Dartford Warbler (Photo:B.Baston)
|
|
|
Barn Owl Project receives award
|
|
|
The Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project (SCBOP) has been a great success in providing nest boxes for the barn owl across the county. Several groups, organisations, farmers, landowners and local communties have worked together to help this beautiful bird of the Suffolk countryside. Suffolk: Creating the Greenest County (SCtGC) is an aspiration that involves the whole county in responding to climate change and enhancing the natural and historic environment. SCtGC works with local communities and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance their natural environment. They have annual awards to celebrate and highlight excellent environmental achievements. They have three categories: Greenest Business, Greenest Community and Greenest School. SCBOP has recently won an award in the Landscape and Biodiversity category within the Greenest Community section. More information here - Suffolk CtGC Award Winners 2010.
|
|
|
|
White Stork pays brief visit to Lackford
|
|
|
On April 21st at Lackford Lakes SWT a white stork briefly paid a visit when SOG member Ian Goodall saw the stork over the reserve. It was later seen drifting over the A14. More information on the latest Suffolk bird news at Suffolk BINS. 
White Stork at Lackford (Photo:I.Goodall)
|
|
|
Suffolk Bird Atlas 2007 - 2011
REQUEST FOR RECORDS
I wish to extend a big ‘Thank You’ for sending in your bird records.
Atlases provide vital information for bird conservation and the results from this Atlas will be the basis for the conservation of birds in Suffolk and Britain for the coming decades. In Suffolk, fieldworkers have worked exceptionally hard and have surveyed over 730 tetrads. We now have over 300,000 records for Suffolk made up from TTVs, Roving Records and Bird Track. More will be added soon from other surveys such as Nest Record Cards and from ringing data.
However, time is short; three winters of fieldwork have flown by and we still have over 300 tetrads to cover. A lot of tetrads do not have any records assigned to them and even more tetrads show poor coverage i.e. less than 10 records. As a consequence, the Suffolk Atlas Working Group, in the remaining fieldwork periods, would like fieldworkers to compile species lists for all vacant tetrads and where coverage is poor. See map showing species richness at the tetrad level. (SEE MAP)
The beauty of roving records is that you can do them whenever and wherever and there are no time limits. Roving records are also a means of accumulating evidence of breeding and for providing records of nocturnal species.
Please make contact with me if you wish to help. I can send you Roving Record forms or if you have a BTO username you can enter your records directly on line. It is of great help if you enter roving records online as soon as possible.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Mick Wright
BTO Regional Representative Suffolk
Suffolk Atlas Coordinator
Suffolk Bird Atlas 2007-2011
Species richness from summer data 2008 & 2009
White is no species recorded
|
|
|
|
Lesser Kestrel at Minsmere
|
|
|
Generally March can be a quiet month, the time when winter visitors are heading off and the first summer migrants are returning. This month though, Suffolk has seen a wonderful selection of rare birds. Pride of place goes to a superb male lesser kestrel found at Minsmere on Sunday 28th March. This is the first time it has been recorded in the county and there have only been 16 previous sightings in Britain. In addition to the lesser kestrel there have been over six alpine swifts, a pallid swift at Kessingland - only the fourth for Suffolk - and also at Minsmere up to seven penduline tits in the vicinity of Island Mere. More information on the latest Suffolk bird news at Suffolk BINS. Many thanks to Dave Horton for the images below.
Adult male lesser kestrel at Minsmere (Photos:D.Horton)
|
|
|
On February 25th the Suffolk Ornithologists' Group held their AGM at the Holiday In, Ipswich. A good number of members attended to see the nomination of the council for the coming year, an update on the group, along with an overview of the Suffolk BTO Atlas by Records Officer Mick Wright and ended with a talk by David Tomlinson on his 'Travels in search of birds'. In between was the presentation of three trophies, firstly, the Denis Ockelton trophy, that is awarded to an outstanding contribution to Suffolk ornithology. This year it was presented to Will Brame, a regular finder of rare and scarce birds in Suffolk and in recognition of his detailed and prompt descriptions of the rare birds seen, that are submitted to the Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee (SORC) and for national rarities, the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). 
Will Brame receiving the Denis Ockelton trophy from SOG president Steve Piotrowski. This was followed by two trophies presented by Roy Marsh and Lee Woods, founders of the Suffolk birds news service - Suffolk BINS. The Finders Keepers Cup 2009 was presented to John Grant who found the bird of the year 2009 - a red-flanked bluetail at Minsmere sluice bushes. More details on the Suffolk BINS web site - Bird of the year 2009. 
