Birdline East Anglia bird news for Suffolk for December 2006

by Robin Chittenden



There was an influx of juvenile Great Northern Divers in December. Many of which settled on inland water bodies. On the Suffolk/Essex border one was on River Stour off Mistley Quay 2nd and perhaps the same off Holbrooke Bay 23rd-24th. Others were on the River Ore at Orford Quay 3rd, on River Deben near Ramsholt 15th and Woodbridge 31st, one at Oulton Broad 9th-30th and another was at Lake Lothing 10th-31st at least.

The only Shorelark was one in Suffolk at Dingle Marshes SWT/RSPB 3rd.

Summer visitors lingered well into December. There was an Arctic Tern was off Sizewell 2nd-3rd, the Osprey at Nayland throughout October reappeared there 6th-8th, a Sand Martin was at Minsmere RSPB 7th and there was a House Martin at Southwold 8th and six were at Sizewell 19th.

A Black Brant was seen around the River Orwell 12th-31st being seen at Shotley Marshes, Levington Creek, Trimley Marshes SWT and Chelmondiston.

So far there have been very few Tundra Bean Geese with up to three at Minsmere RSPB 28th-30th at least and two at North Warren RSPB 29th-30th at least.


Aldeburgh 20 Snow Bunting 27th

Benacre Pits Scaup 1st-28th

Blythburgh Blyth Estuary up to five Caspian Gull (3 1w, 2w, adult) 14th-31st at least, 29 Bewick's Swan 26th-31st at least

Carlton Marshes two Jack Snipe 3rd

Dunwich Firecrest at Greyfriars Wood 9th

Felixstowe Ferry Purple Sandpiper 5th-18th

Kessingland up to 18 Snow Bunting 24th

Levington Hen Harrier 18th-31st at least

Lowestoft up to four Purple Sandpiper, Shag Hamilton Docks 19th and Lake Lothing 27th, up to two Black Redstarts Ness Point/Hamilton Docks area

Minsmere RSPB Scaup 2nd, 2w Caspian Gull 3rd-9th, Water Pipit 9th, Firecrest 19th, 1w Caspian Gull 24th

North Warren RSPB 180 Eurasian White-fronted Geese 27th

Sotterley up to three Hawfinch 26th-27th

Walberswick Marshes NNR three Velvet Scoter 29th



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