Eddie Marsh
December had fifteen totally dry days; 16 had some rain – 14 no more than 1mm – and only two days had any substantial rain, with 11mm on the 10th and 6mm on the 11th. It was not a particularly cold month: ten days were 10°C or above; the highest being 13°C on the 8 th and 9th – and Christmas Day was 12°C. Only eight days/ nights recorded temperatures of 0°C or below, the coldest night of which was the 30th at -3°C. The month’s average high was 6°C and low was 3°C. First, an interesting addition to last time’s review. A Moorhen appeared on the River Deben in Woodbridge after a WeBS count on the 13th November 2016 that was carried out by Laurence Potter and Robert Johnson. Bearing a Green Ring AE32 on its right leg and metal one on its left, it was on the pontoons between the Kingston end and Woodbridge Quay. Enquiries to Dave Fairhurst, who knows of many ringing schemes, produced a link that I passed on to Laurence. Dave in turn made contact with Carsten Lome, who was running this scheme near Oslo in Norway. The Moorhen had been ringed as a breeding bird near Oslo in July 2016 and last seen in Norway on the 11th of October 2016. Interestingly its partner also bears a coloured ring and also migrated, but went to the north over a large mountain range to Bergen where it has been seen and recorded. It will be interesting to see if they return and breed in 2017 – what a find and what a fantastic migration record! A Black-throated Diver was seen sitting on the sea at Slaughden on the 13th followed by a Great Northern Diver on the 24th and another at Holbrook Bay on the 27th.
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THE HAR R I ER – S p ring 2 0 1 7
Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebes were seen in ones, twos and threes at locations including Stutton Ness, Holbrook Bay, Alton Water, Stoke Bridge Sailing Club, Freston, off Slaughden and Hazelwood Marshes throughout the month and a Black-necked Grebe on Alton Water on and off from the 4th to the end of the month. A juvenile Shag was seen at Stutton Ness on the 3rd only.
Photo: Chris Courtney
December 2016
Photo: Barry Woodhouse
Winter Bird Review
Black-necked Grebe Spoonbill sightings came from Boyton RSPB Reserve on the 5th, then four on the 20th and four on the Butley River on the 29th. Sightings of Great White Egret continued and were still evident throughout the county during the December period, with Dunwich having a good share. The faithful Cattle Egret remained at Sandy Lane, Iken all month and another was at Rodwell Dairy, Baylham on the 24th where two were found on the 26th, 28th and 29th.
