EAST ANGLIA
Highlights
The star bird for East Anglia was the pristine
Roller at Lackford Lakes and Icklingham, Suffolk, which gave sensational views (and allowed for great photographs) during the month. A few Bee-eaters here and there helped give a sprinkle of colour to the region, too.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Woodchat Shrike was at Great Wilbraham Common (2nd). A Great Reed Warbler was at Little Wilbraham Fen and a Marsh Warbler at Roswell Pits, Ely (4th-5th). A Bee-eater flew over Wimblington (21st). An American Wigeon was at the Ouse Washes (22nd). Five Glossy Ibises were there (7th), with two (21st). Up to three were seen on and off at Berry Fen (12th-20th). A Black Tern was at Grafham Water (16th).
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/robinchittenden7
ESSEX
FRINTON-ON-SEA: Maxima included 126 Brent Geese, 66 Canada Geese, a Great White Egret, Hoopoe, Hen Harrier, three Eiders, 364 Common Scoters, 87 Curlews, 322 Swifts, a Spoonbill, a few Fulmars, Gannets and Kittiwakes, the occasional flock of Sand Martins and Siskins, and five Crossbills.
METROPOLITAN ESSEX: Gallions Reach had a Caspian Tern, Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern and eight Arctic Terns. The Black-necked Grebe remained on Wanstead Flats where two Quails were noted. Two Spoonbills flew over Dagenham Chase. Another was at Walthamstow Wetlands, where there were also two Avocets, a Black-necked Grebe, Wheatear, 11 Common Scoters, a Mediterranean Gull, Scaup, Redshank, Lapwing and Common Sandpiper. Green Sandpipers were in the Ingrebourne Valley.
A Cattle Egret and 55 Little Egrets were recorded in the Mar Dyke. A Crossbill flew over Noak Hill. A Red-backed Shrike was recorded at Childerditch.
MID-ESSEX: Abberton had a Spoonbill, Ruddy Shelduck, two Goldeneyes, Mandarins and a Red-necked Grebe. An Osprey flew over the reservoir and Chelmsford. A White Stork flew over Stanway. Two Cattle Egrets and a Brent Goose were at Old Hall. Four Common Scoters were off Mersea. Turtle Doves were at a number of sites. Two Garganeys were at Russell Green.
NORTH ESSEX: The Naze had a Red-backed Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Long-tailed Skua and nine Bee-eaters, which were then picked up over Holland Haven and Colne Point. A Stone Curlew and Black Redstart were at Wigboro Wick. A Great White Egret was at Holland Haven. Three Spoonbills were at Cattawade. A Raven flew over Copperas Wood. Red Kites included 11 following the plough at Manuden.
RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included record Redshank numbers, 14 pairs of Avocets, broods of warblers, Bearded Tits, Gadwall, Shovelers and Pochards, three Spoonbills, a Great White Egret, White Stork, young Little Egrets, a Cattle Egret, Marsh Harriers, Peregrines, Ravens, three Red Kites, four Common Scoters, 31 Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits and a Crossbill.
SOUTH-EAST ESSEX: Bowers Marsh had six Spoonbills, four Black-necked Grebes and a Caspian Tern. Vange Marsh had two Spoonbills and four Great White Egrets. A White Stork was near Billericay. Wallasea had three Spoonbills, which were also seen at Hanningfield Reservoir. Foulness had a Hen Harrier and Rose-coloured Starling. An Arctic Tern was off Tilbury, with a family of Ravens there. An Eider was off Gunners Park. Red Kites were widespread. Howard Vaughan
NORFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-flanked Bluetail was near Langham (21st). Hickling Broad had a Collared Pratincole (16th and 24th-26th), two Glossy Ibises (14th-19th), Red-footed Falcons (4th and 5th-7th), and two Black-winged Stilts (from 22nd), which also visited Potter Heigham Marshes (28th). A Red-necked Phalarope was at Cley and Salthouse (28th-29th). Rose-coloured Starlings were at 15 sites. Up to nine Bee-eaters roamed coastal areas. Marsh Warblers were at Holme (2nd), Winterton (3rd) and Kelling Water Meadows (12th-20th). Red-backed Shrikes were at five sites. A Common Rosefinch was at Sidestrand (4th).
