

2018 Correction The bird at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford on May 29th would almost certainly have been an early autumn arrival or an oversummering individual rather than a late spring migrant.

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus Fairly common but decreasing passage migrant. A few overwinter. Amber list.

There were many more records in the first winter period this year than in 2018. There was a peak of seven at Walberswick on February 20th, with additional birds reported from the Stour Estuary, Deben Estuary, Blyth Estuary and Breydon Water. If all reported birds were different individuals, then there may have been 12 in the county in the first winter period.

Spring passage was light during April and into May, with one or two birds reported from a number of sites, but with a high count of nine on Havergate Island on May 14th. There was a single bird inland at Livermere Lake on April 13th, which may even be the same bird as passed through the west of the county in the spring of 2017 and 2018.

The first birds of return passage were noted at Snape Wetland on the typically early date of June 8th and numbers at Minsmere peaked at 21 on July 8th to 10th. There were very few autumn records away from the prime site of Minsmere and none of more than five birds, but these Andrew Moon included an excellent record Spotted Redshank, Minsmere, August 1st of four at Livermere Lake on August 30th and five on Orfordness on September 7th.

Numbers were appreciably higher in early winter this year compared with 2018. There was a peak of six on Havergate Island on December 4th and nine at Dingle Marshes on November 8th.

If all reports in the second winter period relate to different birds, then there may have been over 20 birds in the county at this time.

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia Common passage migrant. An increasing number overwinter. Amber list (from Green).

In the first winter period, there was a single overwintering bird on the Deben Estuary and two on the Stour Estuary.

There were very few reports in March and the first presumed migrant was on the Orwell Estuary on March 29th. Spring passage was light and there was only one report in double figures, 126

Systematic List

a flock of ten which passed through Minsmere on May 13th. Inland, there were six at Lackford Lakes on May 16th.

One at Hollesley Marshes on June 1st and one at Lackford Lakes on the same date were presumably late migrants.

High numbers were recorded in the last week of July, which is an early date for peak autumn passage (and coincides with the exceptional numbers of Wood Sandpipers reported below).

On July 28th there were 67 on the Blyth Estuary, 12 at Benacre Broad, 65 at Minsmere, 25 on Orfordness, 36 on the Alde Estuary and 24 on Havergate Island. Elsewhere there were 27 on the Stour Estuary on July 25th. Taking peak counts from all sites recording this species over the last week of July, it is likely that there were between 200 and 300 birds in the county at this time.

Lower numbers were reported thereafter into August and September, but 19 were on Orfordness on August 30th.

In the second winter period, overwintering birds were recorded from three locations, with one at Carlton Marshes, three on the Deben Estuary and two on the Stour Estuary.

WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola Fairly common passage migrant. Amber list.

The first spring bird was at Carlton Marshes on April 21st, with a report from Lakenheath on the same date. Reports continued into May with most involving one to three birds, but with numbers increasing at Herringfleet Marshes to eight on May 7th, the highest spring passage total in Suffolk since May 18th 2012 when ten were at Flatford Mill, East Bergholt. There were additional records from Lakenheath on May 5th and 10th.

The first autumn record was at Carlton Marshes on the notably early date of June 11th.

Numbers increased into July and there was a major arrival over the last few days of July, with selected high counts over the period July 27th to July 31st as follows: Carlton Marshes: 11, July 28th Herringfleet Marshes: 14, July 28th Minsmere: 33, July 28th Alde Estuary: 13, July 31st Boyton Marshes: 17, July 28th

Taking peak counts from all sites recording this species over this four-day period, there were at least 125 birds in the county at this time. The total of 33 at Minsmere on July 28th is the highestever site total in Suffolk, exceeding the figure of 30, also at Minsmere, during the “Great Fall” on September 3rd 1965. These 2019 reports from Suffolk in late July were all part of a recordbreaking national influx of at least 450 birds during July 24th to 31st which peaked on July 28th with a maximum site-total of 110 at Cley on the north Norfolk coast.

Numbers fell away in August, but included inland records from Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland, Lakenheath Fen (August 29th) and Livermere Lake (two on August 11th). The last record was from Minsmere on September 14th.

COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Declining resident. Amber list.

Data from the monthly WeBS counts on the principal estuarine sites are set out in the table below.

In the first winter period, there were approaching 3750 in the county, including a report of 500+ from the Blyth Estuary on February 7th.

Over 100 breeding pairs were reported from the coast, including 30 pairs at Minsmere and 42 pairs on Orfordness, where it was estimated that 25 chicks fledged. There was one pair reported in the north-west of the county.

In autumn there was the usual early build-up at Hazlewood Marshes with an impressive peak count of 960 on July 28th. There were also 200 on Havergate Island on July 28th, which was the date when Greenshank, Common, Green and Wood Sandpiper numbers peaked in the county 127

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(see above). As such, it is conceivable that these early-autumn Redshank reached us from the same locality as those species.

In the second winter period, there were approaching 3700 in the county, when counts from the estuaries (taking the Stour Estuary as a whole) and other sites are combined. This is lower than in 2018, even though it includes a count of 750+ from the Blyth Estuary on December 22nd.

WeBS high-water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Jan Blyth Alde/Ore 836 Deben 1071 Orwell 436 Stour (Suffolk shore) 660 Stour (incl Essex shore) 1028

Feb 541 888 698 668

Mar 797 642 226 738

Apr 168 36 626

Aug 1 485

Sep 599 492 1072

Oct 1340 671 463 835

Nov 1239 839 316 516

Dec 687 541 520 1045

1008

1008

660

632

1223

1103

809

1148

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Data from the monthly WeBS counts on the principal estuarine sites are set out in the table below.

In the first winter period, numbers reported on the estuaries in the County peaked at over 600 in February, with the highest count elsewhere being 38 at Lowestoft on March 22nd.

Small numbers of birds were reported from coastal sites in late spring, including ten at Hazlewood Marshes on May 10th.

There were a few records in June and July, but there was an arrival in the last week of July with 47 in Seafield Bay on the Stour Estuary on July 25th and 12 at Lowestoft on the same date.

Numbers increased through the autumn and by December a total of over 600 was recorded on the estuaries (taking the Stour Estuary as a whole), similar to 2017 and 2018. During July to September, 65 flew south off Landguard with a peak day-total of 19 on August 16th. For the second successive year there was one recorded inland at Lakenheath Fen, this year on September 20th and 21st (May 21st in 2018).

WeBS high water count data (with totals for the Suffolk shore of the Stour Estuary and for the estuary as a whole): Jan Blyth Alde/Ore 4 Deben 58 Orwell 24 Stour (Suffolk shore) 111 Stour (incl Essex shore) 155

Feb 16 64 54 254 484

Mar Apr Aug 0 53 26 50 25 250 79 48

250

124

Sep 95 46 243

Oct 4 118 173 360

Nov 54 63 195 122

Dec 37 80 262 216

264

463

151

220

MARSH SANDPIPER Tringa stagnatilis One at Minsmere in July is the first in Suffolk since the Trimley Marshes bird in August 2007.

Prior to this occurrence, there had been eight records of ten individuals in the county. This is the third Minsmere record, previous occurrences having been in July 1981 and July 2005.

Minsmere: second-calendar-year, July 10th and 11th (I Barthorpe, D Baskett, P Phillips et al.)

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RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Phalaropus lobatus Rare passage migrant. Red list.

There was one record of a juvenile as follows.

Minsmere: photographed, Sep 8th (T Williams, B Moyes et al.)

GREY PHALAROPE Phalaropus fulicarius Scarce passage migrant and rare winter visitor.

There were no records of this species this year, the first year with no sightings since 2016, which had been the first blank year since 1999.

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

This species was reported from over 20 sites in the coastal belt and five sites inland and in the west of the county, which is favourably comparable with previous years. As usual, there was an increase in reports from March, suggesting spring passage through the county, including one at Landguard on March 31st, with some birds lingering into May. The first returning bird was a very early individual noted at Trimley Marshes on September 10th.

Also, as usual, the majority of reports related to single birds, but there were peak counts of three or more birds as follows:

Snape Wetland: three, Oct 22nd Orfordness: three, Feb 17th East Bergholt: White Horse Marsh, six, Apr 20th Wherstead: three, Mar 24th Pipps Ford: four, Jan 1st

EURASIAN WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola Declining resident. Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

In the first winter period, there were reports from over 60 sites which is only 75% of the 2018 figure. The majority of reports related to individuals and there were no high counts. Five single spring migrants were noted at Landguard during March 20th to 31st and two on Orfordness, March 2nd.

Mid-summer records of displaying birds came from three sites in the north-west of the County, including six at one large site. As in 2017 and 2018, there were reports of birds in mid-summer in the coastal belt. One record related to a ‘roding’ bird, which is encouraging.

The first autumn arrivals were reported on October 21st, with records from four coastal sites on that date and further reports on the coast into November. There were eight records from Landguard during October 21st to December 15th including two on October 29th and three were on Orfordness, October 28th.

Numbers in the second winter period were favourably comparable with 2018, with reports from just over 30 inland and coastal sites.

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Extinct as a breeding species. Amber list.

As is usual, reports came from widespread inland and coastal sites. There were numerous counts in double figures, with peak counts of 50 or more birds at coastal sites as follows. Carlton Marshes continues to yield very high counts.

Herringfleet Marshes: 120, Feb 27th Carlton Marshes: 162, Feb 17th East Bergholt: White Horse Marshes, 84 plus, Jan 25th

Away from the coast, the highest count was of 30 at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford on December 28th.

Spring passage at Landguard from March 25th to April 8th peaked at five north on March 28th.

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In the autumn 17 were recorded at Landguard during the period from August 26th to November 22nd with a maximum of four on October 6th.

Disappointingly after displaying birds in 2018, there were no records of the species between mid-May and mid-July apart from an apparently oversummering bird on Orfordness in June up to 22nd.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla Very common passage migrant and winter visitor. Small numbers breed. Red list (from Amber).

Unfortunately, this charismatic pelagic gull is becoming a poorly recorded species in the county with most of the data received relating to summer movements and breeding activities. Early in the year 68 were noted at Landguard, January 13th. During the spring numbers increased with 450 noted between Sizewell and Thorpeness, March 22nd.

During the summer, a noteworthy occurrence took place at Minsmere where four pairs attempted to nest on south Scrape, but it was thought they didn’t lay any eggs. This constitutes the first record of ground-nesting in Suffolk. [Ground nesting by Kittiwakes has been recorded on the north Norfolk coast at Scolt Head and Blakeney Point; the first instance of such breeding was at Scolt Head in 1946.] Nearby there were limited data received as to what amount of breeding took place on the Sizewell offshore rigs but on May 28th around 300 birds were recorded around the rigs with 139 nests viewable from the beach. Breeding took place around Lowestoft town centre with the church tower in Gordon Road holding the biggest numbers. Pairs also nested on the BT building in Surrey Street as well as buildings in Battery Green Road and Station Square, where 37 nests were counted. Several nests were again noted on the Claremont Pier but unfortunately no overall breeding numbers of nests and chicks produced were received.

Later in the year few sightings were made with the main counts being of only 63 off Southwold, October 29th and 87 moving south off Landguard, December 21st. There were no sightings received from any sites away from the coast in 2019.

In the 2004 Suffolk Bird Report – four-figure counts of Kittiwakes were 1000, Orfordness, January 4th, 2000, Thorpeness, February 1st and 1750, Thorpeness, November 21st – only 15 years ago!

SABINE’S GULL Xema sabini Rare passage migrant.

Following no records in 2018, the drought was broken by a juvenile bird present on land.

Havergate Island: juv, photographed, 10:40 to 13:00hr then flew north, Sep 8th (D Fairhurst)

BLACK-HEADED GULL Chroicocephalus ridibundus Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

At the beginning of the year WeBS counts made up the majority of sightings received. Main gatherings were of 387 at Minsmere, January 20th and, on the estuaries, 2955 were recorded during the February 17th WeBS count on the Stour and 1142 on the Alde/Ore. On Orfordness the only noteworthy counts made were of over 1000 offshore, January 12th, 281, March 24th and 350, April 20th.

In the west of the county the main roosts were centred on the usual wetland sites, with 3000 noted at Lackford Lakes, January 19th then a peak count of 10000 at the same site, February 3rd. Elsewhere, 2400 were noted at Cavenham Pits, January 21st. The roost appeared to change location in the third week of February away from Lackford Lakes to Livermere Lake, which hosted 7000 and 8000, on 19th and 22nd respectively. Smaller numbers remained at Lackford with 4000 and 1000 noted, February 14th and 19th respectively. During the spring, numbers reduced but the main counts were 1100 and 1300 at Livermere Lake, March 9th and April 4th respectively.

Away from the main sites mentioned, 800 were noted in the south-west of the county at Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland on March 17th.

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Breeding during the summer consisted of an impressive 2800 nesting pairs at Minsmere, a site record total, three pairs at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich and, on Orfordness, a minimum of 57 pairs but it is thought that no young fledged. In the west of the county there were 36 nests at Livermere Lake and six nests at Lackford Lakes. Two other sites in the west of the county hosted one or two nests each.

Later in the summer, roost numbers built up at Livermere Lake, with 2000 noted July 22nd and 30th and a peak of 2500, August 31st. On the coast, post-breeding roost counts included 1000 on the Alde Estuary, July 23rd and 5000 on the Blyth Estuary, July 30th. The following month, 1000 were noted at Benacre Broad, August 26th and 2328 were on the Deben Estuary during the September 15th WeBS count. At Landguard, 2500 flew east on August 22nd.

During the second winter period, roosts started to gather at the usual wetland sites with numbers at Livermere Lake increasing from 900, November 9th to 3000, November 23rd and at Lackford Lakes, 500 were recorded, December 8th and 500 were also at Sudbury, December 22nd. Towards the end of the year, 782 were noted on the Orwell Estuary during the December WeBS count on 15th.

LITTLE GULL Hydrocoloeus minutus Fairly common passage migrant. Regularly oversummers. Small numbers overwinter.

It was a very quiet start to the year with the only reports being of three off Minsmere beach, February 3rd and single northbound birds off Landguard on February 1st and 4th.

Spring passage started in April with a notable count of 45 past Kessingland on 3rd, involving 40 northbound birds and five going south. Elsewhere, later in the month, a first-summer bird was present at Snape Wetland, 19th to 21st. In the west of the county, almost all spring passage sightings were confined to Livermere Lake. The first sightings consisted of 12 birds, April 9th, the following day nine were present and ten were noted, April 11th. Numbers there subsided before 14 were present, April 14th. Eight were at Lackford Lakes, April 22nd with six at Livermere Lake the same day. The only other sightings for the year away from the coast were of seven at Redgrave Lake, May 7th, one at Livermere Lake, May 9th and two at the same site, June 23rd. On the coast small numbers lingered at Minsmere with three first-summer birds present, May 16th and 24th and four there on June 1st. Five first-summers were at Aldeburgh Marshes, June 13th whilst small numbers continued to linger at Minsmere with a maximum of seven, June 27th and 28th and nine, June 29th.

Later in the summer, totals increased as returning birds arrived on the coast with Minsmere being the main site for regular observations with up to 16 on July 15th, but occasionally larger numbers were noted elsewhere with a maximum of 42 at Benacre Broad on July 29th. Four were at Southwold, July 28th and three at North Beach, Lowestoft on July 30th. In August numbers appeared to peak with many sightings still being made at Minsmere Scrape with peak counts involving 42 and 36, August 6th and 10th respectively and the year’s peak total of 65 at Benacre Broad, August 11st.

Further into the autumn, numbers gravitated away from Minsmere with 35 around the Sizewell Rigs, September 6th, with similar numbers present there September 11th and 20th. At Lowestoft, an adult was at the North Denes beach, September 28th and October 1st and what was presumably the same adult was at Leathes Ham in the town, October 3rd. Back at Minsmere, 22 were noted south, October 7th and 16 were off Southwold the same day. Later in the month peak counts included 25 off Southwold, October 30th and, in the north of the county, six flew south off Gorleston, November 7th. An adult south past Minsmere on December 28th was the last report for the year.

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Uncommon resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Rare breeder. Amber list.

At the start of the year the small numbers that were present in the county were mainly in the Lowestoft area where ten were noted at Gunton, February 3rd. Elsewhere, numbers started to build up at Minsmere as spring approached with 25 on February 25th, rising to 60 by March 1st.

Numbers then continued to build with 150, March 18th and just two days later this had increased to 245. At Landguard, 35 flew south on April 28th.

David Borderick

Mediterranean Gull, Minsmere

In the west of the county, numbers were low throughout the year. Early on an adult was noted at Lackford Lakes, February 8th and 20th and single immatures were at Mickle Mere and Livermere Lakes, March 16th and April 5th respectively. Other inland sightings during the spring involved two adults at Livermere Lake, April 18th and 22nd and, presumably the same two adults, at Lackford Lakes, April 20th. During the early summer, inland highlights were of three adults at the BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on June 17th and three juveniles on July 30th at Livermere Lake where a single juvenile remained until August 17th. There were no other inland records for the rest of the year.

Breeding numbers on the Scrape at Minsmere consisted of 36 nests and 17 young were fledged.

During the summer and into post-breeding dispersal time, 33 were on Gorleston beach, July 10th and on the same day a flock of 18 flew north over Benacre Broad. At Minsmere, 25 remained and 41 were on the Blyth Estuary, July 7th and 19th respectively. In late summer numbers started to build up with birds from the Continent, but the large gatherings at some coastal sites witnessed in previous years didn’t materialise in 2019. The most notable count was in the north of the county where 180 were at Gorleston, August 11th and the following day, eight adults and a juvenile were at North Beach, Lowestoft. Some birds were often seen in the company of Black-headed Gulls feeding on the emergence of flying ants and other insects; 20 were noted doing just this above Gorleston/Southtown, August 20th. General distribution of this species was heavily weighted towards the north-east of the county throughout the year, especially in summer 132

Systematic List

and autumn. However, totals at Landguard in early autumn included 19, September 16th, 29, September 18th and 21, October 1st. Throughout the autumn up to five were noted on several dates during October in the vicinity of North Denes, Lowestoft and Gunton beach, with very few noted elsewhere in the county in the final three months of the year. Elsewhere, two were at Gorleston, November 7th and five were on Corton Playing field, December 21st. In the south-east of the county the only late records were of singletons on Havergate Island, November 17th and two in November and five on the beach at Landguard in December.

COMMON GULL Larus canus Very common winter visitor and passage migrant. Scarce breeding species. Amber list.

At the beginning of the year in the west of the county the main roost site was at Lackford Lakes, where 320 were present, January 27th, peaking at 1000 by February 3rd. Elsewhere, 200 were at both Tuddenham St Mary, January 13th and the BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on January 31st. On the coast numbers were generally not as high as at inland sites but they did include two impressive four-figure totals – 1500, Sizewell beach, January 19th and 1103, Stour Estuary, February 17th. Elsewhere, 500 were at Landguard, January 17th, 293 at Minsmere, January 20th and 26, Hollesley Marshes, January 25th.

During the spring, in the south of the county 200 were at Hold Farm, Bures, March 20th, 72 at Long Melford, April 6th and 60 were at Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland the following day. Back on the coast, Orfordness had a maximum count of 25, April 20th this being the site’s highest count of the year. Nearby at Minsmere, numbers peaked with an impressive 600 birds on the Scrape, May 4th but numbers soon dropped to 100, May 21st and 70, June 1st.

During the summer, breeding attempts took place at three coastal sites; one hosted five pairs attempting to breed but no young were seen, another site saw three pairs fail at egg and chick stage and a pair at another site was predated at the chick stage. Very few were recorded during the autumn with the only noteworthy counts being off Landguard with two north and 62 south, October 5th and 65 south, October 24th.

Towards the end of the year, peak counts in the west of the county included 45 flying over Chilton, November 21st and 30 at Sudbury, December 22nd. During late November and early December only single-figure counts were made at Lackford Lakes whilst on the coast 222 were noted at Minsmere during a WeBS survey, December 15th and 398 were on the Deben Estuary on the same date. Overall, numbers were generally low but other notable counts from the east of the county near the end of the year were of 50 at Sibton Park, Sibton on November 24th, 37 at Landguard, December 28th. 30 at Benacre, December 3rd and 75 in the area of Heveningham and Huntingfield on December 8th.

RUSSIAN COMMON GULL Larus canus heinei Dawn Balmer and Peter Wilson have submitted a very thorough list of records based on many years of field studies plus criteria developed by Adriaens and Gibbins (2016), which have formed the cornerstone of their field studies since its publication.

While views of some birds may not have allowed for a critical examination such as testing the use of the ‘identification key for primary pattern’ they are happy that the suite of features shown by the individuals gulls listed below were sufficient to assign them to heinei or at least ‹showing characters of heinei’.

List of Suffolk records (in date order):

3-c-y, Livermere Lake, Mar 18th 2018 1-c-y, Lackford Lakes, Dec 15th 2018 Adult, Tuddenham St Mary pig fields, Jan 13th 2019 3-c-y, Lackford Lakes, Feb 3rd 2019 2-c-y, Lackford Lakes, Feb 8th 2019 2-c-y, Lackford Lakes, Feb 17th 2019 2-c-y, Minsmere, Mar 17th 2019

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Reference Adriaens, P. and Gibbins, C., ‘Identification of the Larus canus complex’, (Dutch Birding 38: 1-64, 2016) http://gullresearch. org/papers/papers9/gulls_CommonGulls_identification_Adriaens&Gibbins2016.pdf GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus Common winter visitor and passage migrant. A few oversummer. Has recently bred. Amber list.

At the start of the year, the most notable numbers along the coast included a count of 128 at Minsmere, January 17th which was the peak for that month and where most coastal observations of this species were made albeit in much smaller numbers on other dates. Other notable gatherings included a total of 46 at Oulton Broad and Carlton Marshes, January 1st and 40 at Sizewell, January 19th. In the west of the county, where only a small number of observations of this species were received for the year, 30 were at Lackford Lakes, February 15th and eight at Mickle Mere, January 22nd.

During the spring, numbers dispersed and, at Landguard, a notable total of 300 was recorded, March 7th.

During the summer, small numbers were mainly seen in and around the Minsmere area with the highest numbers being of 23 at North Warren, June 6th and 11 at Minsmere, July 29th. For data on breeding see the article on Great Black-backed Gulls earlier in this bird report on page 32.

During the autumn small numbers were noted moving at passage times, with 34 south past Landguard, October 15th. Later in the autumn, in line with previous years, numbers increased with 1000 noted at Landguard, November 14th and on Orfordness there was an influx beginning with 206, October 30th increasing to 420, November 10th and a maximum of 471, November 17th, on which date 300 were noted off Dunwich beach. Elsewhere, 548 were noted on the Alde Estuary during the November 17th WeBS count. By December numbers had decreased with a maximum of 70 on the coast at Minsmere on 5th.

In the west of the county the most notable count was 25 at the Lackford Lakes roost, December 8th.

2017 Addition: At Landguard, the 1500, November 20th is a site record total.

2014 Addition: A record total of at least 13 pairs bred in Suffolk. This total comprised ten pairs at Felixstowe Docks and three pairs on Havergate Island.

GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus Scarce winter visitor. Amber list.

A very quiet year with only three records received, all relating to three different birds. Two observations were made on the same day in February on the coast and in the west of the county.

At the end of the year, there was one record away from the coast in central Suffolk. All sightings as follows:

Minsmere: first-winter south along beach, Feb 5th (RSPB) Pipps Ford: second-calendar-year, Dec 30th (P Whittaker) Mickle Mere: third-calendar-year in roost, Feb 5th (D West)

ICELAND GULL Larus glaucoides Scarce winter visitor. Amber list.

As with Glaucous Gull, it was a quiet year for Iceland Gull with presumably three different birds seen. All sightings as follows: Dunwich: first-winter, Dingle Marshes, Nov 15th (L Gregory, S Mayson) Minsmere: first-winter on Scrape, same as Dunwich bird, Nov 15th (P Phillips) Sizewell: first-winter around the offshore rigs, Jan 12th to Feb 14th (multi-observer) 134

Systematic List

A second-winter bird (third-calendar-year), thought originally to be a Kumlien’s Gull L. g. kumlieni spent the first winter period in the west of the county and was well-watched at a number of sites, being first located at Thetford, January 18th and last being seen at Great Livermere, April 14th. It was eventually decided by SORC that it should be treated as Iceland Gull. All sightings for this bird as follows:

Thetford: Jan 18th and 19th (D Balmer) Lackford Lakes: roosted, Feb 2nd (T Humpage); Feb 3rd (P Wilson); Feb 6th (West Suffolk Birders); Feb 8th (P Wilson); Feb 9th (S Abbott); Feb 11th (E Patrick); Feb 14th (S Abbott); Feb 16th (C Gregory) Mickle Mere: Mar 9th (T Stopher); Mar 10th (P Wilson); Mar 24th (B Buffrey); Mar 30th (West Suffolk Birders) Great Livermere: Apr 14th (P Wilson) Cavenham: immature thought to be same bird as at Thetford, Jan 21st (E Cuthbertson).

The Iceland Gull (thought at first to be Kumlien’s), Lackford Lakes, February

Sean Nixon

EUROPEAN HERRING GULL Larus argentatus Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

In the west of the county, the roost at Lackford Lakes numbered 810, January 19th and 500 and 450, February 8th and 18th respectively. During the spring numbers gravitated towards Livermere Lake where roost counts of 300 and 550 were noted, April 4th and 14th respectively.

Passage movement included 432 south off Landguard, February 10th and 1200 were also noted there, March 7th. In wetland areas, 281 in January and 621 in February were noted on the Alde Estuary during WeBS counts.

Breeding records include seven nests at Bury St Edmunds recorded during late-May. At Orfordness a total of 75 breeding pairs was noted, slightly up from 68 in 2018. A total of about 40 young was seen; all were on the roofs of buildings apart from one from a nest on King’s Marshes.

Over on Havergate Island RSPB, 521 pairs bred with 365 young fledging. Elsewhere, four pairs at Hollesley Marshes RSPB fledged four young. This species continues to use both residential and commercial rooftop nest sites in our towns including Lowestoft and Ipswich but there were no data on breeding or fledgling numbers. This species was also seen to be nesting in Felixstowe Docks.

Towards the end of the year, 2500 were noted at Landguard, November 14th (see Great Blackbacked Gull) and 461 were noted off Orfordness, November 17th (also see Great Black-backed Gull). On the Alde Estuary, 1652 were noted during the November WeBS 17th count and by the following month’s survey, December 15th, numbers had declined to 410.

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CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans Uncommon visitor. Amber list.

It was a very good year for this species with an unprecedented total of 131 different birds sighted in West Suffolk alone over the course of the year. This calculation was made possible by the careful analysis of birds observed by Peter Wilson and Dawn Balmer. In the first winter period most sightings were made in the vicinity of Lackford Lakes and Great Livermere with smaller numbers at Tuddenham St Mary pig fields. The highest gathering of the year was of ten adults at Lackford Lakes, February 8th and the same day six mixed-age birds were at the Great Livermere pig fields. As mentioned, birds were also sighted at the Tuddenham St Mary pig fields with two second-calendar-year birds, January 1st, which included a bird with a darvic ring and an adult and a second-calendar-year bird, January 13th. The peak count for that month was at Lackford with nine mixed-aged birds, January 27th and five had been at Great Livermere pig fields the previous day. Five were at Mickle Mere, February 20th.

Still in the west of the county, five were at Livermere Lake, April 14th.

On the coast, numbers were concentrated around the Minsmere and Sizewell area, with a peak count of four at the Sizewell rigs, January 21st. In the south, a singleton was at Hollesley Marshes, January 28th and in the north an adult at Worlingham on January 10th and 31st and February 2nd. During the spring, numbers remained low on the coast with no more than two seen at any one time. Minsmere Scrape saw the vast majority of sightings, mostly singletons during March and April, but with two noted, March 3rd and April 15th. Other locations also recorded sightings including Southwold Town Marshes where two were present, March 19th and Southwold Harbour, April 22nd.

During late summer, numbers started to increase with most sightings being in west Suffolk with peak counts of five and eight at Livermere Lake, July 18th and August 10th respectively.

Towards the coast numbers were lower with mostly singletons, but they did include newlyarrived juveniles at Westleton pig fields, August 3rd, Southwold Harbour, August 18th and Carlton Marshes, August 31st. Further into the autumn, countywide sightings declined but in the west of the county there were still some notable counts with four and eight noted at Livermere Lake, September 17th and October 4th respectively. Away from Livermere, a singleton was noted at Cavenham Pits. The following month, six were noted at roost at Lackford Lakes, November 30th and the same day two were noted at Thetford. At Thetford a Polish-ringed bird was present, November 23rd. In the last two months of the year more overwintering birds were found on the coast with the vast majority at Minsmere, where peak counts involved eight, November 15th and six, November 25th. Elsewhere two juveniles were noted at Hollesley Marshes, November 22nd and the following day, four were on the Blyth Estuary and two were at Southwold Town Marshes. Towards the year’s end sightings declined and just two were present on the Blyth Estuary, December 29th.

In the west of the county, singletons noted at Lackford Lakes and Lakenheath Washes, December 8th and 22nd, were considered to be hybrids.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Small numbers oversummer. Amber list.

During the first winter period, the largest gatherings of this species were to be found in the west of the county, with pig fields being the main attraction for the largest flocks. At Tuddenham St Mary, 11 of mixed ages were on pig fields there, January 1st, increasing to 14, January 13th.

Elsewhere, 12 were at roost at Lackford Lakes, January 26th and ten were at the Great Livermere pig fields, January 27th. In February, 12 were again seen at Lackford Lakes roost on 9th and 13 roosted at Mickle Mere on 18th. On the coast, numbers were low with three birds in the Lowestoft area at Oulton Broad, January 19th which consisted of two adults and a first-winter.

Two adults were again present at the Oulton Broad roost, January 21st and, elsewhere, two were on Minsmere Scrape, February 23rd. Numbers and general distribution remained the same across the county and declined slightly as spring progressed and summer arrived.

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Later in the summer numbers started to increase with the largest gatherings in the area of Livermere Lake, where 38 were recorded, July 18th rising to 56 by July 25th, made up of mixedaged birds including at least three juveniles, 17 second-years and various adult types. On the coast numbers also increased but only in much smaller numbers with the most notable count being of eight in pig fields at Westleton, July 27th and six at Minsmere Scrape, August 13th. Single juvenile birds were also seen at Walberswick, August 1st, Lowestoft North Beach, August 11th and 12th, Carlton Marshes, September 1st and Southwold Harbour, September 5th.

Further into the autumn numbers declined but the largest numbers remained in the west of the county including 53 at Livermere Lake, September 17th. The vast majority of sightings were made in the Livermere Lake area but elsewhere birds were noted at Tuddenham St Mary, where four were on the pig field, September 15th and two at Cavenham Pits, September 17th. In October 17 were noted at Great Livermere pig fields on 11th, before numbers dropped sharply before the year’s end. On the coast numbers remained low with most sightings concentrated around Minsmere Scrape, where five were present, November 8th and there was a count of ten in the Havergate Island and Boyton Marshes area, November 17th. The only December records were of seven again in the area of Havergate Island and Boyton Marshes, December 7th and singletons on Minsmere Scrape, December 1st and 7th, whilst in the west of the county five were noted at Lakenheath Washes, December 22nd.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus Very common summer visitor and passage migrant. Increasing numbers overwinter. Amber list.

At the start of the year there were modest numbers recorded overwintering in the west of the county with 465 at roost at Lackford Lakes, January 19th. In February returning birds swelled numbers to 1500 at Mickle Mere on 7th, increasing to a peak of 3000 there, 18th and the Lackford Lakes roost peaked for the month at 600 on 8th.

During the spring 667 were noted at Mickle Mere, April 12th and 750 were at Livermere Lake, April 14th. On the coast the only gatherings were small with the highest count of 207 recorded during the February 17th WeBS count on the Alde Estuary.

During the summer, a total of only 52 breeding pairs was recorded on Orfordness, down from 97 pairs in 2018. Only about ten chicks were thought to have fledged, all from the roofs of the Pagodas and Cobra Mist building. A much better outcome was recorded at Havergate Island RSPB, where 1665 pairs fledged 1166 young. Elsewhere, at Hollesley Marshes RSPB, five pairs fledged ten young. Two nesting pairs were at Minsmere and many nested alongside Herring Gulls on town centre rooftops in Lowestoft and Ipswich, both commercial and residential, as well as the docks at Felixstowe. In the west of the county 21 nests were noted at Bury St. Edmunds.

Late-summer roosts built up in the area of Livermere Lake with a monthly peak of 1600 noted, August 13th, 534 were there, which including 172 juveniles, September 1st and 3000 were present, September 19th, the maximum for the month. Numbers declined across the county from this point onwards. Towards the end of the year, counts of 86 were made at Havergate Island and 87 at Boyton Marshes, November 17th and 26th respectively and during the November 17th WeBS survey, 190 were noted on the Alde Estuary. In the west of the county, 550 were at Lackford Lakes, November 23rd and the following month, 582 were at Lakenheath Washes, December 22nd.

GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua Fairly common passage migrant. A few overwinter. Amber list.

At the start or the year singletons were seen in January off Landguard, on 1st and 12th and soon after, further north there were singletons off Minsmere, 18th and Dunwich, 20th.

During spring passage, in the north of the county one was off Lowestoft, March 15th and another off Corton the following day. Further south, in March, singletons were noted off Thorpeness, 17th and Minsmere, 18th and two off Lowestoft on 19th. Off Landguard in March, one was seen 137

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

on 13th, and two on 15th and more singletons, 17th and 21st. April saw one off Landguard on 2nd and in the north-east of the county, singletons were seen off Gorleston, 13th and Pakefield on 25th with the bird on the latter date giving good views as it flew low over the beach.

During the summer months there was only one record, a singleton off Southwold on July 18th.

The autumn return passage didn’t get going until August 28th with one off Thorpeness. In September ten were off Southwold on 7th; the same day four were seen off Lowestoft Ness and two were off Thorpeness and Bawdsey and six were counted off Minsmere on 8th. Other peak counts in September included three off Slaughden, 20th and eight off Southwold on 21st.

In general, the vast majority of sightings were made in the north-east of the county. During October, sightings declined and maximum day-counts didn’t reach above two and were more weighted towards the end of the month and mostly seen at either Southwold or Minsmere. From Minsmere, two northbound birds were seen, October 21st and 29th and two others were noted off Southwold, October 30th.

After a comparatively quiet month in October, November saw more sightings with four off Landguard on 7th. Further north on 15th ten were off Southwold and nine flew north off Minsmere. The following day three were lingering off Bawdsey and eight lingered off Minsmere on 18th. Towards the end of the year sightings declined and during the final month, peak counts were of five past Southwold and Minsmere on 5th and six south off Thorpeness, 16th with a final record of a northbound bird off Minsmere on 24th.

POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus Uncommon passage migrant. A few overwinter.

There were no first winter records. A quiet spring passage followed with two noted off Landguard, May 4th and the only other spring record was of one north off Minsmere, May 22nd.

The first returning birds weren’t seen until October with a pale-phase adult south off East Lane, Bawdsey on 2nd and the following day one went north off Gorleston. There were only two other records for the month with singletons off Southwold, 21st and Thorpeness on 30th. November was when this species was most numerous, with a dark-phase juvenile off Bawdsey on 4th and another dark-phase there on 16th. Multiple sightings in November included two off Minsmere, 5th, 10th and 15th and a highlight of six past Thorpeness on 18th consisting of two northbound birds and four going south. Further south at Landguard singles were noted, November 7th and December 9th and 12th and, later in December, records of singletons were off Minsmere, 16th, 21st and 28th and off Southwold on 26th and 27th.

ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus Decreasing passage migrant. A few overwinter. Red list.

There were no records during the first winter period. Spring passage involved only four birds during May; singles north off Landguard and Orfordness on 5th and north off Ness Point.

Lowestoft, 8th and Southwold, on 17th.

Return passage started during August with two seen at each of Minsmere and Southwold on 9th and North Denes, Lowestoft on 12th. Elsewhere single birds were off Landguard, 9th and 24th. Sightings increased further into September with peak day-counts of four south off Gunton Cliffs, 5th and five off Corton Cliffs on 17th. Elsewhere four were noted off both Southwold, 21st and Slaughden on 26th. The only autumn record off Orfordness involved one north on 29th. In the south of the county, singletons were seen going south off East Lane, Bawdsey including palephase adults, September 7th and 20th and a dark-phase juvenile, October 7th. At Landguard, one went north, 20th and three south, September 21st, and two, October 5th and another one north, October 13th. October overall was a quiet month until just before the end when 15 were seen heading south past Ness Point, Lowestoft on 29th. The last notable sightings of the year were of four off Minsmere, November 10th and 15th.

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LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus Uncommon passage migrant.

There were seven sightings during 2019, a marked improvement on 2018 when there were only three records. All 2019 sightings were on return passage with four during September including two together off Southwold and three singletons elsewhere during October. All records received are as follows:

Southwold: two circling high south, 11:07hr Sep 5th (B Small).

Minsmere: juv north, 08:25hr Oct 5th (J Grant).

Thorpeness: north, Sep 18th (P Whittaker); south, Oct 2nd (P Whittaker); south, 14:15hr Oct 11th (P Whittaker).

Bawdsey: East Lane, dark-phase juv south, 08:24hr Sep 29th (S Abbott).

SANDWICH TERN Thalasseus sandvicensis Common passage migrant, recent increase as a summer visitor. Amber list.

The first sightings of the year were at Minsmere with a single bird on March 24th followed by five there on March 30th. As in 2018, throughout the spring and summer, the species was recorded intermittently at several coastal sites but generally only in small numbers. There was some spring passage noted, the largest flock comprising 53 birds flying north past Orfordness on May 5th.

Also, as in 2018, a significant flock gathered at Minsmere where numbers peaked at about 500 on April 24th. For the third consecutive year, breeding was confirmed at Minsmere and was by far the most successful with 50 nesting pairs fledging 28 young. This was the most successful breeding by Sandwich Terns in Suffolk since 1996 when 104 pairs bred on Havergate Island although they only managed to produce 30 fledged young.

On Orfordness, a small flock was present on the Airfields in late April/May raising hopes that breeding might take place. Numbers increased to a peak of 24 on May 11th and birds were frequently seen displaying with copulation noted. Sadly, no nests were seen and all had left by May 25th.

As autumn migration got underway, the species was recorded most days along the coastal strip until early October. There were three notable counts with 110 at Havergate Island on July 20th, 97 at Benacre Broad on August 1st and 60 at Landguard on August 28th. The final records were of two birds seen flying north past Minsmere, Southwold and Lowestoft on October 21st.

LITTLE TERN Sternula albifrons Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

The first records of the year were of 17 flying north off Landguard on April 22nd and a single bird on Minsmere Scrape the same day. The next sightings were of a single bird at Benacre Broad on 23rd then three at Minsmere on 25th. Thereafter, sightings were almost daily until late summer.

Breeding success in 2019 was unexceptional with 14 young fledged from two sites but an improvement on 2018 when only four fledged.

Breeding Site No. of Pairs Fledged Young Remarks Gorleston 0 0 No breeding attempts Kessingland 4 7 Four fledged in 2018 Benacre 4 0 All nests failed Covehithe Broad 0 0 No breeding attempts Corporation Marshes, Dunwich 0 0 Some began nest-scraping,

but by May 30th all had departed Walberswick 0 0 No breeding attempts Minsmere 10 7 First chick on June 14th Orfordness/Slaughden 0 0 No breeding attempts Shingle Street 0 0 No breeding attempts 139

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Most activity in early spring was centred on Minsmere with numbers building to approximately 100 by the end of May. A successful small colony, which was established here for the first time since 2007, was the first-ever on the Scrape.

There was only one post-breeding gathering reported; a maximum of 138 was at Benacre Broad from August 10th to 18th. Autumn passage was light with very few reports. The year’s last records were of three flying south past Minsmere on August 25th and two at Benacre Broad the following day.

Four on the Orfordness Lagoon, May 27th and two on the River Ore opposite Havergate Island.

July 18th are, remarkably, the first Orfordness records of Little Tern since May 29th 2016!

ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii Scarce passage migrant. Red list.

There were just two reports; both from Minsmere. A very short-staying bird flew north in the morning of May 16th and a second bird was observed briefly on South Scrape on the afternoon of May 30th.

2010 5

2011 6+

Totals of Roseate Terns reported 2010-2019 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 7-8 7-9 0 3 9 5-6

2018 10+

2019 2

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

The first sightings on the coast were of a single bird at Landguard on April 1st followed by two at Havergate Island on April 2nd (there has not been a March record since 2013). The first sighting at Minsmere was on April 5th and numbers there increased steadily thereafter with a peak count of 260 on May 30th. A peak of 95 flew north off Landguard on May 8th.

The first inland records were of a single bird at Lackford Lakes on April 8th, followed by three at Lakenheath Washes, 13th. Throughout April inland sightings were widespread (Weybread, Snape, Haverhill, Livermere Lake, Lackford Lakes, Lakenheath) but were all of seven birds or fewer.

The breeding information received is summarised below:

Minsmere: total of 200 pairs fledged 53 young Orfordness: one pair nested on the Airfield but no chicks were seen Havergate Island: total of 11 pairs nested but all failed at egg stage Alton Water: total of 60 nests on breeding rafts produced over 50 fledglings Lackford Lakes SWT: one pair nested but failed at egg stage - presumed predated

The total of 273 breeding pairs of Common Terns would appear to be the highest in Suffolk since 1971 when there were 400 pairs at Minsmere, 40 pairs on Havergate Island and one pair at Susbury. There were also 269 breeding pairs in 2006.

Southbound migration was evident from late-July with several post-breeding gatherings of note with 70 feeding off Trimley Marshes on July 24th, 276 at Benacre Broad on August 1st and 67 on Orfordness, August 6th. Of particular interest was the large gathering at Lowestoft North Beach from July 31st to August 17th where daily numbers varied from approximately 100 up to a peak of 194. Sightings continued regularly until late September.

The last records were of four birds flying south off Minsmere on October 7th and six at Hollesley Marshes on October 15th.

ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea Fairly common passage migrant. Last bred in 2008. Amber list.

The first records of the year were of a single bird at Snape on April 17th, followed by two at Livermere Lake on April 22nd. Thereafter, spring passage was observed both inland and along the coastal strip but generally in small numbers: 140

Systematic List Lowestoft: two, May 8th.

Minsmere: Apr 24th; two, May 9th; May 11th; nine, May 16th.

Snape Wetlands RSPB: Apr 17th Landguard: three, May 4th; four, May 5th, four, May 7th; five, May 8th Trimley Marshes SWT: two, May 4th Weybread: Gravel Pits, May 8th Livermere Lake: two, Apr 22nd; five, May 2nd; ten, May 3rd; May 8th Lackford Lakes: nine, Apr 27th; two, May 8th; two, May 10th Lakenheath Washes: two, Apr 26th

There were no more sightings until a first-summer bird was seen intermittently at Minsmere between June 14th and 25th.

Once again, there were no signs of breeding activity anywhere in the county.

Autumn passage was noted along the whole Suffolk coast but the numbers were very low. In total, there were records of about 25 birds - all were either single adult birds or an adult with a juvenile. There were no inland sightings.

The final records of the year were of a juvenile flying south off East Lane, Bawdsey on September 21st and two birds past Minsmere on October 1st.

WHITE-WINGED (BLACK) TERN Chlidonias leucopterus Rare visitor.

An adult in full-summer-plumage was found at Minsmere on the morning of June 29th (P Shaw et al.). It remained on site until the afternoon of the following day.

This is the 42nd Suffolk record; the previous being at Lackford Lakes in May 2018.

Andrew Moon

White-winged Tern at Minsmere, June 30th

BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger Fairly common passage migrant.