Roy Marsh (left) and Lee Woods (right) from Suffolk BINS presenting John Grant with the Finders Keepers Cup 2009. In recent years Suffolk BINS have also organised a January 1st Bird Race - and the team with the highest number of species wins the BINS Cup. This year the Pied Twitchers were the winners of the BINS Cup 2010 with a great score of 123 species. 
Roy Marsh (left) presenting the BINS Cup 2010 to the Pied Twitchers - Scott Mayson, Nick Andrews and Lee Woods. More information here - BINS Cup 2010.
|
|
|
HERONRIES & LITTLE EGRET CENSUS 2010
Provisional UK results for 2009 indicate a continuation of the downturn in nesting numbers since 2001.
The 81st Heronries Census counting season is now upon us and I am seeking fieldworkers to count/estimate the number of occupied Heron nests at:
Stanstead Great Wood near Long Melford
Tendering Hall near Stoke-by-Nayland
If you can help please do not hesitate to give me a call or Email.
Mick Wright
Tel: [01473] 710032
|
|
|
A record of flock of Fieldfares have been seen on an orchard in south-west Suffolk. At Wheldon's Fruit Farm at Newton, near Sudbury has had an influx of Fieldfares during the recent cold spell. The flock totals around 5,000 which beats the previous county record of 4,000 at Westleton a decade ago. Further details and video footage can be found on the East Anglian web site - Fieldfare flock.
Fieldfare (Photo:B.Baston)
|
|
|
|
Baikal Teal added to Category A
|
|
|
The BOU Records Committee have released their latest report. The 38th report / October 2009 / Ibis 152: 199-204, details the adding of Baikal Teal to Category A to the British List. This relates to a first-winter male at Minsmere from 18 November-29 December 2001. This is the second UK record, the first being a first-winter male, shot in Essex in 1906. Within the same report is the removal of a record of Eskimo Curlew at Woodbridge in 1852, that has been rejected following information that discredits the record. Further information - BOU Records Committee 38th report.
|
|
|
|
Starling roost - 01/12/2009
|
|
|
In recent years on the Suffolk coast there has been some impressive Starling flocks going to roost at the RSPB reserves of Minsmere and North Warren. At the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Hen Reedbeds, near Southwold, an amazing sighting of c.60,000 Starlings were seen going to roost at 3.15pm. Recently, prior to the SOG Kessingland field trip, some members visited the River Blyth estuary at Blythburgh early in the morning and noted flocks of Starlings heading south to south-west in direct flight across the river. These were presumed to come from nearby Hen Reedbeds and numbered 50-60,000! The estuary is wide there and at one point Starlings stretched across from one shore to the other.
Details of Hen Reedbeds can be found in the Bird Site section Hen Reedbeds, with more photos of the Starlings coming to roost there.
Starlings going to roost at Hen Reedbeds. (Photo:A.Gooding)
|
|
|
Bird Atlas 2007 – 2011 Mapping Britain and Suffolk’s birds Hi Y’all Thank you. I wish to extend a big thank you from the Suffolk Atlas Working Group to all who have sent in records for the Atlas project. The Atlas field work is going really well but there is still much of West Suffolk to survey. The THIRD period of winter Atlas fieldwork starts on November 1st 2009. I would like to hear from birders who would be willing to survey a TTV in west or central Suffolk. Roving Records are still required from everywhere. By visiting www.birdatlas.net you can easily see the vacant tetrads and be able to select the one/s you would like to survey; this will automatically generate an email to me – just follow the online instructions. Thanks Mick
|
|
|
|
Minsmere not just for birds
|
|
|
The RSPB annual report has collated records of all species on their reserves and Minsmere has come out as one of the best in the country. Over 5000 species of flora and fauna have been recorded there in the last year. More information can be found here - RSPB annual report and an article in the East Anglian Daily Times - Minsmere one of the best reserves.
|
|
|
|
Latest SUffolk Bird sightings
|
|
|
Recent sightings includes Suffolk's fifth Red-flanked Bluetail that was present in Minsmere sluice bushes for a week from the 14th to 21st October. On 18th October a wheatear species was found, that was confirmed the next day as a 1st winter female Pied Wheatear at Shingle Street, just south of the Martello tower. This is only the second record in Suffolk, the first being at Fagbury in 1994. With Autumn migration underway a few interesting species have turned up - particularly on a Tuesday! First a leucistic Ortolan Bunting, then an Artic Warbler, that is Suffolk's only third record of this species both at Landguard Bird Observatory while at Hen Reedbeds reserve and Boyton Marshes a couple of Glossy Ibis. 
