A review of Suffolk ornithology 1982

A R E V I E W O F S U F F O L K O R N I T H O L O G Y - 1982 D . R . MOORE Suffolk is well known for the wealth of its birdlife and 1982 was by no means disappointing for birdwatchers.

Winter Birds For some years it has been apparent that many divers flock off our coast, possibly to take advantage of sprat migrations. This year numbers were higher than usual with a maximum of 352 off Dunwich in late December.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a total of 17 Black-throated and 6 Great Northern Divers were reported throughout the year.

Whooper Swans and Bean Geese were more numerous than in recent years and a Black Brant was observed at Boyton in early January. In fact at this time it was possible to see all three races of the Brent Goose on the same meadow.

Several Rough-legged Buzzards were located, including 4 in the Brecks in January/February and a Single Peregrine was reported from the coast.

Avocets continued their recent habit of wintering with at least 100 in the Butley/Orford area. Three Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank also spent the colder months in Suffolk rather than migrate to warmer climes and, surprisingly, an Arctic Tern was watched at Benacre in December.

Other winter birds of note were Iceland Gulls (2), Little Auks (4), Puffins (2), Waxwings (5), Great Grey Shrikes (8) but only 5 Shore Larks and 10 Hooded Crows. The latter two species have become scarce in recent years.

Fourteen Blackcaps and 10 Chiffchaffs were found in the winter months.

This is now a regulär occurrence.

In early November there was an enormous movement of wildfowl, including at least 20,000 Brent Geese and 150 Little Gulls on the 5th.

Breeding Species There were mixed fortunes for our scarcer breeding birds. Most encouraging was the continued increase of Great Crested Grebes. At least 114 pairs were located, of which 65 pairs were at Alton Water. Tragically, Bittern numbers crashed by about one half and only 10 pairs are thought to have nested. Seven pairs of Garganey were found and 10 pairs of Pochard. Of the raptors, at least 9 nests of Marsh Harriers were reported, 3 pairs of Hobby and a pair or two of Goshawks continued to try to get established despite the attentions of egg-collectors.

Wading species were well represented and included 161 pairs of Avocets, 20 pairs of Stone Curlews, 12 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, 4 pairs of Blacktailed Godwits, 12 pairs of Curlew and possibly a pair or two of Ruffs.

The Lowestoft Kittiwakes continued to thrive and 77 pairs reared 92 young. Sandwich Terns continue to decline but there were 166 pairs of

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Common Terns and an increase to 137 pairs of Little Terns; the latter included 66 pairs in the fenced-off area at Minsmere.

Nightjars were estimated at 100 pairs, Woodlarks continued to increase but only 4 pairs of Whinchats were located. Only one pair of Savis Warbiers were reported but Cettis Warbiers increased to 23 territories. Firecrests were proved to have bred for the first time, but Bearded Tit numbers were down, probably as a result of the severe freeze of late 1981. Golden Orioles nested again in good numbers and it was good to hear of a pair at a new site. Alas, Red-backed Shrikes are now almost gone; only 4 pairs were proved to have nested.

Of the introduced species of wildfowl, 4 pairs of Egyptian Geese bred and a pair of Ruddy Ducks were present at Minsmere all summer. Ah indication of the success of Canada Geese was a record post-breeding flock of cl400 at Livermere in late August.

Vagrants and Migrants As usual, Suffolk produced more than its fair share of rarities, including one or two surprises. The biggest surprise was undoubtedly an immature Whitecrowned Black Wheatear at Kessingland in early June. This was an unprecedented occurrence and, if acceptable, a 'first' for Britain and only the fifth for Europe. This species does not nest nearer than North Africa.

Another welcome visitor was a White-tailed Sea Eagle which frequented an area from Minsmere to Snape in late January. A Red-throated Pipit at Trimley was a 'first' for Suffolk, as was a Western Sandpiper at Felixstowe Ferry. The latter caused some identification problems, but the majority of observers considered it a Western Sandpiper. Another controversy involves a bunting found at Sizewell in April. It still has not been identified satisfactorily, although it has been tentatively claimed as a peculiarly-plumaged Pine Bunting. We await developments with interest.

Other national rarities reported were: Little Egret, Purple Herons (3), White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Caspian Tern, Alpine Swift, Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit and Scarlet Rosefinch.

Other scarce migrants noted were: Great Shearwater (first authentic Suffolk record), Manx Shearwaters (15), Storm Petrels (2), Leach's Petrels (2), Spoonbills (4), Red-crested Pochards (8), Honey Buzzard (2), Red Kites (6), Montagu's Harriers (3), Ospreys (6), Corncrakes (3), Kentish Plovers (7), Temminck's Stints (8), Pectoral Sandpipers (3), Red-necked Phalarope, Grey Phalaropes (6), Pomarine Skuas (3), Long-tailed Skua, Roseate Terns (3), H o o p o e , Wrynecks (6), Red-spotted Bluethroats (2), Icterine Warbiers (4), Melodious Warbiers (3), Wood Warbiers (7) and Firecrests (20).

Another truly magnificent year for Suffolk ornithologists.

D. R. Moore, M . B . O . U . , Crosslands, Cage Lane, B O X T E D , Colchester, Essex.

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