Spring migration was exceptional with up to 132 birds at 14 sites between April 19th and June 9th. This was the best spring passage in Suffolk since 2000 when 263 were present on May 7th alone, including 103 at Livermere Lake. In spring, the great majority of records are usually from inland sites but, in 2019, there were approximately 50 sightings along the coast: 141

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Corton: three, May 8th Lowestoft: two, May 8th Minsmere: May 2nd, May 4th; four, May 15th; two, May 19th; June 9th Thorpeness: three, May 18th Landguard: 28, May 8th; five, May 9th; May 17th – all flying north offshore Trimley Marshes SWT: three, May 10th Alton Water: nine, May 7th Bramford; Suffolk Water Park, two, Apr 19th Weybread: Gravel Pits, seven, May 7th; nine, May 8th; two, May 17th Culford: May 17th Cavenham Pits: four, May 7th Lackford Lakes SWT: two, Apr 20th: six, May 8th; May 9th; May 10th Livermere Lake: three, Apr 22nd; five, May 7th, six, May 8th; May 10th; May 14th; four, May 17th; two, May 18th Lakenheath Washes: seven, May 10th; three, May 16th

Autumn passage was similar in numbers to 2017 and 2018 with approximately 50 birds.

However, the majority of these were seen off Southwold on a single day; otherwise passage was very light. Migration was mostly over by the end of July with the final sighting along the coast being on September 24th. Autumn records came from just one west Suffolk site, Lackford Lakes, where a single bird on October 2nd was the final sighting of the year:

Corton: July 28th.

Benacre Broad: two, July 28th; Aug 15th Covehithe: Aug 3rd Southwold: 40, July 28th; Sep 24th Minsmere: Aug 11th; Sep 24th Orfordness: July 27th Lackford Lakes SWT: two, Aug 16th; Oct 2nd

COMMON GUILLEMOT Uria aalge Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Amber list.

Only around 376 Guillemots were reported in 2019 compared with 340 in 2018, 1000 in 2017 and 3250 in 2016. As always, there is the possibility that birds on passage may have been seen at more than one location (or may have lingered in the area) and, therefore, could have been counted more than once. However, with sightings on many dates, doublecounting is not likely to be significant in 2019. The figures include unidentified auks (39 in 2019, 104 in 2018, 231 in 2017) as these are most likely to have been Guillemots.

The peak count was 118 off Minsmere on December 7th; all other counts were under 30, and most were in single figures. The monthly totals for the last three years are shown in the table below:

Guillemot on Lake Lothing, February 3rd David Borderick

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Monthly totals of live Guillemots 2019 2018 2017

Jan 92 115 59

Feb 9 7 8

Mar 2 26 2

Apr 1 3 0

May 0 1 45

Jun 0 0 10

Jul 1 0 8

Aug 0 0 2

Sep 8 9 34

Oct 84 122 812

Nov 22 23 22

Dec 157 31 6

RAZORBILL Alca torda Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Amber list.

There were records of 14 birds for the year. All but one of the sightings were of single birds on passage. However, the total shown for February relates to a long-staying bird in Lowestoft, which remained in the Lake Lothing area from January 31st to February 17th (see photograph on page 16 0f The Harrier No.197).

One of the Razorbills in April was a sickly individual on the River Ore near the north end of Havergate Island on 16th.

Peter Ransome

Razorbill, Lake Lothing, February 17th

The monthly totals for the last three years are shown in the table below:

Jan 0 1 2

2019 2018 2017

Feb 1 0 0

Monthly totals of live Razorbills 2017 - 2019 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Oct 4 3 8

Nov 2 0 2

The table below shows the variability in the number of sightings during the last decade: Totals of live Razorbills reported 2010-2019 2010 70

2011 36

2012 82

2013 45

2014 13

2015 27 143

2016 39

2017 13

2018 6

2019 14

Dec 1 1 0

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

LITTLE AUK Alle alle Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor.

Another very poor year for this species with only 20 being recorded (28 in 2018, 29 in 2017) and, as always, there is the possibility of individuals being seen at more than one location.

The sightings were all in the period from October 23rd to November 29th. Records came from various locations along the whole Suffolk coastline from Gorleston to Landguard. The only record of more than a single bird was: Landguard: three, Nov 6th

A Little Auk was seen to be taken by a Peregrine at Felixstowe on November 6th, which may have been one of the Landguard birds.

ATLANTIC PUFFIN Fratercula arctica Scarce passage migrant. Red list.

There were three sightings in 2019, all of single birds flying north offshore:

Bawdsey: Sep 20th (S Abbott) Landguard: Nov 9th (W Brame); Nov 15th (W Brame, N Odin et al.)

Totals of live Puffins reported 2010-2019 2010 7

2011 5

2012 8

2013 13

2014 3

2015 1

2016 4

2017 1

2018 3

2019 3

FERAL PIGEON Columba livia Very common resident from feral stock. Categories A, C and E. This species remains widespread and numerous in our towns. Reports of 50 or more birds came from the following sites.

Sizewell: 60, Jan 27th.

Thetford: 75, Oct 12th; 57, Dec 7th.

Sudbury: 70, Mar 19th.

Newmarket: 100, Nov 9th.

Haverhill: 50, Jan 24th.

STOCK DOVE Columba oenas Fairly common resident and passage migrant. Amber list.

There were no sizeable groups reported during the first winter period. The first counts of 30 or more birds were reported in the spring and involved 80 around the Great Livermere pig fields on March 31st, 40 at Mickle Mere on April 5th and 30 at Westhorpe on April 13th.

During the spring and summer months a total of 65 birds was recorded from 20 of the 44 onekilometre squares visited during the Breeding Bird Survey (an occupancy rate of 45%, down from 58% in 2018). In contrast, reports of probable or confirmed breeding were received from a total of 23 sites, a significant increase on the 13 sites reported in 2018. These included an estimated 26 pairs on Orfordness (27 pairs in 2018) and seven pairs at Lakenheath Fen. An estimate of 150 pairs was made for the overall population within the River Stour Valley between Clare and Stratford St Mary (M Peers).

After 70 were seen at Havergate Island on October 3rd, there was a significant autumn passage, which was concentrated between October 17th and 20th.

Dunwich Heath: 107 over, Oct 19th.

Minsmere: 1050 south, Oct 17th; 767 south, Oct 19th.

Orfordness: 520 south, Oct 19th.

Landguard: a total of 1301 south between Oct 17th and 28th, with a peak day-count of 1100 south on 20th.

The Minsmere count of 1050 south on October 17th is the site’s highest day-total since October 20th 1994 when 1250 flew south.

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Peter Ransome

Stock Dove

The 1301 at Landguard is the highest annual total since 1994 when 2787 flew south, October 23rd to November 18th. Also, the 1100 south on October 20th is Landguard’s highest-ever daytotal.

There was one significant count during the second winter period when 400 birds were seen on a borage field by the A12 at Thorington Park on November 28th.

COMMON WOODPIGEON Columba palumbus Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Flocks of 500 or more birds reported during the first-winter period are listed below:

Chillesford: 700, feeding in a sugar beet field, Jan 26th.

Bardwell: Bowbeck, 2000, feeding on a flattened maize game-cover strip, Feb 21st.

Fornham St Martin: 500, Jan 10th; 800, Feb 12th.

Lackford to Cavenham: 1000, Feb16th.

Cavenham: 1000, Mar 18th.

Rushbrooke: 1300, Feb 16th.

Of the few confirmed breeding records received, there were 12 to 15 pairs at Landguard and an absolute minimum of 15 pairs nesting on Orfordness. Unsurprisingly, this species was recorded in 100% of the BBS squares visited.

During the autumn, passage was noted at Landguard between October 10th and November 18th with totals of 228 north and 6372 south and maximum day-counts of 1063 south, October 17th and 3821 south October 20th. Orfordness also recorded its highest count during this period with 570 seen heading south on October 19th, the same morning as the large movement of Stock Doves (see above). Several other sites recorded significant movements at this time, the largest of which were 485 south, Minsmere, October 17th; 825, Dunwich Heath, October 19th and 1415 south, Minsmere, October 19th.

Unusually, there were two reports of leucistic birds; two amongst the above flock at Cavenham on March 18th and one with a small flock at Long Melford on November 19th.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur Declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

A bird present at Dunwich on April 20th was the first report of the year and was quickly followed by sightings from nearby Westleton on 21st, Snape on 25th, Hulver Street on 26th and four further sites by the end of the month.

Estimating the number of breeding pairs across the county is difficult, despite the fact that the species is now generally well reported. A total of approximately 105 territories was located at 80 fairly widespread sites, down from an estimated 113 in 2018; the fact the decrease was a relatively small one is actually quite encouraging after recent declines. The figures included eight pairs at Minsmere and six at North Warren. BBS volunteers found three birds in two onekilometre squares.

None was reported on Orfordness this year but at Landguard, where nine had been noted in 2018, birds were recorded between May 31st and September 13th.

As is to be expected, the final reports of the year were during September, with sightings coming from seven sites, that from Kessingland on 23rd being the latest.

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto Common resident.

Probable and confirmed breeding reports came from just seven sites with the 30 pairs located around the southern side of Sudbury on March 20th being the only total of note. In reality, this species is likely to have bred in almost every village and town.

The largest counts reported during the year were:

Gislingham: 32, visiting feeders, May 30th.

Westhorpe: Hall Farm, 50, Jan 13th.

Great Livermere: 50, Oct 13th.

Boxford: Hagmore Green, 25, Nov 24th.

Sudbury: 22, visiting observer’s garden, Feb 4th; 23, Nov 28th.

Newton: 30, Nov 24th.

Haverhill: Hanchett, 24, Sep 21st; 31, Nov 14th.

COMMON CUCKOO Cuculus canorus Declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

A total of five sites recorded birds on April 16th – Minsmere, Orfordness, Thurston, Cavenham Heath and Lackford Lakes – the first birds of 2019. There then followed a widespread arrival with a total of 32 sites reporting their first arrivals by the end of the month.

Birds were located in just 11% of the 44 BBS squares visited. Compare this with 20 years ago when, in 1999, 47% of the squares visited were occupied by Cuckoos. Breeding was confirmed at a total of 14 sites (11 in 2018), including Minsmere, where three juveniles were seen on July 18th.

Elsewhere, seven singing males were present at Lakenheath Fen and an estimated 20 territories were present along the River Stour valley between Clare and Stratford St Mary. Negative news came from Orfordness, where 2019 was considered a very poor year and it was thought unlikely that any birds bred.

There was one report of an hepatic (rufous morph) female, seen at North Marsh, Minsmere on June 20th.

As is to be expected, late-summer sightings dropped away very quickly; eight sites recorded birds during August (five of which were juveniles), followed by September reports from Lakenheath Fen (2nd and 8th), Minsmere (5th and 9th) and Westleton Heath (15th and 19th).

WESTERN BARN OWL Tyto alba Fairly common resident. Categories A and E. In stark contrast with last year, 2019 was considered to be one of the best – certainly, as far as The Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project was concerned. Although only partial data were 146

Systematic List

available, a total of 742 nest boxes was monitored, with 167 active Barn Owl nests producing an average brood size of 2.88 young per pair – an average of nearly one extra chick per brood compared with 2018. An example of the high productivity rate recorded in 2019 came from the RSPB’s Lakenheath Fen reserve, where three pairs successfully fledged 12 young. Similarly, three pairs on Orfordness are believed to have fledged nine young. Of particular note was the number of second/successful replacement broods. Historically, these have been few and far between, but there were at least nine second broods in the west alone.

The highest site-count of the year came from Swilland, where six were present on July 2nd.

Elsewhere, five were seen at Snape on July 3rd, Waldringfield, July 12th and Bredfield on October 27th.

Landguard recorded three autumn sightings with singles present on September 18th and October 12th and 25th.

Ian Goodall

Barn Owl at Grove Farm, February 14th

TAWNY OWL Strix aluco Common resident. Amber list.

Confirmed breeding was reported from 15 sites, a significant increase on the five sites reported in 2018. It is impossible to know whether this is solely due to observer effort, or whether other factors are involved, but it is to be welcomed nonetheless, as this species is Amber-listed due to its slow, but gradual, population decline. Tawny Owls continue to be well-reported and remain widespread across the county. Sutton Hoo proved to be the single most productive site with four pairs, each fledging young.

From November 9th onwards, another bird, now known in the local media as Matilda, took up residence in the tree that was previously occupied by the popular Mabel in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. See Suffolk Birds 2015: 36 and 37. However, several observers considered that this bird is Mabel despite her not being present since August 2017 ie that it is not another bird.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua Fairly common resident.

The number of sites reporting Little Owls this year was very similar to that in the previous year with approximately 81 sites, compared with 83 during 2018. There was, again, a widespread distribution of records. The largest reported concentration was of five birds found at four sites around Walsham-le-Willows on January 24th.

Reports of probable or confirmed breeding came from 14 locations (13 in 2018), with another 32 sites reporting sightings during the main breeding season (41 in 2018). Three breeding territories were found at Minsmere with another three pairs being located on Sutton Common.

A pair that raised at least one youngster on Orfordness were the first to breed there since 2015.

None was reported from Landguard.

LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Scarce resident.

In contrast with only two reports in the first winter period last year, reports were received from seven sites in the first winter period; four of these were in Breckland, two on the coast and one in the south of the county. All referred to singles, apart from two reported at Santon Downham on January 19th.

At least five pairs bred in West Suffolk, with four pairs fledging 11 young between them.

As in 2018, autumn passage involved six birds.

Snape Wetland: two, Oct 22nd; Oct 31st.

Orfordness: Oct 22nd (the first site record since one in June 2015).

Landguard Point: adult female, trapped and ringed, Oct 18th.

Trimley St Mary: Trimley Marshes, Oct 17th.

Autumn reports also included nocturnal flight-calls of a single bird recorded at Pipps Ford on three nights between October 22nd and November 4th.

Second winter reports came from four sites and included a roost of three birds present at a site in the west on December 2nd.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Formerly bred. Amber list.

Reports were received from ten sites during January and February, most of which were in the north-east of the county. These included three birds around the Waveney Forest on January 18th and 24th, this being the peak count during this period. The following three months then produced a decent spring passage with singles reported from 20 coastal sites, a few of which were reported as ‘flying north’. In addition, Orfordness held very good numbers during this time with up to three seen regularly from April 14th until May 17th, but with six on April 19th and four on May 6th.

There were, again, a number of mid-summer reports.

Carlton Marshes: June 4th and 11th Walberswick: June 8th, 9th and 11th (two birds); July 6th Dingle Marshes: June 5th and 9th Minsmere: July 10th Orfordness: June 1st; one flew across from Havergate Island, June 29th Havergate Island: June 29th; July 3rd

Autumn sightings commenced on September 4th when a single bird was seen at Carlton Marshes. There then followed reports from a further 19 sites to the end of November, six of which involved birds flying in off the sea.

During December, three birds were reported from Shingle Street on 2nd, but it was the Waveney Forest which, again, held the largest concentration, with an impressive seven birds on December 15th.

Just three reports were received from the west of the county in 2019; Cavenham Heath, October 2nd, Honington, November 14th and Knettishall, November 28th.

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EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus Locally fairly common summer visitor. Scarce migrant. Amber list.

The first returning bird of the year was found at West Stow on May 9th and was followed by four more birds at two further sites in The King’s Forest, and a singing male at Cavenham Heath, all on May 15th. The first record from the east of the county concerned the unexpected sighting of a bird seen flying in off the sea at Minsmere on May 19th.

Survey work in The Sandlings revealed a total of 69 potential breeding territories, a small increase on the 65 recorded in 2018. Sutton and Hollesley Commons held the largest number with 14 territories (13 in 2018), whilst Rendlesham Forest had 12 (11 in 2018), Tunstall Forest and Common held nine (seven in 2018) and Minsmere had nine territories (ten in 2018).

A number of birds were reported from three coastal breeding sites during August and there were then no further sightings until one moribund Nightjar was rescued at Felixstowe, October 19th which, sadly, succumbed (Harrier No. 199 page 18). Four days later one was flushed from sea defence rocks at Bawdsey on the very late date of October 23rd (S Abbott). These are only the 11th and 12th October record in Suffolk and the first since one on October 6th 2008 (Ipswich).

Nightjars to have been recorded in Suffolk later than this Bawdsey bird were at Oulton Broad, October 30th 1956 and Worlingham, November 1st 1957.

COMMON SWIFT Apus apus Very common summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Lackford Lakes recorded the first sighting of 2019 with one present on April 25th. The following day, one was present at the BTO’s Nunnery Lakes reserve at Thetford with another at Darsham Marshes also on April 26th. A further six sites recorded birds before the end of April. As numbers built up in May, the peak counts received were 100 at Minsmere on 2nd, 150 over Snape on 6th, 130 at Great Livermere on 8th (and 120 there on 17th) and 260 at Lakenheath Fen on 8th.

Although data were limited, the numbers of breeding pairs appear to have been a little lower than in 2018. Only eight sites reported confirmed breeding (compared with 17 in 2018) and an observer from Pakenham commented that ‘breeding numbers now much reduced’. Of the confirmed breeders, the following totals were received from monitored sites.

Earl Stonham: Brewery Farm, ten pairs nested Santon Downham: St Mary’s Church, five pairs nest boxes occupied Bury St Edmunds: St John’s Church, 19 pairs reared 41 young (down on the 23 pairs recorded in 2018) Sudbury: St Peter’s Church, seven nest boxes occupied

As is the norm, peak monthly counts at Landguard occurred in June and July with 1505 seen heading south on June 6th being the single largest day-total. The only other sizeable totals received from the coast during the return passage involved 230 south at Orfordness on June 8th and 100 south over the same site on July 19th, followed by 200 birds at Lowestoft on August 14th and 350 heading south there on August 16th.

Monthly Movements of Common Swifts at Landguard: In/North South

Apr 0 0

May 7 29

Jun 108 1630

Jul 250 612

Aug 3 278

Sep 1 19

Oct 1 0

Small numbers of birds lingered into September with records received from a total of 24 sites (just seven sites in 2018), including 20 at Pakefield on 3rd. The final sightings of the year crept into October, with singles at Landguard on 2nd, Thorpeness on 4th and, lastly, three birds at Leavenheath on 6th.

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Save Our Suffolk Swifts - 2020 SOSSwifts has been busy this year, both helping individuals with nest box requests, and providing advice, walks and talks to local Swift groups; Nayland, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Claydon, Waldringfield and Bury St. Edmunds have been particularly active. SOSSwifts also assisted with a number of disputes centred around known nest sites. Our priority has been to protect, then expand known colonies. Resolutions have all been successful. We negotiated the removal of scaffoldings and nettings during the breeding period to permit birds access and sought the addition of further nest boxes to further boost these colonies. Reports suggest that there has been a significant increase in the number of nest boxes becoming occupied across Suffolk, with many more being ‘banged’* by youngsters. We are now planning for 2021, if you need help and wish to install nest boxes please email us at Swifts@SuffolkBirdGroup.org *Banging is what the non-breeding birds do when prospecting for future nest sites. They will knock at an opening, briefly perch and later explore, sometimes roosting overnight.

Swifts will peel off from a group during their low-level screaming displays. Coming in hot, you can hear them hit the nest box.

It is great sign, seeing boxes banged shows that sub-adult swifts know that the nest boxes are there and available for when they return to breed next May.

ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba Rare visitor.

The first county record since 2013 involved a single spring bird, Suffolk’s 40th record, observed heading south down the coast between Corton and Lowestoft, as follows: Corton: south: 09:45hr, Apr 27th (C Shaw) Gunton: south between 09:47hr and 09:50hr, Apr 27th (R Wilton, et al.)

Lowestoft: south, 09:51hr, Apr 27th (J A Brown)

Suffolk records in the decade 2010 – 2019 totalled 12, of which as many as nine were noted in the record-breaking year of 2010.

COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis Fairly common resident. Amber list.

Unlike 2018, there was no prolonged spell of severe weather in the early part of the year and this was reflected in the number of reports received during this period, with records received from 32 widespread sites. An impressive total of seven birds at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft on January 10th is the largest count of the year.

Breeding was confirmed at a total of five sites – well down on the ten confirmed sites in 2018 – and was thought to have probably occurred at a further seven sites. Anecdotal evidence suggests that, despite the aforementioned reduction in confirmed breeding pairs, 2019 may have been a good breeding season. For the first time ever, three nests were located at Alton Water, whilst at Lackford Lakes, two pairs raised three broods (including a pair using the artificial nesting wall).

Some post-breeding dispersal was recorded during the late-summer and autumn months.

Orfordness recorded its first birds of the year (two) on August 24th and a total of six birds was ringed on the site to December 18th. Landguard logged its only bird of the year on October 22nd.

This year’s only sighting on Wilderness Pond, Christchurch Park, Ipswich was on November 14th.

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER Merops apiaster Scarce but now usually annual passage migrant.

The following sightings occurred along the coastal strip in June. The two sightings on 29th presumably relate to the same birds, whilst the birds seen at Landguard on 24th may also refer to the same two wandering individuals.

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Systematic List Walberswick: Walberswick Common, two south, 12:20hr, June 29th (D Jobbins) Aldeburgh: two north-east, 14:08hr, June 29th, same as above (J Davies) Landguard: two south, 10:25hr, June 24th, fifth site record (S H Piotrowski et al.)

The two birds south over Landguard are presumed to be the same two over Dungeness, Kent at 15:50hr on the same date (Harrier Autumn 2019 NO. 198, page 22).

EURASIAN HOOPOE Upupa epops Scarce passage migrant. Categories A and E. There was a total of five birds reported during 2019, four of which were one-dayers. The two Breckland sightings could easily relate to the same bird.

Burgh Castle/Bradwell: Nov 3rd to 5th (multi-observer) Aldringham: May 31st, photographed (multi-observer) Landguard: found at 09:24hr, then south across the river at 10:06hr, June 23rd, sixth site record (W J Brame et al.)

Elveden: Apr 23rd per (P Dickinson per County Recorder) The King’s Forest: Wordwell, May 6th to 10th (per S J Holloway)

Andrew Moon

Hoopoe at Aldringham Walks, May 31st

EURASIAN WRYNECK Jynx torquilla Uncommon passage migrant.

Wryneck is no longer on a conservation list because it is now classified as a former breeder.

It was a relatively poor year with a total of five birds reported, the lowest annual total since 2006 when there were also only five. Three of these were on Orfordness; the bird on April 24th being the first-ever spring record for the site.

Gunton: Gunton Warren, Aug 29th (J Wright) Alde Estuary: Aug 29th (M L Cornish) Orfordness: trapped and ringed, Apr 24th; trapped and ringed, Sep 1st; trapped and ringed, Sep 8th

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dryobates minor Uncommon resident. Red list.

The well-watched woodland along the Little Ouse River at Santon Downham again provided the majority of 2019’s sightings. Sadly, the number of sites reporting birds was down on 2018 (four sites compared with eight), but it’s a very small population and the elusive nature of the species makes it difficult to monitor accurately. The one confirmed sighting from the coastal belt is a welcome addition.

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Jan Wilczur

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers

Hollesley: two, Jan 30th (N Mason) Santon Downham: several reports received for the period between Jan 5th and Mar 19th with peak counts of three birds (two males and a female) on three dates Thetford: female drumming, Feb 16th; pair on territory, Feb 26th to Mar 19th Lackford Lakes: male held territory from Jan 15th until Feb 16th

In addition, there was an unconfirmed report of a single bird at Trimley St Martin on February 22nd and two unconfirmed reports at Lakenheath Fen RSPB in late January/early February.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major Common resident. Scarce passage migrant.

The first ‘drumming’ bird of the year was heard at Fritton Lake on January 14th and was followed by one at Halesworth on January 19th. Both Sotterley and Minsmere then recorded ‘drumming’ birds before the end of the month.

For a species that has seemingly been doing well in recent years, it was perhaps surprising that the Breeding Bird Survey found an apparent reduction in the distribution of this species. Of the 44 one-kilometre squares surveyed, birds were found in 17 (or 39%), compared with a 53% occupancy rate in 2018 – and well below the previous ten-year average of 50%. Some positive news, however, was that the number of reports of confirmed breeding increased from just 11 sites in 2018 to 21 sites in 2019.

One was logged at Landguard Bird Observatory on the atypical date (for the site) of January 24th. More usual were the summer and autumn sightings at Landguard, which consisted of singles on 25 dates between June 16th and October 27th, plus two on October 3rd.

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis Common resident. Amber list.

A total of 44 birds was found in 26 of the 44 one-kilometre squares covered during the Breeding Bird Survey. This compares favourably with the 35 birds in 23 of the 46 during 2018, an improvement which may, at least in part, be due to the population recovering from the very harsh first winter conditions experienced in 2018. Confirmed breeding was reported from 19 sites (23 in 2018) and included two pairs at both the SWT’s Thorington Church Farm and the RSPB’s Butley River reserves, whilst five territories were located in the general area of Arger Fen, near Assington. High counts included seven birds at both Ickworth Park, July 24th and Dunwich Heath, October 19th.

Landguard Bird Observatory recorded singles on eight dates between July 23rd and September 30th, plus two on July 23rd and August 1st.

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Systematic List

Jan Wilczur

Green Woodpecker

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus Common resident. Uncommon passage migrant. Amber list.

Reports came from 214 parishes in 2019, which is a welcome increase on the 165 in 2018. These included an estimated 25-30 pairs along the Stour Valley. However, the species was recorded on only three of the 12 visits to Lavenham Railway Walks. The BBS data for the east of England in 2018 to 2019 show a very slight increase of +1 and although this compares favourably with the UK trend for the same period; the trend in Suffolk is still downward. The species was seen in just 12 of the 44 BBS squares, which is down on the 14 in 2018 and 19 in 2017. Also, there were 15 individuals counted during the BBS survey in the county compared with 17 in 2018 and 23 in 2017.

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Breeding was confirmed at 17 sites across the county. Details of breeding success were sparse but productivity appears to have been fairly good and the few reports included a pair that fledged four young in a nestbox at Braiseworth (near Eye).

Late summer counts on Orfordness included five in July and up to seven in August and September. Elsewhere, five were at Berners Heath/Icknield Heath on July 4th and six were seen together at Nayland on July 29th. Dispersing juveniles were logged at Landguard from early July to the end of October.

RED-FOOTED FALCON Falco vespertinus Rare visitor A splendid adult male bird was found around the landing lights at the end of the Woodbridge Airfield on April 27th. It remained at the site until May 6th delighting many observers with excellent views.

Woodbridge Airfield: Apr 27th to May 6th (M L Cornish et al.)

Landguard Bird Observatory: juvenile, Sep 13th (W J Brame, N Odin) The Landguard bird was seen and photographed flying over before drifting off north around 10:30hr. It is the third site record (previous sightings having been in May 1992 and June 2007).

The same bird may have also been seen at Shottisham at 14:00hr (WJ Brame).

MERLIN Falco columbarius Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Red List.

There were 59 reports of this declining species in 2019, compared with 78 in 2018 and 82 in 2017. This continues the downward trend of this winter visitor in Suffolk.

Reports came from 11 coastal sites during the first winter period, notably between Aldeburgh and Orfordness where a single bird was recorded on 16 dates between January and March and two were on Orfordness on two dates in March. The only inland records at this time came from Tuddenham St Mary where a female was seen chasing a Starling flock on January 11th and another female was seen at Lavenham on March 9th. It was estimated that a minimum of five birds was present in the county from January to March.

The seven April sightings up to 22nd all came from coastal locations and included reports of single birds on three dates at Landguard.

Merlin Jan Wilczur The first autumn sighting was at Orfordness on September 8th and this was followed by a male at East Lane, Bawdsey on September 20th. Reports were received from six coastal sites in October; one was seen on four dates on Orfordness and another bird was seen along Minsmere beach on four dates. A migrant was seen flying in off the sea at Bawdsey on October 19th. November produced 11 reports, nine from the coastal margin and two from the west. In December there were sightings at seven sites, including males at Dennington and Lakenheath Fen. It is likely at least six birds were present in the county between October and December.

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Systematic List

EURASIAN HOBBY Falco subbuteo Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant.

The 466 reports received from across the county in 2019 is a significant drop from the 583 in 2018 and well below the 836 in 2017. BBS data show that this species is in long-term decline across the UK; in Suffolk it was logged in just one BBS square compared with two in 2018 and one in 2017, although probably not statistically significant. There is an increasing perception that a decline in the Brecks in particular is due to Buzzard/Goshawk predation.

The first spring report came from Walberswick on April 10th and this was followed by another 35 records during April. Notable gatherings during May included a combined total on May 14th of 18 from Carlton Marshes/Castle Marsh and North Cove, and 12 at North Warren, also on May 14th; ten were at Snape Wetlands on May 2nd and 16th. A staggering 66 were counted at Lakenheath Fen on May 12th., This is a county record just surpassing the 65, also at Lakenheath Fen, on May 1st 2010.

Breeding was confirmed at five sites across the county and suspected at six others, including Minsmere and Walberswick each of which had three pairs. No data were received from Thetford Forest which had provided a significant proportion of the figures in previous years, this accounting for the reduction in the estimated number of territories from 36 down to 16.

Autumn sightings included several reports of birds hunting migrants offshore at various coastal locations. These included three hunting passing Swifts at Benacre, three hunting off Covehithe and Southwold and four hunting over the sea at Thorpeness.

Late counts included a group of seven together at Minsmere on September 15th. There were 24 reports in October with the last bird, also seen at Minsmere, on October 27th.

Ed Keeble

Eurasian Hobby 155

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus Uncommon but increasing winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred since 2008. Categories A and E. The total of 419 reports received in 2019 is a significant increase on the 327 in 2018 but slightly less than the 433 in 2017. Approximately 50% of the reports came from the north-east of the county.

Birds were present throughout the year at several sites. During the first winter period reports came from over 30 sites along the coastal margin and from ten locations inland. Several of the favoured coastal sites hosted two birds and three, including two males, were seen at Minsmere on January 8th.

Inland the adult bird remained at the former Stradishall Airfield during January at least and a female was present at Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland until March. Near Cavenham two males were seen sitting together in a fallow field on four dates, and a pair was present there later in the month and into February. Another pair was seen near Barnham between January and March. A second-calendar-year bird was found dead at Stowmarket in February.

Possible spring migrants included two flying in off the sea at Gorleston on March 17th.

There were eight confirmed breeding pairs in 2019 and, of these, six were successful. At Felixstowe Docks one pair fledged one young but it was not seen again after leaving the nest at six weeks old (the first time a chick has reached fledging stage at this site). A new pair nesting at Martlesham Heath fledged three young, a pair in central Ipswich fledged at least two young and two young fledged on Orwell Bridge (see Field Note). Elsewhere, a pair raised two female chicks at a site in Bury St Edmunds; both were ringed and colour-ringed. In the Gipping Valley a pair, presumed to have nested on a pylon, was known to have fledged one young. Pairs were present in Felixstowe but there was no proof of breeding and at a confidential coastal site a pair laid two eggs but the nest was abandoned after a period of storms and heavy rain in May. Summary table of confirmed number of breeding pairs in the last decade: Year

Confirmed breeding/pairs

Total pairs

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

1 2 2 4 3 4 6 4 8

2 2 5 7 6 5 7 7 5 9

The second winter produced sightings from 29 coastal sites, as many birds returned to their traditional winter territories. Single birds were seen at Carlton Marshes in October and November and two were present on December 5th. Up to two birds were also present around Blythburgh and the adult returned to its usual tree at Hollesley Marshes in November. Inland the adult bird returned to the former Stradishall Airfield for its seventh winter. The Cavenham area again proved popular, this time attracting an adult male and a sub-adult female in November and December.

Prey items included a Little Auk which was taken offshore at Landguard on November 6th, a Lapwing being eaten on Minsmere Scrape on September 7th and a Moorhen at Culford Park on February 22nd.

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Systematic List

FIELD NOTE Peregrines have nested successfully on the Orwell Bridge every year since 2008 but the survival rate of the young has been disappointingly low. Of the 42 youngsters seen in the box, 32 have survived until one day after fledging, but only 17 have survived to three weeks after fledging.

P Merchant ROSE-RINGED (RING-NECKED) PARAKEET Psittacula krameri Scarce resident. Categories C and E. It was a comparatively quiet year for this species.

One at Oulton Broad from January 1st to 10th had been present in that area since November 2nd 2018.

Four, involving one adult and three juvenile females, were present in Ipswich throughout the year frequenting the Old Cemetery, Christchurch Park and adjacent urban areas. Presumably the same four birds were at Rushmere Hall Primary School in Ipswich on various dates in the autumn.

In the west, one was at Ickworth Park, Horringer on August 12th.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio Scarce passage migrant. Formerly bred. Red list.

After four in 2017 and six in 2018 there were just three sightings of this handsome predatory species.

Kessingland Denes: male, May 23rd (C D Darby) Westleton Heath: male, June 15th (M T Cartwright) Havergate Island: female, July 3rd (D Fairhurst, M C Marsh) – an intriguing mid-summer record

This is the first year since 2012 that there have been no autumn records of Red-backed Shrike.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE Lanius excubitor Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

This rapacious small predator was present in early spring and autumn. This species has a roving nature and it is unclear exactly how many birds were actually present.

Birds in the east of the county:

Kessingland Denes: Oct 22nd (K Blowers) Thorington: Apr 12th to 14th 1st summer (A V Moon) Landguard: Oct 22nd (P Holmes) Holbrook: ranging across fields, woodland and grounds of Royal Hospital School, Oct 30th and 31st. (C Baines, S Grimwood)

In the west of the county:

Santon Downham: Jan 23rd intermittently to Feb 8th, seen regularly on both sides of the Little Ouse river Brandon: Park Heath, presumed same as last year’s bird, Jan 30th (G Conway), possibly same as above (See Suffolk Birds 2018:129) Brandon: Mayday Farm, Jan 30th and Feb 4th, possibly same as above (per Suffolk BINS) Elveden: Ride 7, Feb 15th intermittently to Mar 23rd (R Burrough et al.), possibly same as above

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Great Grey Shrike, Kessingland, October 24th

David Borderick

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

WOODCHAT SHRIKE Lanius senator Rare visitor.

There was one sighting of this species which had not been recorded in the county since 2013. This brings the total of Woodchat Shrikes recorded in Suffolk in the decade 2010-2019 to seven, making it the best-ever decade for this shrike in the county.

Kessingland Cliffs: first-summer female, photographed, June 9th and 10th (J Cyprus) Woodchat Shrike at Kessingland, June 9th Andrew Moon

EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE Oriolus oriolus Rare passage migrant. Last bred in 2009. Red list.

After one sighting in 2017 and the blank years of 2016 and 2018, there was only a single sighting of this striking migrant species.

Minsmere: singing first-summer male, photographed, May 24th to 28th (H Page et al.)

Andrew Moon

Golden Oriole at Minsmere, May 27th

EURASIAN JAY Garrulus glandarius Common resident and scarce passage migrant Reports show that this colourful corvid with its distinctive harsh call of woods, gardens and parks to be a widespread and well-reported bird. Breeding or ‘probable breeding’ was confirmed at seven sites in the north-east, five RSPB sites in the south-east and four other locations in the west. BBS recorded birds in 20 of the 44 squares surveyed with 36 individuals counted.

Nine presumed migrants flew in off the sea at Kessingland on September 22nd and, possibly related to this, “high numbers” were seen at Minsmere in autumn with a maximum of 32 on October 19th. This is the highest day-total at any Suffolk site since early October 2012 when there were impressive counts of 48, Kessingland, 6th, 50, Minsmere, 3rd and 98 at Boyton Marshes RSPB on 2nd.

At Landguard, one was present on June 11th and, in autumn, 12 were noted there during the period from October 3rd to 23rd, with a maximum of three on 20th. Landguard’s peak autumn total so far this century is of 51, also in 2012.

A roost of eight was noted at Grove Farm, Thurston on January 25th and 13 were recorded at Brandon Heath on November 3rd.

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A Jay was heard imitating a Common Buzzard in Thetford on March 5th. Other records this century of Jays imitating other bird species have involved singles mimicking a Buzzard at West Stow CP, September 15th 2002 and Tawny Owl at North Stow in The King’s Forest, April 28th 2009 (SBRs).

EURASIAN MAGPIE Pica pica Very common resident.

The Magpie is a resourceful bird and, although subject to persecution in many areas, reports from across the county reflect its continued persistence. It is surprising that there are not more reports of sizeable roosts of this sociable bird. Breeding was ‘confirmed’ or ‘probable’ at five sites in the north-east, six RSPB sites in the south-east and one site in the west. Data from BBS showed Magpies in 32 of the 44 survey squares with 127 individuals counted.

On Orfordness, birds were present on all visits with no significant counts made, although 12 were recorded on February 2nd. A minimum of eight pairs nested there.

At Landguard, Magpies were present all year with four pairs nesting, two rearing four young.

There was a spring maximum of 12 on several dates and a summer peak of 12, July 3rd. The autumn maximum was 17 on both October 1st and 20th.

Roost counts as usual came from the Gipping Valley at Pipps Ford where a maximum of 118 (78 in 2018) was counted in the main roost, February 10th. Many other birds also now roost in woodland nearby, but are difficult to survey accurately, but perhaps another 30 birds are present.

At Sudbury on May 18th a Magpie was seen trying to kill a Starling which somehow managed to escape. The roost site at Lackford Lakes SWT held 25 birds on June 18th.

WESTERN JACKDAW Coloeus monedula Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

This jaunty bird with its distinctive ashy-grey head was recorded across the county.

Breeding was confirmed at five sites in the north-east, six RSPB sites in the south-east and four in the west. A noteworthy 700 roosted in Dunwich Forest, July 8th.

Present throughout the year, on Orfordness with the highest counts of 60, January 20th and 130 roosting on the Pagodas on September 21st. The breeding population was estimated at 20 pairs, all in various buildings on site.

BBS surveying showed Jackdaws occurring in 32 of 44 squares with 501 individuals counted.

At Landguard, in spring, a total of eight flew north and 14 south and two on site, February 16th to May 29th. A maximum of five moved south on February 28th. In autumn a total of eight flew south with six on site September 30th to October 25th. A day-maximum of three passed south on both September 30th and October 25th. One showing characteristics of the nominate form monedula was present on October 23rd (W J Brame et al.).

High counts came from the west throughout the year including 150, Barnham, January 21st, 150, Cavenham Heath, June 16th and 200 at Stoke-by-Nayland, November 8th. An all-white individual was present around Icklingham for several months. There were two records of birds showing characteristics of the nominate race monedula at Great Livermere pig fields on January 13th and February 8th (P M Wilson).

The group of 15 that flew high westwards over Ivry Street, central Ipswich on October 10th may well have been migrants.

ROOK Corvus frugilegus Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Reports of this widely-distributed, gregarious bird came from across the county with migrants being noted at several coastal sites.

Breeding was recorded in the ongoing SBG Breeding Rook Survey.

Rooks featured in BBS data with 501 being seen in 31 of the 44 squares being surveyed.

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On Orfordness the year’s first was on an unexpected date when one flew south on March 23rd.

More typically, two were present in April on 22nd. Rooks were then regularly noted from May 7th to June 26th, with maxima of 100 on the spit on May 20th and 30 there on both May 25th and June 26th.

Landguard recorded totals of three moving north and ten south between March 4th and April 20th, with a maximum of three flying south on March 17th and three north on April 20th. In October two flew south, 3rd, ten south on 17th, one south on 20th and in November, one south on 4th.

Lakenheath Fen held 67 nests, a slight reduction compared with 71 in 2018 and 500 birds were present there on January 21st. Other high counts included 300 at Lackford Lakes on June 18th and an impressive 2000 at Icklingham on July 7th.

An article by Nigel Odin in “The Harrier” No. 196 (Spring 2019) details Rook movements at Landguard Bird Observatory between 1983 and 2018.

Suffolk Bird Group received funds to undertake a rookery survey of Suffolk. The plan is to cover the whole county over two or three years, starting in 2019. Survey records were (and will be) inputted on to a specific recording page courtesy of Suffolk Biological Information Service (SBIS). In the first year (2019), the total number of rookery records was 245, of which 157 were in VC 26 (vice-county West Suffolk) and 88 were in VC25 (East Suffolk). From the 245 rookeries there has been a total of 5062 nests counted with a much higher number in VC 26, with 3289 nests, compared with 1773 in VC 25. The recording map shows large gaps along the west and north of the county.

Gi Grieco CARRION CROW Corvus corone Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

This enduring and opportunistic corvid was reported from across the county.

Breeding data came from three sites in both the north-east and south-east and two in the west.

At North Denes, Lowestoft a flock of 32 was seen on April 18th, of which 12 flew south-east out to sea.

BBS data showed this wide-spread corvid to be present in 42 of the 44 survey squares with a total of 347 birds being recorded.

On Orfordness this species was recorded throughout the year with up to 11 in January, a maximum of 16 in February, and 17 in March, then smaller numbers until the usual autumn increase in October with a maximum of 18 on both 5th and 13th and a count of 17 on November 10th. Five pairs nested on site.

At Landguard birds were present all year. Two pairs nested in the adjoining docks with one pair rearing two young and the other four young. There was a spring maximum of 21 on March 23rd and an autumn maximum of 24, November 10th. Spring movements comprised 51 north, 76 south and five west between February 24th and June 3rd with a maximum 17 south, March 23rd. One flew south on August 20th. There was visible movement in autumn with 18 north and 20 south during the period from September 19th to November 15th and a maximum 15 north on November 10th.

High counts in the west included 67 which flew south to roost on April 14th and 100 at Bures on October 25th.

A hybrid Carrion/Hooded Crow was at Benacre Pits on December 11th.

HOODED CROW Corvus cornix Scarce winter visitor.

After one sighting in 2018 and previously two in 2017 there were no reported birds in 2019, as was also the case in 2015 and 2016.

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NORTHERN RAVEN Corvus corax Increasingly common resident and visitor. Breeding commenced in 2018.

The distinctive huge bill, wedge-shaped tail and distinctive call of the Raven are being seen and heard more frequently. The areas in which they are being seen today are probable those they inhabited prior to their extinction in Suffolk in 1870 - with place names such as Raven’s Grove, Baylham and Ravenswood, Ipswich being related to sightings today.

Sightings came from one site in the north-east with single birds seen at Minsmere at Scott’s Hall on February 2nd and Whin Hill, February 27th.

Ravens were seen at Butley and around the western fringes of Ipswich, the Gipping Valley and western parts of mid-Suffolk. Other sightings came from the environs of the Suffolk side of the Stour Estuary. Breeding in the south-east was restricted to one site.

In the west birds were seen throughout the year at a remarkable 30 sites, with up to four birds sighted at these widely distributed locations. An adult and two juveniles were seen on an old landfill site on June 5th (R Ayres). Four birds seen at Stradishall on August 4th were presumed to be a family group (S Jarvis).

BOHEMIAN WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

It was another relatively lean year for sightings of this popular, erratic and unpredictable wanderer with no second winter reports from the south-east and west recording areas.

Throughout January birds wandered around a range of locations in the north-east, with a maximum of 15 at Leiston, January 4th. From November 4th birds frequented the Lowestoft/ Beccles area with a maximum of 31 at Carlton Colville, December 21st.

In the south-east region, groups of up to 27 birds were seen in January and February. There were many reports across the area of one or two birds, with reports of larger concentrations in Woodbridge (27) and Ipswich (26). The highest total in the south-east in March was of 30 on Upper Hollesley Common on 29th.

In the west, small numbers were recorded at a few sites with a maximum of seven in Bury St Edmunds on February 7th; some of these birds remained in the area until at least April 3rd. The last record in the west was of five at Lackford Lakes on March 19th.

Peter Lakey

Bohemian Waxwings 161

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John Richardson

Waxwings in Woodbridge

COAL TIT Periparus ater britannicus Very common resident and scarce passage migrant.

Reports of this coniferous-forest dweller came from a range of suitable sites with small numbers reported from gardens and urban parks. Breeding records of at least one or two pairs came from six sites in the north-east, two south-east and three in the west. Coal Tits were recorded in 14 of the 44 BBS survey squares with a total count of 37 birds seen.

It was a record-equalling year for this species at Landguard with 18 noted during the period from May 28th to July 13th, with a maximum day-count of four on June 23rd. In autumn 12 were recorded between August 23rd and October 28th. At least 30 were recorded at Landguard back in 1983 during the period October 12th to November 12th with a maximum day-total of 15 on October 29th.

Brandon Park Heath held the highest concentrations of Coal Tits in the west with a maximum count of 44 on December 29th.

CONTINENTAL COAL TIT Periparus ater ater Scarce passage migrant.

This individual, and two, also on May 6th, at Landguard in 2016, are the latest-ever spring birds to be recorded in Suffolk.

