Bird Sightings 201021 to 27 FebruaryA Great White Egret flew south over Chedgrave Marshes at 2pm on 21 February. One Rough-legged Buzzard remained in the vicinity of Haddiscoe Island throughout the week, with a supporting cast of raptors including a ringtail Hen Harrier, 21, 23 and 24 February, and a Peregrine and eight Marsh Harriers, 23 February. Elsewhere, a Peregrine flew north-east over Carlton Marshes, 21 February, and six Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier were seen at Ashby, 27 February. A count of seven Short-eared Owls was made at Haddiscoe Island, 24 February. A Jack Snipe, two Green Sandpipers and a Woodcock were seen at Flixton GP, 21 February and a flock of 249 Black-tailed Godwits was present at Burgh Castle Flats, 27 February. A flock of 37 Barnacle Geese flew over Ashby, 27 February and a redhead Goosander flew along the river at Castle Marsh, North Cove on the same day. The escaped male Ruddy Shelduck was again present at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville, 21 February. Two Waxwings were seen along Lowestoft Road, Carlton Colville, 26 February and the Ring-necked Parakeet again frequented gardens in the Beccles Road area of Bungay, 22 and 23 February. 14 to 20 FebruaryThree Rough-legged Buzzards were still present in the Haddiscoe area until 20 February. Other raptors present in this area included a Merlin, three ringtail Hen Harriers and three Marsh Harriers, 14 February. Elsewhere, a Hen Harrier was seen at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 19 February, Marsh Harriers were present at Flixton Marshes (near Lowestoft) and Oulton Marshes (two), 14 February and a Buzzard drifted south over the A143 at Earsham, 20 February. Six Short-eared Owls were recorded at Haddiscoe Island, 20 February and Barn Owls were seen at Oulton Marshes (two), 14 February and Weybread GP, 20 February. Two Waxwings were still present at Carlton Colville, 14 February, with one remaining along Ashburnham Way until 17 February. The Ring-necked Parakeet was again seen in gardens along Beccles Road, Bungay, 15 February and Blackcaps were again noted in gardens at Barnby (male and female) and Carlton Colville (female) on the same day. A flock of 27 Lesser Redpolls was seen in flight at Barnby Marshes, 20 February, a Grey Wagtail flew over Flixton GP, 18 February and 20 Bearded Tits were counted along the riverbank adjacent to the Waveney Forest at Fritton, 20 February. Notable wildfowl included a flock of 3000 Pink-footed Geese accompanied by three White-fronted Geese at Thorpe Marshes, 18 February and counts of 320 Teal, 180 Wigeon, 150 Gadwall and 40 Pintail were made at Geldeston Marshes, 15 February. Escaped Ruddy Shelduck were seen at Earsham (pair), 18 February and at Burnt Hill Lane (male), Carlton Colville, 20 February. A flock of 225 Black-tailed Godwits was present at Geldeston Marshes, 15 February.
7 to 13 FebruaryA Woodlark was a surprise find at Barsham, 7 February and a female Ring-necked Parakeet was present in gardens along Beccles Road, Bungay, 13 February. Three Waxwings visited a garden along Kingswood Avenue, Carlton Colville, 9 February, with one still present on 12 and 13 February. Single female Blackcaps were noted feeding on apples in gardens at Barnby, 9, 11 and 13 February and along Kingswood Avenue, Carlton Colville, 12 February, with a male seen in the same Barnby garden on 12 February. A flock of 40 Siskins and 150 Yellowhammers were recorded at Barsham, 7 February and four Lesser Redpolls and two Stonechats were seen at Oulton Marshes, 9 and 11 February. Rough-legged Buzzards were seen daily at Haddiscoe Island, with two noted on 7, 11 and 13 February. Other raptors seen at Haddiscoe Island included three ringtail Hen Harriers, 13 February, a Peregrine, 8 February, a Merlin, 8 and 12 February and four Marsh Harriers, 7 February. Elsewhere, a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Oulton Marshes, 13 February and Buzzards were recorded at Ashby (two), 7 February and