An Icterine Warbler was at Hungary Hill (2nd). A Red-footed Falcon flew past Sheringham (6th). Purple Herons were at Strumpshaw Fen (6th), Breydon Water (9th) and Titchwell (16th). A Black-crowned Night Heron was at Lenwade (13th) and Great Ryburgh (14th). Four Glossy Ibises were at Welney (12th), with one (13th-15th). Honey Buzzards were at five sites. Two Roseate Terns were off Sheringham (20th), with another at Cley (24th). A few, presumably released, Corncrakes were found along the Wensum Valley.
BREYDON WATER: There were two Great White Egrets, three Spoonbills, 49 Little Egrets, 103 Mute Swans, 569 Shelducks, a Wigeon, three Shovelers, six Teal, 28 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Ducks, a Hobby, 239 Curlews, 40 Oystercatchers, 63 Avocets, 25 Ringed Plovers, a Grey Plover, Golden Plover, three Knot, three Dunlin, five Black-tailed Godwits, six Whimbrels, two Common Sandpipers, two Spotted Redshanks, breeding Common Terns, 16 Sandwich Terns,
only a few Mediterranean Gulls, three pairs of Marsh Harriers, five pairs of Little Grebes and six Cetti’s Warblers.
NOA HOLME: Maxima included three Cuckoos, eight Gannets, 26 Little Terns, 220 Sandwich Terns, three Common Terns, two Grasshopper Warblers, three Spoonbills, two Mediterranean Gulls, two Turtle Doves, four
Chiffchaffs, four Lesser Whitethroats, six Crossbills, two Red Kites, 11 Eiders, four Fulmars, two Great Crested Grebes, two Great White Egrets, 310 Common Scoters, 14 Marsh Harriers, five Black-tailed Godwits and a Kingfisher, Peregrine, Osprey, Cattle Egret, Arctic Tern, Greenshank, Siskin, Long-tailed Duck, Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, White-tailed Eagle, Barn Owl, Black Redstart, Grey Wagtail,
Rose-coloured Starling, Willow Warbler and Bearded Tit. NOA REDWELL MARSH: There was a Turtle Dove, three Great White Egrets, a Spoonbill and Cuckoo.
CLEY AREA: Highlights included a Short-eared Owl, Rose-coloured Starling, Crane, Wood Sandpiper, Black Redstart, nine Bee-eaters, an Osprey, Puffin, Cattle Egret and 11 Little Gulls. 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/robinchittenden7
SUFFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: Rollers were near Icklingham (23rd-30th), and over the A14 near Newmarket (25th). A Collared Pratincole flew over Minsmere and Southwold (12th). It relocated to Carlton Marshes where there was also a Purple Heron (5th) and nine Bee-eaters (13th). Walberswick had a Red-footed Falcon (5th-7th) and Purple Heron (5th-9th). A Red-backed Shrike was at Dunwich Forest (5th). A Common Rosefinch was at Southwold (7th). Trimley Marshes had a White-winged Black Tern (20th) and two Black-winged Stilts (1st). A Glossy Ibis was at Lackford Lakes (from 4th). The Iberian Chiffchaff remained at Foxhall Heath.
Minsmere had a Golden Oriole (5th), Purple Heron (from 24th), Red-necked Phalarope (29th), Honey Buzzard (13th), up to five Roseate Terns (from 7th) and a Red-footed Falcon. Rose-coloured Starlings were at Landguard (6th-7th and 9th), Lowestoft (10th) and Tunstall (15th). A Marsh Warbler was at Landguard (10th). Nearby, a Serin flew over Sunningdale Drive (2nd).
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/robinchittenden7