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