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BIRD REPORT
There were records of four Shearwaters—an exceptional number for Suffolk. Unfortunately, none could be specifically identified, although the evidence in one case points very strongly to the bird being a Sooty Shearwater. Few Gannets were seen inshore this year, and another species unusually scarce in the autumn was Hen Harrier, of which there were records of only two birds, in fact there were as many Buzzards as Hen Harriers seen. A single Hobby was seen at Minsmere, and, two days later, at Walberswick. T h e only Hoopoe of the autumn occurred in West Suffolk. Amongst the waders were records of three or four Temminck's Stints and a Dotterel. A Medierranean Gull was seen at Benacre on October 12th, and was at Pakefield on the 18th, where it was still present at the end of the year. This is the third successive year that the species has wintered at Pakefield, and the Lowestoft Field Club suggest it is the same bird each year : if that is the case it is possibly a disoriented bird which perhaps spends the Summer with a breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls, as has happened at Havergate and in Holland. Dßring the autumn there were some notable passage movements. In the early part of September, easterly winds strong at times, caused a considerable drift, mainly of Pied Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, Wheatears, Whinchats, Redstarts, and unusual numbers of Wrynecks. Several birds of the latter species were recorded at a number of points on the coast, and two were even found run-over on the road ; as Wrynecks are so very inconspicuous there must have been many more present than were seen. The movement brought forth no records of uncommon species, apart from a Barred Warbier at Felixstowe. On October 18th a very large influx of Blackbirds occurred, and about 500 were estimated to be present in the Walberswick area alone ; they were also reported as numerous at Southwold and in the Lowestoft area ; a further influx occurred on the 19th. At Herringfleet a great influx of thrushes began at dusk and continued all through the night of the 18th, and at daybreak the whole area was alive with Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfares, Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes, numerically in that order. By 0900 hours they were already moving away inland. On October 23rd the Lowestoft Field Club recorded at Pakefield the most spectacular coastal movement they had seen in the area. T o quote from their Report . . . " T h e weather was dull and misty with a light north wind. About 1130 hours it was seen that a number of flocks of small birds were passing northwards over Pakefield. Later, seen from the cliff-edge, it was obvious that a very heavy migration was in progress. A steady stream of