Lopham Fen, 9 February. An impressive count of 12 Short-eared Owls was made at Haddiscoe Island, 8 February and Barn Owls were noted at Barsham Marshes (two), 7 February and Oulton Marshes, 9 and 13 February. Bewick’s Swans were seen at Barsham Marshes (two), 7 February and Thorpe Marshes (two), 8 February and ten Taiga Bean Geese were present at Thorpe Marshes, 12 February. On 7 February Pink-footed Geese were noted at Wheatacre Marshes (flock of 800), Ashby (30 flew north) and Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville (one). Woodcock were reported from Barsham (six), 7 February, Oulton Marshes (one), 11 February and the Waveney Forest, Fritton (ten), 13 February and a Green Sandpiper was present at Haddiscoe Island, 11 and 13 February. A Bittern was seen at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 12 February and a Little Egret flew east over Chedgrave Marshes, 7 February. 31 January to 6 FebruaryThe raptor-fest at Haddiscoe Island continued with three Rough-legged Buzzards seen on 31 January and 2 and 3 February, two on 1 and 5 February and one on 4 and 6 February, together with a supporting cast including a Peregrine, 31 January, a fly-over Red Kite, 1 February, a Merlin, 1, 3 and 4 February, two ringtail Hen Harriers, 3 and 5 February and six Marsh Harriers, 6 February. A Marsh Harrier was also seen at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 6 February. A count of six Short-eared Owls was made at Haddiscoe Island, 3 February, while Barn Owls were seen at Barsham Marshes (two) and Belton Marshes, 31 January, Fisher Row, Oulton, 1 February and Castle Marsh, 6 February. The flock of 500 Pink-footed Geese was still present at Carlton Marshes, 31 January and 1000 were recorded at Haddiscoe Island, 1 February and a count of 70 Mute Swans was made at Shipmeadow on the same day. A Bittern was seen at Castle Marsh, 31 January and 6 February and a Little Egret flew south over Barnby Marshes, 6 February. Two first-winter Caspian Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were recorded at Aldeby landfill site, 1 February, while adult Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen at Earsham GP, 4 February and Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville, 6 February. A count of 25 Woodcock was made from the edge of Waveney Forest, Fritton at dusk on 31 January and one was seen at Fisher Row, 1 February. Green Sandpipers were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 3 February and Flixton GP (two), 6 February. Single Black Redstarts were present at Eye sewage works, 5 February (and present since at least 29 January) and at St Olaves, 7 February. A count of 30 Bearded Tits was made at the riverside reedbed adjacent to Waveney Forest, 31 January. The flock of six Lesser Redpolls was again seen in gardens along Puddle Duck Lane, Worlingham, 31 January. On 6 February, two Water Pipits were seen at Peto’s Marsh, Carlton Colville and three Stonechats, four singing Cetti’s Warblers, 40 Reed Buntings and a Bearded Tit were noted between Castle Marsh and Carlton Marshes. Flocks of 101 Skylarks and 250 Chaffinches were recorded at Barsham Marshes, together with a Cetti’s Warbler, 31 January and 80 Linnets, 5 February. Kingfishers were seen at Weybread GP (two), 4 February, Earsham GP, 5 February and Castle Marsh, 6 February. 24 to 30 JanuaryThe Rough-legged Buzzard was seen daily on Haddiscoe Island throughout the week, with a supporting cast of other raptors including three ringtail Hen Harriers, 28 January and four Marsh Harriers, 29 January. Elsewhere, a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Belton Marshes, 24 January, Marsh Harriers were recorded at Belton Marshes (three) and Carlton Marshes, 24 January, two Buzzards were present at Hoxne, 28 January, a Merlin was a notable record at Harleston, 29 January and a Peregrine was seen at Carlton Marshes, 30 January. Four Short-eared Owls were noted at Haddiscoe Island, 26 January and Barn Owls were recorded at Belton Marshes, 24 