Trimley Marshes: May 6th (J Zantboer)

MARSH TIT Poecile palustris Fairly common resident. Red list.

Marsh Tits are one of those fairly scarce and declining birds in the county that are well-reported and, as usual, there was a good number of sightings from suitable sites across the county.

Breeding of at least one or two pairs was recorded at five sites in the north-east. Only one pair was reported “holding territory” in the south-east. Breeding was confirmed at three sites in the west, which now appears to be the stronghold of this species. Breeding behaviour was reported from 22 sites. BBS showed Marsh Tits present in only 5 of the 44 survey squares with a total of eight birds counted.

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Reports of one to three birds came from 20 sites in the north-east with the highest count being five at Minsmere, November 30th.

In the south-east records came from ten sites, the highest number seen being three. Many more records came from sites in the west where small numbers were reported but maximum counts were of eight in Bradfield Woods, May 4th and nine, Brandon Country Park, September 5th.

WILLOW TIT Poecile montanus Scarce resident and very rare passage migrant. Red List.

After two sightings in 2017 and a single sighting in 2018, there were no Suffolk records of Willow Tit in 2019, as in 2014 and 2015.

About ten singing males were at a traditional breeding area in west Norfolk in 2018 which offers hope that this species might be located again in Suffolk.

EURASIAN BLUE TIT Cyanistes careruleus Very common resident and scarce passage migrant.

Breeding records of this most-common and familiar bird came from 12 sites in the north-east, seven in the south-east and two in the west. Blue Tits were recorded in 43 of 44 BBS survey squares with 426 individuals counted.

One was present in the Village area or Chantry reedbed on Orfordness on January 12th with two on 20th and singles on February 10th and March 21st and 23rd. One in the Holm Oaks on April 20th was more likely to have been a migrant.

It was an excellent autumn for this species on Orfordness, commencing with one on August 25th and 26th. After one on September 19th, birds were regularly seen to the month’s end, with a maximum of nine on 30th. They were present there throughout October with a maximum of six on 22nd, then up to three through to December 15th and six from 18th to the year’s end. The 26 birds ringed this year easily beat the previous highest total of 16 in 2015.

Twenty were noted around Poplar Park, Hollesley on January 30th.

At Landguard birds were present all year; one pair nested rearing five young. Six birds from previous years survived the winter, the oldest from June 2014. The arrival of three new birds on January 1st was unexpected. Spring passage was noted from February 11th until April 8th, with a maximum of four on March 25th. The first of the juveniles appeared on May 26th with juveniles from elsewhere, June 5th until July 13th. Autumn passage was the largest since 1983, running from August 15th to November 12th plus a later bird on 24th, and a day-maximum of 22 on September 19th. The exceptional passage at Landguard in 1983 occurred between September 20th and October 31st; peak day-totals were 100, September 24th and 54, October 20th. In addition at least 95 were observed in direct southerly passage on eight dates between October 20th and 31st.

Ringing at Lackford Lakes SWT suggested a good breeding season, with 46 birds ringed, 36 of these being juveniles. Forty were seen at Assington Thicks, July 19th where breeding was also confirmed.

GREAT TIT Parus major Very common resident and scarce passage migrant.

Breeding reports of this widely-distributed species came from 11 sites in the north-east, five in the south-east and two in the west. At Reydon Wood SWT, 12 pairs were recorded and eight at Oulton Marshes. BBS visits found Great Tits in 41 of 44 survey squares with a total 262 birds counted.

On Orfordness, one present on April 21st is the first site record since July 17th 2013.

At Landguard this species was present all year, as is usual, with four pairs nesting. Fourteen birds from previous years survived the winter with the oldest from May 2014. Spring passage ran from February 20th until April 9th, with a day-maximum of 12 on March 20th. The first juveniles 163

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were noted on May 19th with dispersing juveniles from elsewhere turning up on site from May 19th until August 3rd, with a maximum day-count of 20 on both May 29th and June 4th. Autumn passage ran from September 12th to November 9th, with a maximum 15 on October 20th. The conditions which resulted in the highest site totals of Blue Tits and Coal Tits at Landguard since 1983 did not induce above-average totals of Great Tits at this location.

Twenty were at Assington Thicks on July 17th where breeding was also confirmed.

EURASIAN PENDULINE TIT Remiz pendulinus Rare visitor.

After one in 2017 and two in 2018 there were two sightings – at Minsmere and on Orfordness.

These were the second and third Suffolk November records since 2007.

Previous records from Orfordness involved three males, trapped and ringed, February 15th 2004 and a juvenile trapped and ringed, November 4th 2003 – this latter bird was controlled near Arles in south-eastern France on November 2nd 2004, 963 kilometres south-south-east of Orfordness.

Minsmere: photographed, Nov 7th (T Williams et al.)

Orfordness: female, Nov 13th, trapped and ringed, first site record since 2004 (D Crawshaw, G Stannard)

BEARDED (TIT) REEDLING Panurus biarmicus Uncommon resident. Green List (from amber).

Breeding of this acrobat of the reedbeds was reported from ten sites in the north-east and six in the south-east. Twenty fledglings were recorded between Abbey Farm RSPB, Snape and Botany Marshes (now known together as Snape Wetlands).

Birds were seen at 16 reedbed sites across the north-east with the highest counts coming, unsurprisingly, from Minsmere, with 50, September 19th and Westwood Marshes, Walberswick with 25, October 22nd.

None was seen on Orfordness until March 17th when six dropped into the Chantry reedbed.

At least one was then present until April 13th. There were no further sightings until four arrived on October 20th. Up to ten were present on October 27th, with a maximum of seven recorded in November and up to five to the year’s end. A total of 23 birds was ringed, the highest annual total since 2012 when the figure was also 23.

At Landguard two flew south on October 27th (M Ferris) which is a notable sixth site record – and also the date when the Orfordness peak total of ten was recorded.

Breeding was confirmed at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, in the west, with several pairs and “family groups of five to seven individuals being seen”. The highest count there was 25 on October 25th.

WOODLARK Lullula arborea Fairly common breeding species. Scarce on passage and in winter. Green list (from Amber).

The numbers of breeding Woodlark have recovered from the slight decrease caused by the Beast from the East in 2018. However, it is worth remembering that the total for the Sandlings area was 202 in 2002, so we are still way short of that figure.

Table showing breeding numbers, over last ten years, of Woodlark in Sandlings strongholds: 2010 Dunwich area 5 Minsmere 14 Rendlesham/Tunstall 13 Hollesley/Sutton 21 Total 88

2011 2012 4 9 11 12 15 21 20 22 72 88

2013 8 15 17 25 92

164

2014 16 20 25 25 118

2015 15 21 27 29 127

2016 2017 18 16 27 24 21 22 32 29 141 133

2018 15 17 18 31 118

2019 18 17 21 32 127

Systematic List

The table left shows the main breeding areas in the east of the county. Other than those mentioned, there were six pairs at Westleton Heath and eight at North Warren. There were 11 territories on the Woodbridge Airfield which, when combined with the 32 on Sutton and Hollesley Commons, makes that area a real stronghold for this species.

In the west of the county, there were six pairs on Cavenham Heath and ten on Berner’s Heath.

The total of 63 pairs in the Suffolk part of Thetford Forest and in The King’s Forest is positive when compared with the 59 from 2018 but still short of the 73 in 2017.

At Ipswich Golf Course there were four pairs recorded in April and May. FIELD NOTE Landguard’s second-ever February record of Woodlark was noted on 20th, and singles were recorded there in the spring on April 6th and 9th. Between September 30th and October 20th an unprecedented record autumn passage at Landguard involved 32 flying south with peaks of ten on October 10th and 11 on October 15th. This raises the question – from where had they come and to where were they going? Woodlarks colour-ringed in Breckland have been noted in Hampshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the Isles of Scilly (The Birds of Suffolk, 2003).

Migration was noted at Landguard where there was a maximum of 11 birds south on October 15th.

Wintering birds were recorded at Chillesford where 11 were in cereal stubble in late-November into December (M Linsey).

SKYLARK Alauda arvensis Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Red list.

Good numbers of Skylark were recorded throughout the year, starting with 23 on the south side of Breydon Water on January 1st. There were 60 at Hall Farm, Westhorpe on January 26th, over 100 at Timworth on February 2nd and 50 at Carlton Marshes on February 17th.

There was a small spring passage seen at Landguard between February 6th and April 8th but with no more than two on any one date.

Breeding was confirmed at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s reserves at Oulton Marshes, North Cove, The Hen Reedbeds, Dingle Marshes, Darsham Marshes and Church Farm, Thorington, and at RSPB Minsmere, North Warren and Snape Wetland. There were 28 pairs on Orfordness (excluding the Spit/Point). On the south-east side of the Stour Valley around Sudbury there were 110 singing birds on June 1st with an estimate of around 200 breeding pairs altogether (M Peers).

Autumn passage at Landguard was noted between September 26th and December 30th with a maximum day-count of 116 south on October 17th. The observatory recorded 391 in October, 58 in November and 19 in December. On Orfordness there was a maximum 30 on October 19th.

Landguard’s peak October total is of 2335 in 1990 but on October 22nd 1978 as many as 3000 flew over Minsmere.

Winter flocks built up on the coast with over 100 regularly counted on Havergate Island and the area to the south - ie Boyton, Hollesley and Shingle Street down to East Lane - holding their regular numbers. An impressive 45 was counted on fields off Henley Road, Ipswich on December 15th. As is often the case, the largest flocks were in the west with 100 plus at Bunker’s Barn, Lackford on November 27th, 120 at Knettishall Heath on October 12th and 150 at Lackford on November 19th.

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FIELD NOTE: SKYLARK MIMICRY In spring I often visit a public footpath close to a long-term site for breeding Little Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula. I was convinced for a few weeks that I could hear a Little Ringed Plover contact calling from a nest site about 100m away from the path. The potential nest site area was obscured from view by vegetation and I never actually saw any Little Ringed Plovers, but could frequently hear calls, and so I thought it was an active nest. As time went on I felt something was not quite right about my assumption as almost daily I failed to see any birds arriving or leaving the assumed nest site. It eventually dawned on me that what I was hearing was the perfect mimicry of Little Ringed Plover by Skylarks, and as I became more aware of this, I realised they were also mimicking this wader quite often from other locations nearby.

It was also interesting to note that when the Little Ringed Plovers, which were present in the area, stopped calling later in the year the Larks also ceased their mimicry of the species.

Phil Whittaker.

HORNED (SHORE) LARK Eremophila alpestris Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

The four birds from 2018 at East Lane, Bawdsey remained until April 30th and were very confiding, as this species often is. This date is the latest in Suffolk since 2011 (May 5th, Landguard).

They were normally found on the seaward side of the saline lagoon but on both February 17th and April 5th were found slightly north, almost in Shingle Street.

On October 13th a single bird was on fields north of Great Livermere (D Balmer, P Wilson) – an excellent record for the west. This is only the second indisputable record for west Suffolk, the first having occurred near Newmarket at Moulton from October 20th to 25th in 1994.

October also saw birds on the coast with singletons at Ness Point, Lowestoft from 7th to 11th, Minsmere Sluice on 27th and at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich from 27th to 29th. A bird was seen to come in off the sea at Landguard on 28th (P J Holmes, M Peers et al.). One was at Easton Bavents on 31st.

Two birds were at Easton Broad on November 19th (C Buttle) with a single bird recorded there until November 24th.

Eddie Marsh

Shore Lark at Lowestoft 166

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SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

On March 1st there were two at Minsmere and five at Abbey Farm, Snape – so the RSPB recorded the first of the year. Suffolk’s earliest-ever record of Sand Martin involved two at Bawdsey on February 21st 1990. These March 1st birds are equal second earliest-ever sharing the distinction with one at Minsmere in 1994.

Large groups in April and May included the following: Carlton Marshes: 200, Apr 29th Kessingland: Sewage Works, 200, May 11th Hen Reedbeds: 200, May 9th Minsmere: 100, Apr 2nd; 170, Apr 30th Snape Wetland: 200, May 2nd; 150, May 3rd Trimley Marshes: c.150, May 5th Redgrave Lake: 200, May 6th Cavenham Pits: 150, Apr 2nd Lakenheath Fen/Washes: 70, May 8th

Breeding data were quite scant, but the following were recorded:

Corton Cliffs: six pairs Kessingland: six pairs Minsmere: 247 occupied burrows in two colonies Wenhaston Heath: six pairs Butley River (RSPB): 70 pairs in burrows – ‘but were predated’ Chillesford: ten active nests in the village Pipps Ford: 20 nests successful. 35 started but 15 lost to predation or partial collapse due to rain Worlington: Frimstone Quarry, excavated nest holes Homersfield: four occupied nest holes

On Orfordness “Relatively small numbers were recorded. The first were not seen until five on June 29th with two the next day. Two on July 6th and 27th were the only other sightings in a very poor year”.

Autumn records included 100 at East Lane around the southern Martello Tower and houses on August 24th. At Landguard, 395 were counted between June 30th and October 1st with a maximum day-count of 116 on September 11th; autumn totals at Landguard during 2010 – 2019 varied between 100 (2018) and 631 (2017). The site’s record autumn total is 1680 in 1990.

October records included two flying over Boyton Marshes on 3rd, one at Hollesley Marshes on 9th and one at Minsmere on 19th. The last of the year were two flying south at Benacre Broad on 26th.

BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica Very common summer visitor and passage migrant. Green list (from Amber).

We must start with a correction from the 2018 report.

2018 Correction: The earliest-ever record of February 28th was inaccurate – the earliest bird in 2018 was, in fact, on March 31st at Minsmere, a whole month later.

As fate would have it, the earliest-ever turned up at Sudbourne on February 17th, coinciding with similar records in other eastern counties. A bird at The Nunnery in Thetford in 2019, would have been the second-earliest, however, it was on the wrong (Norfolk) side of the River Little Ouse on February 24th.

The next Suffolk records were at Felixstowe on March 3rd, over Stephenson’s Walk, Lowestoft on March 11th and at both Ness Point Lowestoft and Kessingland Sewage Works on 16th. After this there were regular records but no great numbers like were seen in the autumn.

Among a scattering of breeding records were nine at Pixey Green, Stradbroke/Wingfield, 13 pairs at both Minsmere and Snape Maltings and one with three fledglings at Adastral Park, Martlesham Heath. The Orfordness breeding population declined to three pairs (four in 2018).

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There were several groups of over 100 in the autumn, with some of them listed here:

Minsmere: 1600, Sep 9th Slaughden: 140, Sep 12th Boyton Marshes: 250, Oct 13th Hollesley Marshes: 110, Sep 23rd East Lane: 300, Aug 24th Landguard: 276, Sep 11th; 3827, Sep 12th.

Worlingham: Sewage Works, 150, Aug 20th

It is worth reproducing the monthly totals at Landguard here: N IN/S

Jan 0 0

Feb 0 0

Mar 0 0

Apr 47 60

May 44 472

Jun 4 43

Jul 0 108

Aug 1 465

Sep 4 5082

Oct 13 741

Nov 0 12

Dec 0 0

This year’s autumn total at Landguard of 6408 is less than 10% of the 1981 figure of c.65000.

Birds were recorded at Minsmere on November 30th and December 11th. There was one at Slaughden on December 4th, and even later, one at The Strand, Wherstead on December 16th – a full month later than the previous year. This was to be eclipsed, however, by the last of the year, also at The Strand, on December 28th – the latest-ever in the county.

HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbicum Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

March 8th saw the first record of the year at Minsmere. This was followed the next day by two birds at both Corton Cliffs and Dunwich Heath. There were 12 at Aldeburgh Golf Club on March 11th. This is the largest gathering ever recorded in Suffolk in March. There have been February records of House Martins in Suffolk in 1990 (24th), 1998 (17th) and 2017 (24th), but this bird at Minsmere on 8th is the earliest-ever March arrival, just exceeding the two birds at Lackford Lakes on March 10th 2002. The two birds at Lowestoft on February 26th 2017 remained there for a week up to March 4th.

In the west the first recorded was on April 2nd at Cavenham Pits, the same date as the first bird in 2018 which was at Livermere Lake.

There were a few large gatherings in spring:

Weybread: Gravel Pits, 100, May 4th Snape Wetland: 200, May 2nd Livermere Lake: 100, May 5th; 80, May 6th; 130, June 13th

Breeding records were received from around the county. Special thanks go to those who bother to get this data in to the recorders:

Gunton: 13 pairs Oulton: nine pairs Wenhaston Heath: three pairs Middleton: Rectory, 16 pairs (starting with seven) Snape: Maltings, 13 pairs Chillesford: seven pairs (on at least five houses) Butley: 12 pairs in village Waldringfield: 12 pairs in village Fressingfield: 25 nesting pairs (35 birds regularly) Stradbroke/Wingfield: Pixey Green, 26 pairs Stoven: six pairs Homersfield: 13 pairs Cattawade: four pairs Pakenham: Water Mill, one pair (no recovery of colony) Stowlangtoft: 95 pairs Great Cornard: 14 pairs (mud collecting seen) 168

Systematic List Sudbury: 24 pairs Nayland: 16 pairs Assington: Arger Fen, five pairs (some evidence of decrease) Kedington: five pairs (down from 12 in 2018) Great Wratting: four pairs (as above, down from 12 pairs in 2018)

There were 18 records of autumn flocks in three figures, of which the largest are shown here:

Minsmere:300, Sep 9th; 1000, Sep 12th; 200, Sep 27th; 1000, Oct 1st Southwold: 746, Sep 23rd Dunwich Heath: 300, Sep 26th Slaughden: 300, Sep 12th East Lane: 200, Aug 25th; 250, Aug 28th Ramsholt: 200, Sep 9th Westhorpe: Lodge Farm, 100, Oct 1st Livermere Lake: 150, Aug 28th

There were few spring records from Orfordness, but autumn passage was better, particularly in September, with 60 south on 10th, 100 on 14th and 50 the next day. Eight flew south on October 19th.

September was a busy month at Landguard (see below) where there was a maximum daycount of 384 south on 12th.

This year’s autumn total at Landguard is 945; autumn totals at Landguard during the decade 2010-2019 have ranged between 262 (2014) and 6590 (September total alone in 2010). The September total this year (689) is just over a third of the 2018 figure (2014). One at Landguard, November 29th, is the site’s latest since 1983 (November 30th) although one was seen, “at Felixstowe”, on December 1st 1987.

Monthly totals at Landguard: N/out IN/S

Jan 0 0

Feb 0 0

Mar 0 0

Apr 3 0

May 10 30

Jun 0 12

Jul 0 1

Aug 0 12

Sep 0 689

Oct 9 243

Nov 0 0

Dec 0 0

There were six still at Livermere Lake on October 13th and one recorded at Dunwich Heath on October 19th.

November birds were seen at Pakefield Cliffs on 11th and, the last of the year, at both Lowestoft and Dingle Marshes, Dunwich on 13th.

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW Ceropis daurica Scarce visitor.

After six records in 2018, there were two involving three birds in 2019, all in spring and on the coast.

Southwold: two, May 2nd (C Fulcher).

Minsmere: Apr 26th (J H Grant).

Suffolk’s overall total of this south European hirundine now stands at 54 records involving 61 birds, all since 1987.

2015 Correction Landguard: site total is of ten records involving 11 birds (Suffolk Birds 2015:124) – should be amended to seven records involving eight birds.

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CETTI’S WARBLER Cettia cetti Fairly common resident and rare passage migrant.

Following the substantial fall in singing males in 2018 caused by harsh weather in February, it was reassuring to hear the explosive song of Cetti’s Warbler again in 2019 from many of its usual haunts, albeit at lower numbers than pre-crash levels. It is now widespread again throughout the county and likely to be encountered wherever suitable habitat occurs. But proving breeding for Cetti’s Warbler is extremely difficult and very few reports were received. There was a minimum of 226 singing males in the 2019 breeding season, up from 140 in 2018 but well below the 2017 total of 428.

In the north-east of the county, 89 territories were reported from 17 locations, with the top sites being Minsmere RSPB (33 singing males), North Warren RSPB (16 singing males) and Carlton Marshes SWT (ten singing males). In the south-east, reports came from 26 locations with a minimum of 70 singing males, with Snape RSPB recording the peak site-total of 16 singing males.

In the west of the county 67 singing males were reported from 21 sites. Most held just one or two singing males but Lakenheath Fen RSPB recorded 26 territories and Lackford Lakes SWT, nine territories (table 1).

At Shingle Street, five singing males were recorded during the breeding season but this increased to seven in a 1-km transect on October 8th, then to 15 singing birds in a 2-km transect there on November 6th. This increase suggests post-breeding dispersal with birds establishing territories in close proximity at favourable sites. It is unclear whether both males and females sing outside of the breeding season. If females remain silent then the wintering population could be substantially underestimated.

Jan Wilczur

Cetti’s Warbler

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Table 1. Comparison of the number of singing Cetti’s Warblers Cettia cetti recorded from regularly-monitored locations throughout the county during the breeding season 2017–19.

Location Carlton Marshes SWT Benacre NNR (Easton Valley) Hen Reedbeds SWT Walberswick NNR (Westwood Marshes) Minsmere RSPB Sizewell SWT North Warren RSPB Snape Wetland RSPB Hollesley and Boyton Marshes RSPB Lackford Lakes SWT Lakenheath Fen RSPB

2019

2018

2017

10

5

17

15 3 2 33 16 16 7 9 26

2 1 4 4 1 18 19 4 7 25

15 7 34 90 19 31 17 9 10 59

Away from known breeding locations, birds were present on Orfordness from September 14th to October 28th with a maximum of five on September 20th; a total of eight birds was ringed there, up from four in 2018. One at Landguard on April 19th is only the ninth site record.

LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus Very common resident and scarce passage migrant.

No significant breeding season reports were received. BBS data suggest that Long-tailed Tits (British Long-tailed Tit A. c. rosaceus) are still increasing in both the long- and short-term, being recorded in 75% of surveyed 1-km squares in 2019, this amounting to a 50% increase between 1994 and 2019. The chart below, using BBS data from the last ten years, illustrates the annual mean count of Long-tailed Tits per occupied 1-km square and frequency of occurrence; i.e., the ratio of occupied squares to the total number of BBS surveyed squares in Suffolk. Note that as BBS survey effort varies annually, and habitat suitability can change between years, the trends in chart are illustrative only; it is not possible to provide a quantifiable year-on-year comparison using BBS data alone.

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Away from breeding sites, Landguard enjoyed a record autumn with a total of 386 birds between October 13th and November 24th, and a maximum of 44 on November 3rd. Only two birds were recaptured, the remainder quickly moved on. One on Orfordness on March 24th is the first there since October 20th 2016, and several more were recorded here in November, with three on 10th, six on 13th and 17 on 20th. Six remained on Orfordness, December 7th and at least two to the year’s end.

NORTHERN LONG-TAILED TIT A. c. caudatus Very rare visitor.

Bawdsey: East Lane, six, Oct 31st (R L Attenborrow, A M Gregory et al.)

This is the eighth record for the county, the first since 2011 and the largest group recorded to-date. Like many of the seven previous records (involving 13 individuals), these delightful birds were present for just one day. The only birds which have lingered are a group of up to five in the Westleton Heath/Minsmere area from January to April 2004, and two at Southwold in October 2010.

One of the Northern Long-tailed Tits at Bawdsey, October 31st

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FIELD NOTE On October 31st, Andrew Gregory and I were having a quiet morning sea-watching at East Lane, Bawdsey, admiring the few passing Brent Geese and Wigeon, when I saw a group of six small black-and-white birds coming in off the sea. Could they be the hoped-for Snow Buntings? Then I raised my bins and saw the tiny bodies and long tails and thought “Ah well, just Long-tailed Tits”. But the fact that they landed in a field of maize stubble was a bit odd and I had a better look at them through the telescope, which immediately revealed their snow-white heads. I called Andrew over to confirm this and he notified Steve Abbott who was sea-watching nearby. They then flew to some nearby brambles where I eventually got some photographs. Andrew’s opinion is that, as they landed in a dip between stalks, they were drinking there after having flown across the North Sea. They then flew into cover behind the lagoons at East Lane where they remained for a few hours before continuing inland. I was very excited by the whole episode, as birds of this race are very unusual in Suffolk – and to find a flock of six of these enchanting white-headed birds as they came in off the sea was quite something.

Richard Attenborrow WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix Scarce spring and autumn migrant. Last bred in 2003. Red list.

Fritton: Caldecott Hall, May 14th (Lowestoft Lounge Lizards) Dunwich: Dunwich Heath, trapped and ringed, Aug 6th (S H Piotrowski et al.)

Hollesley: Upper Hollesley Common, Apr 26th (N Mason) Trimley Marshes SWT: trapped and ringed, Aug 4th (J Zantboer) Landguard: singles, May 20th and Aug 12th and 22nd (LBO)

Seven in a year is better than average. The Trimley Marshes bird is the first for that location.

HUME’S LEAF WARBLER Phylloscopus humei Very rare visitor Lowestoft: Flycatcher Alley, 1CY+, Nov 9th and 10th (R Wilton et al., per Suffolk recorder) Dunwich: Nov 9th (M Smith) Felixstowe: Felixstowe Ferry, 1CY+, Nov 9th (P J Holmes et al.)

With just six previous records, this is still a very rare bird in Suffolk so the arrival of three on the same day is unprecedented, although three were found in Lowestoft between November 12th and 19th Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Lowestoft, November 10th Andrew Moon in 2011. These are the seventh to ninth records and all have occurred between October 18th and November 19th, although the latter bird remained in Lowestoft until November 23rd.

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YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus Fairly common autumn passage migrant.

Two birds in the first half of the year is unexpected. The first, Suffolk’s second mid-winter record, was trapped and ringed at Burgh Castle on January 6th (P C Noakes), the first was at Ness Point, Lowestoft, on January 1st 2012 (one, also at Lowestoft on March 12th 2012 was perhaps the same bird?). The Burgh Castle bird was followed by one singing at Gunton churchyard on April 23rd and 24th, Suffolk’s second spring record (J Wright). Interestingly, Suffolk’s first spring record involved one singing at Long Melford on April 24th 2016.

There were no September records but October brought another good haul of these highly sought-after gems that breed no closer than Russia’s northern Ural Mountains. The first of the autumn appeared at Landguard on October 2nd and was followed the next day by at least 17 birds, most of which made landfall between Hopton-on-Sea and Lowestoft. New birds continued to appear at well-watched locations further south including Kessingland, Southwold, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh, and by October 5th, at least 31 birds had made landfall. A second, smaller wave arrived on October 7th and 8th, bringing a minimum of 12 birds, mostly to coastal sites south of Lowestoft including Southwold, Westleton, Thorpeness, Shingle Street, Bawdsey and Landguard.

Occasional birds continued to appear most days throughout the month at widely-scattered locations but there were no further multiple arrivals. By the end of October approximately 70 individuals had been found, an impressive haul but not on the same scale as the 2018 influx when at least 150 appeared. Just two were found in November – one trapped and ringed at Kessingland Sewage works on 24th that remained until 26th, and another at Minsmere on 25th.

All records came from coastal or near-coastal sites except for singles at the BTO Nunnery reserve, Thetford, on October 9th, and Abbey Farm RSPB, Snape, on October 31st. Landguard recorded single birds on eight dates between October 2nd and 17th, plus two there on October 19th, while Orfordness had just one, on October 6th.

PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER Phylloscopus proregulus Rare autumn passage migrant. First midwinter record in 2017.

Lowestoft: Nov 1st (R Wincup et al.)

Kessingland: Sewage works, trapped and ringed, Nov 9th and 10th (multi-observer); unringed bird, photographed, Nov 25th (multi-observer) Minsmere: photographed, Oct 5th (D Bradnum, C Moyes, T Smith et al.); Nov 26th and 27th (R Harvey)

The number of arrivals shows considerable annual variation and is dependent on favourable winds and weather conditions occurring during the late-autumn passage period. Five birds from three locations represents a slightly-above-average year for this species.

The first Minsmere bird is the earliestever in Suffolk, surpassing one at East Lane, Bawdsey on October 9th 2016.

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RADDE’S WARBLER Phylloscopus schwarzi Rare visitor.

Southwold: Oct 29th (C Fulcher et al)

A very late date, bettered only by birds on Orfordness on October 30th 2002 and at Hollesley on October 30th 2012 and Kessingland on November 2nd 1994. The 26th record for the county.

DUSKY WARBLER Phylloscopus fuscatus Rare visitor.

Hollesley: trapped and ringed, Nov 10th to 13th, retrapped on 13th (R Duncan et al.)

The 33rd record for the county.

WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus Declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

An unusually early bird was at Lakenheath Fen RSPB on March 21st. There were no further reports until early April when singles were at Leathes Ham, Lowestoft, and Cavenham Heath on April 4th. Spring passage was subdued with single-figure counts coming from several inland and coastal sites until the end of April. Migrant numbers picked up in May with Landguard recording 15 on May 2nd and 12 on May 7th. Thereafter, sightings of ones and twos came from several coastal and inland sites until May 25th, followed by occasional reports into June with the last of the spring passage at Landguard on June 9th.

The King’s Forest retains a fairly healthy breeding population; counts of singing males at this extensive site included 28 in the central sector on April 29th and 15 in the south-west sector on June 7th. The coastal breeding population has largely disappeared and the only reports this year came from Carlton and Oulton Marshes SWT (each with three pairs), and single pairs at Dunwich/Dingle Marshes, Minsmere RSPB and North Warren RSPB. BBS data Reveals that between 1994 and 2019 the long-term frequency of occurrence in monitored 1-km squares fell from 0.76 to 0.23 but since reaching a low point in 2012, the decline has shown signs of levelling out, albeit with far fewer monitored squares than in the early 1990s.

In the ten-year period since 2010 the mean number of individuals in the monitored squares has increased by c.

37%, raising hopes that Willow Warbler will remain as a breeding bird in the county for David Borderick some time to come. Willow Warbler at Carlton Marshes, May 9th Autumn passage got underway in late July.

Passage at Landguard extended from July 22nd to September 18th; highest counts there were of 20 on August 8th, 12th, 28th and 30th. Elsewhere, low single-figure totals were the norm, the exception being an arrival of 45 birds on Orfordness on September 1st. There were just four October reports; Orfordness on 6th, Gunton on 8th, Landguard on 14th and Southwold on 15th.

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A very late bird caught at Trimley Marshes SWT on November 3rd showed characters associated with the north and east European race P. t. acredula (J Zantboer); the latest-ever recorded date for this species in Suffolk is November 17th in 2010 at Landguard.

The ringing total on Orfordness in 2018 had been 63, and in 2019 there was a slight increase to 72.

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita Very common summer visitor and passage migrant. A few overwinter.

Reports of wintering birds in January and February came from 45 locations, divided evenly between the north-east, south-east and west of the county. Most involved one or two birds but the favoured location of Southwold sewage works hosted seven on February 5th.

The first singing birds were heard at Leathes Ham, Lowestoft on February 24th and Ipswich Golf Club, Purdis Heath on March 1st. Thereafter, reports became widespread and separating wintering birds from spring arrivals and breeding birds became increasingly difficult. At Landguard, where this species doesn’t breed, the first migrants appeared on March 6th and passage continued until June 10th, with ten recorded on March 20th, April 9th and April 17th. Orfordness recorded its first of the year on March 21st when 12 were present, then up to five until May 18th.

As a breeding bird, the Chiffchaff remains common and widespread throughout the county, with most woodlands harbouring one or two pairs. Observations in the west of the county in March and April suggest that sites there host higher numbers of singing males than those in the coastal strip; Arger Fen (14 singing males), BTO Nunnery Reserve (17), Bradfield Woods (18), Great Cornard (21), Sudbury (25) and The King’s Forest (central) (28) hosted substantial breeding populations. BBS data reveal the diverging fortunes of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, with Chiffchaff now occurring in 30% more of the monitored 1-km squares than was the case in 1994, but this has barely changed over the last ten years – suggesting that Chiffchaffs now breed wherever suitable habitat exists. Within monitored squares, the mean number of individuals has increased from 2.03 to 3.41 in this period (2010-2019), and this upward trend continues.

The chart below, using BBS data from the last ten years, illustrates the annual mean count of Chiffchaffs per occupied 1-km square and frequency of occurrence; i.e., the ratio of occupied squares to the total number of BBS surveyed squares in Suffolk. Note that as BBS survey effort varies annually, and habitat suitability can vary between years, the trends in chart are illustrative only; it is not possible to provide a quantifiable year-on-year comparison using BBS data alone.

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[The ‘frequency of occurrence’ is a dimensionless ratio - the number of occupied squares divided by the number of surveyed squares] The first autumn migrants appeared on Orfordness on September 1st and at Landguard the next day. Passage at Landguard peaked at 25 on September 30th, then continued until November 29th, while at Orfordness notable totals included 13 on 16th September and 30 on 30th. September 30th saw the peak autumn passage in the county. Up to six were present on Orfordness throughout October, but there was just one in November, on 13th. Many other locations recorded birds in the autumn, but most were in single figures.

In December, reports of wintering birds came from Oulton Broad (2), Leathes Ham, Lowestoft (3), Carlton Marshes (4), Kessingland sewage works (4), Minsmere, Melton sewage works (3), Lakenheath RSPB, Mickle Mere (2) and Langham. A bird at Landguard on December 25th was unexpected – was this a late autumn arrival?

The ringing total on Orfordness was 141, significantly higher than the figure of 80 in 2018.

‘Siberian Chiffchaff’ P. c. tristis Scarce visitor in late autumn and winter. Increasingly regular in spring.

Lowestoft: Leathes Ham, singing male sound recorded, Mar 26th to Apr 6th (A C Easton et al.)

Orfordness: calling Oct 20th (M Marsh et al.)

Landguard: singles, both trapped and ringed, identification supported by DNA analysis, Apr 6th; June 28th (M May et al.)

Ipswich/Pinewood: Belstead Brook Park, photographed, Jan 19th to 30th, (I J Porter, T Porter, D F Walsh et al.)

Four typical records in both location and timing, and one exceptional June record from Landguard, supported by DNA evidence. These three spring records take Suffolk’s spring total since 2000 to 12.

IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus ibericus Accidental.

Lowestoft: North Denes, 2CY+ male in song, Apr 22nd (R Wilton et al.)

Dunwich: Dunwich Heath NT, 2CY+ male in song, May 27th to June 19th (M Such et al.)

Following hot on the heels of Suffolk’s first in 2017, these two came along like buses. The Lowestoft bird stayed for just one day, so relief all round for those who missed the opportunity to enjoy that bird when, a month later, the obliging Dunwich bird took up residence in the bushes and scrub by the Centenary Pond below the Coastguard cottages and stayed for three weeks. It proved popular with visitors from Suffolk and beyond, but less so with the The Iberian Chiffchaff at Dunwich, May 2019 Sean Nixon Common Chiffchaff in whose territory it resided. As with many territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in Britain, the distinctive territorial song soon began to incorporate sequences of the ‘chiff-chaff’ song of Common Chiffchaff. Towards the end of its stay the song was barely distinguishable from that of Common Chiffchaff, so it may have remained, unrecognised, beyond the last date given above. During its stay it was trapped and ringed by members of the Waveney 177

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Ringing Group on June 4th. A feather dislodged during processing was sent to Professor Martin Collinson’s team at the University of Aberdeen for DNA analysis, from where Thom Shannon commented: “We sequenced the mitochondrial cytb gene, as we do for all our chiffchaff samples.

We recovered the full length of the gene and it was found to be a closest match for multiple P. ibericus sequences of known provenance (98.4–99.7% identity). By comparison, all other chiffchaff taxa were much more divergent (only a 93–95% match). This analysis confirms that the bird has Iberian DNA, at least through its maternal line.”

The genetic sequence tree for the Dunwich Iberian Chiffchaff appears below:

TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus Accidental.

Orford: Quay, 1CY+, Oct 13th (M L Cornish et al.)

The first Suffolk record and only the eighth to be found in the UK. But with six having occurred since 2003 it is possible that some birds may have been overlooked in the past when plumbeitarsus was treated as a race of Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides. Another outstanding find by Mark Cornish. Mark’s account of this exciting discovery appears on page 47 in this report.

GREENISH WARBLER Phylloscopus trochiloides Rare visitor.

Lowestoft: Bond’s Meadow, singing male photographed and sound recorded, June 7th (J Cyprus et al.)

The 20th record for the county and the ninth in spring. Landguard remains the top site with six, closely followed by Lowestoft, now on five with the above record. With spring occurrences ranging from May 9th to June 21st, this year’s record is typical in both date and location.

This species is occurring more regularly in Suffolk; in the decade 2010-2019, ten Greenish Warblers were recorded, representing 50% of all county records, though this number pales into insignificance compared to Norfolk where multiple birds reach that county annually.

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SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Common summer visitor and passage migrant.

The first of the year was in song at North Warren RSPB on March 26th, the only March record.

This is the earliest Sedge Warbler since singles on March 26th 2014 in Ipswich and March 23rd 2005 at Lackford Lakes; the earliest-ever remains the bird at Minsmere on March 22nd 2002.

The next came from Lakenheath RSPB on April 1st and was soon followed by numerous reports from many locations with suitable habitat throughout the county, making it difficult to separate migrants from breeding birds. Frequency of occurrence in monitored BBS squares over the longterm and past ten years has shown little change, but mean numbers per monitored square show a high degree of annual fluctuation. There is a concerning trend towards a decline apparent in the shorter-term data collected since 2010. The reason(s) for this apparent decline are unknown and it appears not to be affecting the Reed Warbler. Counts of singing males at selected locations appear in table 2.

Table 2. Counts of singing male Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus from regularlymonitored locations throughout the county.

Location

Singing males

Herringfleet Marshes Carlton Marshes SWT Oulton Marshes SWT Hen Reedbeds SWT North Cove Castle Marsh SWT Snape Wetland RSPB Orfordness Boyton RSPB Shingle Street Lakenheath RSPB

43 35 20 40 24 18 18 28 25 32

Surprisingly few reports were received for autumn migration. In the west, the latest came from Lakenheath Fen RSPB on August 29th and Nunnery Lakes on September 17th. The north-east recorded just three birds in September, the last at Lowestoft North Denes on 14th. At Landguard, the first autumn migrant was noted on July 17th and overall, just 11 birds were seen on nine dates to September 12th, all singles apart from two on August 12th and September 1st. Breeding birds on Orfordness mask the start of autumn migration there, but 85 on August 18th marked the peak passage. The ringing total on Orfordness was 361, just one fewer than in 2018! In contrast with the poor showing at nearby Landguard, 431 Sedge Warblers were ringed at Trimley Marshes SWT during the year, including 278 in August. Small numbers continued to be reported into October, involving singles at Hollesley Marshes RSPB on 5th, Orfordness on 7th, while four were seen at Trimley Marshes in October, the last on the late date of October 19th, the latest recorded in Suffolk since November 24th 2000 when two were at Minsmere.

EURASIAN REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus Common summer visitor and passage migrant.

An early bird on Havergate Island on April 6th marked the premature start of spring passage. The next appeared at Lakenheath Fen RSPB on 13th and by the middle of the month arrivals became widespread with reports coming from many locations throughout the county with suitable stands of Phragmites (table 3). Numbers recorded by the BBS show a high degree of annual fluctuation, particularly in the mean number in monitored 1-km squares, and the frequency of occurrence in monitored squares has increased in both the long-and short-term. The chart shows the fluctuations in Reed Warbler numbers in BBS data over the last 26 years: 179

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Table 3. Counts of singing male Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus from regularlymonitored locations throughout the county.

Location

Singing males

Carlton Marshes SWTocation Oulton Marshes SWT Dunwich Dingle Marshes SWT Hen Reedbeds SWT North Warren RSPB Snape Wetland RSPB Orfordness Boyton RSPB Shingle Street Felixstowe Ferry/King’s Fleet Trimley SWT Pipps Ford Lakenheath RSPB

20 13 8 72 4 24 11 24 8 12 18 13 41

Birds at Landguard on July 4th and 17th may have been dispersing rather than active migrants.

Passage here was poor, with highest counts of just two, on August 4th and 6th, and September 12th. In contrast, at nearby Trimley Marshes SWT, 208 were ringed during the year including 90 in August. The Orfordness ringing total this year was 255 which is 30 more than the 2018 figure but more than 400 less than the 658 in 2017. Numbers declined throughout September and just three were reported in October; singles at Minsmere on October 3rd, Orfordness on 7th and Landguard on October 21st and 22nd.

2017 Correction: The report of a Reed Warbler at Lackford Lakes on April 2nd 2017, which would have been Suffolk’s earliest-ever record, is now considered erroneous. Accordingly, the earliest-ever record reverts to the bird at Lakenheath Fen RSPB on April 3rd 2016.

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MARSH WARBLER Acrocephalus palustris Scarce migrant. Bred in 2010. Red list.

Oulton: Oulton Marshes, June 5th, (J Cyprus) Lowestoft/Oulton: Fishers Row, June 6th, (J Cyprus)

Two, one-day records of singing males is a disappointing showing and they probably relate to just one bird.

ICTERINE WARBLER Hippolais icterina Scarce passage visitor.

For the third year in a row here was no reports of this species. This is almost unheard of given its recent regularity.

COMMON GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia Uncommon and declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

After the first at Minsmere on April 13th, reports of reeling birds came from several locations throughout the county from the third week in April, including at least ten locations in the northeast, six in the south-east and six in the west. Extensive sites were particularly favoured, with Lakenheath Fen RSPB hosting eight singing males and Carlton Marshes with six. No other site recorded more than two singing males and most held just one.

Proving breeding for this species is particularly difficult, as males tend to sing less frequently or become silent once breeding is underway, but may recommence prior to a second brood.

Reports of confirmed or probable breeding came from Carlton and Oulton Marshes, Dunwich, Dingle Marshes; Hen Reedbeds, Minsmere, North Warren, Aldeburgh Marshes, Lakenheath Fen and Livermere Lake. Territorial reeling continued throughout May and June, and the last was heard on August 13th at Aldeburgh Marshes. This species is not sufficiently numerous to be monitored adequately by BBS. Very few were recorded during the autumn and almost all came from the nets of ringers.

Orfordness enjoyed an excellent autumn with 16 birds ringed between August 18th and September 30th, making 2019 the best year for this species since ringing began on site.

Grasshopper Warbler singing at Shingle Street, April 19th

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SAVI’S WARBLER Locustella luscinioides Rare summer visitor. Has bred. Red list.

Carlton Marshes SWT: Whitecast Marsh, male singing, May 11th to June 29th (R Wilton et al., per Suffolk recorder) Minsmere: male singing, returning individual, Apr 2nd to July 10th (H Page et al.); male singing, Apr 23rd to June 29th (R Coombes, R Harvey et al.)

Trimley Marshes SWT: male singing, May 16th (J Zantboer et al.)

Sean Nixon

Savi’s Warbler, Minsmere in June

Three long-staying birds, with at least one of the Minsmere birds probably being a returning bird from 2018. There is no evidence to suggest that breeding occurred at Minsmere or Carlton Marshes, although the Carlton bird sang from May 11th to 21st, then stopped for six weeks and then sang again on June 29th.

The bird at Minsmere on April 2nd is the earliest-ever recorded in Suffolk, the previous earliest having been at Minsmere on April 6th 2018.

EURASIAN BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Overwintering birds are widely considered to be from eastern Europe.

This remains a numerous and widespread species that is with us throughout the year. Reports of single birds came from multiple locations in the first three months of the year, with gardens being particularly favoured, although no site recorded more than one individual in this period.

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Reports increased from the end of March as migrants began to arrive. Landguard recorded its first of the year on March 23rd and passage there continued until June 20th with a high of 18 on April 17th. Elsewhere, 21 were ringed at Kessingland sewage works on April 20th, while at Trimley Marshes 80 were estimated to have been on the reserve on April 20th, of which 11 were ringed. However, Orfordness recorded just five between April 21st and May 26th.

By late April most local breeders had settled into breeding territories. Sample counts from selected locations include Snape Wetland RSPB (12 singing males), Bradfield Woods (22), Sudbury (30), Great Cornard (20), BTO Nunnery Reserve in Thetford (18), The King’s Forest (central) (25), Wolves Wood (10), Polstead Heath (10) and Bures (15). Numbers have increased spectacularly since 1994, with BBS data showing a 265% increase in mean count per monitored 1-km square in the period to 2019. Furthermore, this increase is showing no signs of abating.

