EAST ANGLIA
DNA analysis confirmed that the Stejneger’s Stonechat at Salthouse, Norfolk was indeed one of that species. Pallid Swifts were recorded at at least eight sites, including two lingering off the Naze. CAMBRIDGESHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: Two Rough-legged Buzzards were at Great Fen, Holme Fen and Farcet Fen (from 3rd), with others at the Nene Washes (20th) and Woodwalton Fen (25th). Great Grey Shrikes were at Ellington (2nd) and the Great Fen (20th). A Hooded Crow was at Cottenham. Ferry Meadows logged a Red-necked Grebe (from 5th), Red-breasted Merganser (from 20th) and a Scaup (27th- 29th). A Slavonian Grebe was at the Cam Washes (25th & 30th). A Black-necked Grebe was at Fen Drayton (3rd). Grafham Water held a Red-breasted Merganser (18th), Little Stint (19th), two Velvet Scoters (23rd), a Scaup, and a Red-throated Diver (25th). Eight Cattle Egrets were at Fen Drayton Lakes and Mare Fen, six at Earith, one at the Nene Washes, and four at Milton (25th). 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/birdlineeanglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden7 ESSEX METROPOLITAN ESSEX: A Hoopoe was in an Aveley garden. King George V Reservoir held a Ring Ouzel, two Great Northern Divers, two Scaup, a Smew and Black-necked Grebe. Walthamstow Reservoirs had three Scandinavian Rock Pipits, two Red-breasted Mergansers, a Common Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Avocet and Black-throated Diver. A Smew and Bittern were on Seventy Acres. Great White Egrets were at Fairlop Waters and over Upminster. Caspian Gulls were at five sites. A Mediterranean Gull and Kittiwake were at Creekmouth. Brent Geese and Pinkfeet were at Gallions Reach. Two Cattle Egrets flew over Wanstead Flats. Two Ravens and a Hawfinch were in Epping Forest. Firecrests were at several sites. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Mardyke. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at Thorndon CP and Wanstead Park.
MID ESSEX: Abberton Reservoir logged 11 Great White Egrets, a Spoonbill, three Bewick’s Swans, 66 Goosanders, five Smew, four Red-breasted Mergansers, a Ring-necked Duck, two Common Scoters, five Black-necked Grebes, three Slavonian Grebes and a Long-tailed Duck. A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Old Hall Marshes. A Snow Bunting was at Mersea Stone. A Scaup was on Heybridge GP.
NORTH ESSEX: The Naze held a Dusky Warbler, two Pallas’s Warblers, Short-eared Owls, Merlins, a Firecrest and Eider. Merlins were at Colne Point and Dovercourt. Four Snow Buntings were at Jaywick. A Shore Lark was at St Osyth. A Ring Ouzel was at Wigboro Wick Farm. Thirteen Eurasian Whitefronts were at Wix. Holland Haven had a Greenland Whitefront, Caspian Gull, 37 Pinkfeet and three Velvet Scoters. Hamford Water held 14 Marsh Harriers, three Hen Harriers and 73 Little Egrets. Wrabness had three Goosanders, 47 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Black-necked Grebe, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, two Slavonian Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe and Short-eared Owl. Frinton logged 248 Gannets, three Pomarine Skuas, eight Kittiwakes, 116 Common Scoters, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, 45 Eiders, 14 Red-throated Divers, three Black-throated Divers, two Sooty Shearwaters, four Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua, pale-bellied Brent Goose, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl, Little Gull, Firecrest, Swallow, Spoonbill, Wheatear, Purple Sandpiper, Whinchat and Snow Bunting. RAINHAM MARSHES:
Highlights included three Cattle Egrets, a Bittern, Spoonbill, three Great White Egrets, 500 Black-tailed Godwits, a Jack Snipe, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Shag (the first since 2012), 25 Caspian Gulls, four Little Gulls, a Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, five Whitefronts, three Pinkfeet, ten Water Pipits, a Firecrest, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Ravens. SOUTH-EAST ESSEX:
Wallasea held four Hen Harriers, 12 Marsh Harriers, three Short-eared Owls, two Merlins and a Rough-legged Buzzard. A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Blue House Farm. Bradwell BO had a Hen Harrier, Merlin and Tree Sparrow. A Hen Harrier was at Canvey West. A Great White Egret was at Vange. A Slavonian Grebe was at Clements Green. A Purple Sandpiper roosted on Bridgemarsh Island. Gunners Park had an Eider, Shag and Black-throated Diver. A Black-throated Diver and 15 Mediterranean Gulls were off Southend Pier. Canvey logged nine Red-throated Divers, three Red-breasted Mergansers, four Black-throated Divers, 15 Razorbills, four Scaup, 135 Common Scoters, five Velvet Scoters, 43 Eiders, four Great Skuas, two Great Northern Diver, 165 Kittiwakes and 32 Little Gulls. There were 70 Little Gulls and many Kittiwakes at East Tilbury, six Eiders off TTNP and 1,000 Avocets. Hanningfield Reservoir had Great White Egret, two tundra Bean Geese, two Barnacle Geese and seven Goosanders. Howard Vaughan
NORFOLK HIGHLIGHTS: Pallid Swifts were at Cromer, Sheringham and Tilney All Saints (12th), and Winterton (11th & 14th). The Stejneger’s Stonechat remained at Salthouse (to 8th). A Pallas’s Warbler was at Wells Woods (from 25th). Three Coues’s Arctic Redpolls were there (to 24th), with one at Walsey Hills (19th). A Barred Warbler was at Warham Greens (10th). A Penduline Tit was at Haddiscoe Island (25th). Eight Parrot Crossbills were at St Faith’s Common (6th-22nd). A few Rough-legged Buzzards were recorded. There were 24 Shore Larks 24 at Holkham Gap. Great Grey Shrikes were at Grimston Warren (2nd-6th), Brandon (2nd), Santon Downham (8th) and Brandon Heath Park (15th). The King Eider remained at Sheringham (to 22nd). Sixteen taiga Bean Geese returned to Buckenham and Cantley Marshes (from 26th). A Grey Phalarope was at Winterton (1st-6th).