3 Glossy Ibis at Boyton Marshes. (Photo:A.Gooding) 
Glossy Ibis at Boyton Marshes. (Photo:A.Gooding) The Glossy Ibis at Boyton was joined by first a second bird, colour banded with a ring PJP, which had been nearby at Hollesley Marsh, then a third one joined them giving everyone who visited excellent views. The ringed - PJP - bird had previously been seen in Cambridgeshire. These are part of a recent national influx with the ring showing that the birds originated from Coto Donana in Spain. More details here - BTO - Colour-ringed Glossy Ibis and a local newspaper article here - Glossy visitor thrills birdwatchers.
|
|
|
After the success last year of the first Peregrines to nest in Suffolk for 200 years, in 2009 the same pair again successfully nested on the Orwell Bridge. The box used was the one SOG had placed there several years ago and a second box has now been placed on a new development, The Mill, along Ipswich Waterfront. The new box was brought about by co-operation between SOG, EWS – the Ipswich Chartered Surveyors who are managing agents for The Mill, Wharfside Regeneration Group and the architects for The Mill, John Lyall Architects. The Peregrines that nested on the bridge this year had 3 fledged birds. At times they were seen to sit on the parapet along the side of the road, although unfortunately one was known to have been killed by being pulled in to the draft of a passing vehicle. 
Peregrine family on the Orwell Bridge (Photo:B.Baston)
|
|
|
The latest compiliation of the Birds of Conservation Concern 3 has assessed all of UK's regular occurring birds and has added several species to the red list including Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Lapwing and Yellow Wagtail. The red list contains those species of highest conservation concern due to big decline in numbers, with 52 species now on the list.
Cuckoos, that well known herald of Spring, have declined by 57% in the 13 years between 1994 and 2007. Further details can be found here in the East Anglian Daily Times Article - Cuckoo decline. The report can be down loaded from the BTO here - Birds of Conservation Concern 3.
Cuckoo at Lakenheath RSPB (Photo:I.Goodall)
|
|
|
Local birder, Jeremy Mynott has recently had a book published, 'Birdscapes - birds in our imagination and experience'. Jeremy will be at a book signing event at Browsers Bookshop in Woodbridge on 7th May starting at 7.30pm. Browsers want people to contact them in advance if they are coming so they can estimate numbers and they will be charging £3 a ticket, though that can be set against the cost of any purchases. The Browsers number is 01394 38890.
|
|
|
A lovely Purple Heron was present in South-East Suffolk for 3 days. First seen around Hollesley RSPB, it relocated to Oxley Marshes at Shingle Street, last seen on the 10th April.
Purple Heron, Oxley Marshes (Photo:B.Stone)
Good Waxwing numbers have been about this winter with a few flocks around the county including a long staying flock of 30+ at Rendlesham. Recent flocks include Kesgrave, Lowestoft, northwest Ipswich and a flock around the stores at Copdock. An Evening Star article here - Waxwings.
Waxwing, Rendlesham (Photo:R.Nason)
Waxwing, Copdock (Photo:B.Baston)
A Tawny Owl has been a star attraction in a local park. Christchurch Park, Ipswich has been home to an owl that roosts in an old oak close to a footpath. It has been admired by many, including people walking in to town to do christmas shopping. Local residents say the Tawny Owl has been present since October. It even made the national newspapers - What a hoot....Tawny Owl.
Tawny Owl, Christchurch Park, Ipswich (Photo:R.Garrod)
Tawny Owl, Christchurch Park, Ipswich (Photo:B.Baston)
|
|
|
|
Peregrines nesting in Suffolk again after 200 years
|
|
|
The excellent news that a pair of Peregrines are nesting on the Orwell Bridge, Ipswich was published in the East Anglian on the 5th May. There are three chicks and this is the first time Peregrines have nested in the county since a pair nested in the steeple of a Corton church 200 years ago.
Peregrines have been regular visitors on the Orwell since the early nineties and regularly use the bridge. The SOG campaigned to have a nest box erected so that breeding could take place.
Peregrine, Orwell Bridge. (Photo:R.Garrod)
Peregrine, Orwell Bridge. (Photo:R.Garrod)
Further images can be found on the Suffolk BINS web site - Peregrines
|
|
|
The Martlesham Marvels set a new Suffolk day record with 154 species on the 4th May 2008. 4 days later a Big Sit was conducted by two birders at Minsmere, who managed 100 species. More info - Minsmere Big Sit. This follows on from the January 1st record that was beaten this year by the Silly Bustards with 130 species.
|
|
|
Little Owlet (Photo:B.Baston)
|