BINS Round-Up Lee Woods:Well I am sad to say that this December round up is my last at this present time for the SOG Harrier. As of January 2016 I am handing over to Eddie Marsh who is known to many of you. I am sure he will do a great job.
December 2015 – Lee Woods The continuous mild and rather damp conditions meant that there wasn’t any real movement of hard winter birds from the continent; however, there was still plenty on offer throughout the final month of the year.
Photo: Barry Woodhouse
Red-necked Grebe
Photo: Ian Goodall
A Red-necked Grebe took up residence on Alton Water and remained all month, best viewed from either Larchwood or the sailing club. A Great Grey Shrike was at Santon Downham 1st-4th. Up to four Slavonian Grebes were on the Stour Estuary throughout the month and a single Slavonian Grebe was present on Slavonian Grebe Covehithe Broad and often showed well from 12th to the month’s end.
THE HAR R I ER – S p ring 2 0 1 6
Photo: Stephen Whayman
Great White Egret
Still no real numbers of Waxwings noted; just the single bird remaining at The Drive, Reydon 1st-4th then two birds present there 14th to 18th, two birds still at Santon Downham until 2nd, one bird in the cemetery in Bury St Edmunds 4th and finally five birds along Millennium Way, Lowestoft 17th.
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The Gull roost on the scrape throughout the month was pretty impressive and up to nine Caspian Gulls were logged, along with several Yellow-legged Gulls. A 1st winter/juvenile Glaucous Gull was found on the scrape on the 8th and remained all month commuting between here and nearby Sizewell rigs until the month’s end and then a 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was found on the scrape on the 13th.
A Great White Egret was seen intermittently at Hen Reedbeds and Dunwich shorepools throughout the month. Two were seen at RSPB Lakenheath Fen on the 16th and finally one was seen briefly on Kingston Marshes, Woodbridge on the 18th before flying down the Deben estuary. A probable Cattle Egret was seen briefly on the Alde Estuary at Iken 5th only; nearby four Spoonbill were occasionally seen at SWT Hazlewood Marshes throughout the month and they often wandered to RSPB North Warren. The discovery of a Hoopoe, normally regarded as a spring migrant, on the 5th was a pleasant surprise. It remained until the 6th frequenting the bowling green at Southolt (West of Worlingworth). Great Northern Divers were noted at Lowestoft (Lake Lothing) from 7th until the month’s end with two there on 9th, then initially one bird on the 11th and then two birds 12th to 23rd on the Orwell Estuary (Wherstead Strand), three birds on the 24th, then just one bird from the 24th to 31st, singles
