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)

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.

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)

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.

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.

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)

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.