A review of Suffolk ornithology-1985

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A REVIEW OF SUFFOLK ORNITHOLOGY - 1985 R. B.

WARREN

The outstanding feature of the first three months of the year was the two spells of Arctic weather punctuated very fortunately by a short milder period. Our resident bird populations do not appear to have been affected as much as had been feared; reports on Wrens, for example, are very encouraging. The most obvious result of the severe weather was the big influx of waterfowl, especially Wigeon and diving ducks, above all of Smew, no doubt driven from the Yjsselmeer in Holland.

January produced a small influx of Shags and a Great Skua, unusual in winter, which flew past at Minsmere. Raptors were not prominent in early 1985 apart from Hen Harriers. There were very few Rough-legged Buzzards and only three Peregrines; one would have expected more of the latter with the improvement in the breeding populations both in this country and abroad. A Red Kite was wandering in the east of the County in March.

DĂźring the first winter period there were several wintering Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Other rarer visitors included a Ferruginous Duck in Ipswich Docks and on Alton Water, and three Shorelarks, but no Great Northern Divers or Great Grey Shrikes. There were two or three reports of Waxwings.

Some winter visitors had largely left by the end of March, e.g. Little Grebes on tidal water, Wigeons, Grey Plovers and Knot. Others lingered into May or even June: e.g. Brent Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Hen Harrier and Brambling. Most Fieldfares and Redwings left early, but a very few were found in May. Summer visitors were slow to arrive. A number of Wheatears and Chiffchaffs were seen in the last week of March, and there was a Single Swallow on the 27th and a Willow Warbier on the 31st. Early arrivals included two Tree Pipits on Ist April, and the County's joint earliest Nightingale on the 6th, no doubt encouraged by some good weather in early Spring. Many migrants were very late however; noticeably so were Sand Martin, Reed Warbier, Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher. Presumed passage birds were still occurring in early June, especially at Landguard Point. When it was possible to take stock at the end of May most observers agreed that more species were down in numbers than up. Numbers of Sand Martins were again very low and House Martins were few.

The Spring produced many vagrants including the County's first Collared Flycatcher at Lowestoft, second Stilt Sandpiper at Minsmere, Roller at Walberswick, Broad-billed Sandpiper at Blythburgh, White-winged Black Tern at Minsmere and five Red-spotted Bluethroats.

Spring wader passage for a number of species was small and a return movement was detected before the end of June. Included was a Red-necked Phalarope at Minsmere.

Notwithstanding the Arctic weather faced by our residents, and poor weather conditions faced by migrants it is good to report excellent breeding numbers for some scarcer species. The numbers of pairs of Marsh Harriers Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 22

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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 22

and Black Redstarts were outstanding and good numbers of Sparrowhawks, Grey Wagtails, Whinchats and C o m Buntings were reported. Stonechats and Cetti's Warbiers were predictably hit, however, and few breeding season Firecrests were found. Fulmars bred again at one site and were occupying a second; there were two or three broods of Ruddy Ducks, and Hobbies bred again. Quail were reported from four sites. Avocets at Havergate Island had their best breeding season since 1970, but at Minsmere the maximum number of young was only 26. Savi's Warbiers were singing at three or four sites and, lastly, Red-backed Shrikes were still just holding on.

In retrospect, many commoner species were scarcer than usual during the summer. This is quite understandable bearing in mind the sequence: severe winter, late spring, wet summer. Willow Warbiers and Wheatears appear to have fared well however, as evidenced by the numbers seen on return passage. T h e r e were more Marsh Harriers and Hobbies about in late summer than usual.

Numbers of 'autumn' passage waders were very high, especially of Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper; the numbers of Curlew Sandpipers were particularly noteworthy, as elsewhere in the Country. Little Stints were few, however, and the Tern passage was lean.

Good numbers of Swifts and Hirundines passed through, with more records than usual of Swifts in September. The Sand Martin was an exception, however. The persistent Westerlies proved frustrating to those looking for 'drift' migrants from the East (Wrynecks for example were very few) until the end of September when the first of at least ten Yellow-browed Warbiers was found.

As is now widely known there was an irruption of Crossbills in June and July, though this was largely noted in Breckland only. There was also an influx of Siskins into Britain, but only increased numbers at Landguard Point and an unexpected flock at Holbrook School refuse tip reflected this in Suffolk.

Rarities in the period July to September included the County's first Black-winged Pratincole and Greater Yellowlegs at Minsmere, and second Red-throated Pipit and Greenish Warbier.

October was the wärmest since 1978 and no doubt this enabled more late broods of Swallows and House Martins than usual to fledge successfully. This in turn resulted in an exceptional number of records in November, snow notwithstanding, expecially of Swallows. There was also a Yellow Wagtail and a Whinchat in November.

There was a notable influx of sea-birds in November, including Shags, Scoters, Arctic Skuas, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Little Auks, but pride of place must go to the 30 to 40 records of Pomerine Skua, part of the huge movement observed along the British East Coast. These movements appear to have been initiated by a cold airstream from the North at the end of October with strong winds from the sea.

After the cold November it was very pleasant to enjoy the mildest December since 1974, which encouraged some premature bird-song. This mild weather, however, was spoilt by a very cold snap at the end of the month when peak numbers of White-fronted Geese, Tufted Ducks, Goosanders

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 22

3 and other wildfowl occurred. A 'hard weather' movement included Golden Plover, Lapwing and Wood Pigeon.

DĂźring the last two months of the year divers and grebes were generally low in numbers, but Brent Geese were more widespread, perhaps because of the use of bird-scarers in some of their traditional haunts. There was a small influx of Rough-legged Buzzards and good numbers of Short-eared Owls, Bramblings, Siskins and Snow Buntings, but Fieldfares and Redwings became comparatively scarce after an initial influx. There was an improvement in Great Grey Shrike numbers, and a few Shorelarks and Hooded Crows, but disappointingly only two Waxwings. At least one Spoonbill, one Common Sandpiper, two Blackcaps and four Chiffchaffs were found.

As if the above was not enough there was a small sprinkling of rarities, outstandingly a White-tailed Eagle (or was it two?) at Benacre and elsewhere, and a Nutcracker at Westleton. Other rarities included two Longbilled Dowitchers, and a small influx of Yellow-browed Warbiers and Lapland Buntings.

In conclusion, may I thank the many observers who send me records; neither the Annual Bird Report nor this review would be possible without their enthusiasm. Can I again ask you to send in records at least quarterly, but more frequently if at all possible.

A REVIEW OF SUFFOLK ORNITHOLOGY - 1985

R. B. Warren, 37 Dellwood Avenue, Felixstowe IP11 9HW

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 22