Autumn passage began in August and numbers increased in September. Orfordness recorded a high of 28 on September 15th and 20 the next day, Landguard had a peak of 30 also on September 15th, and the ringers at Livermere Lake trapped 24 on August 5th, while in September 47 were ringed on 1st, 36 on 9th and 43 on 15th. Passage continued throughout October, with Landguard reporting 20 on October 15th but numbers then declined rapidly and the last of the year there was on November 15th. Just five December sightings were received; in the east at Minsmere on 9th and 11th, and Kesgrave on 19th, and in the west at Hadleigh on 22nd, Exning on 24th and Dalham on 28th.

The year’s ringing total on Orfordness was 112 which compares favourably with the 2018 figure of 96.

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant.

This remains a localised and rather scarce species in Suffolk, with its stronghold firmly rooted in the west of the county. Not unexpectedly, therefore, the first report came from the west with one at Cavenham Heath on April 18th, while in the east, the first birds appeared at Minsmere and Alton Water on April 22nd. Thereafter it was recorded on most days to the end of April and throughout May. Landguard recorded just one on spring passage, on May 22nd and on Orfordness there were no spring records, but six at Kessingland on May 6th were probably passage migrants.

Most reports from the breeding season involved just one or two singing birds. Counts from western strongholds include Bradfield Woods (11 singing males), Nunnery lakes (7), Thurston (6), Arger Fen (6) and The King’s Forest (10). Along the Stour Valley, between Clare and Stratford St Mary, an estimated 30 pairs were found, and breeding was confirmed at Thorington Street (three nests) and Assington Thicks (three nests). Reports of four or more singing birds in the east came from Snape Wetland RSPB (4 singing males) and Newbourne (5) and in central Suffolk at Pipps Ford (7). Long-term BBS survey data reveal a slow and gradual decline in occupied 1-km survey squares since monitoring began in 1994, with the mean number of individuals recorded in these squares also declining. Since 2010, however, its frequency of occurrence has remained almost unchanged and mean numbers recorded in monitored squares have increased significantly, from 0.32 to 0.5.

Autumn migration was subdued, with Landguard recording single birds on just six dates between August 8th and September 20th, while on Orfordness singles were found only on September 1st, 15th and 16th. The only October reports came from Adastral Close, Felixstowe, on 7th and Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, the following day.

BARRED WARBLER Sylvia nisoria Scarce passage migrant, principally in autumn.

Four records this year; one cooperative individual which showed well to all-comers at Southwold, and three inaccessible birds on Orfordness.

Southwold: photographed, Oct 12th to 17th (R Holmes et al.)

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David Borderick

Barred Warbler, Southwold, October 17th

Orfordness: trapped and ringed, Sep 20th; ringed, Oct 6th; Oct 13th (M Marsh et al.)

On Orfordness birds, one was trapped and ringed on September 20th with another ringed there on October 6th. One was also seen in the Village on October 13th, however knowing the elusive nature of this species it is possible that it was one of the previous two birds.

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant.

This remains a fairly numerous and widespread summer visitor and its unobtrusive rattling song is a familiar sound of the less well-tended hedgerows and scrub throughout the county. Where it occurs, it is usually outnumbered by Common Whitethroat but is probably under-recorded as relatively few breeding season records are received, particularly from the eastern regions.

The first birds arrived in mid-April, at Lackford Lakes SWT on April 12th and Pakefield on April 14th. The first in the south-east arrived at Landguard on April 17th and passage there continued until May 30th, with a peak of eight on May 2nd, while at Orfordness, the only spring records were of one on May 1st and two the next day.

Reports of territorial birds came from just ten locations in the north-east and 12 in the south-east and most mention just one or two birds although Trimley Marshes SWT held five singing males on May 13th. This perhaps reflects under-reporting here rather than a declining population. In the west reports came from 32 locations in the breeding season. This included an estimated 30 territories in the Stour Valley with ten between Rodbridge Corner, Long Melford and Great Cornard. Long-term and ten-year BBS datasets reveal increases in both the frequency of occurrence in monitored 1-km squares, with the last ten-years of data showing that the birds are being recorded in a greater percentage of monitored squares, and that the mean number of individuals recorded in these squares is also increasing.

There were no significant autumn movements this year. Up to three were seen at many sites both inland and coastal from early August to late September. Only Landguard reported higher totals, with up to five recorded on seven dates from early August to October 14th, and one remained at Orfordness until October 20th.

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On Orfordness, a bird trapped and ringed on September 22nd showed characteristics of the Siberian race S. c. blythi. A feather was sent to Professor Martin Collinson’s team at the University of Aberdeen, from where Thom Shannon replied “From the sequence recovered we can say with confidence that the bird was indeed Siberian S. c. blythi. Its cytb sequence is novel but 99.9% identical to confirmed blythi, with S. c. halimodendri and nominate curruca and all other taxa being much more divergent.” This is the first genetically-proven record of S. c. blythi in Suffolk.

COMMON WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis Common summer visitor and passage migrant.

There were two reports on March 23rd of Common Whitethroat in the county, one in Lowestoft and the other in Worlingham. This is the earliest-ever spring arrival date. The next report came from Minsmere on April 8th, and was followed by a widespread arrival from April 14th onwards, and by early May most territories were occupied. Spring passage is difficult to detect due to the presence of breeding birds at many coastal and inland sites. At Landguard the first of the spring appeared on April 20th and migration continued until May 21st, with eight on May 2nd being the highest day-total. On Orfordness, seven on May 7th were believed to be migrants rather than breeding birds, and counts of 14 at Kessingland on April 26th and 28 there on May 11th are particularly notable.

Although widespread and numerous, many breeding sites held fewer than three singing males.

Those with higher totals included Gunton Warren (7 singing males), Snape Wetland RSPB (10), Shingle Street (10), Orfordness (9), Alton Water (9), Cattawade (13), Pipps Ford (16), Sudbury (14), The King’s Forest (central) (13), Great Cornard (10), Grove Farm, Thurston (15), Long Melford (10) and Lakenheath Fen RSPB (15). BBS data show that in the long-term and over the last ten years, the frequency of occurrence and mean number of individuals in monitored 1-km squares has remained almost unchanged.

The presence of breeding birds at many coastal sites, including Landguard and Orfordness, clouds the start of autumn migration. At Landguard, passage was considered to start in mid-July and continued until October 5th with a high of 13 on August 1st. Numbers dwindled throughout September and most had departed by the end of the month. The only October reports received were of singles at Landguard on October 22nd and a very late bird ringed at Trimley Marshes on October 30th. This latter bird is considered unlikely to be of UK origin. This bird is the latest recorded in Suffolk since 2003 when one was at Thorpeness, November 4th, the county’s tenth November record.

A female or immature Common Whitethroat in Christchurch Park, Ipswich on August 12th is the first site record for at least 30 years.

DARTFORD WARBLER Sylvia undata Uncommon local resident. Scarce visitor. Amber list.

The Suffolk population of this vulnerable species was hit by cold weather in early 2018, so it was gratifying to see the number of breeding pairs in 2019 return to 2017 levels. Reports of breeding pairs or territorial males came from 16 locations and a total of 125 pairs was reported, similar to the 129 in 2018 and the 128 territories in 2017.

These statistics, however, mask considerable regional differences. The northern heaths between Walberswick and Minsmere fared well with 78 territories at six sites, up from 72 in 2018 and 58 in 2017. In contrast, territorial birds were present at ten southern heaths, with 47 territories located between North Warren and Hollesley. Although numbers have increased since the 2018 setback, this is not on the same scale as farther up the coast, and the number of territories on these heaths remains substantially below 2017 totals though the number of occupied sites has remained unchanged. Many of the sites here are smaller, fragmented and of poorer quality, making them less suited to the species’ needs year-round. In 2019, six sites here held just 18 territories between them, and other apparently suitable locations remained 185

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

unoccupied. The remaining 29 territories were on the Hollesley/Sutton Commons, up from 25 in 2018 but well down on the 50 here in 2017.

Away from the heaths, records outside of the breeding season came from Corton Sewage Works, Lowestoft North Denes, Benacre Sluice, Easton Broad, Easton Bavents, Thorpeness Common and Aldeburgh Marshes, while one at Landguard on October 16th is the eighth site record. For the second consecutive year there were no reports from the Brecks.

If conditions are favourable, this resilient species can quickly bounce back. Given a good breeding season and a mild winter, we can expect to see numbers reach a new high in the next year or two.

Peter Ransome

Dartford Warbler, February 22nd

FIELD NOTE I have been monitoring the birds on my local heaths around Hollesley for about 40 years. The first Dartford Warbler arrived in 1999 and since then the numbers have risen impressively.

Normally territories would be counted in March and April.

Going out, in June, at about 21:30hr, to count, and enjoy, the local Nightjars I have become more and more aware of Dartfords singing at this time. Usually you may have had the odd Blackbird going to roost or hear a Tawny Owl, but normally, pre-Dartfords, it would have been fairly quiet at this time as I waited for the ‘churring’ to start.

On June 8th 2019, at 21:45hr, on Lower Hollesley Common I could clearly hear five singing Dartford Warblers and they were more or less in the same places that I had recorded them in March. They were really distinct and there were none of the distractions of Woodlark, Skylark, Stonechat, Chaffinch and all the other bird song (and human generated sounds!) that you get early in the morning.

They were still singing on Upper Hollesley Common on June 30th 2019.

Maybe I should start monitoring them at dusk – or do I really want to be out there on my own in the dark?

Nick Mason.

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Systematic List

SUBALPINE WARBLER Sylvia cantillans Rare visitor.

Orfordness: 2nd-calendar-year male, trapped and ringed, May 7th (D Crawshaw, M C Marsh)

This is the first record of Subalpine Warbler from Orfordness and the sixteenth for Suffolk. It showed plumage characters associated with ‘Western Subalpine Warbler’ S. c. iberiae/inornata which breeds in the western Mediterranean region from the Iberian Peninsula to southern France. A feather dislodged while ringing the bird was sent to Professor Martin Collinson’s team at the University of Aberdeen for DNA analysis. They confirmed it as being “a Western, identical to examples of ‘iberiae’ from France and Spain”. There have been just two previous records of ‘Western Subalpine Warbler’ in Suffolk; at Landguard on June 8th to 10th 1987 and April 23rd and 24th 1988. The remainder were either ‘Eastern Subalpine Warbler’ S. c. cantillans/albistriata (four accepted records) or not attributed to a particular taxon.

GOLDCREST Regulus regulus Very common resident and passage migrant.

Widespread and common wherever there are conifers, but sadly under-reported because its song is too highly-pitched for it to register for many older birdwatchers. The Breeding Bird Survey nationally showed an increase of 25% over 2018, but there is still a ten-year 8% downward trend.

Locally the survey produced 53 individuals from 15 squares compared with 40 from 15 in 2018.

In the north-east, there were 650 records from 79 sites. There were 150 at Southwold on October 22nd, the highest count in Suffolk since 2015 when there were as many as 500 at both Kessingland, October 15th and Bawdsey, December 10th. More significantly, there were only eight reports of breeding pairs.

There were 181 records in the south-east from 40 sites with a maximum of 20 at Landguard on October 7th, 21st, 22nd and 24th, but only six confirmed breeding reports.

At Landguard, spring passage was from March 4th to April 24th with a maximum of eight on March 23rd. Three birds from autumn 2017 were still present to March 5th, 11th and 13th.

Autumn passage was from September 6th to November 17th with a maximum of 20 on October 7th, 21st, 22nd and 24th.

On Orfordness, one was present on January 1st, but there were no further sightings until March 21st when one was seen, followed by five on 23rd. The last of the spring were two on April 24th.

The first to return was one on September 7th with a much larger passage in October peaking with 50 on 22nd, the same date as the maxima at Landguard and Southwold, and at least four lingered until December 31st.

It was a reasonable year for this species on Orfordness as can be seen from the table below, which shows the ringing totals for the last five years.

2015

2016

2017

549

276

24

2018

2019

117

135

In the west, there were 39 records from 20 sites, surely under-recording, although 36 breeding pairs were recorded including eight from The King’s Forest.

COMMON FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla Regular, but uncommon breeder and passage migrant. Some overwinter.

Always a delight to come across, especially as it is rarer and less easily found than the Goldcrest, the Firecrest is reasonably well established in the county.

In the north-east there were 225 reports from 34 sites. These records, which were mostly of single birds, included three breeding pairs at Minsmere, compared with just one there in 2018 187

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

and none in 2017, but still not attaining the five pairs in 2016. There were also four probable breeding pairs at Dunwich Heath.

There were fewer records in the south-east, which produced 59 from 15 sites, with a spring high of four at Landguard on March 21st. Spring passage there lasted from March 8th until May 19th. Autumn passage was from September 6th until November 5th with a maximum of eight on October 23rd and 24th. It was a good year on Orfordness with up to seven in spring culminating with one on April 22nd. This included a maximum of two on March 30th. The next, and first of the autumn, was one from September 20th to 23rd. In October up to two were present throughout the month and six on 31st. One of these birds then attempted to overwinter and was present until the year’s end. Surprisingly another bird was trapped and ringed on December 5th with it too attempting to overwinter and being present until the year’s end.

In its western strongholds, there were 18 records from ten sites, mostly from Santon Downham and Brandon. Breeding was suspected at Berner’s Heath.

John Richardson

Firecrest, Bawdsey picnic site, October 30th

EURASIAN NUTHATCH Sitta europaea Fairly common resident.

The Breeding Bird Survey nationally showed an increase of 1% over 2018, but over the last ten years, the increase is 35%. Locally, there were 12 individuals recorded from eight squares compared with five from five in 2018. According to the BTO’s BirdTrends 2017 survey, it has exhibited the greatest increase in productivity of any species over the past 47 years, due to a combination of falling failure rates and increasing brood sizes.

The number of records submitted in 2019 was 190 from 82 sites compared with 208 from 80 in 2018, with 13 recording confirmed breeding. The west and north-east of the county provided the highest proportion, with 103 records from 51 sites and 70 from 21 respectively, with the most seen at any one time being eight at Santon Downham on February 20th. However, after 2017’s 67 records it is disappointing to see only 17 records from ten sites in the south-east and this area still seems to have far fewer Nuthatches than in years gone by. There were nine breeding pairs reported in the west, surely an underestimate.

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EURASIAN TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris Common resident. Green list (from Amber) (C.f. britannica).

Ubiquitous in Europe although thinly distributed in the Low Countries, France and Spain, the only way is up for this most unobtrusive of birds, as it is unable to climb down a tree trunk like the Nuthatch. It occurs throughout Suffolk according to the Suffolk Bird Atlas 2007-11, and is more widespread than the Nuthatch, being able to utilise conifers to a greater extent. The Breeding Bird Survey reported ten individuals from seven squares. As in previous years, there were few records of more than a single pair at any one site with no counts of more than five individuals.

The five were at Baylham on June 5th. A total of 536 records was submitted from 134 sites, compared with 502 from 121 in 2018. These consisted of 374 from 56 sites in the north-east, 91 from 39 in the south-east and 71 from 42 in the west.

Breeding was reported from 12 sites in the north-east and nine in the west.

Accepted BBRC record 2010 ‘Northern Treecreeper’ Certhia familiaris familiaris Orfordness, October 10th (D Crawshaw, M C Marsh, G Stannard).

Accepted BBRC record 2005 ‘Northern Treecreeper’ Certhia familiaris familiaris Orfordness, October 15th (J Askins, D Crawshaw, M C Marsh, G Stannard).

EURASIAN WREN Troglodytes troglodytes Very common resident and scarce passage migrant.

Often cited as the commonest bird in the country, estimated at 11 million territories in UK (Brit Birds 113:97), depending on how harsh the previous winter has been, the Wren, although surprisingly elusive at times, continues to be reported throughout Suffolk, continuing the stable trend shown in recent years. The species did drop from 13th to 17th between 1995 and 2019 on the BTO Garden Birdwatch table. The trend of increasing counts of individuals on the Breeding Bird Survey continued with 409 as against 380 in 2018, 467 in 2017, 324 in 2015 and 289 in 2014; the number of 1km-squares reporting this species being was 39, the same total as in 2018.

In the north-east recording area there were 1946 records submitted from 104 sites, (231 from 98 in 2018) with 23 breeding pairs recorded at Snape. The largest number reported was 51 at Knodishall on May 30th.

In the south-east, there were 444 reports from 47 sites, (255 from 23 in 2018) of which the highest count of 23 breeding pairs recorded was at Alton Water.

On Orfordness, there were no breeding records for the second year in succession. However, it was still regularly seen at this site with a maximum of ten on October 12th. An encouraging total of 48 birds was ringed which gives hope for future breeding.

At Landguard three or four pairs bred as in 2018 with juveniles appearing from June 9th and at least ten individuals overwintered. Spring passage lasted from March 15th to May 1st. Autumn passage was from September 18th to November 3rd and there was a maximum count of 20 on October 17th, COMMON STARLING Sturnus vulgaris Very common but declining resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

The Starling has been declining since the 1950s, but still has an estimated European population of 40 million pairs and a visible public profile thanks to places like Minsmere promoting those evening murmurations beloved of photographers everywhere. The species even dropped from 7th to 13th between 1995 and 2019 on the BTO Garden Birdwatch table. However, the numbers from the Breeding Bird Survey in Suffolk remained at an historically-low level of 286 compared with 277 in 2018, and the number of 1km-squares reporting Starlings decreased to 19 as against 189

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

20 in 2018 and 30 in 2017. This is the lowest level since 2002. Nationally, trends are steadier with a 1% increase from 2018 to 2019 against a 24% decrease over ten years.

The number of records submitted to recorders was 1948 from 173 sites compared with 2090 from 159 in 2018. These consisted of 1335 records from 111 sites from the north-east of the county, 580 from 52 in the south-east and 33 from 15 in the west.

There was a large decrease in the number of 10000+ flocks going to roost with eight compared with 18 in 2018, but there was one flock of 100000+ recalling days of yore. This is the largest roost gathering in Suffolk since October 1st 2006 when 12000 were at Hen Reedbeds.

These included: Covehithe Broad: 30000, Dec 25th Hen Reedbeds: 30000, Nov 11th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, 30000, Jan 11th; 50000, Jan 15th; 100000, Jan 24th

In the south-east, there were only five counts of 1000+ with a maximum of 4000 at Butley on October 18th.

The largest total in the west was 8000 at BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on January 13th, but there were 19 counts of 1000+ elsewhere.

The Monthly maxima on Orfordness were as follows: Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

40

500

100

60

40

200

200

200

300

800

nc

40

A pair which nested on Orfordness constitutes the first site breeding record since 1993.

At Landguard, the species was present all year although scarce in the winter months with a spring maximum of 90 on March 3rd although none nested. There was a late-summer peak of 2500 on August 3rd. There were visible movements in the autumn of 2876 between October 9th and November 24th, with a maximum of 463 on October 15th (N Odin).

ROSY STARLING Pastor roseus Rare visitor. Categories A & E. The juvenile that formed the 48th record for the county at Bugsby Road, Kesgrave on December 18th 2018 stayed into 2019, where it delighted many observers until January 11th, developing more of its rosy hues as time passed.

The 49th record was a juvenile seen at Boyton on September 11th. Initially thought to be a leucistic Common Starling, it was later identified as being this species (M Highfield).

RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus Fairly common passage migrant. Red list.

It was a good year for sightings of this charismatic thrush on passage in Suffolk, as the numbers were slightly up on previous years. There were 218 records from 45 sites compared with 124 observations at 27 sites in 2018. Slightly atypically, there were more autumn than spring sightings (117 compared with 101).

The first record of the year was at Martlesham on March 8th – a bird which had apparently been present since January. It was recorded again there on 31st on which date one was also at Whin Hill, Minsmere.

The north-east produced 80 spring migration records, the last of which was at Corton old sewage works, May 10th. The south-east had 18 spring records, culminating in two at Trimley Marshes, May 12th.

There were also three spring sightings in the west of the county, at Herringswell, Foxhole Heath and the latest one at Lakenheath Fen, April 25th.

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Systematic List

The autumn produced 47 reports from the north-east, 70 in the south-east and none in the west. Most of these reports were of single birds. The earliest sighting came from SWT Trimley Marshes on September 30th (just one day later than 2018’s earliest sighting at the same site). Two at North Denes, Lowestoft were the earliest in the north-east on October 5th. The latest was at Landguard on November 15th. One in Christchurch Park, Ipswich on October 7th is the first site record since April 1975.

Ring Ouzel Russell Boland On Orfordness, spring passage consisted of just a female from April 21st to 23rd and single males on April 24th and May 1st. Autumn passage produced seven birds on four dates in October, between the 5th and 21st with a maximum of three on 12th and 13th.

At Landguard, birds were noted in the spring from April 6th to 26th with a maximum of two on April 6th and autumn passage from October 6th to 21st with a later bird on November 15th and a maximum of 15 on October 8th, being the highest site-total since 17 at Bawdsey, October 6th 2016.

COMMON BLACKBIRD Turdus merula Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

In the national Breeding Bird Survey, the Blackbird has showed a steady trend over the last few years. It has declined by 2% in 2019 and 3% over the ten years ending in 2019. It is abundant In Europe with an estimated 50 million pairs thanks to its hardiness and versatility. This healthy state of affairs is borne out by the Breeding Bird Survey in Suffolk with 382 individuals being reported from 43 1km-squares compared with 429 from 44 in 2017. Suffolk recorders submitted 2473 records from 192 sites compared with 3097 from 159 in 2018 and reports of breeding came from 42 sites, including six breeding pairs at Oulton Marshes.

In the north-east, there were 2148 reports from 149 sites with a maximum of 50 on Minsmere beach on October 24th.

On Orfordness a total of 47 birds was ringed, which is the second-lowest total in the last 20 years. In spring there was a maximum of two birds there between January and March. and an autumn maximum of 20 on October 28th and November 6th.

In the south-east, there were 313 reports from 35 sites and the maximum was 50 at Landguard on October 28th. There were also 40 at Butley/Wantisden on January 22nd. At Landguard, eight males and six females survived the winter and seven pairs nested with very limited success. The maximum on spring passage (March 11th to May 13th) was 15 on April 1st. Autumn passage, which lasted from September 25th until December 5th, had a peak of 50 on October 28th and 29th. On October 22nd, Blackbirds were said to be “much in evidence” in Ipswich.

In the west there were only 12 reports from eight sites and the maximum count was of 59 at BTO Nunnery Reserve, Thetford on November 3rd.

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

Although still a familiar sight, anecdotally, there have been fewer Fieldfares than usual locally, and the figures seem to bear this out. Compared with 706 records in 2018 (453 in the first winter and 253 in the second winter period), there were 359 in 2019 (247 and 112). These broke down by area as 177 (130 and 47) from 47 sites in the north-east, 95 (59 and 36) from 35 in the south-east and 87 (58 and 29) from 41 in the west. There were 42 reports of flocks involving 100 individuals 191

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

or more, compared with 75 in 2018, but none with more than 1000 individuals.

During the first winter period the most notable counts were: Sudbourne Marshes: 300, Jan 7th Westhorpe: Lodge Farm, 300, Apr 2nd, 5th and 13th Troston: 850, Jan 7th

Most birds had gone by early May, with a last sighting of one at The Nunnery, Thetford on May 13th. In the south-east, the last sighting was as early as April 23rd at Sutton Common. Spring passage at Landguard was from March 1st to April 22nd with a maximum of four on April 8th. On Orfordness, none was seen until two on March 2nd, with just two other spring sightings, the last being on April 20th.

In the second winter period, the first record was on September 24th at Worlingham Marshes, but generally October witnessed the first arrivals throughout the county. Passage at Landguard lasted from October 20th to November 18th with a maximum of 26 on October 21st. Orfordness had a poor second winter with a maximum of just six birds on four dates from October 20th to November 6th.

Across the county, there were only six autumn flocks of 100 or over. Most notable of these were recorded as follows:

Worlingham Marshes: 100, Oct 28th Bawdsey: East Lane, 100, Dec 4th.

Lakenheath Fen: 350, late October

SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos Fairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

Nationally, the Song Thrush seems to be gradually reversing its long-term post-1940s decline.

The UK Breeding Bird Survey shows a 4% increase 2018 to 2019, and a 2% ten-year increase.

However, the species dropped from 15th to 22nd between 1995 and 2019 on the BTO Garden Birdwatch table. The Breeding Bird Survey in Suffolk showed the number of individuals reported was 81 and the number of squares has increased from 29 to 36 continuing 2018’s increase. The number of records received for this familiar garden bird was 700 from 125 sites compared with 682 from 122 in 2018.

In the north-east, there were 465 records from 75 sites with a maximum of 100 on the disused railway line at Hopton-on-Sea on October 6th. Twenty breeding pairs were reported. In the south-east there were 208 records from 30 sites with the largest gathering noted was of 60 at Landguard on October 15th. The west produced 27 records from 20 sites, and 22 pairs confirmed breeding including 19 at Lackford Lakes. There was a gathering of 31 birds reported at The Nunnery, Thetford on October 15th as a maximum, the same date as Landguard’s peak.

Orfordness had a poorer year than 2018 with none reported in spring until a single bird on March 2nd. Up to three birds were present in April until the last on 23rd. The next was not present until three on October 4th, with a presence for the rest of that month with 30 on 6th and 50 on 21st, then just one December record of two on 5th. The 28 birds ringed was an improvement on 11 in 2018.

At Landguard, one successfully overwintered from November 2018. Spring passage was from February 28th to May 7th, with a maximum of eight on April 17th. One pair bred but with no success. Autumn passage ran from August 27th to December 2nd with a maximum of 60 on October 15th.

FIELD NOTE It is usually quite difficult to find just one Song Thrush in Christchurch Park, Ipswich so the presence there of up to 15 restless Song Thrushes at about 08:00hr on September 22nd is presumably indicative of an overnight arrival.

Philip Murphy 192

Systematic List

REDWING Turdus iliacus Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

The Redwing is the archetypal bird of the north-European boreal forest as well as an attractive winter visitor to Suffolk. It was visible in impressive numbers in 2018, but less so in 2019 with 414 records from 228 sites (compared with 838 records from 160 sites in 2018), 208 of which were in the spring and 206 in the autumn.

This compares with 383 spring and 455 autumn records in 2018.

In the north-east of the county there were 207 reports from 160 sites (107 David Borderick spring, 100 autumn) with a highest Redwing spring count of 60 at Minsmere on February 14th.

In the south-east there were 133 records from 40 sites (75 spring, 58 autumn) with five winter counts higher than 100 including: Pipps Ford: 300, Jan 6th

In the west there were 64 reports from 28 sites, (26 spring, 38 autumn) with a winter maximum of 60 at Grove Farm, Thurston on January 6th – the same date as the Pipps Ford count.

Across the whole county there was a total of five three-figure spring flocks including 150 at Trimley Marshes on March 20th and 250 there three days later.

There were very few spring records from Orfordness with a maximum of four on March 21st. At Landguard spring passage lasted from March 7th to April 20th with a maximum of 50 on March 23rd.

The last spring sighting was at Oulton Marshes on April 25th, slightly later than the last in the south-east, at Landguard, on April 20th. and, in the west, several sightings on April 23rd.

In the north-east the first record of the autumn was of one at Bradwell on September 21st.

In the south-east, the earliest reports were from Hollesley and Landguard on October 3rd. On September 30th there were western reports at Cavenham and Hardwick Heath, Bury St Edmunds.

There were 12 reports of migrant flocks during the second winter period involving 100+ birds, two more than in 2018. These included: Gorleston: 148, Oct 15th Barton Mills: 940, Oct 7th

On Orfordness, birds were present from October 4th to November 6th, with a maximum of 30 on October 21st. The total of ten birds ringed is the lowest since 2014.

At Landguard, autumn passage lasted from October 3rd to December 6th with a maximum of 22 on November 1st.

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus Fairly common resident and scarce passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

The red-listed Mistle Thrush suffered a 6% decline from 2018 to 2019, and a 15% decline over the last ten years on the national Breeding Bird Survey, but is still fairly widespread in Suffolk.

It has a steady breeding status according to the Suffolk Bird Atlas 2007-2011. However, the Breeding Bird Survey is steady with 29 individuals from 12 1km. squares compared with 25 from 15 in 2018.

Suffolk recorders sent in 378 records from 128 sites compared with 505 from 158 sites in 2018.

Breeding was reported from 14 sites, compared with 21 in 2018, but this is undoubtedly a case of under-reporting.

193

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There were few notable double-figure counts, but they did include the following:

Butley: The Street, 35, July 31st Heveningham: 28, Aug 1st East Bergholt: 17, Oct 7th Barton Mills: 25, Oct 4th

At Landguard there were two spring records and three in the autumn including four birds on October 8th. This species was not mentioned in the Orfordness report, so there are no additions to the four records since 2010.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata Declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

The first report was from the south-east with one on May 3rd at Landguard where spring passage peaked at three on May 28th. None had been seen on Orfordness in 2018 but this year there were singles at this site in May on 18th and 25th.

It was first reported in the west from RSPB Lakenheath Fen on May 5th and then three noted at Denston on May 8th. The north-east noted its first at Corton disused railway line on May 10th with the best counts coming from Kessingland Cliffs with three, May 17th and Heveningham Park also with three on May 26th.

In the north-east there were records from 18 sites up to the end of June with breeding noted at just three of them with one pair being double-brooded. In the south-east reports came from 12 sites with breeding confirmed from eight, again one of these pairs being double-brooded. The west continues to be the dominant sector with reports from 19 sites and breeding confirmed at 15 of them, with a further four possible breeding pairs.

The total of 30 breeding pairs in Suffolk, including possible pairs, is overall a 17% decline from 2018 (20 confirmed and 16 possible).

FIELD NOTE On September 12th a Spotted Flycatcher flew in off the sea at Easton Bavents and landed on the cliff top, and then continued its journey inland.

Craig Fulcher Early autumn passage was first noted at Landguard on August 3rd and widely reported throughout the county with the best counts coming from Benacre Sluice, three, August 25th to 26th, RSPB Minsmere, three September 11th, Pipps Ford, six August 21st and Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds, seven on September 1st. Final reports came from RSPB Minsmere, September 26th, Landguard, September 26th, Temple Bridge, Icklingham/Cavenham, September 21st with the final sighting from East Lane, Bawdsey on September 30th.

EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula Very common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor.

During the first winter period high counts were reported from: Flixton: 18, Mar 1st Sizewell: Beach, 21, Feb 27th Bramfield: Broad Oak Farm, 16, Feb 19th Aldeburgh: Golf Club, 15, Jan 31st Ipswich: Landseer Park, 17, Jan 31st

During spring further high counts were noted at:

Southwold/Easton Bavents: 22, Apr 1st Thorpeness: Common, 18, Mar 30th Landguard: spring passage Feb 28th to Apr 26th, max eight, Mar 23rd Euston: 14, Mar 3rd Lackford Lakes: 20, Mar 25th 194

Systematic List

There were few breeding data for this common species. However, in the north-east there were seven pairs in Reydon Wood and six pairs at Hen Reedbeds. Three pairs bred at Landguard. In the west, at Lackford Lakes, a total of four adults and 13 juveniles was ringed, which is below average, probably due to the dry weather conditions. Lakenheath Fen posted a total of 19 pairs.

Autumn migration peaked about the third week of October with some notable counts from:

Corton: 30, Oct 6th; 32, Oct 7th; Sewage Works, 23, Oct 1st Southwold: total of 96, Oct 22nd, the highest count in Suffolk since 100, Thorpeness, Oct 14th 2014 Dunwich Heath: 20, Oct 15th; 48, Oct 19th Minsmere: 20, Oct 31st Thorpeness: Haven, 40, Oct 22nd; 34, Oct 24th Orfordness: 40, Oct 6th; 50, Oct 7th; 40, Oct 13th; 40, Oct 21st; 80, Oct 22nd (see Southwold) Shingle Street: 20, Oct 15th; 40, Oct 23rd.

Hollesley: Twin Banks, 21, Oct 21st Landguard: autumn passage July 23rd to Nov 25th with impressive max totals of 120, Oct 7th and 15th – highest figure in Suffolk since Oct 20th 2012 and Oct 13th 2003 when 200 were present at Landguard and Thorpeness respectively.

Thetford: BTO Nunnery Lakes, 33, Oct 1st; 30, Nov 3rd

The Orfordness ringing total of 215 in 2019 is the site’s highest since 2016 when 249 were ringed.

End of the year concentrations were noted at Redgrave Fen, 11, December 30th, Brandon Country Park with 16, December 30th and BTO Nunnery Lakes, Thetford with 14 on December 25th. At least 18 were attempting to overwinter at Landguard in December, but only four on Orfordness at the year’s end.

COMMON NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos.

Declining summer visitor and scarce passage migrant. Red list.

Nightingales were first heard singing in the north-east on Westleton Heath on April 11th followed by Westleton Common, April 12th, in the south-east at Pipers Vale, Ipswich on April 14th and Waldringfield on April 17th and in the west of the county at Lackford Lakes on April 15th and Maidscross Hill, Lakenheath on April 18th.

The highest counts noted in April were from Westleton Heath with six, April 22nd and five, April 29th, Thorpeness, four, April 19th, Ravenswood (old airport), Ipswich, six, April 22nd, Common Lane, Melton, four on April 22nd, Lackford Lakes, five, April 20th and Maidscross Hill, Lakenheath with seven on April 29th. During May peak counts came from Aldeburgh Golf Course with seven on 1st, Alton Water, five on 12th and Playford, five on 18th.

In the north-east there were reports from a total of 18 sites with breeding confirmed at Dunwich, six pairs, RSPB Minsmere, 11 pairs and North Warren, 13 pairs. In the south-east there were records from 43 sites with breeding confirmed at RSPB Snape Warren, three pairs, Sutton Hoo, three pairs and Bromeswell with five pairs. In the west of the county records came from 14 sites with breeding confirmed at six of them.

Overall, the numbers of sites from where Nightingales were reported was 75, down from 85 in 2018, while confirmed breeding at the key sites seems to have remained stable, with the northeast actually improving slightly.

The last reports came from Landguard on August 8th and SWT Trimley Marshes on August 4th when two juveniles were trapped and ringed, one of which was later re-trapped at the same site on August 24th. The final sighting was also at Trimley Marshes on August 31st.

BLUETHROAT Luscinia svecica Red-spotted Bluethroat Luscinina svecica svecica Rare passage migrant Landguard: female, photographed, May 20th (A Kettle et al.)

This is the fifth consecutive year that this subspecies has been recorded in Suffolk.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

White-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula Rare passage migrant Herringfleet Marshes: male, photographed, Apr 6th and 7th (J Cyprus, A C Easton et al.)

This is a typical early-spring date.

RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Tarsiger cyanurus Very rare visitor.

Landguard: Trapped, ringed and photographed, Mar 23rd (M May et al.)

This is the first-ever spring record for the county and a third record for the site. Previous Landguard records have been in October 1994 (first Suffolk record) and November 2011.

2010 Correction

Lowestoft: Arnold’s Walk, first-winter male, Sep 17th to 24th (Suffolk Birds 2010:132) – correct dates are October 17th to 24th

EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca Fairly common passage migrant. Red list.

As in 2018, there was a good spring passage in 2019 all within the coastal belt. All records are listed: Corton: disused railway line, May 8th to 19th Lowestoft (East): May 9th to 11th Minsmere: dunes, May 25th Orfordness: male, Apr 23rd and 24th Orford: Apr 30th Shingle Street: Apr 24th Landguard: May 2nd

(July 31st to August 1st. This is the earliest autumn arrival since 2008 (July 31st, Landguard).

Although passage did not reach the large numbers seen in 2018 there was a significant movement in the north-east during the latter part of August from mainly coastal sites. Peak counts, in the north-east were noted from:

Gunton: disused railway line, five, Aug 24th; six, Aug 25th Lowestoft: North Denes, five, Aug 28th; five, Sep 1st Kessingland: Marsh Lane, six, Aug 24th; four, Aug 25th Southwold: 12, Aug 27th Minsmere: seven, Aug 28th; four, Aug 29th

Elsewhere there were nowhere near the numbers in the south-east compared with the north-east, with Landguard seeing passage from July 31st – the bird mentioned above.

However, six were reported on Orfordness during the period August 23rd to September 8th – “a slightly better year for this species”. They were reported from seven other sites - there was a maximum count of three reported from Hollesley on August 27th. Away from the coast a singleton was recorded in Holywells Park, Pied Flycatcher, May 11th Ipswich on August 30th.

There was just one autumn record from the west - at Fornham St Martin on August 27th.

The final sighting of the year came from Minsmere Dunes on October 13th.

196

Peter Ransome

Systematic List

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva Rare passage migrant.

There were two found in 2019.

Sizewell: Sizewell Hall, Oct 7th (G Grieco) Landguard: first-year, trapped and ringed, Sep 22nd (P J Holmes et al.)

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. A few overwinter. Red list.

The only first winter report was received from Lowestoft North Denes on February 16th.

Although widely reported during the spring from the coastal belt it was only an average passage involving ones and twos from 19 sites. Early reports were noted from: Lowestoft: North Denes, Mar 21st Benacre: Sluice, two, Mar 22nd to 24th Sizewell: Mar 20th Orfordness: male, Mar 22nd Shingle Street: female, Mar 20th to 23rd Upper Hollesley Common: Mar 26th Falkenham: Mar 11th Landguard: spring passage noted from Mar 22nd to June 5th, max two, Apr 17th, 19th and 22nd Holbrook: Royal Hospital School, Mar 20th

There were just two spring records from the west of the county, at Long Melford on March 26th and Brettenham on April 11th.

Late spring reports were from Orfordness, June 2nd and Minsmere June 3rd.

In 2019 the number of breeding pairs of Black Redstarts increased significantly for the fourth year in succession. 16 territories were reported, from seven widespread sites, up from 13 in 2018. Three pairs were noted in Lowestoft, whilst a pair and an additional male were seen at Sizewell Power Station. Sightings of a juvenile at Landguard on July 14th and 16th suggested that breeding had taken place nearby. In the west of the county ten territories were noted at four sites, with at least two pairs fledging young.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Number of sites 4 5 4 1 2 2 5 7 5 7

Confirmed breeding pairs 4 4 2 1 2 1 3 5 4 5

Total 5 5 5 1 2 2 5 10 13 16

The number of sites in 2017 and 2018 has dropped from nine (in last year’s Suffolk Bird Report) to seven. This is because the Rare Birds Breeding Panel consider that the Lowestoft birds (which are, to be fair, pretty close together) as one site not three…..and we have, therefore, followed their lead.

Autumn passage began with early reports of singletons from Lowestoft, July 10th, Landguard, juvenile, July 14th to 16th and Whepstead with a juvenile reported on July 18th.

An excellent passage was seen in the north-east during October but in the south-east there were few records. Peak counts from north-east:

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Lowestoft: Ness Point, three, Oct 8th; five, Oct 10th; four, Oct 17th to 19th Wenhaston: three, Oct 27th Sizewell: three, Aug 26th Aldeburgh: six, Oct 25th Alde Estuary: eight, Oct 27th

A very short autumn passage occurred at Landguard between October 21st and November 4th with a peak of four, October 22nd, 25th and 27th.

Reports from Ness Point, Lowestoft continued with regular sightings until the end of November with a peak of four on November 9th. Elsewhere singletons were reported from SWT Trimley Marshes on November 16th and December 12th, with this latter bird presumably intending to overwinter in that area.

COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

A reasonable spring passage was seen across the county with reports from:

Corton: Old Sewage Works, May 18th Gunton: disused railway line, Apr 16th; three, Apr 23rd Mutford: Apr 16th Reydon Smear: May 11th Minsmere: first reported Apr 17th with seven by Apr 29th Aldringham Walks: Apr 20th Orfordness: female, Apr 22nd; male, Apr 24th Upper Hollesley Common: first heard Apr 15th Sutton Common: Apr 27th Woodbridge Airfield: May 13th.

Landguard: Apr 16th; Apr 29th; May 2nd Lackford Lakes: May 17th and 18th Icklingham: Temple Bridge, Apr 15th; Apr 26th, Dead Man’s Grave, May 2nd Berner’s Heath: May 6th; May 12th The King’s Forest: north-west section, Apr 22nd

198

Systematic List

John Richardson

Common Redstart, Sutton Common, August 2nd

The number of breeding pairs rose to 29, from 19 in 2018, primarily due to a major increase in nesting sites at RSPB Minsmere which recorded its best year since 2000 with 11 pairs (also 11 in 2000; just one in 2018). Elsewhere Staverton Park/Thicks held eight pairs (eight in 2018), Sutton and Hollesley Commons seven pairs (five in 2018) and Woodbridge Airfield three pairs (three in 2018). In the west of the county three pairs probably bred at Berner’s Heath. The last year when there were more breeding pairs in the county was 1994 when there was an estimated 31 pairs.

An unexpected mid-summer report involved a juvenile at Landguard, July 6th to August 5th.

Autumn passage in the north-east was reported from 12 coastal sites with the first reports of individuals from Gunton Warren and the Alde Estuary, both on August 19th with a maximum of just two reported from North Denes, Lowestoft on September 1st. The south-east had a poor passage with records from just three sites. Orfordness NT noted just one singleton, September 14th and it was the worst year for this species ever recorded from the site. The main passage at Landguard was from August 19th with a maximum of four on September 9th. SWT Trimley Marshes reported juveniles on August 4th and August 28th. In the west singletons were reported from Temple Bridge, Icklingham/Cavenham, August 24th and Cavenham Heath on August 5th, 24th and 25th and September 27th.

The final reports of the year came from Landguard on October 21st and Eastbridge, October 20th to 22nd.

WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra.

A Whinchat at Shingle Street on March 26th (S Noble) is the earliest since 1984 (March 25th, Iken) and only the fifth March record in Suffolk.

After that it was a month before the next record. There was an average spring passage with all records listed, singletons unless stated: Corton: Sewage Works, May 7th Lowestoft: North Denes, May 10th Southwold (west): male, Apr 24th Dunwich: Mount Pleasant, male, May 19th; Dunwich Heath. May 26th Minsmere: Beach, May 9th; May 18th Havergate Island: May 1st Shingle Street: Mar 26th Sutton Common: two, May 1st; four, May 31st Landguard: recorded from Apr 24th until May 16th with a maximum of two, Apr 24th and May 16th Stradishall: Airfield, Apr 29th 199

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Early returning individuals were reported from Little Stonham on August 4th and the Alde Estuary, August 11th with a steady increase in numbers as the month progressed.

Peak counts in August:

Benacre: Sluice, ten, Aug 29th; eight, Aug 31st Alde Estuary: seven, Aug 19th; seven, Aug 23rd; nine, Aug 30th Orfordness: ten, Aug 18th; 13, Aug 31st Shingle Street: four, Aug 19th Cavenham Heath: three, Aug 31st Thetford: BTO Nunnery Lakes, three, Aug 30th

Whinchat at Kessingland

David Borderick

A further passage was seen in September with peak counts from:

Lowestoft: Denes, seven, Sep 9th Minsmere: seven, Sep 3rd; seven, Sep 9th Alde Estuary: 17, Sep 13th Shingle Street: nine, Sep 1st

Only five were ringed on Orfordness this year, well below the site’s annual mean of 14 during the last ten years.

Passage continued with a good run of records during October throughout the county with Landguard’s autumn peak of three on 6th. The final sighting in the west was from RSPB Lakenheath Fen on October 2nd. Other late reports, the last birds of the year, came from Lowestoft North Denes and three at Kessingland Dunes, all on October 22nd.

EUROPEAN STONECHAT Saxicola rubicola Fairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.

Reported from seven sites during the first winter period in the north-east with peaks of five at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich on February 11th and five, Minsmere, February 12th to 14th. Records from the south-east came from 11 sites including four at RSPB Hollesley Marshes on January 31st, three, Levington Creek, January 1st and a maximum of seven on Orfordness during January.

The west continues to be a winter stronghold, Stonechats being recorded from 12 sites with peaks of five at Berner’s Heath, January 11th and six at Lakenheath Fen on February 21st.