January, Weybread GP, 25 January and Burgh Castle Fort, 30 January. Notable waders included a flock of 30 Avocets at Burgh Castle Flats, 24 January, a Woodcock along Marsh Lane, Worlingham, 25 January, a Green Sandpiper at Haddiscoe Island, 26 January, 37 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Dunlin and a Grey Plover at Burgh Castle Flats, 30 January and a flock of 150 Golden Plovers which flew over Fisher Row, Oulton on the same day. A first-winter female Scaup was a notable find at Weybread GP, 25 January. Flocks of Pink-footed Geese included 40 at Haddiscoe Island, 26 January and 500 at Carlton Marshes, 30 January. Two Bewick’s Swans were present by Haddiscoe bridge, 28 January, while three feral Black Swans were seen at Gillingham Marshes on the same day. A Bittern was observed flying along the river bank at Aldeby, 25 January and it, or another, was seen at nearby Castle Marsh, North Cove, 30 January. A Little Egret was present at Herringfleet Marshes, 26 January. A Stonechat was noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 24 January and two Kingfishers were seen at Weybread GP, 25 January. A Water Pipit and 40 Bearded Tits were recorded at Haddiscoe Island, 26 January and three Bearded Tits were seen at Castle Marsh on the same day. A flock of 20 Siskins was present at Herringfleet Hills, 26 January and six Lesser Redpolls were seen in gardens along Puddle Duck Lane, Worlingham, 30 January. 17 to 23 JanuaryThe Rough-legged Buzzard remained at Haddiscoe Island until at least 21 January, with a male and ringtail Hen Harrier being seen on the Island on 17 January. Single Marsh Harriers were noted at Carlton Marshes, 17 January and Fisher Row, Oulton, 19 and 20 January, while a Buzzard was present at Flixton Park, 17 January. Two Barn Owls were seen at Fisher Row, 19 January. A Grey Plover was present at Burgh Castle Flats, 17 January, with a flock of 20 Black-tailed Godwits there on 21 January and 60 Avocets on 23 January. Single Green Sandpipers were recorded at Flixton GP and Haddiscoe Island, 17 January, Herringfleet Marshes, 18 January and Fisher Row, 19 and 20 January. A Ringed Plover was seen at Fisher Row, 19 January and a Woodcock at Beccles Common, 21 January. Eight Bewick’s Swans were present at Shipmeadow Marshes, 17 January, with five still there on 21 January. A flock of 90 Brent Geese was recorded on Haddiscoe Island, 17 January and 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north over the Waveney Forest, Fritton, 17 January. Single Little Egrets were seen at Fritton Marshes, 17 January and at Fisher Row, 19 and 20 January. A Water Pipit and a Cetti’s Warbler were noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 18 January, while a count of 150 Redwings was made at Beccles Common, 21 January. 10 to 16 JanuaryThe Rough-legged Buzzard remained on Haddiscoe Island until at least 15 January. Other notable raptors included a Red Kite, which flew north-east over Castleton Avenue, Carlton Colville, 11 January and a Marsh Harrier over Coney Hill, Beccles, 10 January. A first-winter female Scaup was present at Earsham GP, 12 to 15 January and it was joined by a redhead Goosander on 15 January. An impressive count of 2400 Wigeon was made at Burgh Castle Flats, 10 January, while two Bewick’s Swans were seen at Castle Marsh, North Cove the following day, and a male Pintail and 60 Brent Geese were on the river at Burgh Castle, 16 January. Waders recorded at Burgh Castle Flats included 30 Knot, 10 January, 33 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 January and 60 Avocets and 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 January. Elsewhere, 28 Black-tailed Godwits flew over Castle Marsh, 12 January, five Woodcock were noted at Fisher Row, Oulton, 14 January and a Green Sandpiper was present at Earsham GP, 15 January. A female Blackcap was seen in a garden along Ellough Road, Beccles, 10 January. At Fisher Row, nine Lesser Redpolls, two Grey Wagtails and four Stonechats were present on 11 January and a flock of 60 Siskins was seen at North Cove SWT reserve, 12 January. Kingfishers were recorded at Weybread GP (two) and Carlton Marshes, 11 January. 