EAST ANGLIA
Highlights
Big rarities in the region came in the form of a well-watched Brown Shrike at Warham Greens, Norfolk, the wandering Bearded Vulture seen at a few sites in Norfolk, and a Black-browed Albatross seen off the Suffolk coast.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Ring-necked Duck was at Needingworth Quarry Lakes (20th-24th), with an American Wigeon there (20th-26th). A Barred Warbler was at Dunkirk (16th). Yellow-browed Warblers were at Fowlmere (21st) and Grafham Water (28th). Fen Drayton had a Wryneck (7th), Curlew Sandpiper (9th), Little Stint (30th) and Wood Sandpiper (9th, 13th and 29th). Two Little Stints were at Tanholt GP (22nd-23rd), with one (29th). A Gannet flew over Lode (28th). A Black Tern was at Kingfishers Bridge (20th). Grafham Water held two Shags (1st-12th), two Sandwich Terns (10th), a Curlew Sandpiper (24th), a Grey or Red-necked Phalarope (27th) and an Arctic Tern (27th). A Great Skua flew over Ring’s End (26th). A skua sp. was at Grafham Water (25th). A Spotted Redshank was at Dernford (3rd-6th and 27th-28th).
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.uktwitter.com/BirdlineEAngliafacebook.com/robinchittenden7
ESSEX
FRINTON-ON-SEA: Highlights included 4,300 Siskins, 3,700 Swallows, 2150 House Martins, 2,100 Meadow Pipits, three Tree Pipits, 35 Grey
Wagtails, three Crossbills, a Brambling, Lapland Bunting, Woodlark, 14 Short-eared Owls, an Osprey, Merlin, Marsh Harriers, two Spoonbills, two Sooty and two Manx Shearwaters, a Leach’s Petrel, 422 Brent Geese, a Pomarine Skua, 16 Pinkfeet, 63 Pintails, a Goldeneye, 452 Wigeon, 366 Common Scoters, 181 Gannets, seven Great Skuas, a Long-tailed Skua, Scaup, Puffin, Eider, Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver.
METROPOLITAN ESSEX: Eighteen Redstarts and 10 Tree Pipits were logged. Wanstead Flats had a Turtle Dove, Woodlark, Rock Pipit, Short-eared Owl, Brambling, two Cranes, Green and Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Greenshank,
Pintail, six Whinchats and 11 Stonechats. A Woodford Green garden had a Pied Flycatcher, Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler. A Wood Warbler was at Belhus Woods. A Woodlark was at Weald Park. A Hawfinch flew over the Ingrebourne Valley. Seven Crossbills flew over Weald Brook. Brook Farm, Upminster had 639 Sand Martins, 273 Swallows and 23 Buzzards.
Walthamstow Wetlands had two Black-necked Grebes, a Great White Egret and Gannet. The Gannet was also seen at King George V Reservoir, where there was a Blue-headed Wagtail and six Sandwich Terns. William Girling Reservoir had six Black-necked Grebes and a Curlew Sandpiper. Ospreys were
over Gidea Park, Upminster and Holyfield. Gallions Reach had a Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Kittiwake, three Sandwich Terns, 15 Common Terns, a Little Gull and Iceland Gull. A Kittiwake and Arctic Tern were at the nearby sewage works.
MID-ESSEX: Abberton Reservoir had 13 Great White Egrets, a Cattle Egret, Bittern, Spoonbill, 11 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, Spotted Redshanks, a Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Black Tern and Gannet. Old Hall Marshes held nine Cattle Egrets, six Spoonbills, two Cranes and seven Glossy Ibises. A White Stork was in St Lawrence. An Osprey was on Geedon Saltings. A Red-throated Diver was at Russell Green. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Broomfield.