A light spring passage at Landguard involved singles in February on 20th, 21st and 27th.

Breeding records significantly improved from the county total of 74 pairs in 2018 with the Suffolk Sandlings holding a total of 53 pairs, the best since 58 pairs in 2011. There were 34 pairs in the north-east (20 in 2018), 29 pairs in the south-east (16 in 2018) and 57 pairs in the west (38 in 2018), which includes the Norfolk part of Thetford Forest, making a total of 120 pairs.

Key breeding sites are:

Dunwich Heath: five pairs.

Minsmere: 12 pairs, the best since 13 pairs in 2006.

Orfordness: five pairs.

Sutton and Hollesley Commons: 14 pairs.

Cavenham Heath: four pairs.

Thetford Forest: includes the Norfolk section, 47 pairs. Total of 66 birds was ringed in 2019.

There were some large post breeding gatherings recorded with 20 on Orfordness, October 20th, nine, Cavenham Heath, September 17th and 22 in Brandon Country Park on September 15th and 18 there on September 17th. The totals of 20 and 22 are record autumn counts in Suffolk.

200

Systematic List

In the table it is clear how the wretched weather in 2012 and 2013 had a detrimental effect on the population, but ‘The Beast from the East’ had less of an effect in 2018.

FIELD NOTE On Orfordness a European Stonechat was seen to eat an Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia - caterpillar on April 24th – “quite a substantial prey item!”

Orfordness NNR Report 2019 Towards the end of the year sightings were widely reported from 36 sites throughout the county with the best counts from:

Herringfleet Marshes: four, Dec 30th Oulton Marsh: five, Nov 24th Carlton Marshes: four, Dec Havergate Island: four, Nov 6th; six, Dec 6th Orfordness: up to six, Dec Berner’s Heath: six, Dec 30th

The annual ringing total of 28 on Orfordness is the highest since 2016 (35).

SIBERIAN STONECHAT Saxicola maurus Very rare vagrant.

Hollesley Marshes RSPB: 1st-calendar-year male, Dec 1st onwards into 2020 (C Shaw et al. as per Suffolk recorder)

A first-winter male discovered at RSPB Hollesley Marshes on December 1st (C Shaw) remained into the new year and was seen by many observers. Identification was confirmed by DNA analysis. There is an article concerning this bird at the beginning of this bird report. This is the third definite Suffolk record (ten ‘Eastern Stonechats’ not identified to species level using DNA have also occurred) and the first during the winter period, all of the other “Eastern Stonechats” having been seen in September or October.

The previous two records were at Trimley Marshes in October 2013 and on Orfordness, October 2015. The ten “Eastern Stonechats” occurred between 1977 and 2003.

201

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

SIBERIAN/STEYNEGER’S STONECHAT Very rare vagrant.

Southwold: 2nd-calendar-year male (submitted as S. maurus), May 14th (B J Small et al.)

NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe Common passage migrant and uncommon summer visitor.

An increased March passage was seen in 2019 with the first report from Orfordness on March 13th followed by singles at both Southwold and Cavenham Heath on March 17th.

Peak March counts were reported from: Lowestoft: North Denes, five, Mar 21st Shingle Street: four, Mar 19th; six, Mar 23rd Landguard: five, Mar 20th The best of the April passage was: Carlton Marshes: seven, Apr 29th Kessingland/Benacre: 12, Apr 21st; seven, Apr 22nd Walberswick: Tinker’s Marshes, seven, Apr 20th Landguard: maximum spring counts of 15, Apr 19th and Apr 26th Cavenham Heath: eight, Apr 20th; seven, Apr 21st; six, Apr 26th

The first “Greenland” birds O. o. leucorhoa were noted on Orfordness on April 16th.

Peak counts during May:

Carlton Marshes: nine, May 12th Walberswick: Tinker’s Marshes, five, May 18th Havergate Island: five, May 9th

The last spring passage bird was reported from Lowestoft North Denes on May 26th, although a record of an individual at Benacre Pits on June 16th is somewhat unexpected.

Breeding was confirmed, once again, on Orfordness where six pairs (five in 2018) fledged ten young. Confirmed breeding last occurred in the Suffolk Brecks in 2004 since which year Orfordness has been the species’ only regular breeding locality in Suffolk. The highest total of breeding pairs on Orfordness so far this century is 11 in 2012.

The first reports of autumn passage were noted from Benacre Sluice where a juvenile was present on July 13th, Landguard from July 31st and, in the west, Stradishall Airfield on August 4th.

The best of autumn migration was seen in August with peak counts:

Kessingland/Benacre: six, Aug 15th; 14, Aug 22nd; eight, Aug 31st Minsmere: six, Aug 20th Alde Estuary: 13, Aug 19th Landguard: seven, Aug 22nd; seven, Aug 27th During September: Lowestoft: town/beach, six, Sep 13th Benacre Sluice: six, Sep 23rd Minsmere: four, Sep 21st Havergate Island: five, Sept 16th Landguard: peak count of eight, Sep 26th to 28th Honington: eight, Sep 15th – an excellent inland autumn total

Passage continued into October with four at Carlton Marshes on October 5th and, unexpectedly, the highest count of the autumn at Landguard of nine on October 9th. Final sightings occurred in the west at both Fornham All Saints and Cavenham Heath, on October 2nd, on the coast singles at Landguard on October 28th and Easton Bavents, October 29th. Finally, a very late individual was reported and photographed at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich on November 19th (D J Carter, M Carter) the latest since 2014 (November 30th, Bawdsey – Suffolk’s latest ever).

202

Systematic List

Richard Allen

Wheatears

203

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

WHITE-THROATED DIPPER Cinclus cinclus Very rare vagrant. Amber list There have been no records since the well-observed bird in the Gipping Valley between Needham Market and Pipps Ford in October and November 2016.

HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus Common but declining resident. Red List.

There were 33 records from 21 sites noted across the county with few notable flocks of this once-common bird. The BBS figures show there has been very little change in abundance of this species in the past five years: BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 20 253

2016 24 287

2017 24 274

2018 23 255

2019 22 299

Flocks of 40 or more birds were recorded at the following sites:

Landguard: 30 to 40 pairs nested at the cottage and Fort. Fifteen birds retrapped from previous years, with oldest from Dec 2014. The year’s peak count was 180 on Sep 4th Trimley St Martin: 40, Aug 28th Hadleigh: 60, Sep 18th; 60 Dec 21st Westhorpe: 60, Jan 9th Sudbury: 75, Jan 2nd Glemsford: 50, Aug 15th Elveden: 80, Aug 21st Haverhill: Hanchett Village, 67, Aug 8th

FIELD NOTE The majority of the House Sparrows on Orfordness concern birds coming across the river from Orford to search for food for their young. The first in 2019 was a female on May 12th.

Then House Sparrows were frequently seen during June with a maximum of seven on 22nd, and last seen on July 24th apart from two females on October 19th.

Orfordness NNR Birds 2019 HOUSE SPARROW X TREE SPARROW hybrid

Landguard: Sep 7th is Suffolk’s fourth record of this hybrid, the previous sightings having been in Bury St Edmunds, January 13th 1894, Timworth, December 28th 1995 to January 7th 1996 and Landguard, “spring” 2000.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus Uncommon and declining resident. Scarce passage migrant. Red List.

Although there were fewer records in 2019 the number of sites remained in line with the previous year: Records Sites

2015 84 33

2016 79 26

2017 69 18

2018 85 21

2019 58 20

Few records of over three birds were recorded in the north-east and south-east of the county with the only significant numbers being reported from the west where winter feeding is undertaken. Peak counts were: 204

Systematic List Fornham St Martin: Hall Farm, up to 20, Jan 6th to Dec 30th Ampton: up to 35, Jan 24th to May 6th; 70, July 22nd; 200, Aug 21st Livermere Lake: 12, Jan 1st; 20, Jan 31st; 21, June 1st; 34, Aug 5th; 45, Aug 13th

Breeding was recorded at six sites in the west of the county, at Ampton, Bowbeck (Bardwell), Timworth, Tuddenham St Mary, Great Livermere and Fornham St Martin.

Tree Sparrows were recorded at Landguard on 21 dates between July 20th and November 10th with a maximum of only seven on September 8th. A group of four flew south over Orfordness on October 22nd.

HEDGE ACCENTOR (DUNNOCK) Prunella modularis Very common resident and fairly common passage migrant. Amber List.

There were records from only 23 sites noted across the county with no significant counts at any of these. As with House Sparrow, the BBS figures show there has been very little change in abundance of this species in the past five years: BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 32 130

2016 36 115

2017 39 151

2018 35 130

2019 36 140

Counts of more than ten throughout the county were:

Orfordness: six pairs present in breeding season Landguard: up to 12 pairs nested; autumn passage Sep 10th to Nov 9th, max 30, Sep 12th Lackford Lakes: 20 adults and ten juveniles were ringed, this total of juveniles being the second-lowest in 28 years

Breeding was recorded at a number of sites in the north-east of the county with a maximum of eight nests at any one site. Ringing totals of Dunnocks on Orfordness during the past ten years shows numbers are getting back to the ten-year mean: 2010 93

2011 30

2012 18

2013 39

2014 39

2015 37

2016 35

2017 29

2018 15

2019 39

WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava flavissima Rapidly declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

The number of records and sites both showed a decrease based on BBS data:

Records Sites

2015 184 75

2016 188 59

2017 285 74

2018 278 67

2019 177 61

The first bird of the year was at Carlton Marshes on April 7th.

There was confirmed breeding at Hollesley Marshes, Chelmondiston, Cavenham and Rushbrooke.

There were only six counts of ten or more birds. The 203 at Burgh Castle is the highest site-total since 2006 when there was a gathering at Lakenheath Fen of 250 on April 18th.

Burgh Castle: 203, Aug 15th; 65 recorded roosting at Glebe Marshes, Sep 5th Herringfleet Marshes: ten, May 5th Trimley Marsh SWT: 11, Sep 4th; 13 south, Sep 5th Nayland: 13, Aug 21st

Spring migration at Landguard involved 26 birds (34 in spring 2018) between April 12th and May 19th and autumn migration involved a total of 71 (65 in autumn 2018) birds between June 30th and October 17th.

205

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Excluding the “Yellow Wagtail” (Eastern?) at Minsmere, November 16th to December 8th 1967, the latest Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk prior to 2019 was on Orfordness, November 16th 2003. The Dunwich bird (present with the Eastern Yellow Wagtail), remained there until at least November 19th and so becomes the latest-ever recorded in Suffolk.

Coincidentally, there was also one present on Havergate Island the same day.

Yellow Wagtails & Wheatear

Ed Keeble

BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL M.f. flava Uncommon passage migrant. Amber list.

Single birds were noted in the spring at three sites, the lowest total since 2009 when there were sightings at only two sites (five in 2018, four in 2017, six in 2016, four in 2015 and six in 2014):

Carlton Marshes: Apr 25th Covehithe: Apr 23rd Landguard: May 20th

EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla tschutschensis Accidental.

A new species for Suffolk, the Dunwich bird was possibly first located on October 25th and then refound November 7th with the identification being established on November 8th. Incredibly, a second bird was then found on Havergate Island.

Dunwich: Corporation Marshes, first-winter, Nov 7th to 19th (P Green, T Williams, P Kennerley et al.)

Havergate Island: first-winter, Nov 12th to 14th (D Fairhurst, P Kennerley), relocated in February 2020

The write-up of this event is on page 55 in the bird report.

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea Fairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Red list (from Amber).

This colourful bird continues to be well-observed.

However, few sites held more than three birds.

Kessingland: Sewage Works, four, Nov 24th Wenhaston: Black Heath, four, July 27th Long Melford: Sewage Works, seven, June 30th; six, July 28th; eight, Aug 24th Lackford Lakes: four, May 22nd

Breeding was confirmed at nine sites (eight in 2018, six in 2017, 12 in 2016) within the county (Clare Castle CP, Great Cornard, Kedington, Lackford Lakes, Long Melford SW, Pakenham Watermill, Stratford St Mary, Thorington Street and Wissington), and probably occurred at up to six sites in the Gipping Valley.

Return migration at Landguard involved 79 birds between August 20th and November 8th with a peak count of eight south, September 6th. Two flew south over Orfordness, September 22nd and another two south on October 13th.

206

Grey Wagtail

Jan Wilczur

Systematic List

FIELD NOTE A Grey Wagtail was seen and heard in flight over Portman Road football ground during a brief lull in the Ipswich Town/Lincoln City FA Cup Match on November 9th.

Philip Murphy PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba Very common resident, passage migrant and winter and summer visitor. Green List (from Amber).

This species is widely distributed in the county. Despite a significant reduction in records the number of sites remained similar to the previous year.

Records Sites

2015 89 41

2016 53 26

2017 498 82

2018 91 31

2019 42 28

Breeding records came from across the county and show a steady breeding decline:

BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 26 55

2016 22 51

2017 24 49

2018 23 38

2019 16 36

Significant counts across the county were:

Herringfleet Marshes: 60, Apr 26th Oulton Broad: 200, Feb 24th Minsmere: 70, Dec 30th Eastbridge: 50, Sep 28th Chillesford: River Butley roost, 60, Jan 26th; 100, Feb 2nd; 200, Dec 20th; 120, Dec 29th Bury St Edmunds: 50, Jan 26th; 50, Nov 30th Long Melford: Sewage Works, 74, Jan 6th; 54, Mar 3rd; 58, Mar 10th Haverhill: 61, Feb 7th; 70, Mar 1st

Two pairs nested on Orfordness.

Autumn passage at Landguard was noted from September 12th to October 20th with 33 recorded (27 in 2018, 179 in 2017) and a maximum of 15 south on October 17th. At least four pairs nested in the adjoining dock with these birds and their offspring regularly feeding on site with a maximum of 24 on August 29th.

White Wagtail M. a. alba Fairly common passage migrant. Amber list.

The number of records and sites showed a significant reduction from previous years for this species which is always recorded predominantly on spring passage with few autumn records:

Records Sites

2015 74 34

2016 46 30

2017 63 22

2018 69 28

The first spring sighting was at Landguard on March 17th.

There were only three records of four birds or more as follows:

2019 30 17

Benacre: seven, Sep 5th – highest autumn total since September 6th 1995 when eight were at Sizewell Covehithe: ten, Apr 13th; five, Apr 17th 207

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris Rare visitor.

As in the previous year there was only a single record of this species in 2019.

Southwold: Town Marshes, Apr 26th (B J Small)

This is the earliest since 1984 when one was at Walberswick, April 17th. The only other April record, at Walberswick on 16th in 1983, is Suffolk’s earliest-ever occurrence.

There have now been 42 records in Suffolk of this summer visitor to the Western Palearctic whose nearest breeding sites to Britain are in The Netherlands.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

Both the number of records and sites returned to the 2015 and 2016 figures: 2015 77 35

Records Sites

2016 85 37

2017 507 98

2018 263 45

2019 79 42

Significant counts of passage birds were reported from coastal sites:

Corton: 359 south, Sep 28th; 50, Oct 12th Carlton Marshes: 40, Sep 8th Minsmere: up to 150 between Sep 12th and Dec 27th Thorpeness: 100, Oct 3rd Slaughden: 96, Sep 12th Bawdsey: East Lane, 100, Sep 17th Landguard: 250, south Sep 27th

Significant inland counts were:

Long Melford: Sewage Works, 60, Jan 6th Great Barton: 120, Jan 21st Brandon CP: 42, Sep 25th Cavenham Heath: 50, Sep 15th; 100, Sep 17th; 75, Oct 1st.

This is a common bird on Orfordness where the estimated minimum breeding population was 29 pairs. The ringing total of 185 was a small increase over the previous year but was still the second poorest of the past ten years, as can be seen in the table below: 2010 382

2011 374

2012 315

2013 583

2014 531

2015 321

2016 478

2017 700

2018 162

2019 185

Spring passage at Landguard was noted from February 25th to May 13th with a maximum of 26 on March 17th.

Autumn passage at Landguard was from August 23rd until December 29th with a total of 2259 birds including a maximum one-day-count of 250 south on September 27th; the maximum monthly total was 1244 in September.

TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis Declining summer visitor and passage migrant. Red list.

This species showed a decrease in both records and sites from the previous two years with the east of the county being particularly devoid of birds:

208

Systematic List

Records Sites

2015 70 38

2016 41 23

2017 62 35

2018 82 36

2019 53 30

In the north-east and south-east of the county, there was no sign of breeding with most of the records being of single birds, with three exceptions:

Thorpeness: three south, Oct 23rd Landguard: two south, Aug 17th; three south, Aug 19th

The three south at Thorpeness is the latest Suffolk record since 2012 when one, also on October 23rd, was at Walberswick. Suffolk’s latest-ever was on November 2nd 2001 at Landguard.

The picture in the west of the county was again significantly different with the majority of birds recorded in The King’s Forest (all sections) with the first of the year on April 9th.

Multiple counts were as follows:

Cavenham: two, July 15th The King’s Forest (Central): up to three, Apr 11th to June 6th The King’s Forest (North-east): up to two, May 20th to June 28th The King’s Forest (North-west): up to seven, Apr 9th to Apr 22nd The King’s Forest (North Stow): up to three, Apr 16th to June 7th Elveden: six, May 14th Mayday Farm: up to five, May 5th to 21st

Breeding was confirmed in Thetford Forest where 32 nests were found and monitored with 114 young ringed.

WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

The number of records for this species considerably increased, with mostly single sightings, however, the number of sites dropped by a few:

Records Sites

2015 52 19

2016 72 19

2017 116 18

2018 88 26

2019 145 23

Records of four or more birds were noted from seven sites as follows:

Herringfleet Marshes: up to 27, Feb 23rd to Mar 9th; 13, Mar 16th; 13, Apr 6th; up to 14, Nov 17th to Dec 31st Carlton Marshes: up to six, Mar 1st to Apr 7th Snape Wetlands: four, Feb 28th; four, Nov 28th North Warren: ten, Feb 2nd Hollesley Marshes: seven, Apr 11th Lakenheath Fen and Washes: up to seven, Jan 6th to Apr 11th

The gathering of 27 (March 9th) at Herringfleet Marshes equals the highest-ever total in Suffolk recorded at Minsmere on January 28th 2008.

FIELD NOTE One at Landguard on April 21st is only the third site record, previous records being in 2003 and 1973.

W J Brame.

209

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

2018 Addition.

Lakenheath Fen RSPB: up to nine, Jan 2nd to Apr 18th (Suffolk Birds 2018:178) is the highest-ever total at a non-coastal site in Suffolk

EURASIAN ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant.

The number of records and sites significantly reduced during 2019 with all records, as expected, from coastal locations:

Records Sites

2015 122 50

2016 128 45

2017 167 42

2018 272 71

2019 77 30

During the year there were numerous reports of up to four birds with counts of five or more at only seven sites: Walberswick: seven, Nov 17th.

Dunwich: Corporation Marshes, 12, Nov 8th Orfordness NT: nine, Feb 17th; 12, Oct 19th Havergate Island: 40, Nov 13th; 25, Nov 17th Hollesley Marshes: nine, Dec 16th; 20, Dec 18th Sutton: Stonner Point, six, Nov 17th Levington Marina: six, Oct 23rd

On Orfordness birds were present between January 1st and March 31st with a maximum count of nine on February 17th. The last bird of spring in the county was at Lowestoft on March 21st.

The first bird of the autumn returned to Orfordness on September 22nd, the same date as 2018, and birds were present there until the end of the year with a maximum day-count of 12 on October 19th.

At Landguard, only 65 were logged during autumn from September 22nd to November 25th (32 in 2018, 104 in 2017, 83 in 2016).

COMMON CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs Very common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Categories A and E. The number of records and sites for this common bird continue to fluctuate wildly and are back to 2015-16 levels:

Records Sites

2015 60 40

2016 27 19

2017 709 135

2018 246 58

2019 44 35

The BBS data suggest a reasonably stable population of this species:

BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 43 427

2016 42 297

2017 48 329

2018 45 304

2019 43 266

There was little breeding information received. However, the area where the RSPB has an interest by the Butley River held eight pairs. Other RSPB sites held ‘breeding’ pairs. At Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves there were seven at Darsham Marshes and eight at Church Farm, Thorington.

210

Systematic List

Reasonable-sized flocks of 50 or more were reported from eight sites with peak numbers as follows:

Corton: 126, south, Mar 23rd; Cliffs, 172 south, Mar 16th – these spring movements were not apparent elsewhere on the Suffolk coast Minsmere: 80, Oct 17th; 200 south, Oct 19th Sudbourne: 60, Jan 21st Boxford: 50, Nov 24th Stoke-by-Nayland: 50, Nov 8th Lackford Lakes: 75, Dec 15th Thetford Forest: 200, Mar 3rd and 8th

Autumn migration at Landguard was between September 4th and November 30th with a total of 493 south/in off and a maximum day-count of 175 south on October 17th.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant.

After a number of years showing a steady increase in records and sites the numbers of both dropped considerably in 2019:

Records Sites

2015 181 84

2016 197 84

2017 207 77

2018 264 93

2019 125 61

There were only 14 records of 20 or more birds, a similar number to 2018:

Bradwell: New Road, up to 30 between Apr 8th and 12th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, 30, Mar 28th Chillesford: 25, Apr 15th Lackford Lakes: 50, Apr 8th; 74 trapped and ringed in first winter and during spring passage Elveden: 20, Feb 14th The King’s Forest (North Stow): 30, Apr 16th Thetford Forest: 60, Jan 20th; 100, Mar 3rd; 350, Mar 8th – highest site-total since December 27th 2012 when 1000 were at Cavenham Thetford (High Lodge): 30, trapped and ringed, in March Brandon CP: 50, Mar 9th Santon Downham: 31, Jan 20th; 20, Apr 13th

Spring passage at Landguard was noted from March 23rd to April 19th involving 12 birds.

The first returning birds (three) in the autumn on Orfordness were on October 5th. Autumn passage at Landguard was also recorded from October 5th to November 29th with a total of 41 birds (80 in 2018, 35 in 2017, 69 in 2016, 151 in 2015) and a maximum of eight on October 28th.

HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes Uncommon resident and rare passage migrant. Red List.

After the huge invasion into England in late autumn of 2017, which resulted in an unusually high number of records in the first winter period of 2018, the numbers recorded in 2019 returned to the expected norm. The majority of records were of single birds:

Corton: Sewage Works, Feb 10th Sotterley Park: one, sometimes two, between Jan 1st and 30th Orfordness NT: trapped and ringed, Apr 21st and still present, Apr 22nd Landguard: Oct 21st; Nov 16th Barnham Cross Common: Sep 19th Santon Downham: Jan 25th and 26th; Feb 14th; Mar 22nd Lakenheath Fen RSPB: two, Oct 19th

The bird trapped on Orfordness is only the second site record, the first having been on March 16th 2008.

211

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

EURASIAN BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common but declining resident. Amber List.

This popular species continues to be widely reported but with a reduction in both records and sites for the second year running: Records Sites

2015 477 158

2016 282 99

2017 379 150

2018 325 136

2019 180 100

The BBS data showed the lowest counts over the past five years:

BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 11 22

2016 11 15

2017 8 16

2018 8 20

2019 7 10

Evidence of coastal passage came from Landguard where one was present, February 11th and up two to on 11 dates between October 23rd and November 17th involving five birds.

15 sites recorded five or more birds: Corton: Sewage Works, five, Feb 10th Minsmere: ten, Jan 30th; five, Apr 11th; six, Oct 24th to 27th; 15, Nov 5th; 12, Dec 10th Thorpeness: up to eight between Oct 26th and Nov 6th Bredfield: seven, Nov 6th Shottisham: six, Nov 17th Sutton: Stonner Point, seven, Oct 15th Woodbridge: five, Oct 15th Arger Fen: five, May 17th; six, Nov 29th Thorington Street: six, Nov 16th Westhorpe: Lodge Farm, six, Dec 2nd Bradfield Woods: eight, May 4th Thurston: Grove Farm, six, Dec 2nd The King’s Forest (North Stow): five, Jan 1st Brandon CP: six, Oct 22nd; nine, Oct 27th Thetford: Nunnery BTO, seven, Nov 13th

COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus Rare passage migrant. Has bred.

There was a single record of this species at Southwold, in early May. Southwold: May 5th (B J Small)

This is the 33rd record involving at least 38 birds and the earliest it has been recorded in Suffolk.

The previous earliest was at Landguard on May 25th 2010.

EUROPEAN GREENFINCH Chloris chloris Very common, but declining, resident and passage migrant. Categories A and E. British subspecies C. c. harrisoni is on Red List.

For the second year running this species showed a significant reduction in both records and sites returning them closer to 2015-16 figures.

Records Sites

2015 44 31

2016 35 23 212

2017 345 116

2018 147 81

2019 50 41

Systematic List

The BBS data show a stable situation of this species within the county despite the reduction in the above figures: BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 33 109

2016 23 100

2017 24 83

2018 23 79

2019 23 92

Counts of 20 or more birds were only recorded from six sites as follows:

Bradwell: New Road, 50, Jan 27th Lowestoft: North Denes, 80, Aug 17th; Links Road, 70, Oct 5th; 50, Dec 23rd Kessingland: 50, Oct 27th Framlingham: 20, July 3rd Westhorpe: Lodge Farm, 150, Dec 21st

Ringing totals for the past ten years on Orfordness again show a worrying decline in numbers with no birds trapped and ringed during 2019; annual totals of over 300 were ringed in the previous decade: 2010 40

2011 117

2012 103

2013 5

2014 4

2015 39

2016 24

2017 19

2018 4

2019 0

The autumn passage at Landguard showed an increase over the 2018 records with 90 (22 in 2018, 453 in 2017, 1013 in 2012) seen moving south between October 10th and November 24th, with a maximum of 37 on October 20th.

TWITE Linaria flavirostris Declining winter visitor and passage migrant. Red List.

There were 28 records from seven sites. As in the previous year, the most regular counts came from Dingle Marshes.

There were first winter reports as follows:

Walberswick: Tinker’s Marshes, up to eight between Mar 28th and Apr 24th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, up to 20 between Jan 5th and Feb 19th

There were second winter reports as follows:

Easton Bavents: three, Nov 24th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, up to seven between Oct 27th and Dec 2nd; Corporation Marshes, 18, Nov 21st Sizewell: three, Nov 6th Thorpeness: five, Nov 30th Martlesham: Deben saltmarsh, 23, Nov 18th

COMMON LINNET Linaria cannabina Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Overwinters in small numbers. Red List.

The number of records and sites significantly decreased nearly mirroring the figures of 2015:

Records Sites

2015 101 61

2016 61 49

2017 620 126

2018 486 89

2019 103 65

Despite the overall decrease in records and sites the BBS data show 2019 was an average breeding year for this species:

213

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 25 112

2016 26 137

2017 31 162

2018 28 225

2019 29 183

Large flocks of birds were few and far between during 2019 with numbers reported much reduced from the previous year. Significant flocks were reported from the following sites, excluding Orfordness:

Walberswick: 180, Feb 12th Landguard: 130, July 5th; 350, Aug 28th and 29th Erwarton: 400, Feb 2nd; 400 Mar 4th Westhorpe: 100, Apr 16th; Lodge Farm, up to 200 between Sep 1st and Dec 21st

On Orfordness flocks of up to 105 birds were seen in the first winter period but with much lower numbers in the second period with a maximum of just 15 on December 15th. The estimated breeding population remains stable at 12 to 15 pairs.

An estimated 30 to 40 pairs bred at Landguard with several more nearby, similar to the previous year. Autumn passage at Landguard involved 878 (327 in 2018, 2857 in 2017) south between October 8th and November 24th with a maximum day-total of 217 south on October 17th.

COMMON REDPOLL Acanthis flammea Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

2019 was a poor year with few records and sites noted and the majority of sightings being of single birds: 2015 3 3

Records Sites

2016 24 18

2017 25 12

2018 51 22

2019 10 8

Two or more birds were reported from only two sites:

Thorpeness Haven: three trapped and ringed, Oct 30th Tattingstone: two, Jan 7th

LESSER REDPOLL Acanthis cabaret Declining winter visitor and passage migrant. Probably extinct as a breeding species. No breeding records in Norfolk in 2018. Red List.

The size of the flocks of this species continues to reduce with very few reaching 20. The significant counts were: Minsmere: 20, Mar 28th Thorpeness: Haven, 20, Nov 10th Aldeburgh: 24 south, Oct 23rd

On Orfordness the ringing results for the last five years show that 2018 and 2019 were the worst years on record following the best ever in 2017, demonstrating the fluctuating fortunes of this species with only two singletons seen in October.

2015 204

2016 129

2017 238

214

2018 3

2019 1

Systematic List

Autumn passage at Landguard was extremely low with only 14 (137 in 2018, 1236 in 2017) recorded between October 22nd and November 6th.

RED CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra Locally common resident and irruptive visitor.

The number of records and sites of this species has fluctuated over the past five years. This species is highly mobile so there is a distinct possibility of duplicate recording of flocks particularly between feeding and roosting areas:

Records Sites

2015 54 33

2016 50 26

2017 59 31

2018 78 37

2019 72 24

There were no breeding records in 2019.

Records of small flocks of birds were as follows:

Upper Hollesley Common: up to nine, between Mar 5th and May 5th Mayday Farm: 11, Feb 19th; ten, Feb 21st Thetford Forest: 11, May 7th

John Richardson

Crossbill, Upper Hollesley Common, April 15th

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis Very common resident, summer visitor and passage migrant. Overwinters in small numbers.

As with Greenfinch the number of records and sites of this species show a significant reduction and have returned to 2015-16 levels:

Records Sites

2015 82 45

2016 51 35

215

2017 773 155

2018 331 74

2019 59 43

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

The BBS data show little change from the previous two years which probably shows an accurate picture of this species’ status: BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 33 199

2016 37 169

2017 39 255

2018 38 283

2019 35 254

Counts of 100 or more birds were recorded from five sites with peaks as follows:

Corton: 105, Sep 28th Pakefield: 150, Sep 8th Minsmere: up to 300 between Oct 1st and 19th Earl Stonham: 200, Aug 25th Great Ashfield: Kiln Farm, 100, Sep 5th

Spring passage at Landguard involved 112 south between March 17th and May 27th. After the previous year’s total of 2791, autumn numbers at Landguard increased to 10936 south from September 4th to December 24th with maximum October day-counts, all going south, of 2438 on 10th, 1367 on 15th, 1640 on 17th and 1665 on 19th. While the total of 10936 is large, it is still less than half of the 2017 total of 22984.

In 2018 only six had been ringed on Orfordness but this year saw a welcome increase with 29 being trapped and ringed.

EUROPEAN SERIN Serinus serinus Rare migrant. Amber list.

There were two accepted records, both at the traditional site: Landguard: May 9th (M May et al.); Aug 13th (W J Brame et al.)

These two take the overall Suffolk total to 64, of which 31 (48%) have been at Landguard.

EURASIAN SISKIN Spinus spinus Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Very scarce breeder.

After 2018, for which the number of records and sites were five-year-maxima for this species, 2019 saw a dramatic decrease in both records and sites:

Records Sites

2015 183 69

2016 143 52

2017 197 68

2018 244 76

2019 78 30

Breeding occurred in the Hollesley area, with juveniles photographed at a regular drinking pool and another pair recorded closer to the village. This is the first report of successful breeding in the coastal region of Suffolk since May 2009 when a female was present with six juveniles at Hulver Street, Henstead.

Counts of 50 or more birds were only recorded from four sites as follows:

Minsmere: up to 100, between Jan 3rd and Mar 4th; up to 50, between Nov 13th and Dec 16th Upper Hollesley Common: 50, Mar 5th Thetford BTO: 150, Jan 30th; 100, Feb 5th Santon Downham: 100, Jan 23rd

In the west of the county 173 birds were trapped and ringed at Lackford Lakes and 204 at High Lodge, Thetford Forest.

Spring passage at Landguard involved 11 (142 in 2018) between February 14th and April 12th.

In June, two were noted on 6th and one on 9th. Autumn passage at Landguard involved a total of 77 (627 in 2018, 419 in 2017) from September 30th to December 16th with a maximum daycount of 12 south on November 3rd. A group of 25 flew in off the sea at Orfordness on October 20th.

216

Systematic List

LAPLAND LONGSPUR Calcarius lapponicus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

2019 was another below-average year for this species in the county with records of single birds from eight sites: Covehithe: Nov 22nd Easton Bavents: Sep 18th and 19th Dunwich: Oct 21st and Oct 27th to 29th Minsmere: Sep 9th – earliest autumn arrival since 2011 when one was at Covehithe, also Sep 9th Thorpeness: Oct 5th to 8th Havergate: Oct 25th Orfordness NT: Nov 10th Trimley Marshes SWT: Nov 3rd

SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis Locally common winter visitor and passage migrant. Amber list.

The numbers of both records and sites showed a decrease from 2018 with birds seen in expected coastal locations with the exception of the bird recorded at Thetford:

Records Sites

2015 86 21

2016 60 22

2017 121 31

2018 133 30

2019 88 27

Significant coastal flocks were very mobile and duplication of recording must be assumed.

Peak totals were noted at:

Kessingland: up to 38 between Jan 1st and 10th Covehithe: 16, Jan 14th Dunwich: Dingle Marshes, 14, Jan 6th; 20, Dec 28th; 25, Dec 31st; Corporation Marshes, up to 29 between Nov 15th and Dec 13th Orfordness NT: up to 25 between Jan 1st and Feb 2nd

A single passage sound–recording was made at The Nunnery, Thetford BTO of a bird passing overhead on October 8th.

During the decade 2010 to 2019, Snow Buntings have been recorded in west Suffolk in November 2011 (Gt Livermere), November 2012 (Knettishall Airfield), December 2016 to January 2017 (Cavenham), November 2018 (Knettishall Airfield) and October 8th 2019 (Thetford).

2018 Correction.

Suffolk Birds2018: 188 – In table, please amend number of sites from 3 to 30.

CORN BUNTING Emberiza calandra Locally common resident. Scarce passage migrant. Red List.

The number of records and sites showed a significant decrease with only two sites having counts of six birds or more with the Shotley Peninsular holding both of these:

Records Sites

2015 48 20

2016 31 16

Erwarton Ness: 20, Jan 26th and Feb 9th Harkstead: 28, Dec 18th 217

2017 70 17

2018 74 25

2019 24 19

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Singing birds were recorded at several sites, including Shingle Street and East Lane, Bawdsey in the south-east and Chelmondiston, Woolverstone, Harkstead and Lower Holbrook on the Shotley Peninsular. In the west of the county breeding was confirmed at Kenny Hill, north-west of Mildenhall and Ladygate Wood in Haverhill with possible breeding occurring at Risby.

One at Landguard, October 22nd was the only reported coastal migrant.

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Common but declining resident. Uncommon passage migrant. Red List.

The BBS data continue to show remarkably similar figures for the past five years:

BBS Squares Birds counted

2015 28 133

2016 27 139

2017 30 138

2018 27 128

2019 26 118

Counts of 50 or more were:

Westhorpe: up to 450 between Jan 3rd and Mar 15th; Lodge Farm, up to 200 between Jan 10th and Mar 20th; up to 350 between Dec 2nd and 21st Great Ashfield: 60, Sep 5th Earl Stonham: Brewery Farm, 300, Feb 7th; trapped and ringed - 69, Feb 17th; 95, Feb 25th; 52, Mar 8th; 171, Mar 22nd; 147, Apr 14th; 174, Apr 20th Elmsett: 120, Jan 7th Great Waldingfield: Airfield, 100, Mar 19th

The 450 at Westhorpe is the highest site-total in Suffolk since 2006 when 540 were on set-aside at Lackford Lakes, January 30th.

Single birds were at Landguard on March 25th and 26th and November 2nd, 9th and 19th with two on November 3rd.

CRETZSCHMAR’S BUNTING Emberiza caesia Accidental.

This is the seventh British record, the first British mainland record, the first British female, the first English record and, of course, the first for Suffolk.

This bird was present for a single day at Minsmere. See the article on page 52 in this report describing how it was found and identified.

Minsmere: female, May 31st (E Huxley, J Norgate, H Page et al.)

LITTLE BUNTING Emberiza pusilla Very rare visitor.

Suffolk’s 16th record (involving 19 individuals) of this species was trapped and ringed at Wrentham on the last day of the year. The last record was at Knettishall Heath, January 8th to 20th 2017. Other mid-winter records have occurred at Corton, February 1949 (2), Reydon, February 1949 (2) and Great Glemham, December 2010.

Wrentham: Dec 31st (Kessingland Ringing Group)

2016 Correction The 2016 record of a Little Bunting at Felixstowe on October 27th was not deemed acceptable

by SORC, and should not, therefore, have been included.

COMMON REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus Common but declining resident. Uncommon passage migrant. Amber list.

The year showed another significant decrease in records; however, the number of sites remained similar to 2018.

218

Systematic List 2015 79 47

Records Sites

2016 52 31

2017 448 91

2018 222 52

2019 72 55

There was plenty of breeding data supplied, especially from the RSPB and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. There were nine pairs at Oulton Marshes, nine also at Carlton Marshes, six at North Cove/ Castle Marshes, 15 at Hen Reedbeds and nine at Dingle Marshes, Dunwich. There were 16 pairs at Snape Wetlands, 14 up the Butley River and six on Havergate Island. At least ten were counted between Hollesley Marshes and East Lane. In the west, seven were counted between Rodbridge and Cornard, 25 around Sudbury in the Stour Valley and one was seen to nest-build in oilseed rape at Hall Farm, Fornham St Martin.

Peak counts within the county were: Herringfleet Marshes: 40, Apr 21st and 22nd; 30, Apr 26th; 40, May 5th Sudbourne: 35, Jan 21st Orfordness: up to 30 in Feb and 60 in Oct Trimley SWT: 40, south, Sep 12th; 100, south, Oct 5th Westhorpe: 40, Jan 3rd; 50, Jan 11th; 100, Mar 1st; Lodge Farm, 150, Dec 2nd to 21st Little Stonham: 26 trapped and ringed, Feb 25th

An excellent ringing total of 219 was achieved on Orfordness during the year. This site’s breeding population was estimated at a minimum of 20 pairs. The past five years’ ringing totals on Orfordness are as follows: 2015 182

2016 301

2017 215

2018 238

2019 219

Spring passage at Landguard involved singles on ten dates between February 13th and March 23rd and two on February 24th.

Autumn passage at Landguard was similar to the previous year with 31 (26 in 2018) noted between September 26th and October 31st and a maximum of six south on October 9th.

219

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

APPENDIX I – CATEGORY D SPECIES Species that would otherwise appear in Categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in Britain in a natural state.

No reports in 2019.

APPENDIX II – CATEGORY E SPECIES Species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining. Where a species is also placed in other categories of the British List, this is indicated in the species’ summary.

RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis Breeds Taimyr Peninsula in arctic Siberia. The majority winter on western shores of Black Sea in Bulgaria and Romania, with small numbers annual in The Netherlands. Categories A and E.

Redgrave: Fen, Feb 17th.

BAR-HEADED GOOSE Anser indicus Breeds by lakes in central Asia from Mongolia to the Tibetan plateau. Winters throughout the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Burma). Category E. All the records below are thought to refer to the same pair, plus their young, none of which fledged. The reporting rate was impressive (especially for an escapee!) with no less than 112 records submitted to BirdTrack.

Minsmere: two, near-daily from Apr 24th to June 14th and Sep 26th to Oct 1st, with five young on June 1st rapidly dropping to one two days later Orfordness: two south, June 18th; presumably the same two birds were on the Airfields, Oct 19th, Dec 5th and 18th Boyton Marshes: two, June 25th, Aug 2nd to 7th, Aug 15th, Oct 27th, Nov 13th and 29th, Dec 3rd to 8th, Dec 14th Hollesley Marshes: two, presumably the same as at Boyton, June 24th and 25th; near-daily from July 1st to 29th; Dec 31st Trimley Marshes: hybrid Bar-headed x White-fronted Goose, Sep 14th

This is the second occasion that Bar-headed Goose has bred and hatched young which did not survive, the first occasion having been in 2017, also at Minsmere. Two adults, possibly a breeding pair, were at Ramsholt in May and June 1997.

EMPEROR GOOSE Anser canagica Breeds north-eastern Siberia and western Alaska. Winters from southern Alaska to northern California. Category E. Hollesley: Oct 24th.

Trimley Marshes: hybrid Emperor x Barnacle Goose, Dec 1st and 30th

Trimley Marshes was obviously the place for hybrid geese!

SWAN GOOSE Anser cygnoides North-eastern Asia. Winters central China. Category E.

Parham: on the same large pond for the last three years (and previous Parham records back to 2010), Jan 19th; Mar 11th; Apr 13th; May 14th; June 9th; Oct 26th; Nov 24th; Dec 14th

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus Forest bogs of northern Scandinavia east to eastern Siberia. Winters locally from The Netherlands to eastern China. Categories A and E. Thetford: BTO Nunnery Lake, with Greylag Geese, Jan 15th to Feb 7th 220

Appendices

BLACK SWAN Cygnus atratus Throughout Australia and Tasmania. Category E. A cygnet seen with an adult at Melton is the second successful Suffolk breeding record, the first having been at Town Marshes, Southwold where a pair raised one cygnet in 2017. A pair attempted to breed at Gifford’s Hall, Stoke-by-Nayland in 2008 but failed owing to flooding.

Herringfleet Marshes: Feb 28th Minsmere: Mar 1st Ufford: June 26th Melton: Apr 25th; June 21st; adult with cygnet on back, July 12th Falkenham Creek: Jan 23rd and Feb 6th Felixstowe: Marsh Lane, Jan 1st; King’s Fleet, Jan 3rd and 7th; Felixstowe Ferry, Feb 11th Stour Estuary: Cattawade, four, Jan 26th; two, Dec 15th Ingham: three, May 20th.

RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea Morocco and Turkey east through Central Asia to Tibetan plateau. Winters to south of breeding range, with majority in Indian subcontinent. Feral population breeds in northern Europe.

Categories B and E. Livermere Lake: Aug 1st and 2nd Thetford: BTO Nunnery Lake, Feb 15th Cavenham Pits: Mar 3rd Mickle Mere: Mar 1st and 2nd (presumably the same as the above) Stoke-by-Nayland: Gifford’s Hall, Mar 24th

SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK Tadorna cana Widespread across most of South Africa north to Botswana and the highlands of Central Namibia.

Hen Reedbeds: Mar 18th Minsmere: Scrape, Feb 21st; Mar 19th to 25th

MUSCOVY DUCK Cairina moschata Southern Mexico to northern Argentina and Brazil.

Lowestoft: Dec 28th Kessingland beach: two, May 4th; May 10th to 18th; two, June 16th; July 14th Benacre: Pits and Sluice, two, May 3rd and 4th; two, July 2nd Landguard: View Point Road, May 25th (third site record)

WOOD DUCK Aix sponsa Canada to northern Mexico, Cuba and Bahamas.

Described by Peter Kennerley as a ‘plastic female wandering around my feet.’

Thorpeness Meare: Jan 3rd to 23rd, unringed (present since Oct 13th 2018) Aldeburgh: Golf Club and North Warren, Jan 23rd and 31st – same bird as Thorpeness

RINGED TEAL Callonetta leucophrys Central South America.

Lakenheath Fen: Feb 2nd Trimley Marshes: two males, Feb 18th

CAPE TEAL Anas capensis Sub-Saharan Africa from southern Ethiopia to South Africa.

Melton: two, Apr 19th

RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina Breeds western Europe to central China. Winters to south of breeding range. Categories A, C and E. 221

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Weybread: Gravel Pits, female, May 8th Pipps Ford: May 17th

HOODED MERGANSER Lophodytes cucullatus South central Canada to south-eastern USA. Categories A and E. The reports below refer to two birds. Male with a yellow ring on its left leg (same as the Blythburgh bird from October 2018) on Wilderness Pond in Christchurch Park, Ipswich from August 11th onwards into 2020. Initially in eclipse plumage, by mid-September it was in full breeding plumage. When not in Christchurch Park, it was present on the upper reaches of the Orwell Estuary in Ipswich between West End Road and Stoke Bridge, where it had been seen initially on July 18th.