3 to 9 JanuaryThe Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island was seen almost daily up to 8 January, with a supporting cast of other notable raptors including a Merlin, a Peregrine and three Hen Harriers, 3 January, a Peregrine and two Hen Harriers, 4 January and a Hen Harrier and a Marsh Harrier, 5 January. A Marsh Harrier was also present at Fisher Row, Oulton, 9 January. Two Short-eared Owls were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 3 and 4 January and Barn Owls were noted at Weybread GP, 3 January and Fisher Row, 4 January. An impressive count of 56 Woodcock was made from the edge of the Waveney Forest, Fritton at dusk on 3 January, with counts of 46 and 35 respectively being made on the following two afternoons – the Woodcock were heading for Haddiscoe Island to feed under the cover of darkness. A count of 22 Ruff was made at Burgh Castle Flats, 3 January, while other notable waders included a Jack Snipe at Beccles Common, 6 January, and a Green Sandpiper at Barsham Marshes and five Black-tailed Godwits at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 9 January. A flock of 20 Waxwings was present along Ellough Road, Beccles, 7 and 8 January, while single Blackcaps were seen at Barnby and Barsham, 9 January. Fieldfares and Redwings were much in evidence with 200 Fieldfares at North Cove, 3 January and 50 Redwings along Ellough Road, Beccles, 8 January being respectively the largest reported flocks of each. Other notable passerines included 21 Bearded Tits and two Stonechats at Haddiscoe Island, 5 January, Grey Wagtails at Beccles Common, 6 January and at Weybread GP, 7 January, Kingfishers at Weybread GP (three), 3 January and Earsham GP, 5 January and a Cetti’s Warbler at Fisher Row, 9 January. A flock of 2000 Pink-footed Geese was present at Haddiscoe Island, 5 January. A high count of 614 Teal was made at Burgh Castle Flats, 3 January, while single Goosanders were seen at Weybread GP, 3 to 5 January and on the river at North Cove, 5 January. A Bittern was noted at Haddiscoe Island, 5 January and Little Egrets were present at Belton Marshes (two) and Weybread GP, 3 January . 27 December 2009 to 2 January 2010A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Thorpe Marshes, 31 December and at nearby Haddiscoe Island, 2 January. Other notable raptors included a Peregrine at Oakley, a Merlin at Haddiscoe Island and a Buzzard at North Cove, all 1 January. Marsh Harriers were recorded at Thorpe Marshes (three), Belton Marshes (four) and Fisher Row, Oulton, 1 January and two Hen Harriers were seen at Belton Marshes, 2 January. Three Short-eared Owls were recorded at Thorpe Marshes, 1 January, with single birds also seen at nearby Haddiscoe Island and Belton Marshes on the same day. Barn Owls were noted at Fisher Row and Belton Marshes, 1 January and at Weybread GP, 2 January. A flock of 100 Pink-footed Geese was present at Oulton Marshes, 1 January. Three Goldeneye were seen at Fritton Decoy, 29 December and a redhead Goosander was present at Weybread GP, 30 December to the end of the week. A Little Egret was seen at Weybread, 31 December to 2 January. A count of 75 Avocets was made at Burgh Castle Flats, 27 December and four Ruff were seen there, 1 January. A Green Sandpiper was present at Barsham Marshes, 1 January and Woodcock were noted at Ashby (two), 29 December and North Cove (two) and Parkhill, Oulton, 1 January. Notable passerines recorded at Fisher Row included three Lesser Redpolls, 28 December and a Water Pipit, three Cetti’s Warblers and four Stonechats, 1 January, while a Cetti’s Warbler and a Stonechat were noted at Barsham Marshes, 1 January. Kingfishers were recorded at Fisher Row, 28 December, Fritton Decoy, 29 December, Weybread GP (three), 31 December and Barsham Marshes, 1 January. |
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