A BRIEF REVIEW OF SUFFOLK ORNITHOLOGY IN 1981 D . R . MOORE
Rare and Uncommon Species 1981 will probably be r e m e m b e r e d by many for the great variety of rarities which occurred. In all, seventeen species of National rarity status were recorded, including three which were not only potential 'firsts' for Suffolk but also for the British Isles. These t h r e e great rarities were a Pratincole thought to be Glareola cinerea, Eastern Collared Pratincole, an Asiatic Fork-tailed Swift brought into Beccles having been f o u n d exhausted on a North Sea Gas Rig, and later released apparently u n h a r m e d , and a Lark Sparrow, the second North American sparrow to reach Suffolk. T h e o t h e r rarities noted were Night H e r o n , Purple H e r o n , Little Egret, Glossy Ibis (2), American Wigeon. Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon, Marsh Sandpiper, T e r e k Sandpiper, Ross's Gull, Caspian Tern, Greenish Warbier, Pallas's W a r b i e r (3) and Bonelli's Warbier. O t h e r scarce migrants reported were Spoonbill (4), Ruddy Shelduck. Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck (3), Mandarin (8), H o n e y Buzzard (4), R e d Kite (2), M o n t a g u ' s Harrier (6), Osprey (12). Peregrine (3), Spotted C r a k e (2), C o r n c r a k e , Kentish Plover (3), Dotterel (7), Temminck's Stint (4), Pectoral Sandpiper (2), Red-necked Phalarope (5), G r e y Phalarope (3), P o m a r i n e Skua (4), Sabines Gull (2), Iceland Gull (2), Roseate T e r n , Little A u k , H o o p o e (3), Wryneck (6 Spring, 30 A u t u m n ) , Greyh e a d e d Wagtail (3), Waxwing (4), D i p p e r , Bluethroat, Icterine Warbier (4), Barred W a r b i e r (4), Yellow-browed Warbier, and Ortolan Bunting. T h e rarest bird of all foรถled many observers for some time and remained at Alton W a t e r front late February until the end of the year. It was eventually considered to be a M o o r h e n / C o o t hybrid. T h e r e are only two previous records, and none in the British Isles.
Breeding Birds It is sad to report the f u r t h e r decline of the Red-backed Shrike, and an a p p a r e n t decrease in the n u m b e r of Redpolls. These however, represent the only significant decreases. O n the brighter side, eight Marsh Harrier nests produced eighteen young and two pairs of Hobbies may have nested. Seventeen booming Bitterns were located and one hundred and seventy-six pairs of Avocets reared o n e h u n d r e d and twenty two young. T h e latter had their best year for some time. Two pairs each of Wigeon and Garganey nested and five singing Quail were recorded and may have bred. Golden Orioles maintained their n u m b e r s and at last Cettis Warbiers seem to be increasing with sixteen singing birds reported. T h e B T O Nightjar Survey revealed at least one h u n d r e d pairs, a staggering figure in view of the sparse records received in previous years. B e a r d e d Tits were a p p a r e n t in good
Trans. Suffolk
Nat. Soc. 18 pari 4.
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 18, Part 4
numbers at their regulär sites, and small numbers of Wood Warbiers and Firecrests also nested. A n o t h e r species increasing is the Woodlark, taking advantage of the clear feil areas in the forestry plantations. Finally, a new colonly of c20 pairs of Hawfinches was reported and poses the question of how many other undiscovered populations of this species exist. Winter Birds Dßring the first Winter months, the m a j o r event was the sudden appearance of c250 Barnacle Geese in late February. These were probably of Dutch origin, as were up to two hundred Bean Geese in the latter part of the year. Some species occurred in uncommonly large numbers and included counts of seventy-five Rock Pipits, cl,000 C o m m o n Scoters and clO.OOO Wigeon. The latter were noted during the cold spell just before Christmas. Despite the cold conditions at least six Blackcaps wintered in the county. It should be remembered that some of the above records are still under consideration by either the National Rarities Committee, or the County Records Committee. Complete details will appear in 'Suffolk Birds 1981' to be published in the A u t u m n . D . R . M o o r e , M.B. O . U . , Crosslands, Cage Lane, B O X T E D , Colchester, Essex.
Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 18 part 4.