Lowestoft: South Beach and Kensington Gardens, Nov 21st Blythburgh: adult male, Feb 12th; Feb 24th and 25th; Mar 10th; different bird, Nov 23rd to Dec 15th (same as Lowestoft above Ipswich: long-staying male, July 18th to 2020, attracting plenty of press interest

HELMETED GUINEAFOWL Numida meleagris Widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa.

Westleton: four, May 19th

CALIFORNIAN QUAIL Callipepla californica Oregon to Baja California.

Combs: Moats Tye, Apr 26th and 27th

REEVE’S PHEASANT Syrmaticus reevesii Forests of central China.

Stowlangtoft: male, Mar 18th Fornham St. Martin: Hall Farm, male, Sep 28th

INDIAN PEAFOWL Pavo cristatus Breeds throughout the Indian subcontinent from eastern Pakistan south to Sri Lanka.

Southwold: sewage works, Apr 29th; May 5th; June 22nd; July 13th; Sep 28th Westleton: July 6th Martlesham Creek: Mar 8th; Apr 16th Levington Creek: May 4th

WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia Breeds Iberian Peninsula and central and eastern Europe east to western Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Reintroduction projects are returning the species to its former range in north-western Europe (and now the UK, at Knepp in West Sussex). Winters sub-Saharan Africa and increasingly in Iberian Peninsula. Category A and E. There was only one sighting, down from recent years, as below: Minsmere: Apr 11th (colour-ringed, green on right), soaring for ten minutes, then lost to view towards Westleton

BLACK KITE Milvus migrans Breeds throughout Mediterranean basin and continental Europe except maritime northwest and Scandinavia, east to European Russia and western Kazakhstan. Most winter Africa. Other races migratory, dispersive or resident, C and E Asia, Indian subcontinent, E and SE Asia and Australia.

Categories A and E. This colour-ringed bird (an escapee from Banham Zoo) arrived in Suffolk at Bawdsey on June 13th 2014. It appeared in the Wrentham area on June 23rd 2014 and had remained in this area since that date. By coincidence, a wild bird was seen at Felixstowe Ferry also on April 22nd (see main report).

222

Appendices Wrentham: seen regularly from the start of the year, but, sadly, found dead on April 22nd

No other species, especially passerines, were received by the three area recorders.

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Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Suffolk Ringing Report 2019 Simon Evans Over the past twelve months it has been pleasing to receive an increased volume of data directly from Suffolk’s ringers. Forwarding their activity reports and copies of their recoveries data certainly aids in the compilation of the annual ringing report and allows a wider selection of recoveries information to be viewed. As such, I’d encourage all groups and individuals to pass on their data directly to assist this task further.

Manipulation of data sets, in an attempt to improve presentation and accuracy can often create unwanted side effects. For example, the way in which subspecies codes are dealt with in the Online National Ringing Totals has been causing the BTO some issues. Whilst attempting to fix a problem another has been caused. As a result, no Common Redpolls appear in Suffolk’s 2019 totals table. This isn’t accurate as I’m aware of one site where more than fifty were caught.

If there are errors like this, what else could be wrong? I don’t know if the numbers will ever be 100% accurate but does that really matter? Consistent reporting practices and efforts to improve the process are key. The BTO are striving to do this. For now, I reiterate, please forward your data directly to whoever is writing the report.

The total number of birds ringed in the county during 2019 currently sits at 50,607. A 17% increase on the 2018 low figure but still the second-lowest figure in at least fifteen years. I’m sure this number will be ‘tweaked’ slightly as Schedule One data results become more reliably reported.

The numbers of wildfowl and waders being ringed remains low in comparison with previous peak years. I’m certainly no expert on the topic but I imagine this is largely down to decreased catching effort. This can be seen by looking at the change in Stone-curlew ringing numbers since the RSPB’s cessation of colour-ringing. A notable exception has been the case of Common Curlew.

2019 saw the highest number (53) of these fabulous birds ringed in the county as PhD studies and increased focus shifts in their direction. No Avocets ringed, really?

Gull ringing numbers have generally declined except for an increased effort in catching adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Barn Owls certainly had a much better breeding year than in 2018, particularly in the west of the county where a record number of 122 birds was ringed. Swift colony studies continue to contribute a high proportion of the national totals with just shy of 25% of the pulli being ringed in Suffolk.

The decline in the numbers of Swallows and House Martins being ringed continues with their lowest totals for over ten years. There is similar news for Sand Martin with their second lowest total over the same time period. Many of the commoner warbler species show continued gradual declines with the exceptions being Blackcap and, Suffolk’s highest ever total of 87, Grasshopper Warblers. Long term studies of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings have resulted in significant increases in the number of these birds being ringed.

For the seventh year in succession, Suffolk contributed the highest county ringing totals across Britain and Ireland, accounting for 4.8% of the 2019 total. Recoveries of birds found more than 5km from their original ringing site remained at 3% of the national totals. Within these recoveries were 312 reports of Suffolk-ringed birds abroad and 124 reports of foreign-ringed birds in the county. Noteworthy amongst these are firsts for Swedish-ringed Cormorant, Polish-ringed Curlew, Russian-ringed Goldcrest and Danish-ringed Chiffchaff being reported in the county. Also, firsts for Suffolk-ringed Common Gull to Finland, Lesser Black-backed Gull to Ceuta (North Morocco) and only the second Garden Warbler to Belgium.

Throughout 2019, 136 different species made it onto the county ringing tables. No new species were added meaning the overall species total remains at 227. Suffolk ringing contributed 37% of the Woodlarks, 31% of Greenshank, 27% of Turtle Doves, 26% of Dartford Warblers, 22% of Bearded Tits and Crossbills, 21% of Yellowhammers, 19% of Marsh Harriers and 15% of Lesser 224

Suffolk Ringing Report 2019

Whitethroat and Bramblings to the UK totals. Additionally, the only Penduline Tit and one of only two Iberian Chiffchaffs ringed in Britain and Ireland came from Suffolk nets.

Amongst other scarcer species, three Wrynecks and single Willow Tit, Dusky, Pallas’s and Subalpine Warblers, Red-flanked Bluetail, Little Bunting and 11 Yellow-browed Warblers were caught in the county. Its got to be a good year with Willow Tit and Turtle Dove on the list, surely!

On a personal note, continued project work with raptors is both a particular interest and an immense privilege. Whilst not always being restricted to Suffolk, these studies take us right across the region. The ringing of the first brood of Ravens in East Anglia was certainly a highlight.

Eighteen Redstart pulli and 20 Crossbills were the pick from our Breckland efforts. The second recovery of a Nightingale in The Gambia was a surprise. It’s now fitted with a gps tracker so, hopefully, we’ll get some further data on the travels of this individual. Two Norwegian-ringed Brambling in the same catch was also a bit special.

Ok, it’s that time again pop pickers, time for the 2019 top five. Down one to number five is Reed Warbler. A re-entry at number four for Goldfinch. Great Tit remains at number three and Blackcap at number two, and Blue Tit at number one; for the eleventh year! The top four species mirror the national totals top spots. The sum totals for these species represent exactly 33.3% of the overall ringing totals at the national level and 32% in Suffolk.

The following table summarises the provisional figures for 2019 as well as any amendments noted for any of the previous few years. This information is largely gleaned from the BTO’s online data but is augmented by the reports from ringers themselves, particularly with reference to some of the more sensitive species.

In acknowledgement, I’d like to thank Andrew Moon, Steve Abbot, Colin Jakes, Mike Marsh, Justin Zantboer and Kessingland RG for forwarding their data and comments directly to me. The following ringers and groups are also known to have been active in the county in 2019: Abbott & Kennerley, RE Batty, Chris Bridge, Catchpole, Cockram & Peters, Dingle Bird Club, Rob Duncan, Janette Troop, Lackford RG, Landguard RG, Little Ouse RG, Newton & Backhouse, Stanny Farm RG, Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project, Thetford Forest RG, Thompson & Hedges, Trimley Marshes RG, Ken Venus, John Walshe, Waveney RG, Mick Wright and Anna Alam. Apologies to anyone I’ve missed or am unaware of. You know what to do!

Simon: spe24@btinternet.com

Ian Goodall

Hobby with dragonfly prey, Lackford Lakes

225

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Species Mute Swan Cygnus olor Greylag Goose Anser anser Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Mandarine Duck Aix galericulata Wigeon Anas penelope Teal Anas crecca Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Pintail Anas acuta Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Red Kite Milvus milvus Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Buzzard Buteo buteo Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Knot Calidris canutus Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Dunlin Calidris alpina Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Snipe Gallinago gallinago Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Curlew Numenius arquata Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Redshank Tringa totanus Turnstone Arenaria interpres Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

2015 3 0 0 1 0 28 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 18 8 56 10 2 0 17 7 8 59 0 12 2 2 8 6 0 43 11 20 5 39 0 0 1 5 4 2 1 331 3 34 226

2016 58 0 7 0 1 37 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 8 45 8 3 1 9 10 1 48 0 17 3 0 9 11 0 38 6 14 9 104 4 1 4 0 5 5 0 326 2 49

2017 13 0 5 0 3 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 10 6 56 12 8 0 11 7 21 66 7 17 8 1 76 3 1 66 1 8 4 59 6 0 7 1 4 6 1 331 1 59

2018 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 2 19 8 31 9 4 0 10 4 15 16 1 12 0 4 57 4 0 23 0 11 6 14 2 0 4 0 0 3 0 170 0 24

2019 20 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 20 7 52 10 1 0 5 14 0 12 0 2 1 0 40 3 1 7 0 3 1 13 0 0 53 1 8 4 0 144 1 35

Suffolk Ringing Report 2019 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Common Gull Larus canus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Little Tern Sternula albifrons Common Tern Sterna hirundo Stock Dove Columba oenas Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Barn Owl Tyto alba Little Owl Athene noctua Tawny Owl Strix aluco Long-eared Owl Asio otus Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Swift Apus apus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Wryneck Jynx torquilla Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Merlin Falco columbarius Hobby Falco subbuteo Peregrine Falco peregrinus Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Magpie Pica pica Jay Garrulus glandarius Jackdaw Corvus monedula Rook Corvus frugilegus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Goldcrest Regulus regulus Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major Coal Tit Periparus ater Willow Tit Poecile montana Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Woodlark Lullula arborea Skylark Alauda arvensis Sand Martin Riparia riparia Swallow Hirundo rustica House Martin Delichon urbicum

11 0 3 29 14 1 46 85 145 78 5 2 620 13 30 0 0 56 95 49 1 20 73 96 0 3 3 0 25 27 39 1 3 4107 67 7065 3623 968 0 126 0 297 153 30 164 817 164 227

14 0 0 215 48 0 72 65 131 70 6 5 533 4 32 0 0 45 90 52 2 18 53 122 1 2 2 1 12 18 29 4 3 1806 87 4910 2473 519 1 65 0 273 76 18 526 1456 112

9 0 0 55 49 0 102 82 120 41 2 7 824 8 48 1 0 29 133 66 0 35 61 135 0 2 4 1 18 30 32 0 5 1017 43 5903 2978 451 0 74 0 160 126 11 45 822 79

63 0 8 37 67 0 140 52 106 38 0 4 214 21 24 0 0 49 147 29 1 20 55 74 0 1 2 0 6 16 34 3 2 1224 63 5325 2973 490 0 73 0 59 58 28 379 527 45

20 1 0 169 48 0 37 60 131 23 3 5 481 23 30 3 1 55 147 44 3 21 67 79 0 0 2 0 14 31 60 1 7 1625 88 7406 3249 500 1 81 1 136 61 7 91 227 40

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Whitethroat Sylvia communis Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Starling Sturnus vulgaris Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Blackbird Turdus merula Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Redwing Turdus iliacus Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Robin Erithacus rubecula Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

201 1175 0 4 11 0 0 3 1625 0 579 2903 195 0 409 931 8 0 20 0 1 1705 0 2 2910 2 58 130 1011 682 1 2040 31 383 192 12 54 1562 57 0 0 1 14 8 30 24 137 228

248 1087 1 5 16 0 0 1 1950 0 688 3098 145 0 411 796 20 0 21 2 0 1715 2 0 2824 0 21 99 1124 430 11 2624 7 559 515 2 36 2041 39 0 0 0 9 5 23 47 143

279 1155 0 3 8 0 2 1 2551 1 967 3223 188 2 329 1082 37 0 26 0 0 2492 0 2 2951 3 51 117 1090 564 5 3048 30 414 442 6 59 1423 58 1 0 1 2 14 26 8 174

85 1098 0 1 17 0 0 3 1158 0 801 3233 186 0 372 854 23 0 28 0 0 1223 0 0 2303 0 42 86 827 426 2 2085 73 475 545 9 43 1065 47 1 0 0 34 13 22 6 126

211 1531 0 1 11 1 0 6 1945 1 925 3697 223 2 415 1014 24 1 87 0 0 1470 0 0 2184 0 66 92 1038 897 7 1766 18 472 359 2 25 1905 39 0 1 1 35 6 24 5 91

Suffolk Ringing Report 2019 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka Dunnock Prunella modularis House Sparrow Passer domesticus Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Pied/White Wagtail Motacilla alba Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Serin Serinus serinus Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Siskin Carduelis spinus Linnet Carduelis cannabina Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea Redpoll (Common/Lesser) Carduelis flammea/ cabaret Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Grand Total

36 1 1548 455 689 30 74 141 42 632 2 3 2014 453 3111 0 3598 2874 1425 2944 2

28 0 1499 593 682 14 69 109 92 1466 6 7 1767 496 2503 1 3684 3736 837 1764 38

44 0 1558 662 613 7 75 143 67 1275 3 0 1362 332 2225 0 3136 1039 667 2014 7

70 0 1066 522 611 1 25 33 99 1007 1 2 1758 466 1320 0 1939 1109 445 946 28

4 0 1389 591 442 13 26 56 121 629 2 1 1245 680 1167 0 2273 774 1002 850 53

21 0 205 0 44 1 972 0 0 1367 0

15 0 158 2 0 0 888 0 0 1130 0

20 0 247 0 0 0 968 0 0 1102 8

1 0 139 1 0 0 728 1 0 976 0

5 20 194 1 0 0 1357 0 1 1567 0

61701

57179

54914

43525

50607

134

134

138

126

136

227 Species Total Species

229

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 The following pages detail a selection of the more interesting recoveries reported in 2019 and a few from previous years that have only been received recently. They include the more unusual of reports, as space allows, involving birds travelling greater distances or being older than usual, and do not represent a complete account of the records available. The selection was largely made from the online data presented by the BTO and information supplied directly by some of Suffolk’s ringers.

I would like to continue to encourage the county’s ringers and observers to forward their data directly. The online recoveries data provides only a selective view of what has been recorded, so, if you wish to have your records included, please pass them on. Copies of the ringing recoveries form from the BTO or other sources are of particular interest and help when compiling the data.

The selection is presented in species order with the initial capture and ringing data on the first line. Foreign ringing scheme code (if applicable), ring number, age and sex (if known), date and location are provided. The second and any subsequent lines report the means of recovery, date and location with coordinates. Following this, distance, direction and duration between reports is summarised. I have added a few comments to some of the records.

As is the continuing case, the accounts for some species have had to be somewhat selective due to the vast number of recovery reports of colour-ringed and tagged individuals.

Many thanks to all those who take the time to record, photograph and report their sightings.

Simon. spe24@btinternet.com

230

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Canada Goose 5153361 Full-grown 28-12-2007 Needham Lake, Needham Market:

52°8’N 1°3’E (Suffolk) Alive (ring read in field) 16-01-2014 Needham Lake: 52°8’N 1°3’E (Suffolk)

0km 6y 0m 19d Alive (ring read in field) 05-02-2019 Needham Lake: 52°8’N 1°3’E (Suffolk)

0km 11y 1m 8d Greylag Goose 5270510 Adult 26-06-2012 Hickling Broad: 52°43’N 1°34’E (Norfolk) Alive (neck collar seen) 01-11-2012 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 0y 4m 6d Alive (neck collar seen) 02-03-2013 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 0y 8m 4d Alive (neck collar seen) 15-08-2013 Benacre Broad: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

40km SSE 1y 1m 20d Alive (neck collar seen) 04-12-2013 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 1y 5m 8d Alive (neck collar seen) 08-07-2014 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 2y 0m 12d Alive (neck collar seen) 05-06-2015 Ranworth Broad, Ranworth: 52°40’N

1°28’E (Norfolk) 8km SW 2y 11m

10d Alive (neck collar seen) 04-09-2015 Dingle Marshes: 52°16’N 1°37’E (Suffolk)

50km S 3y 2m 9d Alive (neck collar seen) 15-12-2015 Bridgefoot Marshes, Southwold: 52°19’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 45km S 3y 5m 19d Alive (neck collar seen) 02-07-2016 River Bure, Thurne: 52°41’N 1°31’E

(Norfolk) 6km SW 4y 0m 6d Alive (neck collar seen) 19-10-2016 Bridgefoot Marshes, Southwold: 52°19’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 45km S 4y 3m 23d Alive (neck collar seen) 22-01-2017 Easton Bavents: 52°22’N 1°41’E (Suffolk)

41km S 4y 6m 27d Alive (neck collar seen) 01-05-2017 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 4y 10m 5d Alive (neck collar seen) 12-08-2017 Benacre Broad: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

40km SSE 5y 1m 17d Alive (neck collar seen) 26-05-2018 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 5y 11m 0d Alive (neck collar seen) 07-07-2019 St Benet’s Abbey, Horning: 52°40’N

1°31’E (Norfolk) 7km SSW 7y 0m 11d

Alive (neck collar seen) 06-09-2019 Bridgefoot Marshes, Southwold: 52°19’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 45km S 7y 2m 11d 5270522 Adult Female 26-06-2012 Hickling Broad: 52°43’N 1°34’E (Norfolk) Alive (neck collar seen) 12-08-2012 Hickling Broad: 52°43’N 1°34’E (Norfolk)

0km 0y 1m 17d Alive (neck collar seen) 09-11-2012 Benacre Broad: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

40km SSE 0y 4m 14d Alive (neck collar seen) 02-03-2013 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 0y 8m 4d Alive (neck collar seen) 08-07-2014 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 2y 0m 12d Alive (neck collar seen) 09-03-2015 Hen Reedbeds, Reydon: 52°20’N 1°37’E

(Suffolk) 44km S 2y 8m 11d Alive (neck collar seen) 04-09-2015 Dingle Marshes: 52°16’N 1°37’E (Suffolk)

50km S 3y 2m 9d Alive (neck collar seen) 19-01-2016 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 3y 6m 24d Alive (neck collar seen) 04-07-2016 near Walberswick: 52°18’N 1°39’E

(Suffolk) 47km S 4y 0m 8d 231

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (neck collar seen) 22-01-2017 Easton Bavents: 52°22’N 1°41’E (Suffolk)

41km S 4y 6m 27d Alive (neck collar seen) 12-08-2017 Benacre Broad: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

40km SSE 5y 1m 17d Alive (neck collar seen) 18-03-2018 Covehithe: 52°22’N 1°42’E (Suffolk)

41km SSE 5y 8m 20d Alive (neck collar seen) 17-09-2018 Bridgefoot Marshes, Southwold: 52°19’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 45km S 6y 2m 22d Alive (neck collar seen) 06-09-2019 Bridgefoot Marshes, Southwold: 52°19’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 45km S 7y 2m 11d

Bewick’s Swan Adult 19-08-2018 Pechora Sea: 68°19’N 54°10’E

(Nenetskya) Russian Federation RUS Alive (colour rings seen) 03-11-2019 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

3255km SW 1y 2m 15d BTP Alive (colour rings seen) 04-11-2019 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

3255km SW 1y 2m 16d Alive (colour rings seen) 05-11-2019 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

3255km SW 1y 2m 17d

Great field sightings of this Tundra Swan

Shelduck

GR55662 Adult Female 12-07-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 07-12-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 4m 25d

Mandarin FS94800 Adult Female 20-04-2019 Thetford Forest, Santon Warren Block

- Box 21c: 52°27’N 0°42’E (Norfolk) Alive (ring read in field) 30-08-2019 Brandon Country Park: 52°26’N 0°37’E

(Suffolk) 7km WSW 0y 4m 10d

Mallard GM69551 First-year Male 12-10-1967 Nacton: 52°0’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 14-10-1977 Nacton: 52°0’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 0km

10y 0m 2d Unknown (ring only) 14-01-2019 WWT Welney: 52°31’N 0°16’E (Norfolk)

87km NW 51y 3m 2d GK63067 First-year Female 01-09-1978 Nacton: 52°0’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) Unknown (ring only) 06-11-2019 Ramsholt: 52°1’N 1°21’E (Suffolk) 7km

E 41y 2m 5d

A couple of interesting ring encounters!

With unknown dates of demise, they

won’t challenge the longevity record of

20y 5m 17d.

Teal EW71308 Adult Male 30-11-2011 Trimley Marshes, Trimley St Mary: c.

51°57’N 1°17’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead (shot) 13-10-2019 St Lawrence Bay: 51°42’N 0°50’E (Essex)

42km SW 7y 10m 13d EY14920 First-year Female 17-01-2019 River Derwent, Wheldrake, York: c.

53°53’N 0°57’W (York) Freshly dead (shot) 05-10-2019 Friston: 52°9’N 1°32’E (Suffolk) 254km

SE 0y 8m 18d EZ79034 Adult Male 27-12-2016 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) Freshly dead (shot) 26-01-2019 Friston: 52°9’N 1°32’E (Suffolk) 3km 2y

0m 30d

Friston continues to be a poor location

stop choice for Teal.

232

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Little Egret GV77620 Nestling 15-05-2019 Walthamstow Wetlands No 1 Island:

51°32’N 0°3’W (Greater London) Alive (colour rings seen) 24-06-2019 Trimley Marshes: 51°57’N 1°16’E

(Suffolk) 102km ENE 0y 1m 9d Shag 1494655 Nestling 05-07-2019 Isle of May, Fife: 56°11’N 2°33’W

(Scotland) Alive (colour rings seen) 15-11-2019 Southwold: 52°19’N 1°41’E (Suffolk)

509km SSE 0y 4m 10d Alive (colour rings seen) 22-11-2019 R Alde, Slaughden: 52°08’N 1°35’E

(Suffolk) 520km SSW 0y 4m 17d

Found long dead at Landguard Point in

June 2020, it’s believed it died in late

2019

Cormorant 5247901 Nestling 27-04-2008 Abberton Reservoir, near Colchester:

51°48’N 0°50’E (Essex) Alive (colour rings seen) 07-06-2016 Breydon Water: 52°35’N 1°39’E (Norfolk)

103km NNE 8y 1m 11d Alive (colour rings seen) 19-04-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

54km ENE 10y 11m 23d 5268899 Nestling 18-04-2018 Attenborough Nature Reserve: 52°53’N

1°14’W (Nottinghamshire) Alive (colour rings seen) 03-10-2018 Cattawade: 51°56’N 1°3’E (Essex)

188km ESE 0y 5m 15d Alive (colour rings seen) 18-04-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°31’E (Suffolk)

208km ESE 1y 0m 0d Alive (colour rings seen) 21-06-2019 Cattawade: 51°56’N 1°3’E (Essex)

188km ESE 1y 2m 3d Alive (colour rings seen) 17-11-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°31’E (Suffolk)

208km ESE 1y 6m 30d DKC Nestling 09-06-2011 Mageoerne, Bogense: 55°34’N 10°6’E

(Fyn) Denmark 2H4729 Alive (colour rings seen) 19-03-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

684km WSW 7y 9m 10d DEH Nestling 15-06-2017 Insel Heuwiese: 54°25’N 13°7’E (

Mecklenburg - Vorpommern) Germany UA4455 Alive (colour rings seen) 03-03-2019 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

814km WSW 1y 8m 16d SVS Nestling 10-06-2017

92A23155 Unknown (ring only) 11-05-2019

Sodra Fjarskar, Vinga: 57°37’N 11°39’E (Västra Götaland) Sweden Fritton Lake: 52°32’N 1°39’E (Suffolk) 849km SW 1y 11m 1d Additionally, a Danish-ringed female wintered in Suffolk as it has done regularly since 2001

Marsh Harrier FC20701 Nestling 13-06-2006 Orfordness: 52°2’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead (injury) 21-09-2019 Sudbourne: 52°6’N 1°31’E (Suffolk) 4km

13y 3m 8d FJ23380 Nestling Male 26-06-2019 near Somerleyton: 52°29’N 1°36’E

(Suffolk)

233

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (wing-tag seen) 04-10-2019

Polder de Saint Cerans: 47°0’N 1°58’W (Vendee) France 664km SSW 0y 3m 8d FC20701 represents a new longevity record for a British-ringed Marsh Harrier.

FJ23380 is the fourth report of a Suffolkringed bird in France.

Oystercatcher FR85089 Adult 23-02-1986

Caught by ringer 02-02-2003

Freshly dead 04-10-2019

FA62463 Adult Male 21-07-1997

Alive (ring read in field) 03-05-2008

Alive (ring read in field) 12-04-2009

Alive (ring read in field) 20-05-2012

Alive (ring read in field) 15-03-2014

Alive (ring read in field) 29-03-2015

Alive (ring read in field) 03-04-2016

Alive (ring read in field) 11-05-2019

Alive (ring read in field) 01-06-2019

Fagbury, Trimley St Mary, near Felixstowe: 51°57’N 1°17’E (Suffolk) Snettisham: 52°52’N 0°27’E (Norfolk) 117km NNW 16y 11m 10d Snettisham: 52°51’N 0°26’E (Norfolk) 116km NNW 33y 7m 11d Holbeach St Matthew: c. 52°52’N 0°5’E (Lincolnshire) Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 10y 9m 12d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 11y 8m 22d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 14y 9m 29d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 16y 7m 22d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 17y 8m 8d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 18y 8m 13d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 21y 9m 20d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 133km SE 21y 10m 11d This bird breeds on Orfordness, being first seen there in 2006 and recorded in most years since.

Avocet EW43151 Nestling 06-06-2010 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 15-06-2010 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 0m 9d Alive (colour rings seen) 25-04-2011 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 10m 19d Alive (colour rings seen) 08-09-2011 Alkborough Flats: 53°41’N 0°41’W

(North Lincolnshire) 234km NW 1y

3m 2d Alive (colour rings seen) 18-03-2012 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 1y 9m 12d Alive (colour rings seen) 22-04-2012 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

17km N 1y 10m 16d Alive (colour rings seen) 19-05-2012 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 1y 11m 13d Alive (colour rings seen) 27-04-2013 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 2y 10m 21d Alive (colour rings seen) 06-06-2013 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

17km N 3y 0m 0d Alive (colour rings seen) 22-06-2013 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 0m 16d Alive (colour rings seen) 01-02-2014 River Alde: 52°8’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 9km

NNW 3y 7m 26d 234

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 28-02-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 14-05-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-05-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 05-07-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 11-07-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 05-03-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 14-07-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-07-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 19-03-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-03-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 20-07-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 20-07-2019

EW43170 Nestling 10-07-2010 Alive (colour rings seen) 18-07-2010

Alive (colour rings seen) 17-04-2011

Alive (colour rings seen) 11-02-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-06-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 06-04-2013

Alive (colour rings seen) 01-02-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 27-04-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 07-06-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 15-03-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 14-07-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 26-09-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 19-03-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 06-05-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-04-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 10-05-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-03-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-06-2018

235

Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 8m 22d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 4y 11m 8d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 11m 24d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 5y 0m 29d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 5y 1m 5d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 8m 28d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 6y 1m 8d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 1m 24d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 9m 13d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 9m 19d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 8y 1m 14d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 9m 3d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 1m 14d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 0m 8d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 9m 7d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 7m 1d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 11m 20d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 8m 27d River Alde: 52°8’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 9km NNW 3y 6m 22d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 3y 9m 17d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 10m 28d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 8m 5d Breydon Water: 52°36’N 1°39’E (Norfolk) 58km N 5y 0m 4d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 2m 16d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 8m 9d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 5y 9m 26d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 8m 29d Spuikom, Oostende: 51°13’N 2°55’E (West-Vlaanderen) Belgium 134km SE 6y 10m 0d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 8m 14d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 18km N 7y 10m 30d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 31-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-06-2019

EZ59206 Nestling 20-06-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 27-04-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-06-2019

DEW Nestling 13-06-2018

5442510 Alive (colour rings seen) 12-01-2019

Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 8m 21d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 17km N 8y 10m 25d Washington Wildfowl Trust: 54°53’N 1°29’W (Tyne and Wear) Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 372km SE 1y 10m 7d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 360km SE 1y 11m 15d Beltringharder Koog: 54°31’N 8°54’E (Schleswig-Holstein) Germany Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 557km WSW 0y 6m 30d Additionally, eighteen reports of Dutchringed and five French-ringed birds in Suffolk were received.

Seventy-four pairs were present on Orfordness but no chicks survived for more than a few days hence none was ringed.

Ringed Plover NV41727 Adult Female 05-05-2010 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 30-05-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 0m 25d NOS First-year 03-09-2019 Makkevika, Giske: 62°30’N 6°1’E (More

og Romsdal) Norway 8B80932 Alive (colour rings seen) 14-09-2019 Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°36’E (Suffolk)

1,171km SSW 0y 0m 11d

The only foreign exchange for Suffolk in

2019

Curlew SFH Nestling 08-07-2015 Tyrnava, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa: 64°37’N

25°39’E (Oulu) Finland CT180411 Alive (colour rings seen) 26-07-2019 Breydon Water: 52°35’N 1°38’E (Norfolk)

1,909km WSW 4y 0m 18d Alive (colour rings seen) 08-12-2019 Burgh Castle, Great Yarmouth: 52°35’N

1°38’E (Suffolk) 1,909km WSW 4y 5m

0d PLG Nestling 06-07-2019 CHECK ACCENTS: Grdy Polewne,

Rznik: 52°43’N 21°27’E

(Mazowieckie) Poland EN07803 Alive 14-08-2019 Aldeburgh Marshes: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 1,345km W 0y 1m 8d

A further three reports of Finnish-ringed

birds present in Suffolk were received

Black-tailed Godwit EW71306 Adult 27-11-2011 Levington Creek, River Orwell: 51°59’N

1°14’E (Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 18-07-2013 Bakkagerdi, Borgarfjordur: 65°31’N

13°48’W (Norður-Múlasýsla) Iceland

1,727km NNW 1y 7m 21d Alive (colour rings seen) 30-05-2014 Bakkergerdi, Borgarfjordur Eystri:

65°33’N 13°46’W (Norður-Múlasýsla)

Iceland 1,728km NNW 2y 6m 3d Alive (colour rings seen) 24-01-2018 River Stour, Mistley: 51°56’N 1°4’E

(Essex) 13km WSW 6y 1m 28d 236

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 25-05-2019

EZ04822 Full-grown 24-04-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 28-07-2019

EL96094 Full-grown Female 05-03-2011 Freshly dead 10-08-2019

NLA Nestling 09-06-2013

2507987 Alive (colour rings seen) 01-07-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 07-07-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-06-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 10-07-2019

Borgarfjörður Eystri: 65°31’N 13°46’W (Norður-Múlasýsla) Iceland 1,726km NNW 7y 5m 28d Harper’s Island, Cork Harbour, Eire: 51°54’N 8°18’W (Cork) Confidential Site: (Suffolk) 676km E 1y 3m 4d Seaton Marshes: 50°42’N 3°3’W (Devon) Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds: 52°15’N 0°42’E (Suffolk) 313km NE 8y 5m 5d Burgwerd, Sudwest Frysland: 53°4’N 5°31’E (Friesland) The Netherlands Confidential Site: (Suffolk) 289km WSW 4y 0m 22d Confidential Site: (Suffolk) 289km WSW 5y 0m 28d Confidential Site: (Suffolk) 289km WSW 6y 0m 16d Confidential Site: (Suffolk) 289km WSW 6y 1m 1d A further two reports of Dutch-ringed birds in Suffolk were received

Dunlin BT21083 Adult 04-08-2017

Caught by ringer 03-08-2019

Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) Snettisham: 52°52’N 0°27’E (Norfolk) 112km NNW 1y 11m 30d

Snipe SX65430 Adult 21-10-2018 Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E

(Suffolk) Freshly dead 02-12-2019 Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E

(Suffolk) 0km 1y 1m 11d Redshank DK95495 First-year 30-08-2000

Caught by ringer 02-08-2019

DD11314 First-year 10-09-2007

Caught by ringer 03-08-2019

DD11613 First-year 08-09-2010

Alive (colour rings seen) 21-12-2010

Alive (colour rings seen) 22-08-2011

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-02-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 19-10-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-12-2019

DD49305 First-year 03-02-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 18-03-2019

237

Levington Creek, River Orwell: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 0km 18y 11m 3d Levington Creek, River Orwell: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 0km 11y 10m 24d Levington Creek, River Orwell: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) The Strand, near Ipswich: 52°1’N 1°8’E (Suffolk) 8km WNW 0y 3m 13d Nacton Shore: 51°59’N 1°13’E (Suffolk) 1km 0y 11m 14d Levington Creek: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 5m 16d Freston, near Ipswich: 52°0’N 1°9’E (Suffolk) 6km WNW 2y 1m 11d Levington Creek, Orwell Estuary: 51°59’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 3m 1d Welwick Pond: 53°38’N 0°1’E (East Riding of Yorkshire) Cattawade: 51°56’N 1°2’E (Suffolk) 201km SSE 1y 1m 15d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 20-04-2019

Kittiwake EH48847 Nestling 18-07-2004 Caught by ringer 01-07-2010

Alive (colour rings seen) 27-06-2011

Alive (colour rings seen) 07-07-2012

Caught by ringer 25-06-2013

Alive (ring read in field) 05-03-2014

Alive (ring read in field) 04-08-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 21-02-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 05-08-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-03-2016

Caught by ringer 18-06-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-03-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-03-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 20-04-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 06-07-2019

ER72027 Nestling 13-07-2006 Alive (ring read in field) 22-07-2019

EW96891 Nestling 01-07-2010 Alive (colour rings seen) 04-07-2013

Alive (ring read in field) 12-04-2014

Alive (ring read in field) 17-07-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 23-03-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 23-06-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 13-03-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 10-08-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-03-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 20-09-2019

238

Mistley: 51°56’N 1°5’E (Essex) 203km SSE 1y 2m 17d A great recapture of DK95495 close to the longevity record of 20y 1m 15d.

Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 11m 13d Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 11m 9d Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 11m 19d Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 11m 7d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 7m 15d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 10y 0m 17d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 10y 7m 3d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 11y 0m 18d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 11y 7m 19d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 11y 11m 0d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 12y 7m 19d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 13y 8m 7d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 14y 9m 2d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 14y 11m 18d Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 13y 0m 9d Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) Lowestoft: 52°27’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 3d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 9m 11d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 16d Sizewell Beach: 52°12’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) 30km SSW 4y 8m 22d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 11m 22d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 8m 12d Lowestoft: c. 52°28’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 1km 6y 1m 9d Lowestoft: c. 52°27’N 1°44’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 8m 3d Redcastle, Lunan Bay: 56°38’N 2°30’W (Angus, Scotland) 540km NNW 9y 2m 19d Ten reports of Suffolk-ringed birds present in France were received in 2019

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Black-headed Gull

LIK Age Unknown 09-06-1979 Žuvinto Rezervatas, Alytaus: 54°27’N

23°34’E Lithuania 152530 Dead 12-05-2019 Debenham: 52°12’N 1°8’E (Suffolk)

1,504km W 39y 11m 3d EJ37148 Nestling 06-07-1997 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Alive (ring read in field) 19-02-2005 Slaughden, Aldeburgh: 52°8’N 1°35’E

(Suffolk) 6km NNE 7y 7m 13d Alive (ring read in field) 21-01-2010 Slaughden, Aldeburgh: 52°8’N 1°35’E

(Suffolk) 6km NNE 12y 6m 15d Alive (ring read in field) 21-01-2019 Slaughden, Aldeburgh: 52°8’N 1°35’E

(Suffolk) 6km NNE 21y 6m 15d Alive (ring read in field) 29-01-2019 Mistley, River Stour: 51°56’N 1°4’E

(Essex) 13km NW 12y 7m 25d LIK Nestling 08-06-2009 Kretuono Ez., Didzioji Sala, Svencioniu R.:

55°13’N 26°4’E Lithuania HV16365 Alive (ring read in field) 24-02-2015 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 5y 8m

16d Alive (ring read in field) 18-02-2016 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 6y 8m 10d Alive (ring read in field) 26-01-2017 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 7y 7m

18d Alive (colour rings seen) 29-01-2018 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 8y 7m

21d Alive (ring read in field) 23-01-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 9y 7m

15d Alive (ring read in field) 31-01-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,665km W 9y 7m

23d

Suffolk-ringed birds were reported in

Finland and The Netherlands. A further

12 foreign-ringed birds were recorded in

the county in 2019 152530 passes the

longevity record of 32y 3m 26d.

Without futher knowledge of the finding

circumstances, I doubt it will challenge

this.

Mediterranean Gull

EL45108 Adult 15-01-2010 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Alive (ring read in field) 02-12-2010 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 10m 17d Alive (ring read in field) 16-10-2011 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 9m 1d Alive (ring read in field) 20-11-2013 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 10m 5d Alive (ring read in field) 11-11-2014 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 9m 27d Alive (ring read in field) 26-01-2016 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 0m 11d Alive (ring read in field) 23-01-2017 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 0m 8d Alive (ring read in field) 22-11-2017 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 10m 7d Alive (ring read in field) 24-01-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 0m 9d 239

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 08-10-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 8m 23d Alive (colour rings seen) 19-11-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 9y 10m 4d PLG Nestling 13-06-2011 J.Rynskie, Rybical: 53°55’N 21°31’E

(Warminsko-Mazurskie) Poland FN16112 Alive (colour rings seen) 27-08-2017 Orfordness: 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

1,345km W 6y 2m 14d Alive (colour rings seen) 18-07-2018 Minsmere: 52°13’N 1°35’E (Suffolk)

1,338km W 7y 1m 5d Alive (colour rings seen) 23-08-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

1,345km W 8y 2m 10d Alive (colour rings seen) 23-08-2019 Orfordness: 52°5’N 1°31’E (Suffolk)

1,348km W 8y 2m 10d

Further individuals ringed in Poland,

Hungary, Germany and Belgium were

also recorded in the county in 2019.

Additionally, an Italian-ringed bird was

seen in Suffolk for the third succcessive

year.

Common Gull EP74528 Adult 27-01-1996 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 31-05-2010 Eidersperrwerk, Aussendeich: 54°15’N

8°49’E (Schleswig-Holstein) Germany

564km ENE 14y 4m 4d Dead (leg only) 23-05-2019 Putkisalonsaari, Rantasalmi: 62°0’N

28°28’E (Mikkeli) Finland 1,968km NE

23y 3m 26d

With only the leg found it is not known

how long ago this bird died. This

represents the first record of a Suffolk ringed bird in Finland DEW Nestling 29-06-1955 Nsg Oehe-Schleimünde: 54°40’N 10°1’E

(Schleswig-Holstein) Germany 5061500 Unknown (ring only) 10-03-2019 Otley, Ipswich: 52°8’N 1°12’E (Suffolk)

647km WSW 63y 8m 9d

Additionally, two Norwegian-ringed

individuals were reported at Orfordness/

Havergate.

Great Black-backed Gull

MA43018 Nestling 06-06-2018 Isle of May: 56°10’N 2°33’W (Fife,

Scotland) Alive (colour rings seen) 03-11-2018 Peterhead Harbour: 57°30’N 1°46’W

(Aberdeenshire, Scotland) 154km NNE

0y 4m 28d Alive (colour rings seen) 24-03-2019 Southwold Town Marshes: 52°18’N

1°40’E (Suffolk) 510km SE 0y 9m 18d Alive (colour rings seen) 07-05-2019 Port Seton: 55°57’N 2°56’W (East

Lothian, Scotland) 34km SW 0y 11m

1d Alive (colour rings seen) 11-09-2019 Fife Ness: 56°16’N 2°35’W (Fife,

Scotland) 10km NNW 1y 3m 5d Alive (colour rings seen) 19-09-2019 Fife Ness: 56°16’N 2°35’W (Fife,

Scotland) 10km NNW 1y 3m 13d

Eleven reports of Norwegian-ringed birds

in Suffolk were received.