NORTH ESSEX: The Naze logged a Merlin, Pomarine Skua, Leach’s Petrel, Yellow-browed Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Ring Ouzel and Purple Sandpiper. Holland Haven had a Red-backed Shrike, a few Short-eared Owls, Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, two Leach’s Petrels, a Pomarine Skua, Great Northern Diver, Lapland Bunting, Caspian Gull, Hen Harrier and Radde’s Warbler. Ospreys were at Cattawade and Mistley Quay. Six Short-eared Owls were at Wigboro Wick Farm, with three at Colne Point. Twelve Purple Sandpipers were at Dovercourt.
RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included a few Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Dunlin, Green Sandpipers and Avocets, a Curlew Sandpiper, three Knot, three Bar-tailed Godwits, four Ruff, a Turnstone, Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, two Gannets, a Sabine’s Gull, Guillemot, Brent Goose, Goldeneye, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, two Cranes, a Spoonbill, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Hobbies, Pintails, a Garganey, Crossbill, Brambling and Cuckoo.
SE ESSEX: Seawatching maxima off Canvey included 81 Arctic Skuas, two Manx Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwater, Osprey, Pomarine Skua, seven Brent Geese, 725 Gannets, Long-tailed Skua, 83 Great Skuas, four Puffins, 320 Common Scoters, Merlin, Eider and two Cranes. Wakering
Stairs had a Leach’s Petrel and 50 Med Gulls. Gunners Park had Shag and 500 Brent Geese. Four Gannets were at South Fambridge. Coalhouse Fort had Glossy Ibis, 184 Gannets, 28 Great Skuas, four Arctic Skuas, Guillemot and Merlin. There were 62 Yellow Wagtails at Stow Marsh. There were 94 Little Egrets on Two Tree Island. Wallasea had 63, plus Great White Egret, four Curlew Sandpipers and Merlins. Short-eared Owls were at six sites. Seven Cattle Egrets roamed the South Essex Marshes. A Honey Buzzard flew over Rayleigh. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Woodham Ferrers. Hanningfield Reservoir had Black-necked Grebe, three Garganeys, Arctic Skua and Ospreys. Howard Vaughan
NORFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A White-chinned Petrel flew past Cley (20th). The county’s second Brown Shrike was at Warham Greens (18th-21st). Two Red-backed Shrikes remained at Waxham (to 9th), with others at Wells (19th-29th) and Titchwell (23rd-30th). The Derbyshire Lammergeier was between Foxley and Bittering (28th). An Ortolan was at Burnham Overy Dunes (17th), with a Little Bunting at Thornham Point (15th). Twelve Wrynecks were logged. A Blyth’s Reed Warbler was ringed at Holme (28th-29th). Greenish Warblers were at Holme (1st-3rd), East Hills (16th) and Winterton (28th-29th). Arctic Warblers were at East Hills (17th) and Warham Greens (21st). Barred
Warblers were at Burnham Overy Dunes (1st, 7th and 21st) and Weybourne Camp (7th). Wood Warblers were at Warham Greens (1st), Winterton (2nd) and Wells Woods (16th-19th). Seven Red-breasted Flycatchers were found. A Lesser Yellowlegs was at Runham Swim (14th-23rd). Five Pectoral Sandpipers were seen. An influx of Grey Phalaropes included seven off Titchwell and three at Cley. Red-necked Phalaropes were at Cley (26th) and Welney (27th-28th). A Dotterel was at Terrington Marsh (27th). A Great Shearwater flew past Sheringham (20th). A White-winged Black Tern was at Cantley (4th-6th), before becoming a raptor kill. A Purple Heron was at Ormesby Little Broad (1st-4th). Glossy Ibises were at six sites.
BREYDON WATER: There were Great White Egrets (11th & 30th), an Osprey (1st-17th) and three Little Gulls (26th). Peregrines, Buzzards and Marsh Harriers were regular, with Hobbies on three dates. Four Sandwich Terns were seen (30th). There was a Black Redstart (5th-8th), 75 Linnets and two Stonechats.
