Changes in Bird Population of Suffolk, 1900-1950, Pt. II

CHANGES IN THE BIRD POPULATION OF SUFFOLK 1900 - 1950—11 (Continued from Vol. V I I I , Part I) N O T E :—Part II has had to be considerably Condensed, for reasons of space. Abbreviations : H = H e l e , B.=Babington, T = T i c e h u r s t , H b . = H a n d b o o k of British Birds, S.B.R.=Suffolk Bird Report (see Part I), p.m.=passage migrant, s.v., w . v . = summer, winter visitor.

Corrigendum. In part I, p. 6, for 1924 read 1824.

297. BITTERN. Re-established in Norfolk by 1911. Bred in Suffolk 1916, 1929, and probably 1900 (T.). Now regulär breeding resident in several localities.

302.

M U T E SWAN.

Steadily increasing throughout period.

306.

BEAN GOOSE.

B.

wild goose in Suffolk. one in 1 9 5 0 .

312/3.

BRENT GOOSE.

and T . reported it as the commonest But the only definite recent record is of Some decrease in latter part of period.

314.

CANADA GOOSE. Fisher reports notable increase this Century. But tendency now to limit increase, to prevent excessive damage to farm crops.

315. SHELD-DUCK. In the 1870's and 80's almost extinct as a breeding bird. Had begun to increase again by about 1907 (T.).

Recovery due to changes in social fashion and in sentiment, aided by legal protection. Now a common resident along the coast and estuaries.

318. GADWALL. Rare in Babington's time. Spread into N.W. Suffolk from Norfolk as a breeding bird in 1 8 9 6 - 7 . In early years of this Century became the next commonest duck to the Mallard in that area. Ticehurst, only occasional in E. Suffolk.

Some further increase and spread, both as resident and w.v., since 1932, especially on the east side, though breeding still recorded from comparatively few localities.

322. GARGANY. " An exceedingly scarce summer visitor " (T.).

S.B.R. records indicate some tendency to increase as s.v. and p.m.

326. SHOVELER. Increasing as p.m. and breeder since early years of Century (T.). This is continuing.

CHANGES IN BIRD POPULATION OF SUFFOLK

45

328. C O M M O N POCHARD. A S W.V. fairly common, but only very few Suffolk breeding records known (T.). Recent reports indicate that a fair number of pairs now breed annually, mainly in N.W. Suffolk, whither they seem, like the Tufted Duck and Gadwall, to have spread from across the Norfolk border.

330. T U F T E D D U C K . Up to 1900 status was that of a not uncommon w.v. spread into N.W. Suffolk from Norfolk as a breeding bird. First recorded Suffolk nest, Euston, 1913. Up to 1932 continued to spread and increase, with occasional nest also in E. Suffolk. No great evidence of further extension since.

346. CORMORANT. Status in Suffolk has had interesting fluctuations.

Formerly bred regularly at Fritton. Bred possibly in Suffolk again, Stour estuary c. 1927 (T.), and near Bures 1937 (S.N.S. Trans.). Now fairly common along coast, especially in estuaries (not many in summer).

368. FULMAR. H . and B. recorded it as only a very rare straggler to Suffolk. Ticehurst wrote : " the majority of records relate to October and November, indicating that its presence is connected with the herring fishery." 1950 recording in S.B.R. are all, however, between April 28th and September 2nd—a development perhaps due to recent extension of its breeding ränge to Norfolk.

370. GREAT CRESTED GREBE. About 1860 - 7 0 almost extinct, through demand for its skin for millinery purposes. But saved by legal protection, and change in sentiment and fashion. By 1932 a complete recovery had been made.

381. STOCK DOVE. Has increased during period. widespread resident, very common in suitable areas.

Now a

387. BLACK-TAILED G O D W I T . Formerly common, and bred.

But after c. 1830 became rare even as p.m. Becoming commoner again from about 1911. In the last few years large winter flocks have appeared in the Orwell. Has again become the commoner of the two Godwit species, and its status is again dramatically changing.

388. C O M M O N CURLEW. H., B., T . , were all emphatic that it did not breed in Suffolk. Now breeds regularly on N.W. Suffolk heaths in small numbers. No exact record as to when this began.

393. WOODCOCK. Hb. (1945) records it as breeding regularly in W. Suffolk but only occasionally in E. Suffolk. But S.B.R. (1950) gives several instances of E. Suffolk breeding in one year, and probably this occurs every year.

46

CHANGES IN BIRD POPUALTION OF SUFFOLK

395.

COMMON SNIPE. Ticehurst (1932) considered it bred more commonly with us than 50 years previously. Evidence of some further increase of breeding recently.

428. REDSHANK. Increase and spread in later 19th Century continued throughout period. Has also become fairly common s.v. in W. Suffolk.

431.

SPOTTED REDSHANK. Towards end of period increased as p.m., and has recently wintered regularly in small numbers.

438.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. A new Suffolk breeding bird by extension of ränge as s.v. north-westward.

First Suffolk breeding record 1948, and again one in 1949 and one in 1950.

440/1.

Century.

GOLDEN PLOVER.

Decreasing since latter part of last

Cause unknown.

444.

GREY PLOVER. Has shown tendency to decrease as p.m. and especially as w.v.

446. DOTTEREL. Numbers decreasing during last 100 years or so. Occurrence now rare.

449. LAPWING. Decreasing from about 1870, with some increase again since passing of Lapwing Act, 1926, though less than might have been expected.