240

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Herring Gull GA38090 Nestling 11-07-2004 Alive (colour marks seen) 24-11-2005

13d Alive (colour rings seen) 20-08-2006

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-02-2007

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-02-2007

Alive (colour rings seen) 10-04-2007

Alive (colour rings seen) 16-09-2008

Alive (colour rings seen) 13-08-2010

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-11-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-04-2013

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-10-2013

Alive (colour rings seen) 10-09-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-08-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 12-03-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 18-07-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-10-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-02-2019

Long dead 03-07-2019

GA11389 Nestling 02-07-2017 Alive (colour rings seen) 15-04-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 22-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 23-03-2019

GA11178 Nestling 09-07-2016 Alive (colour rings seen) 02-02-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 23-06-2019

GR27090 Nestling 22-06-2014 Alive (colour rings seen) 04-10-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 07-08-2016

241

Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Wetherden, near Stowmarket: 52°13’N 0°54’E (Suffolk) 48km WNW 1y 4m Flixton: 52°25’N 1°22’E (Suffolk) 40km NNW 2y 1m 9d Wetherden, near Stowmarket: 52°13’N 0°54’E (Suffolk) 48km WNW 2y 7m 13d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 7m 14d Nieuwdorp, Borsele: 51°27’N 3°43’E (Zeeland) The Netherlands 163km ESE 2y 8m 30d Aldeby: 52°28’N 1°37’E (Norfolk) 43km N 4y 2m 5d Butley, near Woodbridge: 52°5’N 1°26’E (Suffolk) 9km W 6y 1m 2d Aldeby: 52°28’N 1°37’E (Norfolk) 43km N 8y 3m 29d Abbey Farm, Snape: 52°9’N 1°28’E (Suffolk) 11km NW 8y 8m 28d Lowestoft: 52°28’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 45km NNE 9y 3m 13d Lowestoft: 52°28’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 45km NNE 10y 1m 30d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 0km 11y 1m 19d Felixstowe Ferry: 51°58’N 1°22’E (Suffolk) 18km SW 12y 8m 1d Felixstowe Ferry: 51°58’N 1°22’E (Suffolk) 18km SW 13y 0m 7d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 14y 3m 13d Butley Church, Butley: 52°5’N 1°27’E (Suffolk) 8km W 14y 6m 24d Butley, Woodbridge: 52°6’N 1°26’E (Suffolk) 9km WNW 14y 11m 22d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Staverton Park, near Butley: 52°5’N 1°25’E (Suffolk) 10km W 0y 9m 13d Cotesbach Landfill, Cotesbach: 52°25’N 1°13’W (Leicestershire) 194km WNW 1y 8m 20d Cotesbach Landfill, Cotesbach: 52°25’N 1°13’W (Leicestershire) 194km WNW 1y 8m 21d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) Cotesbach Landfill, Cotesbach: 52°25’N 1°13’W (Leicestershire) 190km WNW 2y 6m 24d River Roach, near Potton Point: 51°35’N 0°49’E (Essex) 71km SW 2y 11m 14d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) near Honington: 52°19’N 0°44’E (Suffolk) 60km WNW 0y 3m 12d Rymer Barn, Seven Hills, Little Livermere: 52°19’N 0°43’E (Suffolk) 61km WNW 2y 1m 16d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 08-12-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 24-08-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 17-09-2019

Cotesbach Landfill, Cotesbach: 52°25’N 1°13’W (Leicestershire) 190km WNW 4y 5m 16d Shawell: 52°24’N 1°12’W (Leicestershire) 189km WNW 5y 2m 2d Shawell: 52°24’N 1°12’W (Leicestershire) 189km WNW 5y 2m 26d

GV77872 5CY+ 16-02-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 26-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 02-04-2019

1m 14d Alive (colour rings seen) 27-11-2019

Ockenden Landfill, Rainham: 51°52’N 0°29’E (Essex) Bornriff, Amelland: 53°26’N 5°37’E (Friesland) The Netherlands 475km NE 0y 1m 7d Linkoping: 58°24’N 15°37’E (Ostergotland) Sweden 830km NE 0y

Caspian Gull EA211879 Nestling 06-06-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 22-03-2019

Grabendorfer See: 51°42’N 14°06’E (Brandenburg) Germany Southwold: 52°19’N 1°41’E (Suffolk) 845km W 0y 10m 16d Additionally, six reports of Polish-ringed birds in Suffolk were received

Southwold: 52°19’N 1°41’E (Suffolk) 108km SW 0y 8m 1d Eight Suffolk-ringed birds were reported abroad in 2019 - Netherlands (4), Belgium (2) and France (2)

Lesser Black-backed Gull

GH35784 Nestling 13-07-1986 Orfordness: 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 06-06-2013 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 26y 10m 24d Alive (colour rings seen) 24-07-2013 Botany Marshes, near Snape: 52°10’N

1°28’E (Suffolk) 11km NW 27y 0m 11d Alive (colour rings seen) 30-08-2014 Shawell: 52°24’N 1°12’W (Leicestershire)

193km WNW 28y 1m 17d Alive (colour rings seen) 25-01-2016 Temporary Pits in Water Eaton: 51°58’N

0°44’W (Milton Keynes) 158km W 29y

6m 12d Alive (colour rings seen) 29-12-2018 Amwell Nature Reserve: 51°47’N 0°0’W

(Hertfordshire) 114km WSW 32y 5m

16d Alive (colour rings seen) 31-01-2019 Bletchley Landfill Site: 51°58’N 0°44’W

(Milton Keynes) 159km W 32y 6m

18d Alive (colour rings seen) 23-09-2019 Shawell: 52°24’N 1°12’W (Leicestershire)

193km WNW 33y 2m 10d Alive (colour rings seen) 03-10-2019 Newton Leys: 51°58’N 0°44’W (Milton

Keynes) 158km W 33y 2m 20d Alive (colour rings seen) 31-12-2019 Newton Leys: 51°58’N 0°44’W (Milton

Keynes) 158km W 33y 5m 18d GF92176 Nestling 19-07-1997 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 20-06-2011 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

4km 13y 11m 1d Alive (colour rings seen) 10-12-2011 Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain

1,772km SSW 14y 4m 21d Alive (colour rings seen) 13-03-2012 Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk)

4km 14y 7m 23d Alive (colour rings seen) 05-01-2014 Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain

1,772km SSW 16y 5m 17d 242

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Alive (colour rings seen) 26-05-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-01-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 25-03-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-12-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 07-04-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-11-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-12-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 13-12-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 15-12-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 19-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-11-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 26-12-2019

GF92849 Nestling 19-07-1998 Alive (colour marks seen) 24-05-2000

Caught by ringer 15-07-2019

GR36615 Nestling 03-07-2011 Alive (colour rings seen) 05-02-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 12-10-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-11-2012

Alive (colour rings seen) 09-02-2013

Alive (colour rings seen) 26-01-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-01-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 23-03-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 21-11-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 15-02-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 19-11-2019

GA11229 Nestling 09-07-2016 Alive (colour rings seen) 31-03-2019

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-07-2019

243

Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 17y 10m 7d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 18y 6m 6d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 18y 8m 6d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 20y 4m 19d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 20y 8m 19d Torremolinos: 36°37’N 4°30’W (Malaga) Spain 1,785km SSW 21y 4m 11d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 21y 4m 20d Torremolinos: 36°37’N 4°30’W (Malaga) Spain 1,785km SSW 21y 4m 24d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 21y 4m 26d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 4km 21y 8m 0d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 22y 4m 11d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,772km SSW 22y 5m 7d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Reserve de Chanteloup, Ile D’olonne: 46°33’N 1°46’W (Vendee) France 662km SSW 1y 10m 5d Njervesanden, Lindesnes: 58°1’N 7°9’E (Vest-Agder) Norway 749km NNE 20y 11m 26d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) Anza, near Agadir: 30°25’N 9°39’W (Morocco) Morocco 2,573km SSW 0y 7m 2d Malaga: 36°43’N 4°25’W (Malaga) Spain 1,769km SSW 1y 3m 9d Pinto: 40°15’N 3°42’W (Madrid) Spain 1,373km SSW 1y 4m 1d Caleta de Velez: 36°45’N 4°4’W (Malaga) Spain 1,759km SSW 1y 7m 6d Lower Compton Landfill, near Calne: 51°25’N 1°59’W (Wiltshire) 251km WSW 5y 6m 23d Colmenar Viejo: 40°39’N 3°43’W (Madrid) Spain 1,331km SSW 6y 6m 5d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 8m 20d Park Grounds Landfill: 51°32’N 1°55’W (Wiltshire) 244km WSW 7y 4m 18d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 7m 12d Park Grounds Landfill: 51°32’N 1°55’W (Wiltshire) 244km WSW 8y 4m 16d Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) Cantabrian Sea, C.27km N of Ribadesella: 43°43’N 5°4’W (Bay of Biscay) Bay of Biscay 1,049km SSW 2y 8m 22d Oostende: 51°13’N 2°55’E (West- Vlaanderen) Belgium 135km SE 2y 11m 25d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 GR20319

Nestling 04-07-2010 Alive (colour rings seen) 10-08-2011

Alive (colour rings seen) 04-05-2015

Alive (colour rings seen) 16-06-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 30-04-2019

Havergate Island: 52°4’N 1°30’E (Suffolk) Esmelle, near Ferrol: 43°31’N 8°16’W (Coruna) Spain 1,196km SW 1y 1m 6d Osthassel, Farsund: 58°4’N 6°39’E (VestAgder) Norway 744km NNE 4y 10m 0d Rauna, Farsund: 58°4’N 6°40’E (VestAgder) Norway 743km NNE 7y 11m 12d Nordhassel, Farsund: 58°4’N 6°37’E (Vest-Agder) Norway 743km NNE 8y 9m 26d A snapshot of the 230 plus reports of Suffolk-ringed birds abroad and eight foreign-ringed birds in the county from 2019 GH35784 is approaching the longevity record of 34y 10m 27d

Common Tern SX87310 Nestling 24-06-1997 Dead 01-08-2019

Breydon Water: 52°36’N 1°42’E (Norfolk) Lowestoft: 52°29’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) 14km SSE 22y 1m 8d

Woodpigeon FC20752 Adult 10-07-2010 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 07-05-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 8y 9m 27d Caught by ringer 30-10-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 9y 3m 20d FH40104 First-year 14-03-2010 Thorndon: 52°16’N 1°7’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead 09-03-2019 Thorndon: 52°16’N 1°7’E (Suffolk) 0km

8y 11m 23d

A good longevity report for FC20752

Collared Dove EX54754 Nestling 19-05-2011 Bungay: 52°26’N 1°24’E (Suffolk) Dead 03-11-2019 Mettingham: 52°27’N 1°27’E (Suffolk)

4km 8y 5m 15d Barn Owl GC61924 Nestling Female 18-06-2011 Frostenden: 52°24’N 1°36’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 27-07-2019 Heveningham: 52°19’N 1°26’E (Suffolk)

12km WSW 8y 1m 9d GC61786 Nestling Female 20-06-2011 Bradfield St George: 52°9’N 0°50’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 06-07-2016 Brettenham: 52°9’N 0°50’E (Suffolk)

6km ESE 5y 0m 16d Caught by ringer 15-07-2019 Lower Farm, Brettenham: 52°9’N 0°50’E

(Suffolk) 6km ESE 8y 0m 25d GR61138 Nestling Female 05-06-2012 Flixton: 52°24’N 1°27’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 04-05-2019 near Bleach Farm, Starston: 52°24’N

1°18’E (Norfolk) 8km W 6y 10m 29d

Continued interesting movements for

some of Suffolk’s Barn Owls from SCBOP

Nightjar

LH66404 Nestling Female 15-06-2015 Dersingham Bog NNR: 52°49’N 0°27’E

(Norfolk) Caught by ringer 20-08-2015 near Thetford Warrren: 52°25’N 0°40’E

(Suffolk) 47km SSE 0y 2m 5d 244

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Caught by ringer 15-06-2018

Caught by ringer 27-06-2019

Thetford Warren: 52°24’N 0°41’E (Suffolk) 48km SSE 3y 0m 0d near High Wrong Corner: 52°24’N 0°41’E (Suffolk) 48km SSE 4y 0m 12d

Swift SH18960 Adult 21-07-2015

Caught in nestbox 03-08-2019

SB80499 Nestling 27-06-2016

Caught in nestbox 08-08-2019

SH18966 Nestling 02-07-2016

Caught in nestbox 01-07-2017

Caught in nestbox 07-07-2019

Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 13d All Saints Church, Worlington: c. 52°19’N 0°29’E (Suffolk) All Saints Church, Worlington: c. 52°19’N 0°29’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 1m 12d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 11m 29d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 5d Returning to breed in their third- calendar-year at the earliest, a couple of records of birds returning to breed in their natal colonies

Great Spotted Woodpecker LH12600 First-year Male 14-11-2018

Freshly dead 09-03-2019

LC63011 Adult Male 15-01-2019

Dead (hit by car) 06-05-2019

Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) Felixstowe: 51°57’N 1°20’E (Suffolk) 4km 0y 3m 23d Culford School: c. 52°18’N 0°40’E (Suffolk) West Stow: 52°17’N 0°39’E (Suffolk) 2km 0y 3m 21d

Green Woodpecker DE37158 First-year Female 10-12-2014

Caught by ringer 12-01-2019

DE37173 First-year Male 23-07-2015

Caught by ringer 23-10-2015

Caught by ringer 04-08-2019

DE39339 First-year Male 31-03-2016

Caught by ringer 16-05-2016

Caught by ringer 24-06-2018

Caught by ringer 17-10-2019

Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N 0°58’E (Suffolk) Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N 0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 1m 2d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 3m 0d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 12d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 1m 15d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 2m 24d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 6m 16d

Kestrel EX99593 Nestling 02-06-2014

Freshly dead (drowned) 01-09-2019

Knollgate, Boxford: c. 52°1’N 0°51’E (Suffolk) Langham: 51°56’N 0°56’E (Essex) 11km SSE 5y 2m 30d

245

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 EY64952 Nestling Female 11-06-2014

Caught by ringer 03-02-2019

EY16807 Nestling 24-06-2016

Freshly dead (injury) 10-04-2019

EW84486 Nestling 10-07-2018 Freshly dead (injury) 12-07-2019

Bridge Fm, Keyingham: c. 53°42’N 0°8’W (East Riding of Yorkshire) Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 187km SSE 4y 7m 23d Eastwick Farm, Braiseworth: 52°17’N 1°6’E (Suffolk) Braiseworth: 52°17’N 1°7’E (Suffolk) 1km 2y 9m 17d Wix Lodge, Wix: 51°54’N 1°6’E (Essex) Brantham: 51°57’N 1°3’E (Suffolk) 6km NW 1y 0m 2d Good to see the recovery of EY64952 by capture rather than by being found dead.

Leeds Uni: 53°48’N 1°37’W (West Yorkshire) Muntons Maltings, Stowmarket: 52°9’N 0°59’E (Suffolk) 250km SE 0y 7m 11d

Peregrine GV65676 Nestling 28-06-2018

Long dead (in building) 08-02-2019

AJ59581 Nestling 03-06-2013 Lowestoft: 52°29’N 1°45’E (Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 15-05-2018 Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth: 52°34’N

1°45’E (Norfolk) 16km NNW 4y 11m

12d Alive (colour rings seen) 24-11-2019 Burgh Castle Marshes: 52°35’N 1°36’E

(Suffolk) 16km NNW 6y 5m 21d

Jay DE37035 Adult 10-06-2012 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 02-05-2019 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 10m 22d DE37167 Adult 06-01-2016 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) Freshly dead (shot) 30-05-2019 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 3y 4m 24d DT22672 Second-year Female 19-05-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead (trapped) 13-06-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 0m 25d Magpie EX57927

Adult 04-09-2010 Freshly dead 01-01-2019

EW98238 Second-year Female 04-06-2015

Caught by ringer 31-10-2019

Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 1km 8y 3m 28d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 4m 27d

EX84933 Full-grown Female 17-04-2016

Caught by ringer 03-06-2019

Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 1m 17d

Jackdaw EY16944 Nestling 16-05-2017

Freshly dead (shot) 07-09-2019

Kiln Farm, Gt Ashfield: 52°15’N 0°55’E (Suffolk) Nacton, near Ipswich: 52°0’N 1°11’E (Suffolk) 33km SSE 2y 3m 22d

246

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 EN17926

Nestling

06-05-2017

Colney: 52°36’N 1°13’E (Norfolk)

Freshly dead (shot) 13-05-2019

EN17929 Nestling 06-05-2017

Cretingham Lodge: 52°12’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 45km S 2y 0m 7d Colney: 52°36’N 1°13’E (Norfolk)

Freshly dead (shot) 13-05-2019

Cretingham Lodge: 52°12’N 1°14’E (Suffolk) 45km S 2y 0m 7d

Coal Tit D048673 Adult 31-12-2013 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 10-11-2019

D321447 First-year 28-12-2013

Caught by ringer 05-01-2014

Caught by ringer 20-01-2019

Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 10m 10d Thetford Lodge Farm: c. 52°26’N 0°40’E (Suffolk) Thetford Lodge Farm: c. 52°26’N 0°40’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 0m 8d Thetford Lodge Farm: c. 52°26’N 0°40’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 0m 23d

Marsh Tit S286272 Juvenile 24-07-2016

Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk)

Caught by ringer 15-10-2016 0y 2m 21d Caught by ringer 29-01-2017 0y 6m 5d Caught by ringer 15-11-2019 3y 3m 22d

Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 0km

Blue Tit Y277719 Juvenile Female 02-08-2012 Caught by ringer 01-11-2012

Caught by ringer 04-08-2016

Caught by ringer 23-08-2018

Caught by ringer 05-12-2019

L725813 Juvenile Male 10-06-2012 Caught by ringer 02-08-2012

Caught by ringer 21-04-2013

Caught by ringer 09-04-2015

Caught by ringer 07-04-2016

Caught by ringer 10-08-2017

Caught by ringer 05-04-2018

Caught by ringer 19-09-2019

Z903940 Adult 07-06-2018 Caught by ringer 12-08-2019

Z976716 First-year 12-10-2017

247

Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 0km Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 0km

Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 2m 30d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 2d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 0m 21d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 4m 3d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 1m 23d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 10m 11d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 9m 30d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 9m 28d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 2m 0d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 9m 26d Minsmere: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 3m 9d Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) Martinstown, near Dorchester: 50°41’N 2°30’W (Dorset) 297km WSW 1y 2m 5d Upper Caerddu, Howey: 52°13’N 3°23’W (Powys)

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Caught by ringer 29-03-2019 High Lodge, near Brandon: c. 52°25’N

0°39’E (Suffolk) 276km E 1y 5m

17d

The latter two records are impressive

long-distance recoveries for Blue Tits

Great Tit Y304467 Adult Female 14-08-2011 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 28-01-2012 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 5m 14d Caught by ringer 23-07-2012 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 11m 9d Caught by ringer 09-12-2013 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 3m 25d Caught by ringer 15-11-2014 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 3m 1d Caught by ringer 13-01-2018 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 4m 30d Caught by ringer 03-08-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 11m 20d Caught by ringer 01-12-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 3m 17d D223196 First-year Female 12-01-2013 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 30-11-2013

Caught by ringer 05-03-2014

Caught by ringer 09-06-2019

Caught by ringer 11-06-2019

D405576 Juvenile Male 08-08-2013

Caught by ringer 23-10-2015

Caught by ringer 05-12-2019

Woodlark TR58891 Nestling Male 05-05-2014

Alive (colour rings seen) 29-04-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 27-03-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 02-06-2018

Alive (colour rings seen) 22-04-2019

Caught by ringer 20-05-2019

TV57468 Nestling 16-04-2016

Alive (colour rings seen) 05-05-2019

248

Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 10m 18d Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 1m 21d Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 4m 28d Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 4m 30d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 2m 15d Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 3m 27d Some good longevity reports here.

near Rougham Corner: 52°31’N 0°34’E (Norfolk) Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 8km SSW 1y 11m 24d Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 8km SSW 2y 10m 22d Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 7km SSW 4y 0m 28d Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 7km SSW 4y 11m 17d Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 7km SSW 5y 0m 15d near Mount Ephraim: 52°31’N 0°34’E (Norfolk) Brandon Park: 52°25’N 0°34’E (Suffolk) 6km SSE 3y 0m 19d

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Sand Martin AHB4523 Juvenile 06-08-2018 Ash Carr, Thornham: 52°57’N 0°35’E

(Norfolk) Caught by ringer 20-06-2019 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 105km SE 0y 10m 14d Z427884 Juvenile Male 28-06-2015 Minsmere Nature Reserve:

52°14’N 1°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 27-06-2016 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 11m 30d Caught by ringer 20-06-2019 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 11m 23d

Swallow S129159 First-year 28-08-2016 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) Freshly dead (hit glass) 04-07-2019 Cakes and Ale Holiday Park, Theberton:

52°12’N 1°33’E (Suffolk) 7km N 2y

10m 6d D878579 First-year 06-08-2017 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead 20-06-2019 Hoo Hall: 51°49’N 0°39’E (Essex) 69km

WSW 1y 10m 14d Long-tailed Tit ETC070 Juvenile 19-06-2013 Hinderclay Fen: 52°22’N 0°58’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 09-05-2015 Hinderclay Fen: 52°22’N 0°58’E (Suffolk)

0km 1y 10m 20d Caught by ringer 01-07-2016 Hinderclay Fen: 52°22’N 0°58’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 0m 12d Caught by ringer 16-06-2017 Hinderclay Fen: 52°22’N 0°58’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 11m 28d Caught by ringer 18-05-2018 Hinderclay Fen: 52°22’N 0°58’E (Suffolk)

0km 4y 10m 29d HER647 Juvenile 18-05-2014 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 27-08-2016 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 3m 9d Freshly dead (cat) 24-12-2019 Little Stonham: 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk)

1km 5y 7m 6d EBD334 Full-grown 21-09-2014 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 30-12-2014 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 2km 0y 3m 9d Caught by ringer 11-03-2016 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 1y 5m 19d Caught by ringer 16-12-2016 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 2y 2m 25d Caught by ringer 22-11-2019 West Farm Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 5y 2m 1d Caught by ringer 21-12-2019 West Farm Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 5y 3m 0d Willow Warbler EYK565 Nestling Male 04-06-2013 Stowmarket: 52°10’N 0°58’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 23-06-2014 Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary: c.

52°9’N 1°3’E (Suffolk) 6km ESE 1y 0m

19d Caught by ringer 07-04-2016 Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary: c.

52°9’N 1°3’E (Suffolk) 6km ESE 2y

10m 3d Caught by ringer 03-08-2019 Needham Market Sewage Works: 52°9’N

1°3’E (Suffolk) 6km ESE 6y 1m 30d 249

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 ESI Full-grown 14-04-2019

RP2504 Caught by ringer 26-08-2019

Isla de Tabarca: 38°9’N 0°28’W (Alicante) Spain Newbourne (Mill Rd): c. 52°1’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) 1,549km N 0y 4m 12d The only foreign exchange Willow Warbler for Suffolk in 2019

Chiffchaff KAD423 Juvenile 01-08-2017 Sycamore Farm, Witnesham: 52°6’N

1°11’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 07-10-2019 le Roc, Chenac-Saint-Seurin-D’uzet:

45°30’N 0°49’W (Charente-Maritime)

France 749km SSW 2y 2m 6d EXR645 Full-grown Male 21-03-2019 High Lodge, near Brandon: c. 52°25’N

0°39’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 24-11-2019 El Acebuchal, Alcala de Guadaira:

37°21’N 5°54’W (Sevilla) Spain 1,753km

SSW 0y 8m 3d DKC Adult 06-04-2019 Blavand Fuglestation, Blavand: 55°33’N

8°4’E (Ribe) Denmark R64346 Caught by ringer 28-05-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 600km SW 0y 1m 22d

An unexpected long-distance SW

movement in spring POL Second-year 24-11-2018 Herdade Dos Forninhos: 37°43’N 8°43’W

(Beja) Portugal X66029 Caught by ringer 13-08-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

1,781km NNE 0y 8m 20d Caught by ringer 05-10-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

1,781km NNE 0y 10m 11d

All four foreign exchanges in 2019

Sedge Warbler L774082 Full-grown Male 27-04-2014 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 26-05-2014 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 0m 29d Caught by ringer 25-04-2015 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 11m 29d Caught by ringer 15-05-2016 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 2y 0m 18d Caught by ringer 28-05-2017 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 1m 1d Caught by ringer 21-04-2018 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 11m 25d Caught by ringer 12-05-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 5y 0m 15d Caught by ringer 18-05-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

0km 5y 0m 21d ARJ7156 First-year 02-09-2019

Caught by ringer 09-09-2019

AXF5434 First-year 22-08-2019

Caught by ringer 28-08-2019

S742136 First-year 12-08-2019

250

Trimley Marshes: 51°57’N 1°16’E (Suffolk) Terres D’oiseaux, Braud-Et-Saint-Louis: 45°16’N 0°40’W (Gironde) France 757km SSW 0y 0m 7d Trimley Marshes: 51°57’N 1°16’E (Suffolk) Mars-Ouest, Sant-Philbert-De-GrandLieu: 47°7’N 1°40’W (Loire-Atlantique) France 580km SSW 0y 0m 6d Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N 1°18’E (Suffolk)

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Caught by ringer 23-08-2019 Reserve de Chasse du Massereau,

Frossay: 47°15’N 1°54’W (Loire-

Atlantique) France 569km SSW 0y 0m

11d AXF0081 First-year 21-08-2019 Western Farm, St James, South Elmham:

52°22’N 1°23’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 03-09-2019 Tour Aux Moutons, Donges: 47°19’N

2°4’W (Loire-Atlantique) France 615km

SSW 0y 0m 13d

Historical records of birds ringed

on Orfordness and recovered in Portugal,

Luxembourg and France were received in

2019.

Additionally, a French-ringed bird was

caught in Suffolk and there were three

reports of Suffolk-ringed birds in Belgium

Reed Warbler POL First-year 24-08-2012 Estuario Do Mondego, Coimbra: 40°9’N

8°52’W (Coimbra) Portugal A351780 Caught by ringer 06-05-2018 near Suffolk Water Park, Bramford: c.

52°5’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 1,530km NNE

5y 8m 12d Caught by ringer 07-05-2019 near Suffolk Water Park, Bramford: c.

52°5’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 1,530km NNE

6y 8m 13d Caught by ringer 21-06-2019 near Suffolk Water Park, Bramford: c.

52°5’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 1,530km NNE

6y 9m 28d BLB First-year 22-08-2018 Jonkershove: 50°58’N 2°55’E (West Vlaanderen) Belgium 15621341 Caught by ringer 23-06-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

211km NW 0y 10m 1d Caught by ringer 14-07-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

211km NW 0y 10m 22d POL First-year 11-09-2018 Brasfemes: 40°16’N 8°24’W (Coimbra)

Portugal A462439 Caught by ringer 17-06-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

1,510km NNE 0y 9m 6d POL First-year 03-10-2018 Lagoa de Santo Andre, Setubal: 38°4’N

8°46’W (Setúbal) Portugal A458342 Caught by ringer 30-08-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 1,744km NNE 0y 10m 27d POL First-year 22-08-2018 Caminha: 41°52’N 8°51’W (Viana do

Castelo) Portugal A463238 Caught by ringer 05-08-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 1,372km NNE 0y 11m 14d ESA Adult 05-05-2019 Laguna de Negrillos: 42°13’N 5°37’W

(Leon) Spain 3Y73052 Caught by ringer 25-05-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

1,224km NNE 0y 0m 20d Caught by ringer 15-06-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk)

1,224km NNE 0y 1m 10d

A selection from the 15 reports of

foreign-ringed birds in the county. Four

records of Suffolk-ringed birds were

reported abroad Grasshopper Warbler ACC0548 First-year 05-08-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 251

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Caught by ringer 18-08-2019

Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve: 50°48’N 1°14’W (Hampshire) 231km SW 0y 0m 13d

Blackcap Z175968 First-year Female 02-09-2014 Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary: c.

52°9’N 1°3’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 22-09-2019 BTO Nunnery Lakes Reserve: 52°23’N

0°44’E (Norfolk) 35km NW 5y 0m 20d S565181 First-year Female 07-09-2017 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 19-04-2019 Bardsey Island: 52°45’N 4°47’W

(Gwynedd) 429km WNW 1y 7m 12d S569077 First-year Female 22-09-2018 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 10-06-2019 Fontburn Nature Reserve: c. 55°13’N

1°56’W (Northumberland) 417km

NNW 0y 8m 19d S565844 First-year Male 20-09-2017 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 17-04-2019 Zeebrugge: 51°19’N 3°10’E (West Vlaanderen) Belgium 145km ESE 1y

6m 28d S742390 First-year Male 15-09-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead 11-10-2019 El Altozano, Sierra de Andujar: 38°4’N

4°3’W (Jaen) Spain 1,597km SSW 0y

0m 26d S150205 First-year Female 20-10-2019 Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 05-11-2019 Eemshaven: 53°25’N 6°52’E (Groningen)

The Netherlands 386km ENE 0y 0m

16d

Included here are all three foreign

exchanges for Suffolk in 2019 Garden Warbler ARH4733 First-year 26-07-2019 Greenham Common: c. 51°22’N 1°18’W

(West Berkshire) Caught by ringer 16-08-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 202km ENE 0y 0m 21d S568664 First-year 10-09-2018 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 22-05-2019 Lebbeke: 51°0’N 4°7’E (Oost-Vlaanderen)

Belgium 221km ESE 0y 8m 12d

Lesser Whitethroat Z612642 Adult Male 02-05-2015 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 10-05-2015 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 0m 8d Caught by ringer 28-04-2016 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

0km 0y 11m 26d Caught by ringer 11-05-2019 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk)

0km 4y 0m 9d S754040 Juvenile 15-09-2017 Silt Fen Farm, Denver: 52°33’N 0°20’E

(Norfolk) Caught by ringer 19-05-2019 Maidscross Nature Reserve, Lakenheath:

52°24’N 0°31’E (Suffolk) 21km SE 1y

8m 4d

Goldcrest JCD373 First-year Male 20-09-2016 Bardsey Island: 52°45’N 4°47’W

(Gwynedd) 252

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Caught by ringer 17-10-2019 Bawdsey Manor: 51°59’N 1°23’E (Suffolk)

428km E 3y 0m 27d LAY740 First-year Female 05-10-2019 Bourne Wood: 52°45’N 0°23’W

(Lincolnshire) Caught by ringer 17-10-2019 Bawdsey Manor: 51°59’N 1°23’E (Suffolk)

149km SE 0y 0m 12d NOS First-year Male 12-10-2019 Molen, Brunlanes: c. 58°58’N 9°49’E

(Vestfold) Norway AU8418 Caught by ringer 22-10-2019 National Trust,Dunwich Heath: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 906km SW 0y 0m 10d RUM First-year Female 02-10-2019 “Fringilla”, Rybachiy, Zelenogradskiy

District: 55°4’N 20°43’E (Kaliningrad

Oblast) Russian Federation VC28666 Caught by ringer 05-11-2019 National Trust, Dunwich Heath: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 1,294km W 0y 1m 3d

The first Russia-Suffolk exchange for this

species NLA First-year Female 27-10-2019 Lauwersoog, Suyderoogh: 53°22’N 6°12’E

(Groningen) The Netherlands APS119 Caught by ringer 06-11-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 354km WSW 0y 0m 10d

Nuthatch TS18564 First-year Male 04-01-2015 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 20-05-2015 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

0y 4m 16d Caught by ringer 08-06-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

4y 5m 4d Caught by ringer 05-10-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

4y 9m 1d Caught by ringer 07-12-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

4y 11m 3d TJ97890 First-year Female 06-09-2015 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 27-11-2016 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

1y 2m 21d Caught by ringer 17-11-2018 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

3y 2m 11d Caught by ringer 31-10-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km

4y 1m 25d

Treecreeper

DRH263 Full-grown Male 27-04-2015 Fir Farm, Boxford: 52°0’N 0°50’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 30-05-2017 Fir Farm, Boxford: 52°0’N 0°50’E (Suffolk)

0km 2y 1m 3d Caught by ringer 05-04-2019 Fir Farm, Boxford: 52°0’N 0°50’E (Suffolk)

0km 3y 11m 9d Starling LE29221 First-year Male 27-03-2012 Caught by ringer 07-04-2012

Caught by ringer 18-02-2013

Caught by ringer 20-01-2015

Caught by ringer 27-03-2017

Caught by ringer 01-04-2018

253

Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 0m 11d Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 10m 22d Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 9m 24d Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 0m 0d Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 0m 5d

0y 0y 2y 5y 6y

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Caught by ringer 24-01-2019

Ipswich: 52°3’N 1°10’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 9m 28d One Dutch-ringed bird was reported in Suffolk in 2019

Blackbird LB22104 First-year Female 24-10-2010 Caught by ringer 30-12-2010

Freshly dead (cat) 30-01-2019

T9678 Adult 24-07-1932

Unknown (ring only) 17-02-2019

LH12488 Adult Female 27-10-2018

Freshly dead (hit by car) 26-01-2019

LJ90408 First-year Female 19-02-2018

Caught by ringer 03-02-2019

LC83381 Adult Male 03-11-2016

Caught by ringer 21-03-2019

SFH First-year Male 10-04-2018 A795509 Caught by ringer 17-11-2019

South Lopham: 52°23’N 0°59’E (Norfolk) South Lopham: 52°23’N 0°59’E (Norfolk) 0km 0y 2m 6d Ixworth: 52°17’N 0°48’E (Suffolk) 16km SW 8y 3m 6d Great Bealings, Woodbridge: 52°5’N 1°15’E (Suffolk) Crieff: 56°21’N 3°50’W (Perth and Kinross) 580km NNW 86y 6m 24d Amazing!

Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) Glasgow: 55°50’N 4°20’W (Glasgow) 572km NW 0y 2m 30d Kilnsea: 53°36’N 0°7’E (East Riding of Yorkshire) Melton Park, Woodbridge: 52°7’N 1°19’E (Suffolk) 184km SSE 0y 11m 15d Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) Jurmo Bird Observatory, Parainen: 59°49’N 21°36’E (Turku-Pori) Finland 1,530km NE 2y 4m 18d Tuulos: 61°10’N 24°46’E (Hame) Finland near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E (Suffolk) 1,737km WSW 1y 7m 7d Two Dutch-ringed birds were reported in the county. Suffolk-ringed birds were reported in Finland (3), Denmark (2), with sigles to Norway, Sweden and The Netherlands

Alton Water Reservoir: 51°58’N 1°8’E (Suffolk) Alton Water Reservoir: 51°58’N 1°8’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 9m 10d A report of one individual ringed on Orfordness and recorded in Portugal in 2011 was received in 2019!

Song Thrush RS31035 First-year Male 04-10-2015

Caught by ringer 14-07-2019

Robin Y898373 First-year 06-09-2012 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 20-09-2012 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 0y 0m 14d Caught by ringer 14-11-2013 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 1y 2m 8d Caught by ringer 26-06-2014 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 1y 9m 20d Caught by ringer 25-09-2014 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 2y 0m 19d Caught by ringer 31-01-2017 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 4y 4m 25d 254

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Caught by ringer 16-01-2018 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 5y 4m 10d Caught by ringer 12-03-2019 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 6y 6m 6d Caught by ringer 11-06-2019 Rushmere St Andrew: 52°4’N 1°10’E

(Suffolk) 0km 6y 9m 5d Z954903 Nestling 21-04-2018 Downham Highlodge Warren: 52°26’N

0°40’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead 22-12-2019 Landiguinoc, Plougonvelin: 48°21’N

4°42’W (Finistere) France 593km SW

1y 8m 1d BLB First-year 09-10-2017 Glabbeek, Vlaams Brabant: 50°52’N

4°55’E (Brabant) Belgium 15259075 Caught by ringer 13-10-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 277km WNW 2y 0m

4d Caught by ringer 17-10-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 277km WNW 2y 0m

8d

Additionally, a Suffolk-ringed bird

was reported in Sweden and two reports

of Dutch-ringed birds in the county were

received

Nightingale V58186 Nestling 28-05-2017 Rendlesham: 52°4’N 1°22’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 08-05-2018 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 56km WNW 0y 11m

10d Caught by ringer 07-05-2019 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 56km WNW 1y 11m

9d Caught by ringer 29-05-2019

Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 56km WNW 2y 0m

1d VZ73656 Nestling 29-05-2018 Bromeswell: c. 52°5’N 1°20’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 05-01-2019 Kartong: 13°4’N 16°46’W (Gambia)

The Gambia 4,631km SSW 0y 7m 7d Caught by ringer 07-11-2019 Kartong: 13°4’N 16°46’W

(Gambia) The Gambia 4,631km SSW

1y 5m 9d

Personally pleased with the news of

VZ73656!

House Sparrow

TP88955 Full-grown Female 05-03-2014 Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E

(Suffolk) Alive (colour rings seen) 03-05-2014 Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E

(Suffolk) 0km 0y 1m 28d Alive (colour rings seen) 17-04-2015 Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E

(Suffolk) 0km 1y 1m 12d Alive (colour rings seen) 23-04-2016 Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E

(Suffolk) 0km 2y 1m 18d Alive (colour rings seen) 08-06-2017

Alive (colour rings seen) 08-05-2019

TV23373 Juvenile Male 22-06-2014

Caught by ringer 15-11-2014

255

Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 3m 3d Haverhill (North West): c. 52°5’N 0°24’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 2m 3d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 4m 24d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Caught by ringer 07-07-2018

Caught by ringer 29-06-2019

Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 15d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 0m 7d

Tree Sparrow

S105973 Full-grown 16-10-2018 Kilnsea: 53°36’N 0°7’E (East Riding of

Yorkshire) Long dead (in nestbox) 19-04-2019 Mildenhall Fen: 52°22’N 0°26’E (Suffolk)

139km S 0y 6m 3d

It’s always sad to find such birds but a

further Suffolk-Yorkshire exchange from

this long term study site Dunnock X892567 Second-year Male 05-06-2010 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 10-06-2013 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 5d Caught by ringer 01-07-2014 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 26d Caught by ringer 21-05-2015 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 11m 16d Caught by ringer 29-05-2019 Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N

0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 11m 24d Y278303 Juvenile Male 03-09-2012 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 01-12-2012 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 2m 28d Caught by ringer 02-03-2014 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 5m 27d Caught by ringer 05-04-2015 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 7m 2d Caught by ringer 28-11-2015 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 2m 25d Caught by ringer 10-03-2018 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 6m 7d Freshly dead (hit glass) 02-05-2019 Moathill Farm, Westhorpe: 52°18’N

0°58’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 7m 29d NY54988 First-year 11-02-2017 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 12-10-2019 Calliburn Corner: 55°28’N 5°37’W (Argyll

and Bute) 571km NW 2y 8m 1d

A good long distance movement TZ28511 Full-grown 16-02-2017 Hartley Park Farm, Selborne: c. 51°6’N

0°58’W (Hampshire) Caught by ringer 22-06-2019 Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk)

234km NE 2y 4m 6d Grey Wagtail

Z856735 Nestling 04-05-2019 Lemsford: c. 51°47’N 0°13’W

(Hertfordshire) Caught by ringer 30-09-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 107km E 0y 4m 26d

Meadow Pipit

ATE8307 First-year 06-11-2018 National Trust, Dunwich Heath: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) Freshly dead 04-02-2019 Westleton: 52°15’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) 4km

0y 2m 29d

256

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Rock Pipit

NOS First-year 27-09-2017 Lista Fyr, Farsund: 58°6’N 6°34’E (Vest Agder) Norway 8E26260 Alive (colour rings seen) 07-01-2018 Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E

(Suffolk) 758km SSW 0y 3m 11d Alive (colour rings seen) 27-11-2018 Levington Lagoon: 51°59’N 1°14’E

(Suffolk) 758km SSW 1y 2m 0d Alive (colour rings seen) 19-02-2019 Levington Creek, Orwell Estuary: 52°0’N

1°15’E (Suffolk) 757km SSW 1y 4m

23d NOS First-year Male 11-09-2018 Maletangen, Fraena: 62°58’N 7°3’E

(More og Romsdal) Norway EL00418 Alive (colour rings seen) 02-02-2019 Gedgrave Marshes: 52°4’N 1°30’E

(Suffolk) 1,254km SSW 0y 4m 22d Alive (colour rings seen) 02-02-2019 Aldeburgh: 52°8’N 1°35’E (Suffolk)

1,246km SSW 0y 4m 22d

Two more excellent colour-ring read

reports. Watch out for them on Water

Pipit too - UK project to commence in

2020

Chaffinch

X114805 First-year Female 23-11-2008 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 03-03-2012 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 3y 3m 9d Caught by ringer 31-12-2014 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 6y 1m 8d Caught by ringer 13-12-2015 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 7y 0m 20d Caught by ringer 02-03-2019 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 10y 3m 7d X556631 First-year Female 28-02-2009 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 09-04-2011 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 2y 1m 12d Caught by ringer 02-10-2011 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 2y 7m 4d Caught by ringer 23-11-2013 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 4y 8m 26d Caught by ringer 30-03-2014 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 5y 1m 2d Caught by ringer 28-01-2018 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 8y 11m 0d Caught by ringer 16-02-2019 Iken Marsh, near Iken: 52°8’N 1°33’E

(Suffolk) 0km 9y 11m 19d S566724 Adult Female 29-03-2018 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Freshly dead (cat) 19-03-2019 Great Brickhill: 51°57’N 0°41’W

(Buckinghamshire) 145km W 0y 11m

18d D281948 Adult Male 02-11-2017 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 25-03-2018 Castricum: 52°31’N 4°36’E (Noord Holland) The Netherlands 234km ENE

0y 4m 23d Caught by ringer 20-03-2019 Castricum: 52°31’N 4°36’E (Noord Holland) The Netherlands 234km ENE

1y 4m 18d Caught by ringer 18-05-2019 Castricum: 52°31’N 4°36’E (Noord Holland) The Netherlands 234km ENE

1y 6m 16d 257

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Brambling ACD0927 First-year Female 30-01-2019

Caught by ringer 10-04-2019

NOS Adult Male 05-10-2018

EN00233 Caught by ringer 19-01-2019

NOS Second-year Male 15-12-2015

EH96638 Caught by ringer 22-03-2019

NOS Adult Male 23-04-2016

EJ00154 Caught by ringer 31-01-2019

NLA First-year Female 11-04-2019

V892470 Caught by ringer 11-04-2019

Dolfor, Newtown: 52°27’N 3°18’W (Powys) High Lodge, near Brandon: 52°25’N 0°43’E (Suffolk) 269km E 0y 2m 11d Tengesdalsvegen, Bjerkreim: 58°31’N 6°1’E (Rogaland) Norway Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 770km SSW 0y 3m 14d Barstadvik, Orsta: 62°22’N 6°12’E (More og Romsdal) Norway Culfordheath: c. 52°20’N 0°43’E (Suffolk) 1,162km SSW 3y 3m 7d Grimstadvatnet, Hareid: 62°22’N 6°0’E (More og Romsdal) Norway Culfordheath: c. 52°20’N 0°43’E (Suffolk) 1,159km SSW 2y 9m 7d Pingjum: 53°7’N 5°24’E (Friesland) The Netherlands Melton Park, Woodbridge: 52°8’N 1°17’E (Suffolk) 296km WSW 0y 0m 0d V892470 was recaught between 0810am so I’m guessing the quoted ringing date is inaccurate.

Bullfinch Z516057 First-year Male 19-03-2016 Caught by ringer 25-06-2016

Caught by ringer 09-09-2017

Caught by ringer 30-03-2019

Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk) Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 3m 6d Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 5m 21d Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 11d

Greenfinch TS68900 Second-year Female 09-06-2013 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 13-09-2018 Minsmere Nature Reserve: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 3m 4d Caught by ringer 09-07-2019 National Trust, Dunwich Heath: 52°14’N

1°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 1m 0d TZ21573 Juvenile Male 30-08-2015 Dunsby, Bourne: 52°49’N 0°22’W

(Lincolnshire) Caught by ringer 23-03-2019 Gate Farm Road, Shotley: 51°57’N 1°16’E

(Suffolk) 147km SE 3y 6m 21d Linnet L233360 Full-grown Female 24-04-2014 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 19-05-2018 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 0m 25d Caught by ringer 12-04-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 4y 11m 19d Caught by ringer 16-06-2019 Landguard Point, Felixstowe: 51°55’N

1°18’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 1m 23d

Redpoll

AEB1083 First-year 23-10-2017 Melton Sewage Treatment Works: 52°5’N

1°19’E (Suffolk)

258

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 Freshly dead (cold weather) 01-02-2019

NLA First-year 18-12-2017

BE95717 Caught by ringer 16-02-2019

Caught by ringer 08-03-2019

Ballymena: 54°52’N 6°18’W (Antrim, Northern Ireland) 592km NW 1y 3m 9d Surhuizum: 53°10’N 6°10’E (Friesland) The Netherlands Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 381km W 1y 1m 29d Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 381km W 1y 2m 18d

Lesser Redpoll Y969320 Adult Female 21-10-2012 Brandon Fen, Lakenheath: c. 52°26’N

0°31’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 26-01-2019 Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 7km

E 6y 3m 5d S449152 Adult Male 28-01-2017 Dunmurry: 54°32’N 6°0’W (Antrim,

Northern Ireland) Caught by ringer 08-03-2019 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) 566km ESE 2y 1m 8d S281177 First-year Male 22-10-2016 Kessingland: c. 52°24’N 1°43’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 05-06-2019 Drumla: 55°26’N 5°6’W (North Ayrshire)

560km NW 2y 7m 14d ATE9257 Adult Female 08-03-2019 Brandon: 52°27’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 28-10-2019 Hardgate: 57°6’N 2°21’W

(Aberdeenshire) 552km NNW 0y 7m

20d

Y969320 is getting close to the longevity

0record of 6y 10m 11d Goldfinch Y089370

First-year Female

02-03-2012

Caught by ringer 09-06-2019

Y558930 First-year Male 04-02-2012

Caught by ringer 10-03-2012

Caught by ringer 05-05-2013

Caught by ringer 01-11-2014

Caught by ringer 16-01-2016

Caught by ringer 23-12-2017

Caught by ringer 13-04-2019

S821531 First-year Female 02-12-2017

Caught by ringer 07-04-2019

S193911 Juvenile 10-07-2016

Caught by ringer 09-11-2019

ANE1891 First-year 15-01-2019

Caught by ringer 20-08-2019

259

Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 3m 7d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 1m 6d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 3m 1d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 2y 8m 28d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 11m 12d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 10m 19d Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 2m 9d Thorpe Street, Hinderclay: 52°21’N 0°58’E (Suffolk) Shebster: 58°33’N 3°42’W (Highland) 749km NNW 1y 4m 5d Peebles: 55°38’N 3°11’W (Scottish Borders) The Barracks, Little Livermere: c. 52°18’N 0°44’E (Suffolk) 451km SE 3y 3m 30d Newbourne (Mill Rd): c. 52°1’N 1°18’E (Suffolk) Grewelthorpe: c. 54°10’N 1°39’W (North Yorkshire) 310km NW 0y 7m 5d

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Siskin

AZF5834 First-year Male 28-03-2019 High Lodge, near Brandon: c. 52°25’N

0°39’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 24-05-2019 Berriedale, Caithness: 58°10’N 3°30’W

(Highland) 691km NNW 0y 1m 26d ATC3174 First-year Female 16-03-2018 Great Livermere: 52°18’N 0°45’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 06-04-2019 Drummond, Inverness: 57°27’N 4°13’W

(Highland) 655km NNW 1y 0m 21d ACD3010 First-year Male 29-04-2018 Drummond, Inverness: 57°27’N 4°13’W

(Highland) Caught by ringer 17-03-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk)

637km SSE 0y 10m 16d S863865 First-year Male 24-02-2019 Brandon: 52°26’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 04-05-2019 Fort Augustus: 57°7’N 4°41’W (Highland)

622km NNW 0y 2m 10d S566405 Adult Male 09-03-2018 near Hollesley Heath: 52°3’N 1°25’E

(Suffolk) Alive (ring read in field) 15-03-2019 Hilchenbach: 50°58’N 8°7’E (Arnsberg)

Germany 478km ESE 1y 0m 6d

A Suffolk-ringed bird was also reported in

Norway

Yellowhammer

L965004 First-year Male 28-03-2011 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 19-02-2012 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 10m 22d Caught by ringer 01-04-2018 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 0m 4d Freshly dead (cat) 16-06-2019 Forward Green, Earl Stonham: 52°11’N

1°3’E (Suffolk) 2km 8y 2m 19d L671460 First-year Male 28-03-2011 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 10-04-2014 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 13d Caught by ringer 17-04-2016 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 0m 20d Caught by ringer 22-03-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 11m 22d Caught by ringer 07-04-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 8y 0m 10d Y779869 First-year Female 01-04-2012 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) Caught by ringer 13-04-2013 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 1y 0m 12d Caught by ringer 05-04-2015 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 3y 0m 4d Caught by ringer 20-04-2019 Brewery Farm, Earl Stonham: c. 52°11’N

1°5’E (Suffolk) 0km 7y 0m 19d L725929 First-year Male 16-03-2012 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) Caught by ringer 14-02-2019 West Farm, Westhorpe: 52°17’N 0°58’E

(Suffolk) 0km 6y 10m 29d

Some good longevity reports from long

term farmland projects Reed Bunting Y116779 Adult Female 14-03-2012

Caught by ringer 01-03-2019

260

Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) 0km 6y 11m 15d

Selected Ringing Recoveries for Suffolk in 2019 D125622 Adult Female 16-02-2013

Caught by ringer 17-01-2019

Z003743 Adult Female 01-08-2014

Caught by ringer 04-08-2014

Caught by ringer 27-10-2019

AHF8133 Adult Female 26-11-2018

Unknown (ring only) 23-11-2019

D877245 First-year Male 09-10-2016 Caught by ringer 05-02-2019

AAA0195 Adult Female 06-01-2018 Caught by ringer 03-04-2019

261

Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: 52°17’N 0°37’E (Suffolk) Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve: c. 52°18’N 0°38’E (Suffolk) 2km 5y 11m 1d Western Farm, St James, South Elmham: 52°22’N 1°23’E (Suffolk) Western Farm, St James, South Elmham: 52°22’N 1°23’E (Suffolk) 0km 0y 0m 3d Western Farm, St James, South Elmham: 52°22’N 1°23’E (Suffolk) 0km 5y 2m 26d near Suffolk Water Park, Bramford: c. 52°5’N 1°5’E (Suffolk) Paythorne: 53°57’N 2°15’W (Lancashire) 305km NW 0y 11m 28d Orfordness: c. 52°5’N 1°34’E (Suffolk) Besthorpe Gravel Pits, Newark: 53°10’N 0°46’W (Nottinghamshire) 200km NW 2y 3m 27d Wrentham: c. 52°23’N 1°39’E (Suffolk) Rectory Farm, Tingewick: 52°0’N 1°2’W (Buckinghamshire) 189km WSW 1y 2m 28d For those who doubted studying Reed Buntings, they do move!