Maxima included 73 Little Egrets, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 306 Greylags, 101 Egyptian Geese, 105 Shelducks, 202 Wigeon, 82 Pintails, five Shovelers, 38 Oystercatchers, 1,091 Avocets, 17 Ringed Plovers, 30 Lapwings, 44 Knot, 11 Curlew Sandpipers, 590 Dunlin, 2,210 Black-tailed Godwits, 37 Bar-tailed Godwits, 779 Curlews, two Whimbrels,1,207 Redshanks, four Greenshanks, five Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, Sanderling, Turnstone, 613 Med Gulls and 92 Great Black-backed Gulls.
NOA HOLME: Maxima included nine Grey Herons, 390 Black-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks, two Whinchats, five Wheatears, two Tree Pipits, 300 Golden Plovers, eight Whimbrels, nine Stonechats, 37 Pinkfeet, 57 Great Skuas, 22 Swallows, 100 House Martins, five Red-throated Divers, 262 Common Scoters, five Great Crested Grebes. Two Guillemots, three Fulmars, 13 Arctic Skuas, four Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails, nine Arctic Terns, three Pintails, two Manx Shearwaters, three Little Gulls, three Common Sandpipers, three Pied Flycatchers, five Redstarts, 12 Bramblings, 11 Spoonbills, 124 Sandwich Terns, four Yellow-browed Warblers, four Great White Egrets, 20 Redpolls, 45 Siskins, two Snow Buntings, three Lapland Buntings, two Kingfishers, 59 Brent Geese, 236 Gannets, 10 Kittiwakes, 15 Redwings, four Rock Pipits, three Crossbills, 15 Bearded Tits, and a Great Northern Diver, Reed Warbler, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, Raven, Spotted Redshank, Peregrine, Merlin, Hobby, Barn Owl, Osprey, Glossy Ibis, Wryneck, Spotted Flycatcher, Curlew Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Short-eared Owl, Jay, Hawfinch, Purple Sandpiper, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Lark, Mediterranean Gull, Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Storm Petrel, Shag, Swift and Sand Martin.
NOA REDWELL MARSH: There were two Green Sandpipers, a Barn Owl, a Grey Wagtail, Greenshank and four Black-tailed Godwits.
CLEY AREA: Highlights included six Whinchats, 12 Curlew Sandpipers, two Black Terns, 26 Little Gulls, five Lapland Buntings, six Pomarine Skuas, 122 Great Skuas, five Grey Phalaropes, two Little Stints, 68 Sooty Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters, two Leach’s Petrels, three Purple Sandpipers, two Velvet Scoters, Scaup, four Long-tailed Skuas, and a Sabine’s Gull, Great Northern Diver, Snow Bunting, Hen Harrier, Black-throated Diver, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Grebe, Spotted Redshank, Sabine’s Gull, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl and Caspian Gull.
Pete Allard, Sophie Barker (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 twitter.com/BirdlineEAngliafacebook.com/robinchittenden7
SUFFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A Black-browed Albatross flew past Lowestoft, Southwold, Sizewell and Thorpeness (28th). A Cory’s Shearwater flew past Lowestoft (17th).
A Great Shearwater passed Southwold and Lowestoft (20th). A Sabine’s Gull was at Kessingland (27th). A Grey Phalarope was at Benacre (27th-28th). A Marsh Warbler was ringed at Trimley Marshes (18th), with a
Black-necked Grebe there (2nd). Barred Warblers were recorded atLowestoft (8th), Boyton (11th) and Minsmere (21st). A Wood Warbler was at Havergate Island (7th). A Red-backed Shrike was at Bawdsey (6th-7th). A Hoopoe was found at Saxmundham (16th).
Spotted Crakes were at Botany Marsh (1st) and Minsmere (21st). A Glossy Ibis was at Carlton Marshes (19th). A Honey Buzzards flew over Hollesley (10th).
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 twitter.com/BirdlineEAngliafacebook.com/robinchittenden7