EAST ANGLIA
Highlights
East Anglian treats included a female
Blue- winged Teal at Berry Fen, Cambridgeshire, the longstaying third- winter Kumlien’s Gull in the same county, Red-breasted Goose at sites in north Norfolk, and a Bonaparte’s Gull at Cantley Beet Factory in that same county.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Berry Fen had a Blue-winged Teal (30th-31st) and six Glossy Ibises. The Green-winged Teal remained at Smithy Fen (to 8th), with it, or another, at Eldernell (from 24th). The Ouse Washes had a Ring- necked Duck (19th-20th), 23 Garganeys and two Smew. There was an exceptional influx of Garganeys from mid- month. The Hoopoe remained in the Heathfield area (to 22nd). The Great Grey Shrike remained at Comberton (to 26th). The Yellow- browed Warbler remained at Milton CP (to 23rd). A Snow Bunting flew over Burwell Fen (22nd). A Black Redstart was at Northstowe (26th), with two at Earith Marina (30th-31st). A Glossy Ibis flew over Landbeach (25th). The wintering Kumlien’s Gull was at Smithy Fen (3rd and 5th, Tanholt Pits (8th) and Cottenham, Long Drove (12th). Two Iceland Gulls were at Tanholt Pits (8th). Grafham Water had a Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter, Smew, Garganey, seven Scaup, two Black- necked Grebes and three Little Gulls. Three Smew were at Paxton Pits.
A Red- breasted Merganser was at Maxey Pits (4th). A Common Scoter was at Sutton Fen North (7th- 8th) and Brampton (9th). The Black- necked Grebe stayed at Godmanchester GP (to 8th). First dates included a Sand Martin (5th) and Common Tern (26th).
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 333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7
ESSEX
FRINTON- ON- SEA: Totals included 10,450 Chaffinches, 1,513 Siskins, 122 Bramblings, 7,259 Starlings, ten Hawfinches, two Spoonbills, a Short- eared Owl, Merlin, Osprey, four Black Redstarts, 525 Gannets, two Fulmars, two Sandwich Terns,
142 Red-throated Divers, four
Black- necked Grebes, a Great Northern Diver and Whimbrel.
King George V Reservoir logged a Red- necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, six Scaup, two Common Scoters, a Smew, Black- necked Grebe, Water Pipit and Scandinavian Rock Pipit. Holyfield Lake had two Avocets, a Caspian Gull and Scaup. Walthamstow Marshes had a Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff and Black Redstart. Walthamstow Wetlands had a Little Ringed Plover, three Garganeys and a White-tailed Eagle. Three Garganeys were at Beckton STW and two at Fairlop Waters. Two Cattle Egrets were around the Mardyke.
A Great White Egret was near North Ockenden. Golden Plovers included 36 at Fairlop and 45 over Seventy Acres Lake. An Osprey flew over Rainham. two Red- necked Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe, three Great White Egrets, ten Cattle Egrets, a Spoonbill, three Goosanders, 45 Goldeneyes, a Garganey, four Little Gulls, two Common Scoters, 15 Avocets, four Little Ringed Plovers, White and Yellow Wagtails, 46 Buzzards and six Red Kites. A Hen Harrier
was at Salcott. Old Hall had three Great White Egrets, a Short- eared Owl, Merlin, White-tailed Eagle, Little Ringed Plover, Goshawk, two Spoonbills, 21 Ruff, three Whimbrels, a pale- bellied Brent and Bittern. Tollesbury had two Great White Egrets, four Russian Whitefronts, 22 Red- breasted
Mergansers, four Slavonian Grebes, two Great Northern Divers and a Hen Harrier.
Mersea Island had a Black Brant, four Great Northern Divers, a Shag, two Slavonian Grebes, 23 Buzzards, a Merlin and Hen Harrier. Two Black Redstarts were at Coggeshall and one in Stanway. Lesser
Spotted Woodpeckers and 20 Hawfinches were in Shut Heath and Blakes Woods. Four Bearded Tits were at Wivenhoe. A White Stork circled Heybridge. NORTH EAST ESSEX: The Naze had a Firecrest, Great White Egret, Eider, Short- eared Owl,
Black Brant, Black Redstart and three Garganeys. Holland Haven had two Garganeys, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Firecrest, Black Redstart, Water Pipit, ten Mediterranean Gulls and eight Purple Sandpipers. A Dartford Warbler was at Colne Point. Four Garganeys were at St Osyth.
A Short- eared Owl and Merlin were at in Hamford Water. Four Little Gulls were at Stansted Airport. There were 860 Stock Doves at Wormingford.
RAINHAM MARSHES:
Highlights were three Spoonbills, Bittern, four Caspian Gulls, six Common Scoters, Firecrest, Ring Ouzel, two Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, displaying Marsh Harriers and two Red Kites.
SOUTH EAST ESSEX:
A Red- breasted Goose and Black Brant were at South Fambridge. A Tundra Bean Geese and Merlin were at Lower Raypits. Three Glossy Ibises flew over Rayleigh, with a Bittern over Westcliff. Bowers Marsh had a Great White Egret, four Garganeys, four Black- necked Grebes, a Short- eared Owl and Merlin. Stow Marsh had a Velvet Scoter and Purple Sandpiper. Wallasea Wetlands had four Spoonbills, a Water Pipit, 54 Russian Whitefronts, a Glossy Ibis and Hen Harrier. Four Short- eared Owls were at Canewden. Canvey logged Great Northern Diver, 148 Great Crested Grebes, a Great Skua, 16 Kittiwakes and two Little Gulls. Three Jack Snipe were at Vange. East Tilbury had White Stork, Little Stint, Water Pipit, two Little Ringed Plovers and six Garganeys.
NORFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-flanked Bluetail was at Ken Hill (26th). An Eastern Stonechat, presumed to be a Stejneger’s Stonechat, was at Holme (12th-16th). Two Little Buntings were on Kelling Heath (21st-25th). A Dusky Warbler was at Stiffkey Fen (from 27th). The wintering Short-toed Lark remained at West Runton (to 17th). Four Shore Larks remained in Holkham Bay. A Great Grey Shrike was at Sparham (from 29th). The Red- breasted Goose remained at Cley Marshes, commuting between Blakeney and Salthouse.
The Iceland Gull remained at Cley (to 9th). A Bonaparte’s Gull was at Cantley Beet Factory (26th), with reports of a Lesser Yellowlegs also there. A Glossy Ibis was near Barford (3rd). It, or another, flew over Norwich (14th) and was then seen at West Earlham Marsh and Bowthorpe Southern Park. Others were at Buttle Marsh (6th- 8th) and East Ruston (26th). The Red- necked Grebe commuted between Rollesby Broad and Ormesby Little Broad. Three Smew were at Rollesby Broad (2nd). Two Great Northern Divers were in Blakeney Harbour (7th), with nine off Titchwell. First dates included a House Martin (12th), Garganey (14th), Wheatear (14th) and Ring Ouzel (15th). A Hooded Crow was at Happisburgh (19th). There was an exceptional influx of Garganeys from mid- month.
BREYDON WATER.
There were two Spoonbills, six Great White Egrets, 42 Little Egrets and 21 Cormorants. There were three Red Kites, four Hen Harriers, seven Marsh Harriers, two Short- eared Owls, four Stonechats and five Cetti’s Warblers. Maxima included six Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, 99 Mute Swans, 13 Pinkfeet, two dark- bellied Brent Geese, seven Egyptian Geese, 332 Shelducks, 3,106 Wigeon, 98 Gadwall, 911 Teal, 119 Pintails, 422 Shovelers, eight Pochards, 15 Tufted Ducks, a Garganey, 86 Oystercatchers, 561 Avocets, 19 Ringed Plovers, 517 Golden Plovers, 27 Grey Plovers, 320 Lapwings, 22 Knot, a Sanderling, 1,930 Dunlin, three Ruff, eight Snipe, 1,220 Black-tailed Godwits, 53 Bar-tailed Godwits, 927 Curlews, two Spotted Redshanks, 993 Redshanks, three Turnstones and 147 Mediterranean Gulls.
NOA HOLME:
Maxima included 1,400 Golden Plovers, 300 Lapwings, seven Stonechats, two Gannets, 1,142 Wigeon, three Rock Pipits, 528 Brent Geese, 2,500 Common Scoters, 12 Red- breasted Mergansers, four Red Kites, nine Jays, four Fieldfares, 30 Bramblings, two Barnacle Geese, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, two Barn Owls, four Bullfinches, 12 Snipe, 43 Eiders, three Red-throated Divers, two Great Northern Divers, five Fulmars, 11 Great Crested
Grebes, two Water Rails, three Cetti’s Warblers, four White Wagtails, ten Snow Buntings, two Ruff, 14 Chiffchaffs, 12 Siskins, 990 Redwings, two Jack Snipe, 207 Curlews, 24 Avocets and a Greenshank, Spoonbill, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Grey Wagtail, Firecrest, Short- eared Owl, Raven, Wheatear, Blackcap, Black Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Great White Egret,
NOA REDWELL MARSH:
There were 80 Curlews, nine Avocets, three Oystercatchers, 17 Lapwings, a Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, four Chiffchaffs, 60 Teal, a Bullfinch and Cetti’s Warbler.
CLEY AREA:
Highlights included 11 Snow Buntings, a Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier, six- plus Garganeys, three Water Pipits, two Black Redstarts, two Wheatears and eight Bramblings.
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 333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7
SUFFOLK
HIGHLIGHTS: A Little Bunting was at Knettishall (7th and 9th). The Shorelark seen earlier this winter re-appeared at Kessingland (from 20th). Minsmere had a Lesser Yellowlegs (to 28th), Glossy Ibis (from 10th) and two Smew (to 26th). The Glossy Ibises remained at both Carlton Marshes and Walberswick. The Ring- necked Duck remained at Aldringham Walks (to 13th), with two Scaup also there. An exceptional influx of Garganeys from mid- month included eight at Walberswick. Three Black- necked Grebes were at Trimley Marshes (30th-31st). A Glaucous Gull flew past Landguard (13th). An Iceland Gull was at Great Livermere (from 13th). A Slavonian Grebe was in Holbrook Bay (to 7th). A Long- eared Owl was at Benacre (17th). A Swallow was at Ufford (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 333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7