EAST ANGLIA
Highlights
Photographs showing what appeared to be a female Orphean Warbler in Newmarket, Suffolk (on 8 January) sparked a twitch on 9th. The bird was refound, but the camera had ‘lied’ and it turned out to be a much smaller, more delicate warbler than it initially appeared in photos (when its head was damp making its bill look long). It was re-identified as Lesser Whitethroat, probably one of the eastern races.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Ring-necked Duck remained at Paxton Pits. A Long-tailed Duck was at Deeping High Bank (from 29th). A Rough-legged Buzzard was near Thorney (from 10th). The Cattle Egret remained at the Nene Washes. A Great Grey Shrike was seen regularly at Wicken Fen. Seven Spoonbills flew over Burwell Fen (5th). Fifteen Short-eared Owls were there. A few tundra Bean Geese were found, including three at Priors Fen. A Kittiwake (16th) and Little Gull (21st) were at Ferry Meadows CP. Three Great Northern Divers, a Red-necked Grebe, Common Scoter, two Glaucous Gulls (8th) and an Iceland Gull (13th) were at Grafham Water. Glaucous Gulls were also at Ferry Meadows CP (7th), Waterbeach, Milton Tip, Cambridge Research Park, Littleport, Fen Drayton Lakes and Dogsthorpe Tip. Iceland Gulls were at Milton (19th), Cambridgeshire Research Park (20th-21st) and Dogsthorpe Tip (21st). Fen Drayton Lakes logged a Siberian Chiffchaff, three Scaup and five Smew. Another Siberian Chiffchaff was at Cambridgeshire Research Park (7th). Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news, please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970; www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk
ESSEX
METROPOLITAN ESSEX: A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Wanstead Flats. Firecrests were at four sites. Thirty Chiffchaffs, two Black Redstarts and a Siberian Chiffchaff were in the Beckton/creekmouth area. A Siberian Chiffchaff, Red Kite, Short-eared Owls and Little Owls were at Fairlop. A Black Redstart and Swallow were at Walthamstow Filter Beds. The Reservoirs held two Black-necked Grebes, a Scaup and 44 Little Egrets. Two Glaucous Gulls were noted. A Bittern, Slavonian Grebe, two Smew and several Goosanders were at Seventy Acres Lake. A Slavonian Grebe and six Black-necked Grebes were on the William Girling Reservoir. The Ingrebourne Valley held a Bittern, Great Grey Shrike, Scaup and Merlin. Ten Caspian Gulls were between the Thames Barrier and the River Lee. Waxwings included 35 in Harold Hill, 25 in Aveley, 75 at Lakeside and 46 in Collier Row. MID-ESSEX: The Blackwater held five Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, 450 Great Crested Grebes, two Black-necked Grebes, two Slavonian Grebes, 18 Long-tailed Ducks, 52 Common Scoters, 25 Scaup, 100 Goldeneyes, 50 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Shag. The Colne had a Black-throated Diver and 12 Goosanders. There were 365 Avocets at Fingringhoe. Black Brants were at Brightlingsea and Heybridge. Mersea had a Glossy Ibis, Black Brant and Lapland Bunting. Old Hall Marshes had 42 Marsh Harriers, eight Whitefronts and 181 Pintails. Abberton held 24 Scaup, two Long-tailed Ducks, a Slavonian Grebe, 27 Goosanders, eight Smew, a Ring-necked Duck, Bewick’s Swan, Bittern and 16 Barnacle Geese. A Purple Sandpiper was at Goldhanger. Eleven Goosanders were in Chelmsford. There were 27 Waxwings in Colchester. NORTH ESSEX: The Stour held four Slavonian Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, two Eiders, a Shag, 38 Red-breasted Mergansers, 64 Goldeneyes and three Velvet Scoters. There were 22 Whitefronts at Broomhouse Flash, Langham. A Great Northern Diver and two Water Pipits were at Colne Point. Wigboro Wick Farm, St Osyth held seven Lapland Buntings. A Black Redstart was in Clacton. Eight Snow Buntings were at Jaywick. Frinton logged three Waxwings, 244 Kittiwakes, Red-throated Divers and 532 Cormorants. The Hooded Crow remained at Bulmer. RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included a Waxwing, 28 Avocets, a Little Stint, Turnstone, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Golden Plovers, a Kittiwake, Little Gull, three Caspian Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, two Glaucous Gulls, Marsh Harriers, Merlins, Brent Geese, a Barnacle Goose, four Short-eared Owls, two Bullfinches and three Ravens. SOUTH-EAST ESSEX: A Lesser White-front, 24 Russian Whitefronts and a Black Brant were on MOD Foulness. Bowers Marsh logged 18 Whitefronts, a Pinkfoot, nine Barnacle Geese, nine Bewick’s Swans, a Red-crested Pochard, Smew, six Caspian Gulls, two Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull. Wallasea Wetlands had three Hen Harriers, nine Short-eared Owls, three Merlins, four Twite, seven Bewick’s Swans, a Black Brant, Purple Sandpiper and Mealy Redpoll. Seven Short-eared Owls and two Velvet Scoters were at South Fambridge. An Eider, Great Northern Diver, Shag and Merlin were at Blue House Farm. Bradwell BO recorded 31 Whitefronts, 2,000 dark-bellied Brent Geese, a pale-bellied bird and a Hen Harrier. All three divers and 127 Great Crested Grebes were between Gunners Park and Canvey Point. A Shag, Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck remained off Southend. A Great Skua was off Gunners, with 27 Mediterranean Gulls on the Pier. A Glossy Ibis was at Vange Marshes. East Tilbury had an Iceland Gull and 16 Common Scoters. A Bewick’s Swan was at Hanningfield Reservoir. Waxwings included four around Rayleigh, 58 at Pitsea and 20 on Foulness. Howard Vaughan
NORFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: The Todd’s Canada Goose was seen again at Clippesby (8th-9th) and at Flitcham (16th). A Ferruginous Duck was at Holme Dunes (2nd-27th). Sea-duck maxima at Titchwell, Holme and Brancaster were 154 Long-tailed Ducks and 82 Velvet Scoters. Also there were two Black-throated Divers, Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes and Red-necked Grebes. Tundra Bean Geese were seen in good numbers around the coastal fringe. A Great Northern Diver was at Martham Broad (3rd-11th). There were 39 Shore Larks at
Holkham Gap, 34 at Brancaster (14th), a few at Salthouse and Blakeney Point and two at Happisburgh (23rd). Two Black Redstarts were at Sheringham. A Lesser Whitethroat was at Holme Dunes. Great Grey Shrikes were at New Holkham (8th and 18th), Nar Valley Fisheries (from 22nd) and Sparham Pools (from 22nd). A Hooded Crow was at Mautby Lodge. A Rough-legged Buzzard was around Haddiscoe Island and Berney Marshes. Five Glaucous Gulls were in the Sheringham area with others at Great Cressingham and Welney. An Iceland Gull was at Mautby Lodge (from 31st). Both species were found inland at Thetford. Four Cattle Egrets remained at Halvergate (to 18th), with two at Gapton Marshes (8th-17th). BREYDON WATER: Highlights included two Cattle Egrets, eight Short-eared Owls, a Spoonbill, Scaup, Shag, Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull. Maxima were eight Whooper Swans, 8,800 Pinkfeet, 415 Whitefronts, 22,000 Wigeon, 2,000 Teal, 615 Shovelers, 206 Pintails, ten Marsh Harriers, five Peregrines, a Hen Harrier, Merlin, 63 Little Egrets, 170 Avocets, 4,000 Lapwings, 22,000 Golden Plovers, 63 Grey Plovers, 4,000 Dunlin, 66 Knot, 950 Redshanks, 2,100 Black-tailed Godwits, two Spotted Redshanks, 40 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, Ruff, Kingfisher, five Stonechats and four Barn Owls. NOA HOLME BIRD OBSERVATORY: Maxima included a Woodcock, Goosander, Kittiwake, Glaucous Gull, Peregrine, Greenshank, Brambling, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Merlin, Shag, Waxwing, Little Gull, Yellowhammer, Short-eared Owl, 14 Velvet Scoters, three Barnacle Geese, two Water Rails, 130 Golden Plovers, 55 Curlews, two Rock Pipits, five Lapland Buntings, 500 Common Scoters, nine Gannets, three Great Skuas, five Fulmars, six Great Crested Grebes, 15 Whooper Swans, four Bearded Tits and five Scaup. There were 350 Lapwings, 26 Redshanks, two Cetti’s Warblers, 53 Twite, eight Eiders, 3,500 Pinkfeet, 275 Brent Geese, four Stonechats, three taiga Bean Geese, two Spotted Redshanks, six Snipe, 28 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Black-throated Divers, three Great Northern Divers, two Red-necked Grebes, four Slavonian Grebes, five Razorbills, two Guillemots, 11 Red-throated Divers, two Crossbills, 40 Blackbirds, two Siskins, 500 Fieldfares, 50 Snow Buntings, 18 Whitefronts, 131 Long-tailed Ducks and 14 Goldeneyes. NOA REDWELL MARSH: There was a Barn Owl, two Dunlin, three Marsh Harriers, a Snipe, 80 Wigeon and 55 Teal. CLEY AREA: Highlights included five Glaucous Gulls, two Great Northern Divers, a Spoonbill, Caspian Gull, Smew, Black-throated Diver, White-billed Diver, Iceland Gull, Bittern, Yellow-legged Gull, Siberian Chiffchaff, Slavonian Grebe, nine tundra Bean Geese, three Water Pipits, 60 Snow Buntings, 93 European Whitefronts, four Twite, four Velvet Scoters, four Lapland Buntings and four Barnacle Geese. Pete Allard, Sophie Barker (Norfolk Ornithologists’ Association, www. noa.org.uk), and Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news, please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970; www. birdlineeastanglia.co.uk
SUFFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A Pallas’s Warbler was at Kessingland (6th-12th). A Little Bunting was at Knettishall (9th-20th). The Great Grey Shrike remained at Sutton Common. Dunwich logged a few Long-tailed Ducks and Velvet Scoters, eight Scaup, a Black-necked Grebe and 40 Twite. Eight Long-tailed Ducks were off Hazelwood Marshes, with another on the reservoir at Aldringham Walks. The River Alde held a Great Northern Diver. Three Slavonian Grebes and a Black-necked Grebe were at Alton Water Reservoir. A few tundra Bean Geese were at various sites. The River Stour held a Red-necked Grebe, seven Slavonian Grebes and three Velvet Scoters. A Black-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver were on the River Orwell. The Smew remained at Thorington Street Reservoir, as did the Cattle Egret at Iken. Glaucous Gulls were at Landguard, Minsmere, Bramford, Oulton Broad, Dunwich and Hollesley Marshes. Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news, please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970; www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk