Introduction

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

Ducks

Gi Grieco

Larks, hirundines Nick Mason

Andrew Green Warblers, inc. Long-t Tit Peter Kennerley

Game birds, grebes to Crane John Davies Waxwing, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Starling, Richard Attenborrow

Divers and Shearwaters Chris Courtney 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 Paul Gowen

Skuas to gulls James Wright finches, buntings

Terns to auks

Brian Buffery

Pigeons to woodpeckers Darren Underwood Appendices

Shrikes, corvids, crests, tits Phil Whittaker

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.

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.