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Rare Birds in Suffolk 2019 Craig Fulcher and David Walsh

Accepted BBRC records 2019 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca: Minsmere RSPB, adult male, August 20th–22nd (R Harvey et al.).

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva: Breydon Water, adult, July 18th–22nd (P R Allard et al.).

Hollesley Marshes RSPB, adult, July 19th (D Fairhurst).

Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus: Minsmere RSPB, adult, June 1st (J Gearty, D Lyness, J A Rowlands et al.), presumed same Hollesley Marshes RSPB, June 1st (P R Kennerley) and Orford/Orfordness, June 1st–3rd (M C Marsh et al.).

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis: Minsmere RSPB, adult, July 10th–11th (I Barthorpe, D Baskett, P Phillips et al.).

‘Northern Long-tailed Tit’ Aegithalos caudatus caudatus: Bawdsey, six, October 31st (R L Attenborrow, A M Gregory et al.).

Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei: Felixstowe Ferry, November 9th (P J Holmes et al.).

Dunwich, November 9th (M Smith). Lowestoft, November 9th–10th (R Wilton et al. per Suffolk Recorder).

Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus: Lowestoft, male in song, April 22nd (R Wilton et al. per Suffolk Recorder). Dunwich, male in song, May 27th to June 19th (M Such et al. per Suffolk Recorder).

Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus: Orford Quay, October 13th (M L Cornish et al.).

Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides: Minsmere RSPB, male in song, April 2nd to July 10th (H Page et al.). Minsmere RSPB, male in song, April 23rd to June 29th (R Coombes, R Harvey et al.). Carlton Marshes, male in song, May 11th to June 29th (R Wilton et al. per Suffolk Recorder).

Trimley Marshes, male in song, May 16th (J Zantboer et al.).

‘Western Subalpine Warbler’ Sylvia cantillans iberiae/inornata: Orfordness, first-summer male, May 7th (D Crawshaw, M C Marsh).

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus: Hollesley Marshes RSPB, first-winter S. m. maurus, December 1st to January 5th 2020 (C Shaw et al. per Suffolk Recorder).

Siberian/Stejneger’s Stonechat Saxicola maurus/stejnegeri: Southwold, adult male, May 14th (B J Small et al.).

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis: Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, first-winter, October 25th to November 19th (P Green, P R Kennerley, T Williams et al.). Havergate Island RSPB, first-winter, November 12th to 14th (D Fairhurst, P R Kennerley et al.).

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris: Southwold, adult, April 26th (B J Small).

Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia: Minsmere RSPB, adult female, May 31st (E Huxley, J Norgate, H Page et al.).

Accepted BBRC record 2010 ‘Northern Treecreeper’ Certhia familiaris familiaris Orfordness, October 10th (D Crawshaw, M C Marsh, G Stannard).

262

Rare Birds in Suffolk

Accepted BBRC record 2005 ‘Northern Treecreeper’ Certhia familiaris familiaris Orfordness, October 15th (J Askins, D Crawshaw, M C Marsh, G Stannard).

Records found not proven 2019 BBRC: Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Orford, August 31st. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva, Minsmere RSPB, September 9th. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides, Lakenheath Fen RSPB, April 28th.

SORC: European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivoris, Benacre, May 1st; Beccles, June 29th. Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Westleton, February 22nd. Willow Tit Poecile montanus, Dunwich, March 9th.

263

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

List of Contributors Whilst every effort has been made to make this list as comprehensive as possible, some observers names may have been inadvertently omitted. If your contribution has not been acknowledged, please accept my sincere apologies. It is doubtful that all those who only submit to Birdtrack will feature here.

S Abbott, D Adelson, A Alam, P Aldous, WeBS Counters, M Amsden, N Andrews, D Apps, D Archer, R Attenborrow, R Ayers.

S Babbs, D E Balmer, T Bamber, S Banks, P Barker, I Barthorpe, D Baskett, B Baston, G Batchelor, E Bathgate, D Beamish, R Bell, S Bellfield.

R Biddle, BINS, Birdline East Anglia, Birdguides, Birdtrack (thousands), S Bishop, G Bowen, B Bradnum, W J Brame, K Brinkley, J Brown, P Brown, M Buckingham, B Buffery, R Burrough, T Butler, C A Buttle.

N Calbrade, B Calversbert, D Carr, M Carr, D & M Carter, N Carter, M Cartwright, I Castle, M Cavanagh, D Cawdron, A Chaplin, C Chapman, R Chittenden (Birdline East Anglia), T Churchyard, J Clark, R Clements, G Conway, R Coombes, M L Cornish, C Courtney, D Crawshaw, N Crouch, E Cuthbertson, L Cutting, J Cyprus.

C Darby, J Davies, R Dazley, P Dickinson, R Drew, R Duncan, G Durrant. A C Easton, D Eaton, eBird, T Edwards, R Etheridge, J Evans, S P Evans, A Excell.

A Faiers, D Fairhurst, B Falat, J Ferguson, M Ferris, R Flindall, Forest Enterprise, L Forsyth, S Fryett, C Fulcher.

J Gearty, Gipping Valley Birders, J Glazebrook, M Gooch, P Gowen , S Graham, J H Grant, A Green, P Green, A M Gregory, C Gregory, A Gretton, G Grieco.

R Hall, B Harrington, B and M Hart, R Harvey, R Hastings, C Herrington, G Higgins, J Higgott, R Hoblyn, Hollesley Wardens, S J Holloway, P J Holmes, R Holmes, P Holness, A Howe, S V Howell, T Humpage, E Huxley.

C Ireland, E D Jackson, P Jackson, C J Jakes, S Jarvis, D Jobbins, G J Jobson, R Johnson, D Jolly.

E Keeble, C Keeling, M Kemp, J Kennerley, P Kennerley, T Kerridge, A Kettle.

P C Lack, Lackford Lakes Log, Lackford Ringing Group, Landguard Bird Observatory, D Langlois, Lavenham Bird Club, Laycock, R Leavett, K Loveridge, D Lowe, G Lowe, Lowestoft Lounge Lizards, E Lucking, D Lyness.

R Mabey, P Maddison, M Marsh, N J Mason, T Mayhew, S Mayson, B S Meadows, Mickle Mere Log, A Miller, M Miller, S Minns, Minsmere RSPB, A V Moon, N J Moran, J Mountain, B Moyes, K Mudd, M Murphy, P W Murphy, A Musgrove, C Mutimer, J Myers.

A Nairn, P Napthine, National Trust Orfordness, Natural England, S Nixon, J Norgate, North Warren RSPB, M Nowers.

264

List of Contributors

N Odin, P Oldfield, Orfordness Report.

H Page, R Parfitt, E Patrick, B Pearson, D Pearsons, M F Peers, C Pett, P Phillips, D Ping, S H Piotrowski, S P Piotrowski, R Plowman, S Pochin, L Potter, A Powell, A Rafinski, J D K Rankin, P J Ransome, S Read, L Record, J Richardson, G Riley, A Riseborough, A Rivett, J Robson, J A Rowlands, RSPB Lakenheath, RSPB Minsmere, RSPB North Warren.

I Salkeld, C Shaw, P Shaw, D Sheppard, N Sherman, B J Small, M Smith, P Smith, R Smith, R Stewart, M Such, Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

M Taylor, D Thurlow, M Tickler, D Tomlinson, J Trew, Trimley Marshes SWT, D Tuckey.

D K Underwood.

K Verlander, P Vincent, N Vipond, R Vonk.

R Walden, D F Walsh, J Walshe, S Waters, Waveney Bird Club, D West, G Weyman, WeBS counters, West Suffolk Birders, D White, P Whiting, P Whittaker, P Wigens, B Williams, T Williams, B Williamson, J Williamson, P M Wilson, R Wilton, B Woodhouse, L G Woods, J Wright, M T Wright, R M Wright.

E Zantboer, J Zantboer.

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EARLIEST AND LATEST DATES OF SUMMER MIGRANTS 2019 ARRIVALS DEPARTURES Date Locality Date Locality Garganey Mar 24th Lakenheath Fen Oct 25th Minsmere Osprey Mar 23rd Havergate Island Oct 19th Alton Water Hobby Apr 10th Walberswick Oct 19th Alton Water Stone-curlew Feb 24th Brecks Oct 28th Brecks Little (Ringed) Plover Mar 21st Minsmere Oct 1st Minsmere Whimbrel Mar 22nd Lackford Lakes Oct 7th Minsmere Wood Sandpiper Apr 21st Carlton/Lakenheath Sep 14th Minsmere Little Tern Apr 22nd Landguard/Minsmere Aug 26th Benacre Black Tern Apr 19th Bamford Oct 2nd Lackford Sandwich Tern Mar 24th Minsmere Oct 21st Minsmere/Southwold/

Lowestoft Common Tern Apr 1st Landguard Oct 15th Hollesley Arctic Tern Apr 17th Snape Oct 1st Minsmere Turtle Dove Apr 20th Dunwich Sep 23rd Kessingland Cuckoo Apr 16th Five sites Sep 19th Westleton Nightjar May 9th West Stow Oct 23rd Bawdsey Swift Apr 25th Lackford Oct 6th Leavenheath Wryneck Apr 24th Orfordness Aug 29th Gunton/Alde Estuary Sand Martin Mar 1st Minsmere / Oct 26th Benacre

Snape Wetland Swallow Feb 17th Sudbourne Dec 28th Strand House Martin Mar 8th Minsmere Nov 13th Lowestoft/Dunwich Wood Warbler Apr 26th Hollesley Aug 22nd Landguard Willow Warbler Mar 21st Lakenheath Nov 3rd Trimley Marshes Garden Warbler Apr 18th Cavenham Oct 8th Lowestoft Lesser Whitethroat Apr 12th Lackford Lakes Oct 20th Orfordness Common Whitethroat Apr 8th Minsmere Oct 30th Trimley Marshes Grasshopper Warbler Apr 13th Minsmere Sep 30th Orfordness Sedge Warbler Mar 26th North Warren Oct 19th Trimley Marshes Reed Warbler Apr 6th Havergate Oct 22nd Landguard Ring Ouzel Mar 8th Martlesham Nov 15th Landguard Spotted Flycatcher May 3rd Landguard Sep 30th Bawdsey Nightingale Apr 11th Westleton Aug 31st Trimley Marshes Redstart Apr 15th Hollesley/Icklingham Oct 22nd Eastbridge Whinchat Apr 24th Southwold/Landguard Nov 19th Hollesley Wheatear Mar 19th Orfordness Nov19th Dunwich Pied Flycatcher Apr 23rd Orfordness Oct 13th Minsmere Yellow Wagtail Apr 7th Carlton Marshes Nov 19th Dunwich/Havergate

Island Tree Pipit Apr 9th The King’s Forest Oct 23rd Thorpeness

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A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk

A GUIDE TO RECORDING BIRDS IN SUFFOLK Introduction The foundation stone of any report is the data upon which it is based. Unless we all submit our records diligently, and in a usable form, then the Suffolk Bird Report will not be a comprehensive account of the birds recorded in Suffolk.

The system The recording of the county’s avifauna is the responsibility of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, working in close co-operation with the Suffolk Bird Group. The linchpins of the system are the Recorders, who are the initial point of contact for all records. Because of the volume of records in Suffolk the county has been divided into three areas. See the inside front cover for a map and addresses.

Observers are reminded that Suffolk works to Watsonian vice-county boundaries, taking in areas that are now administered as Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Essex. The most significant area affected is that of Lothingland, the northern limits of which follow the River Yare and include the south side of Breydon Water. We have retained these original boundaries as we feel that sensible comparison of data can only be made from year to year if the recording area is kept constant.

Submission of records All observers are requested to submit their records monthly. We also suggest that the following format be followed: (a) Location (precise place name from the Ordnance Survey map plus parish if ambiguous). OS grid reference should be added if in any doubt or if reporting breeding locations. (b) Species (c) Date (d) Name and address of observer (e) Sex/age – male, female, juvenile etc. (f) Abundance – count numbers, frequency, etc. (g) Type of record – dead, ringed, etc. (h) Other comments considered relevant – behaviour etc. In particular see the list below for particular information required for each species. All claims of national rarities should, of course, be accompanied by a full description. The Recorder will automatically forward this to the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC).

If submitting a list of records for one particular site, please put all details at the top of the list and annotate with sex and/or frequency. Remember, if in any doubt as to the value of any record, please send it in!

A spreadsheet is available for submitting records and can be downloaded from the SBG website.

This can be sent electronically to the Recorders and is a much easier and quicker method for them. Whilst this is not essential, we would encourage all those who can to use this method of submitting their records.

Assessment of records All records come under the scrutiny of the Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee (SORC) and for rare or scarce species, verification is sought – i.e. photographs, field sketches, witnesses, sound recordings (for calling or singing birds) and (most importantly) written descriptions. The SORC’s policy for vagrants, classified as national rarities, is clear; records should be channelled through the County Recorder to be considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), whose decisions are accepted by SORC. A full list of species that are considered by the SORC follows. The committee may also request further details regarding any other species that, in the opinion of the committee, is out of context in terms of season, habitat or numbers.

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A list of records which have not been accepted for publication can be found in Appendix III and includes those which have been circulated to the respective committees but were considered unacceptable due to either the identification not being fully established or, more rarely, a genuine mistake having been made. It does not include records still under consideration.

Guide to species The following list shows all the species recorded in the county and thus this is also a checklist for Suffolk. For any species not listed, a full description will be required. The list shows those species accepted into Categories A, B and C, as per the British Ornithologists’ Union (see the Introduction to the Systematic List for more details). Note that a large number of species included can also fall into Categories D and E (basically as escapees); a description of such a bird may be requested but will be essential if it is believed that the bird is of wild origin.

A reminder that Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit and Corn Bunting have all been moved from Category 4 to category 3 – records of all of them would be appreciated.

A reminder that Black-throated Diver and Grey Phalarope have been moved from 3 to 2, especially for those seen at sea.

SBG/SORC would also like to receive any breeding records for the following species: Kestrel, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Swift, Sand and House Martin (colonies), Mistle Thrush, Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting.

There have been a number of changes in categories from BBRC. So no longer BBRC, but records and descriptions still required by SORC, the following have moved from 1 to 2: Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-billed Diver, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Penduline Tit, Arctic Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail and Citrine Wagtail. Moving in the opposite direction from 2 to 1 are the following: Ferruginous Duck (again!), Subalpine Warbler, Ashy-headed Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, Arctic Redpoll and Rustic Bunting.

As a reminder, moving from category 3 to 2, are Golden Oriole and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (away from the Brandon/Santon Downham area).

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler, Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Cretzschmar’s Bunting have been added to the Suffolk list in 2019.

Jan Wilczur

Hoopoe 268

A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk Brent Goose - Dark-Bellied Brent Goose - Pale-Bellied Brent Goose - Black Brant Red-breasted Goose Canada Goose Barnacle Goose Snow Goose Greylag Goose Taiga Bean Goose Pink-footed Goose Tundra Bean Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Mute Swan Tundra (Bewick’s) Swan Whooper Swan Egyptian Goose Common Shelduck Ruddy Shelduck * Mandarin Duck Baikal Teal Garganey Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Eurasian Teal Green-winged Teal Red-crested Pochard Common Pochard Ferruginous Duck Ring-necked duck Tufted Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Eider King Eider Surf Scoter Velvet Scoter Common Scoter Long Tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Ruddy Duck Red-legged Partridge Grey Partridge Common Quail Common Pheasant Golden Pheasant Red-throated Diver Black-throated Diver Great Northern Diver White-billed Diver Black-browed Albatross European Storm-petrel Leach’s Storm-petrel Northern Fulmar Cory’s Shearwater

4 3 2 1 4 3 1 4 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 1 4 1 3 1 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 2 3 3 1 2 4 3 1 3 1 2 3 3 3 1 4 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 2 1 2 3 4 2

Sooty Shearwater Great Shearwater Manx Shearwater Balearic Shearwater Little Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Crested Grebe Slavonian Grebe Black-necked Grebe Black Stork White Stork Glossy Ibis Eurasian Spoonbill Eurasian Bittern American Bittern Little Bittern Black-crowned Night-heron Squacco Heron Western Cattle Egret Grey Heron Purple Heron Great Egret Little Egret Northern Gannet European Shag Great Cormorant Western Osprey European Honey Buzzard Greater Spotted Eagle Eurasian Sparrowhawk Northern Goshawk Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Pallid Harrier Montagu’s Harrier Red Kite Black Kite White-tailed Eagle Rough-legged Buzzard Common Buzzard Great Bustard Macqueen’s Bustard Little Bustard Water Rail Corncrake Little Crake Baillons Crake* Spotted Crake Western Swamphen Common Moorhen Allen’s Gallinule* Eurasian Coot Sandhill Crane Common Crane Eurasian Stone-curlew Eurasian Oystercatcher Black-winged Stilt Pied Avocet Northern Lapwing Sociable Plover European Golden Plover Pacific Golden Plover American Golden Plover 269

3 2 3 2 4 3 4 3 3 1 2 3 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 4 3 2 1 3 2 3 3 1 2 3 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 4 1 4 1 3 3 4 2 4 4 1 4 1 2

Grey Plover Common Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover Killdeer Kentish Plover Greater Sand Plover Eurasian Dotterel Whimbrel Eurasian Curlew Bar-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Great Knot Red Knot Ruff Broad-billed Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Temminck’s Stint Sanderling Dunlin Purple Sandpiper Baird’s Sandpiper Little Stint White-rumped Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Eurasian Woodcock Jack Snipe Great Snipe Common Snipe Wilson’s Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Grey Phalarope Terek Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Common Redshank Marsh Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Spotted Redshank Common Greenshank Greater Yellowlegs Cream-coloured Courser * Collared Pratincole Oriental Pratincole Black-winged Pratincole Black-legged Kittiwake Ivory Gull Sabine’s Gull Slender-billed Gull Black-headed Gull Little Gull Ross’s Gull Laughing Gull Franklin’s Gull Audouin’s Gull Mediterranean Gull Common Gull

4 4 4 1 1 1 2 4 4 3 4 4 1 4 3 1 1 3 3 3 4 3 1 3 2 2 3 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 4 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 3 4

Suffolk Bird Report 2019 Ring-billed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Iceland Gull European Herring Gull American Herring Gull Caspian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Lesser-crested Tern Sandwich Tern Little Tern Sooty Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Forster’s Tern Whiskered Tern White-winged Tern Black Tern Great Skua Pomarine Skua Artic Skua Long-tailed Skua Little Auk Common Guillemot Razorbill Black Guillemot Atlantic Puffin Pallas’s Sandgrouse * Feral Pigeon Stock Pigeon Common Wood Pigeon European Turtle Dove Oriental Turtle Dove Eurasian Collared Dove Great Spotted Cuckoo Yellow Billed Cuckoo Common Cuckoo Western Barn Owl European Scops Owl * Snowy Owl Tawny Owl Little Owl Tengmalm’s Owl* Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl European Nightjar Alpine Swift Common Swift Pallid Swift Pacific Swift European Roller Common Kingfisher European Bee-eater Eurasian Hoopoe Eurasian Wryneck Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Green Woodpecker Lesser Kestrel

2 4 3 3 4 1 3 3 4 1 1 1 4 4 1 3 4 3 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 4 4 4 3 1 4 1 1 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 3 3 3 2 4 1 1 1 3 2 3 3 2 4 4 1

Common Kestrel Red-footed Falcon Eleonora’s Falcon Merlin Eurasian Hobby Gyr Falcon Peregrine Falcon Ring-necked Parakeet Isabelline Shrike Red-backed Shrike Lesser Grey Shrike Great Grey Shrike Southern Grey Shrike Woodchat Shrike Red-eyed Vireo Eurasian Golden Oriole Eurasian Jay Eurasian Magpie Nutcracker Red-billed Chough * Western Jackdaw Rook Carrion Crow Hooded Crow Northern Raven Bohemian Waxwing Coal Tit Crested Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Eurasian Blue Tit Great Tit Eurasian Penduline Tit Bearded Reedling Woodlark Eurasian Skylark Crested Lark Shore Lark Greater Short-toed Lark Sand Martin Barn Swallow House Martin Red-rumped Swallow Cliff Swallow Cetti’s Warbler Long-tailed Tit Wood Warbler Western Bonelli’s Warbler Hume’s Leaf Warbler Yellow-browed Warbler Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Radde’s Warbler Dusky Warbler Willow Warbler Common Chiffchaff Siberian Chiffchaff Iberian Chiffchaff Two-barred Warbler Greenish Warbler Arctic Warbler Great Reed Warbler Garden Warbler Aquatic Warbler 270

4 2 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 2 4 4 1 2 4 4 4 2 3 3 4 2 3 2 4 4 2 3 4 4 1 3 2 4 4 4 2 1 3 4 3 1 1 3 2 2 2 4 4 2 1 1 2 2 1 4 2

Sedge Warbler Paddyfield Warbler Blyth’s Reed Warbler Eurasian Reed Warbler Marsh Warbler Booted Warbler Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Melodious Warbler Icterine Warbler Grasshopper Warbler River Warbler Savi’s Warbler Lanceolated Warbler Blackcap Garden Warbler Barred Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Common Whitethroat Dartford Warbler Marmora’s Warbler Spectacled Warbler Subalpine Warbler Sardinian Warbler Common Firecrest Goldcrest Eurasian Wren Eurasian Nuthatch Eurasian Treecreeper Short-toed Treecreeper Rosy Starling Common Starling White’s Thrush Ring Ouzel Common Blackbird Fieldfare Redwing Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Spotted Flycatcher European Robin Siberian Blue Robin Bluethroat Thrush Nightingale Common Nightingale Red-flanked Bluetail European Pied Flycatcher Collared Flycatcher Red-breasted Flycatcher Black Redstart Common Redstart Whinchat European Stonechat Siberian Stonechat Stejneger’s Stonechat Northern Wheatear Isabelline Wheatear Desert Wheatear Pied Wheatear White-crowned Wheatear Dipper House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Eurasian Tree Sparrow

4 1 2 4 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 4 4 3 4 4 3 1 1 1 1 3 4 4 3 3 1 2 4 1 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 1 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 3

A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk Alpine Accentor Dunnock Western Yellow Wagtail Blue-headed Wagtail Grey-headed Wagtail Black-headed Wagtail Ashy-headed Wagtail Eastern Yellow Wagtail Citrine Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail White Wagtail Richard’s Pipit Blyth’s Pipit Tawny Pipit Meadow Pipit Tree Pipit Olive-backed Pipit

1 4 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 4 3 2

Red-throated Pipit Water Pipit Rock Pipit Chaffinch Brambling Hawfinch Eurasian Bullfinch Trumpeter Finch Common Rosefinch European Greenfinch Twite Common Linnet Common Redpoll Lesser Redpoll Arctic Redpoll Parrot Crossbill Red Crossbill Two-barred Crossbill

1 3 3 4 3 3 3 1 2 4 3 4 3 3 1 2 3 1

European Goldfinch European Serin European Siskin Lapland Bunting Snow Bunting Corn Bunting Yellowhammer Pine Bunting Ortolan Bunting Cretzschmar’s Bunting Cirl Bunting Little Bunting Rustic Bunting Yellow-breasted Bunting Black-headed Bunting Reed Bunting White-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow

* not recorded as wild since at least 1949 Key: 1 National Rarity – detailed description required.

2 County Rarity – notes detailing observation will always be required.

3 All records requested – supporting notes may be requested.

4 Specific records – records of breeding, large counts, earliest/latest dates, unusual inland records or migration/weather-related movements requested.

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4 2 4 3 3 3 4 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 4 1 1

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Gazetteer This gazetteer gives locations for sites listed in the main checklist section of this issue of Suffolk Birds. The intention is to make it easier for newcomers to birdwatching, or those less familiar with the county, to be able to locate sites. Specific sites are given a six-figure reference where appropriate; larger sites are given a four-figure reference for the 1km square in which they are situated. Whilst a complete list of all sites would obviously be of most use, it would of necessity, be very long. Therefore, it does not, in general, contain parish names, which are easily located by reference to a standard road map.

Aldeburgh Town Marshes Alde Estuary Aldringham Common Aldringham Walks Alton Water Ampton Water Barham Pits Barnhamcross Common Barsham Marshes Barton Mere Bawdsey Marshes Belle Vue Gardens, Lowestoft Benacre Broad Benacre Pits Bentley Berner’s Heath Blundeston Marshes Blyth Estuary Botany Bay Bowbeck Boxford Boyton Marshes Brackenbury Cliff, Felixstowe Brent Eleigh Breydon Water Bromeswell Carlton Marshes Campsea Ashe Castle Marshes Cattawade Marshes Cavenham Heath Cavenham Pits Christchurch Park, Ipswich Cobbold’s Point Combs Lane Water Meadows Cornard Mere Corton railway line Corton sewage works Cosford Hall, Hadleigh Cove Bottom Covehithe Broad Deben Estuary Dingle Marshes Dunwich Heath Eastbridge East Lane, Bawdsey Easton Broad Elveden Erwarton Bay

TM450560 TM3957-4450 TM458606 TM4661 TM1436 TL8770 TM1251 TL8681 TM4090 TL910668 TM340390 TM550944 TM530828 TM535842 TM120385 TL7976 TM5095 TM4575-4776 TL675854 TL9475 TL9640 TM3946 TM322360 TL943480 TM4706-5107 TM3050 TM4991 TM3256 TM475915 TM0932 TL755725 TL763715 TM164454 TM315349 TM043581 TL887391 TM537579 TM539982 TM013446 TM4979 TM524808 TM2850-3238 TM4872 TM4768 TM452660 TM354401 TM518794 TL8279 TM2333

Euston Lake/Park Fagbury Cliff Falkenham Marshes Felixstowe Ferry Fisher Row Flixton GP Foxhole Heath Fressingfield Fritton Decoy/Lake Frostenden Leiston Abbey Levington Creek Levington Marina Lineage Wood, Lavenham Livermere Lake Long Melford churchyard Long Melford sewage works Loompit Lake Lound Waterworks Lowestoft Harbour Market Weston Fen Martlesham Creek Mayday Farm Mickle Mere Middleton Minsmere Minsmere Levels Mutford Needham Market Lake Ness Point North Denes, Lowestoft Northfield Wood North Warren Nowton Park Nunnery Lakes Old Newton Olley’s Farm Orfordness Orwell Bridge Orwell Estuary Outney Common, Bungay Oulton Broad Oxley Marshes Pakefield Beach Pakenham Fen Peewit Hill Pipps Ford Potter’s Bridge Puttockshill 272

TL9079 TM270346 TM3138 TM3237 TM507927 TM3187 TL735776 TM260775 TM4800 TM4781 TM444643 TM237383 TM246380 TM890485 TL882716 TL868468 TL855459 TM255377 TG501007 TM5592 TL980787 TM2647 TL7983 TL937699 TM4267 TM4766 TM4667 TM4988 TM094548 TM555936 TM551951 TM024600 TM4658 TL866615 TL872815 TM0562 TL824815 TM4654-3743 TM175413 TM1641-2534 TM3290 TM5192 TM370435 TM5389 TL930680 TM289338 TM108538 TM509791 TL898695

Gazetteer Ramsey Wood Ramsholt Marshes Redgrave and Lopham Fen Redgrave Lake Reydon Marshes Santon Downham Sedge Fen, Lakenheath Shelley Shingle Street Shotley Marshes Shottisham Creek Sizewell Beach Sizewell SWT Slaughden Snape Wetland Sole Bay Sotterley Park Southwold Boating Lake Southwold Town Marshes Spinny Marsh Gedgrave Marshes Gifford’s Hall Gipping Great Wood Glemsford Groton Gunton Warren Hardwick Heath Hare’s Creek, Shotley Haughley Park Havergate Island Hazlewood Marshes Hengrave Hall Hen Reedbeds Herringfleet Marshes Herringswell Hinderclay Fen Holbrook Bay Hollesley Marshes Holywells Park, Ipswich Homersfield Gravel Pits Icklingham Plains Ilketshall St Lawrence Ipswich Golf Course Ipswich Wet Dock Kedington Kentwell Hall, Long Melford Kessingland Levels Kessingland sewage works King’s Fleet King’s Forest, The Kirton Creek Knettishall Heath Lackford Lakes Lake Lothing Lakenheath Fen Lakenheath Warren Lakenheath Washes Landguard Lavenham railway walk Layham pits Leathes Ham Staverton Thicks Sternfield

TM065430 TM298423 TM046797 TM055767 TM485766 TL818878 TL6784 TM0338 TM365425 TM248350 TM3043 TM4763 TM460640 TM464555 TM385585 TM5177 TM460850 TM510769 TM500754 TM292428 TM410480 TM0137 TM075625 TL8348 TL9642 TM5495 TL854625 TM244360 TM000620 TM4147 TM435573 TL824686 TM470770 TM468977 TL7169 TM025788 TM1733 TM375450 TM175435 TM287855 TL7573 TM3883 TM207433 TM169439 TL7046 TL863479 TM530850 TM533857 TM310379 TL8173 TM292417 TL952804 TL800710 TM5392 TL7085 TL7580 TL7085 TM2831 TL9049 TM021402 TM530933 TM3650 TM3961

Stonham Aspal Stour Estuary Stradishall Airfield Stratton Hall Stutton Mill Sudbourne Marshes Suffolk Water Park Sutton Common Sutton Heath Tangham Temple Bridge, Cavenham Theberton Grange Thetford Heath Thorington Street Reservoir Thorpeness Common Thorpeness Meare Tinker’s Marshes Trimley Marshes Trinity Hall Farm, Moulton Tuddenham Heath Tuddenham St Martin Ufford Undley Upper Abbey Farm, Leiston Walberswick NNR Waldingfield airfield Waldringfield Pit Walpole Wangford Warren Westleton Heath West Stow Country Park Westwood Lodge Westwood Marshes Wetherden Weybread GPs Wherstead Strand Wilford Bridge Wolves Wood Wordwell Workhouse Green

Island Mere, Minsmere 273

TM1359 TM1032-2433 TL7452 TM254388 TM133330 TM4553 TM120485 TM3247 TM308478 TM355485 TL758728 TM438652 TL845800 TM012352 TM475604 TM4659 TM484760 TM2635 TL693651 TL7472 TM1948 TM300525 TL6981 TM453646 TM4674 TL8943 TM274438 TM3674 TL758842 TM4569 TL800713 TM465737 TM4773 TM0062 TM2481 TM173408 TM291501 TM055440 TL828720 TL9037

Richard Allen

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Alphabetical Index of Species Accounts – Common Names Alpine Swift American Bittern American Golden Plover American Wigeon Arctic Redpoll Arctic Skua Arctic Tern Avocet Baird’s Sandpiper Balearic Shearwater Barn Owl Barnacle Goose Barred Warbler Bar-tailed Godwit Bean Goose Bearded Tit Bee-eater Bewick’s Swan Bittern Black-browed Albatross Black Kite Black Redstart Black Stork Black Tern Black-throated Diver Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed Gull Black-necked Grebe Black-tailed Godwit Black-winged Stilt Bluethroat Blue Tit Blue-winged Teal Blyth’s Reed Warbler Brambling Brent Goose Buff-breasted Sandpiper Bullfinch Buzzard Canada Goose Carrion Crow Caspian Gull Cattle Egret Cetti’s Warbler Chaffinch Chiffchaff Citrine Wagtail Coal Tit Collared Dove Crossbill Common Crane Common Gull Common Rosefinch

150 98 138 140 113 95 146 68 183 123 70 164 150 72 98 107 141 91 191 182 130 96 122 113 195 163 211 65 212 103 67 160 136 98 170 210 176 162 146 215 111 133 212

Common Sandpiper Common Scoter Common Tern Coot Cormorant Corn Bunting Corncrake Cory’s Shearwater Crossbill Cuckoo Curlew Curlew Sandpiper Dartford Warbler Desert Wheatear Dipper Dotterel Dunlin Dunnock Dusky Warbler Eider Egyptian Goose Feral Pigeon Ferruginous Duck Fieldfare Firecrest Fulmar Gadwall Gannet Garden Warbler Garganey Glaucous Gull Glossy Ibis Goldcrest Golden Pheasant Golden Oriole Golden Plover Goldeneye Goldfinch Goosander Goshawk Grasshopper Warbler Great Black-backed Gull Great-crested Grebe Great Egret Greater Yellowlegs Great Grey Shrike Great Northern Diver Great Reed Warbler Great Skua Great Snipe Great-spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Green Sandpiper Green-winged Teal 274

125 85 140 110 101 217 146 124 119 185 204 117 120 205 175 84 74 144 83 191 187 93 78 101 183 76 134 97 187 90 158 115 87 215 87 104 181 134 96 99 157 92 137 152 163 125 82

Green Woodpecker 152 Greenfinch 212 Greenish Warbler 178 Greenshank 126 Grey Heron 99 Grey Partridge 89 Grey Phalarope 129 Grey Plover 115 Grey Wagtail 206 Greylag Goose 68 Gull-billed Tern Guillemot 142 Hawfinch 211 Hen Harrier 105 Herring Gull 135 Hobby 155 Honey Buzzard 103 Hooded Crow 160 Hoopoe 151 House Martin 168 House Sparrow 204 Hume’s Warbler 173 Iceland Gull 134 Icterine Warbler 181 Isabelline Shrike Jack Snipe 129 Jackdaw 159 Jay 158 Kentish Plover 117 Kestrel 153 Kingfisher 150 Kittiwake 130 Knot 117 Lapland Longspur 217 Lapwing 114 Leach’s Petrel 93 Lesser Black-backed Gull 137 Lesser Grey Shrike Lesser Redpoll 214 Lesser Scaup Lesser-spotted Woodpecker 151 Lesser White-front 220 Lesser Whitethroat 184 Lesser Yellowlegs Linnet 213 Little Auk 144 Little Bittern Little Bunting 218 Little Crake Little Egret 100 Little Grebe 95 Little Gull Little Owl 148 Little (Ringed) Plover 117

Index of Species Little Stint Little Tern Long-billed Dowitcher Long-eared Owl Long-tailed Duck Long-tailed Skua Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Mandarin Duck Manx Shearwater Marsh Harrier Marsh Sandpiper Marsh Tit Marsh Warbler Meadow Pipit Mealy Redpoll Mediterranean Gull Melodious Warbler Merlin Mistle Thrush Montagu’s Harrier Moorhen Mute Swan Night Heron Nightingale Nightjar Nuthatch Olive-backed Pipit Ortolan Bunting Osprey Oystercatcher Pacific Golden Plover Pallas’s Warbler Pallid Harrier Pallid Swift Pectoral Sandpiper Penduline Tit Peregrine Pheasant Pied Flycatcher Pied Wagtail Pink-foot Pintail Pochard Pomarine Skua Puffin Purple Heron Purple Sandpiper Quail Radde’s Warbler Raven Razorbill Red Kite Red-backed Shrike Red-breasted Flycatcher Red-breasted Goose

118 139 148 86 139 171 159 80 75 94 104 128 162 181 208 132 154 193 106 110 71 195 149 188 102 113 115 174 119 164 156 90 196 207 69 80 83 138 144 99 120 90 175 161 143 107 157 197 220

Red-breasted Merganser Red-crested Pochard Red-flanked Bluetail Red-footed Falcon Red-legged Partridge Red-necked Grebe Red-necked Phalarope Red-rumped Swallow Redshank Redstart Red-throated Diver Red-throated Pipit Redwing Reed Bunting Reed Warbler Richard’s Pipit Ring Ouzel Ring-billed Gull Ringed Plover Ring-necked Duck Robin Rock Pipit Roller Rook Roseate Tern Rose-ringed Parakeet Rosy Starling Rough-legged Buzzard Ruddy Duck Ruddy Shelduck Ruff Rustic Bunting Sabine’s Gull Sand Martin Sanderling Sandwich Tern Savi’s Warbler Scaup Sedge Warbler Semipalmated Sandpiper Serin Shag Shelduck Shore Lark Short-eared Owl Short-toed Lark Shoveler Siskin Skylark Slavonian Grebe Smew Snipe Snow Bunting Snow Goose Song Thrush Sooty Shearwater Sparrowhawk 275

88 82 154 88 95 129 169 127 198 91 193 218 179 190 116 194 210 159 140 157 190 108 221 122 130 167 118 139 182 84 179 216 101 75 166 148 77 216 165 96 87 129 217 220 192 94 103

Spoonbill Spotted Crake Spotted Flycatcher Spotted Redshank Starling Stock Dove Stonechat Stone-curlew Storm Petrel Subalpine Warbler Surf Scoter Swallow Swift Tawny Owl Tawny Pipit Teal Temminck’s Stint Tree Pipit Tree Sparrow Treecreeper Tufted Duck Turnstone Turtle Dove Twite Water Pipit Water Rail Waxwing Wheatear Whimbrel Whinchat Whiskered Tern White-fronted Goose White Stork White-rumped Sandpiper White-tailed Eagle Whitethroat White Wagtail White-winged (Black) Tern Whooper Swan Wigeon Willow Tit Willow Warbler Woodchat Shrike Wood Lark Wood Sandpiper Wood Warbler Woodcock Woodpigeon Wren Wryneck Yellowhammer Yellow-browed Warbler Yellow-legged Gull Yellow Wagtail

97 110 194 126 189 144 200 112 93 187 167 149 147 208 81 119 208 204 189 84 128 146 213 209 109 161 202 124 199 70 97 108 185 207 141 72 79 163 175 158 164 127 173 129 145 189 151 218 174 136 205

Suffolk Bird Report 2019

Suffolk Bird Group Who we are  Founded in 1973 by a group of Suffolk birdwatchers  Associated with the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society  SBG remains an independent birding group and is a registered charity

Protecting Birds

What we do

 Actively lobbies to protect key Suffolk habitats

Networking  A voice for Suffolk birdwatchers

 Provides a county-wide field force of bird surveyors

 With established links to many naturalist and conservation organisations

 Promotes BTO bird surveys and organises special SBG surveys

Media

 Assists with conservation projects to improve breeding success

 Strong web presence - www.suffolkbirdgroup.org  Active Twitter feed - @suffolkbirds1

- Swifts

 Quarterly magazine - The Harrier

- Barn Owls

 Annual review - Suffolk Birds report

- Peregrines - Waders

Trips and talks

 Partners with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and other bird groups

 Annually (20+) field trips - ideal for novices or experts and young or old alike

 Assists with funding for bird hides and other birding amenities

 Opportunities to visit hot spots and receive practical ID tips in the field

 Contributes to community events, including dawn chorus walks

 Programme of talks and presentations - variety of topics (county, national, or international) with quality speakers

 Provides bursaries for special projects

Suffolk Bird Group

For birds & for birders SBG Registered Charity No. 801446

Join as at:

www.suffolkbirdgroup.org 276

Founded in 1929 by Claude Morley (1874–1951), the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society pioneered the study and recording of the County’s flora, fauna and geology, to promote a wider interest in natural history.

Recording the natural history of Suffolk is still one of the Society’s primary objects, and members’ observations are fed to a network of specialist recorders for possible publication, and deposited in the Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service.

Suffolk Natural History, a review of the County’s wildlife, and Suffolk Birds, the County bird report, are two high quality annual publications issued free to members. The Society also publishes a quarterly newsletter and holds two Members’ evenings a year in Spring and Autumn.

The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society offers a joint membership with the Suffolk Bird Group at a reduced subscription. This entitles joint members to receive literature and attend the meetings of both organisations.

If you are not yet a member of the Society but would like to join visit www.sns.org.uk

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:

Individual Family/Household Corporate Student

SNS £15 £17 £17 £10

Joint membership SNS/SBG £30 £35 £18

Page Editorial: Nick Mason .................................................................................................................................... 5 Weather in a changing climate: Edward Jackson ......................................................................................... 8 Review of national and county rarities in Suffolk in 2019: Craig Fulcher .................................................. 14 Spoonbills on Havergate Island: Aaron Howe, David Fairhurst, Lyndsey Record........................................ 19 Nocturnal Migration: Phil Whittaker .......................................................................................................... 23 Caspian Gull at Minsmere: John Grant ....................................................................................................... 29 Caspian Gulls in the west of Suffolk: Dawn Balmer, Peter Wilson.............................................................. 30 Notes on the changing status of Great Black-backed Gulls in Suffolk: Ed Keeble...................................... 32 The breeding ecology of Breckland Tree Pipits: Niall H K Burton............................................................... 36 When do birds sing during spring: Peter Lack ............................................................................................ 40

SUFFOLK BIRDS 2019

CONTENTS

Two-barred (Greenish Warbler) at Orford, a first for Suffolk: Mark Cornish............................................. 47 Cretzschmar’s Bunting at Minsmere: Henry Page...................................................................................... 52 Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Dingle Marshes and Corporation Marshes, Dunwich: Paul Green, Tom Williams, Peter Kennerley............................................................................................................................................ 55 Siberian Stonechat at Hollesley Marshes: Craig Shaw............................................................................... 61 The 2019 Suffolk Bird Report Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 63 Systematic List......................................................................................................................................... 65 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 220 Suffolk Ringing Report 2019: Simon Evans........................................................................................... 224 Rare Birds in Suffolk 2019: David Walsh................................................................................................... 262 List of Contributors ............................................................................................................................... 264 Earliest and Latest Dates of Summer Migrants ..................................................................................... 266 A Guide to Recording Birds in Suffolk ................................................................................................... 267 Gazetteer .............................................................................................................................................. 272 Index of species: ....................................................................................................................................... 274

Vol. 69

£10.00