BREYDON WATER: Highlights included a Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe and four Great White Egrets. There were several Rough-legged Buzzards, a Red Kite, two Merlins, a Hen Harrier, four Short-eared Owls, a Grey Wagtail, three Waxwings, six Stonechats and a late Wheatear. Maxima were 10 Little Egrets, 15 Great Crested Grebes, a Bewick’s Swan, 4,450 Pinkfeet, 35 Whitefronts, 287 Greylags, three Egyptian Geese, a Barnacle Goose, dark-bellied Brent Goose, 97 Shelducks, 2,400 Wigeon, 649 Teal, 200 Mallards, 73 Pintails, 142 Shovelers, 78 Gadwall, four Goosanders, four Red-breasted Mergansers, a Goldeneye, 118 Avocets, 10,600 Golden Plovers, 28 Grey Plovers, 4,600 Lapwings, 50 Snipe, 3,800 Dunlin, 403 Curlews, 1,000 Redshanks, 1,201 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper and two Spotted Redshanks.
NOA HOLME: Maxima included 31 Eiders, 102 Common Scoters, three Goldeneyes, 32 Red-breasted Mergansers, 22 Red-throated Divers, 40 Gannets, 34 Great Crested Grebes, three Spotted Redshanks, seven Waxwings, 100 Fieldfares, 10 Crossbills, two Long-eared Owls, six Rock Pipits, four Stonechats, five Bearded Tits, two Bramblings, 26 Twite, three Snow Buntings, two Peregrines, two Slavonian Grebes, five Guillemots, six Common Terns, three Water Rails, two Cetti’s Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, six Siskins, 450 Redwings, three Barn Owls, three Long-tailed Ducks, three Woodcocks, 759 Linnets, two Great Northern Divers, two Razorbills, five Shags, two Red-necked Grebes, two Greenshanks, 360 Lapwings, six Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Snipe, three Bullfinches, a Merlin, Firecrest, Swallow, Yellowhammer, Fulmar, Purple Sandpiper, Pomarine Skua, Little Auk, Short-eared Owl, Red Kite, Blackcap, Water Pipit, Great Skua, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Kingfisher and Ruddy Shelduck. NOA REDWELL MARSH:
There were 80 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, two Stonechats, Barn Owl, Cetti’s Warbler, Yellowhammer and Bullfinch. CLEY AREA:
Highlights included seven Velvet Scoters, three Caspian Gulls, nine Waxwings, 60 Snow Buntings, six European Whitefronts, two Short-eared Owls, 31 Little Gulls, two Red-necked Grebes, two Black-necked Grebes, a Great Northern Diver, Spoonbill, Little Auk, Great Skua, Spotted Redshank, Long-tailed Duck, Bittern, Jack Snipe, Black-throated Diver, Yellow-browed Warbler, Black Redstart, Sooty Shearwater and Coue’s Arctic Redpoll. 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/birdlineeanglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden7 SUFFOLK HIGHLIGHTS: Two Pallid Swifts were at North Warren, though one was predated (11th). A Penduline Tit was at Southwold (2nd). A Pallas’s Warbler was at Landguard (5th-6th). A Rose-coloured Starling was at Kesgrave (from 4th). Great Grey Shrikes were at Brandon (2nd), Santon Downham (8th) and Brandon Heath Park (15th). Five Waxwings were at Reydon (from 28th). A Richard’s Pipit was at Felixstowe Ferry (9th). A Black-necked Grebe was at Alton Water (29th). The Stour Estuary held two Slavonian Grebes and a Red-necked Grebe. Four tundra Bean Geese were at Felixstowe Ferry. Three Cattle Egrets were on Carlton Marshes. Rough-legged Buzzards were in the Havergate-orfordness-sudbourne area (6th-8th), Lackford Lakes (8th), Felixstowe Ferry (9th) and Cattawade (30th). 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/birdlineeanglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden7