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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 18, Part 1
( W H P ) and Walberswick 29th Dec. (JCE). Finally, there were two together at Fritton 20th Mar. (SOG). Rough-legged Buzzard. — A slightly better year with singles at Walberswick on 12th Feb. (SOG), 28th Oct. (SJB) and 28th Dec. ( R J W ) . O t h e r individuals seen at Dunwich 16th Mar. (SP) and Minsmere late Dec. (RSPB) almost certainly refer to the Walberswick birds. Two together were reported from B e r n e r ' s Heath/Elveden between Feb. and 19th Mar. (CBC). A n o t h e r was present at Iken in Feb. (SOG). Osprey.— Singles were observed at several coastal sites from Mar. to Sept. Ö n e seen at Covehithe on 23rd July was in moult ( R S B ) . Two together were at Bromeswell on 9th April, and one spent several days in April/May at Lound (SOG). Kestrel. — Breeding numbers apparently high only in the coastal beit, the Waveney and Stour Valleys, and the Breck. O n e stooped with a repeated lack of success at a pipistrelle bat at Härtest on 26th Oct. (WHP). Another individual was observed robbing gulls of their food at Lowestoft on 5th Mar. ( S O G ) . A female ringed at Walberswick on 14th Aug. 1977 was f o u n d weak and bedraggled after a storm at Honington, Norfolk, on 20th May. It was released next day but discovered dead in a church belfry in the same village on 25th June (DBC). Red-footed Falcon. — A tirst summer male was present at Walberswick from 27th June until 3rd July (CSW etal). Merlin. — T h e r e were many records of this species from coastal sites particularly Walberswick, Minsmere and Havergate. Inland one at Lakenheath during Feb. and Mar. Hobby. — R e p o r t e d from several coastal localities from late April through May and June. One pair bred in the county which is the first for over 40 years. Remarkably one and possibly another were seen near Ipswich on 11 th Nov. (BT). Quail. — There were two possible breeding records with males calling in midsummer at two sites. O n e was seen at M a r t l e s h a m on the unusual date of 24th Feb. (SJB). A wintering quail was seen at Benacre in 1970. — E D .