Birdline East Anglia bird news for Suffolk for May 2008 by Robin Chittenden There was a multiple arrival of scarce birds, found just after the weather improved following a few days of rainy easterlies. Several sites had a run of good birds: Shingle Street had a red-spotted Bluethroat 28th and a Red-backed Shrike 29th-31st. Landguard NR had a first summer male Western Subalpine Warbler 29th-30th, Common Rosefinch 29th and Marsh Warbler 30th & 31st. At Minsmere RSPB there was an Icterine Warbler 27th-28th, a Great Reed Warbler 29th-30th, Marsh Warbler 29th, a male Red-backed Shrike 29th and up to two Purple Herons 29th- 31st. An Icterine Warbler was at Corton 28th and another at Felixstowe 31st. A Marsh Warbler was at Pipp’s Ford 30th and a Red-backed Shrike was at Thorpeness 28th. The rarest bird during May was a singing first summer male Spectacled Warbler at Westleton Heath 10th. This is the second ever to been seen in Suffolk following one at Landgaurd NR. There was an influx of Red-footed Falcons to the UK several of which were seen in Suffolk: a pair of which were at Lakenheath Fen RSPB 12th-29th at least and singles were at Minsmere RSPB on three dates 15th,19th and 31st. There were a couple more Great Reed Warblers; one at Lakenheath Fen RSPB 11th and another at Minsmere RSPB 17th-18th. An Ortolan was at Minsmere RSPB 4th. A Bee-eater flew over Dingle Marshes 21st. A male Red-backed Shrike was at Dunwich Heath NT 23rd and a female was at Westleton Heath 27th. A Lesser Yellowlegs was at Dingle Marshes 6th-13th. A Red-necked Phalarope was at Minsmere RSPB 27th. A Temminck’s Stint was at Minsmere RSPB 13th-17th & 27th and another was reported at Trimley Marshes SWT. A Dotterel was at Landguard NR 25th. The easterly blow over the late May bank holiday period produced several Blue Fulmars around the Suffolk coast plus an adult Long-tailed Skua flew that north past Landguard NR and Orfordness 25th. A Wood Warbler was at Minsmere RSPB 13th. A couple of Pied Flycatchers were at Minsmere RSPB during May and one was at Languard 26th-30th. A Grey-headed Wagtail was at Corton. The first Golden Oriole was seen at Lakenheath Fen RSPB 2nd. A Purple Heron flew east over Martlesham Creek and Kirton 9th and a Night Heron flew west over Trimley Marshes SWT 13th. A Rough-legged Buzzard flew north-west over Oulton 3rd and again 5th and one flew south at Minsmere RSPB 6th and another there 17th.Two Honey Buzzards flew north-east over Bawdsey 13th and one west at Wicken market 27th. A Montagu’s Harrier was over the Sizewell Levels 15th. A Roseate Tern flew north at Languard NR 17th. A Raven south over Minsmere RSPB 7th and another in off the sea 31st and another was over St Olaves 30th. This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia. Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings by phoning 09068 700 245 He is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please look at the news page at www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk and view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk Contact t 01603 633326 m 07941333970 e robin@harlequinpictures.co.uk Calls to 09068 numbers cost just 60p/min. Mobile phone rates may vary.