451. AVOCET. s.v., ceased to breed in Suffolk from about 1820, due to persecution. Return probably connected with war-time disturbance in Holland. A few pairs bred at Minsmere and at Havergate Island in 1947. The unique protected Havergate colony has since become well-established.

452.

OYSTER-CATCHER. H. recorded decline. Scarce in Babington's time. Regulär p.m., but " normally few, if any, winter with u s . . . But of recent years it has bred with us occasionally " (T.).

Now common as p.m., and not uncommon as w.v. and as breeding bird.

456.

STONE CURLEW. Although suffering from increasing encroachment on its breeding haunts, is still fairly common in E. Suffolk as well as Brecks.

467. SANDWICH T E R N . Had not bred in Suffolk since early 19th Century. But one nest in 1906, four in 1923 (and a strong colony developed on Havergate Island from 1951).

469.

COMMON T E R N . A S breeding bird, declined.

The main colony lately suffers from rats, and others from human interference.

47

CHANGES IN BIRD POPULATION OF SUFFOLK

471.

LITTLE T E R N .

Some of the small colonies along the coast enumerated by Ticehurst have disappeared. Most others suffer from increasing human invasion of their beaches.

478. BLACK-HEADED G U L L . Great decrease, 19th Century, but recovery began before 1900 and has continued strongly, both of breeding colonies and especially of visitors and of birds on the land. In early 19th Century only one breeding colony, deserted by 1850, now one large colony on Havergate Island, and several smaller ones, including one in W. Suffolk.

482.

HERRING G U L L .

Decidedly increased during period, probably on account of increased attraction of herring fishery.

485.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED G U L L .

Appears to have become

commoner during period.

486.

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. T. noted remarkable increase, and that more were summering here, chiefly immatures.

Increase appears t o . be continuing, and recently it has been reported more regularly inland.

504.

CORNCRAKE. Never abundant. Through long decline, very rare by 1932. But since then its position, especially as breeding bird, appears slightly more encouraging. (S.N.S. Trans, and S.B.R. 1952).

510.

MOORHEN. Always abundant, appears to have increased, and to be still increasing.

520. QUAIL. From 1884 to 1932 T. only knew one nest record (1909) and six other records of birds (last 1917). But definite Suffolk records 1933, 1936, 1945, 1946 (2), 1948 (three birds). So trend seems arrested, if not reversed. (Recorded again 1952 and bred 1953, S.B.R.).

SUMMARY

OF CHIEF

CHANGES,

II.

MARKED INCREASE (BREEDING BIRDS) : Sheld-Duck, Common Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Stock Dove, Mute Swan, Redshank, Oyster-catcher, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen.

SOME INCREASE (BREEDING BIRDS) : Gadwall, Gargany, Shoveler, Common Snipe, Woodcock.

ADDITIONS TO BREEDING L I S T : Bittern (reinstatement), Canada Goose (naturalisation), Tufted Duck, Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Avocet (reinstatement), Sandwich Tern (reinstatement), Blackheaded Gull (reinstatement).

MARKED INCREASE ( P . M . AND W.V.) : Black-tailed Godwit, Fulmar, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull.

48

CHANGES IN BIRD POPULATION OF SUFFOLK

SOME INCREASE (P.M. AND W.V.) : Cormorant, Wood-pigeon (as w.v.), Spotted Redshank, Lesser Black-backed Gull.

FLUCTUATION : Lapwing (decrease followed by increase), Stone Curlew (increase followed by decrease).

DECREASE

(BREEDING

BIRDS)

: Common Tern, Little Tern,

Corncrake.

MARKED DECREASE (P.M. AND W.V.)

: Bean Goose, Golden Plover,

Dotterel.

SOME DECREASE (P.M. AND W.V.)

: Brent Goose, Grey Plover.

A. C. C.

HERVEY.

FOSSIL VOLES MESSRS. P. and D. Long have sent to the Ipswich Museum another interesting collection of mammalian remains from the Norwich Crag at Covehithe and Easton Bavents. From Covehithe are an upper incisor of a relatively large vole, 5 tail bones of some small mammal and 17 molar teeth, all of some species or other of the extinct vole Mimomys. Some are of M. pliocaenicus, recorded before from Easton Bavents (Trans. S.N.S. Vol. VIII Pt. III, 1953, p. 155) but there are two teeth, a second and a third upper molar, from a much smaller but indefinable species. There is also an interesting second right upper molar of a juvenile animal, probably M. pliocaenicus : the cheek teeth of this species grow roots when adult, the Covehithe tooth (Fig. 2, 2A) has not yet grown roots, though the pulp cavities have closed, while the crown (Fig. 2) is but slightly worn and does not as yet show the enamel pattern characteristic of the adult tooth (Fig. 1). The modern water vole (Arvicola) is descended from Mimomys but its teeth remain rootless throughout life : Fig. 3, 3A, show the same tooth in a water vole. M. pliocaenicus is one of the earlier species of this genus, its teeth forming roots (Fig. 1A) when adult: in the later species the cheek teeth develop roots very late in life and though Fig. 2A does in fact show the side view of the tooth of a young animal of one of the earlier species it is very similar to the same aspect of an adult tooth of one of the later. Figs. 1A, 2A and 3A therefore show the development of the high crowned rootless tooth of Arvicola from the rooted tooth of an early Mimomys.