Forthcoming SOG Rookery Survey

in which we can have a lot of confidence. With more unobtrusive species, there is an unknown section of the population that is always ‘missed’, and this may possibly increase as the range becomes more fragmented and unpredictable. Conversely, as species become rarer, reporting rates may also rise!

It is interesting to review the records of Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers submitted to Suffolk Birds for the last ten seasons, and to group them into geographic ‘clumps’ of records (hopefully this is not too arbitrary). That way the apparent ‘refuges’ of this attractive little bird become more apparent. Birds that ‘disappear’ from some of these broad localities for several years and then ‘reappear’ may have been there all along – though perhaps at another wood just down the road! It is also worth bearing in mind that a number of the clusters are along county boundaries and it is possible that records for ‘missing’ years may be found over the border. Populations appear to persist on both sides of the Orwell Estuary, and in the Stour Valley area west of the A12. It is possible that a pair or two may be hanging on in the Woodbridge area, around Snape and in parts of the Waveney Valley, but there have been no records from the Gipping Valley for five years. In the west of the county, populations remain around Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds, Lakenheath and Santon Downham. My personal guess is that we still have between 10 and 20 pairs living in the County. Hopefully! (Some readers may find Steve’s assessment a little optimistic, but let’s hope it inspires other observers to search diligently for this enigmatic species. If any individuals are found, records should be submitted to the relevant area recorder, of course. Comments on the status of this species would be welcome too – write in to The Harrier to let other members know what you think – Eds)

As this Harrier is being published just before the start of the forthcoming SOG Rookery Survey in April, this is a plea for members to participate in the project. A recording form could be found in the last edition of The Harrier and further downloadable forms, along with details about the survey, are on the SOG website - http://www.sogonline.org.uk/sog-rookerysurvey-2015/ Some volunteers have already earmarked areas they wish to survey, including Newmarket, Haughley, Bucklesham, Martlesham and the square bounded by Yoxford, Westleton, Leiston and Saxmundham.

Photo: John Evans