RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - Recorded every day with the exception of the 21st/22nd when fog made seawatching impossible.
Highest Day Count = 135 (55 N, 80 S) on the 1st.
Monthly total = 623 (423 N, 191 S) in 105hrs.



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
The long staying first-winter remained on Lake Lothing until the 18th.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - Recorded on 22 dates.
Highest Day Count = 106 (1 N, 73 S, 32 o/s) on the 2nd.
Monthly total = 236 in 105hrs.



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - Recorded on 21 dates.
Highest Day Count = 51 (50 N, 1 S) on the 18th.
Monthly total = 205 (178 N, 27 S) in 105hrs.



GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - Recorded on 27 dates.
Highest Day Count = 143 (143 N) on the 7th.
Monthly total = 682 (669 N, 7 S, 8 o/s) on 105hrs.



SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Three immature birds roosted in Lowestoft Harbour on the 25th.



BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicula
Kessingland - 6th, 8th, 17th, 29th.



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 6th (2 N), 10th (8 S), 26th (1 S).



WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 18th (2 N), 25th (1 o/s).



GADWALL Anas strepera
Kessingland - 9th (2 o/s).



EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland - Recorded on 11 dates.
Highest Day Count = 8 (8 o/s) on the 17th.
Monthly total = 36.



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 5th, 8th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 31st.
Highest Day Count = 37 (7 N, 30 o/s) on the 31st.
Monthly Total = 75.



VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
Kessingland - Recorded on 8 dates.
Highest day Count = 5 (4 N, 1 S) on the 2nd.
Monthly Total = 21.



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
Kessingland - 5th (2 N), 10th (2 N), 14th (1 S), 20th (1 N).
Monthly Total = 6 (6 N).

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Three drifted west over Fritton Lake on the 25th.

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus
One watched heading west over Ashby/Fritton Lake on the 25th having arrived from Belton/Burgh Castle was aged as a juvenile.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 12th (8 N).



AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
Kessingland - 10th (3 S).



GREY PLOVER Pluvalis squatarola
Kessingland - 21st (1 S).



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Ness Point - 25th (3).



CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland -13th (2 S), 15th, 17th, 23rd, 25th (2 S), 31st.



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Without doubt the highlight of the month was the presence of unprecedented numbers of Pomarine Skuas. During the period 08.11.99-31.03.00 more than 400 Pomarine Skua sightings were made from Kessingland. Two or three were regularly seen together and occasionally up to four were noted. The total of 227 sightings made in March was the highest monthly total during the period. At this time, when seawatching from Kessingland, it was unusual not to have at least one Pom in view during a watch and on many occasions they were present throughout the entire proceeding. The actual number involved is difficult to assess but it's fair to say the minimum was 18. Of these the majority were 1st-year birds but at least 2 adults and a probable 2nd year bird exhibited pale bellies and collars.

Of particular interest was the fact that the Poms were resident in the area during the period, not passing through, as is normally the case in winter. This afforded the opportunity to observe their behaviour in such areas as hunting, prey preference, relationships with other birds and amongst themselves even their methods of washing and drying, which was a very regular and extended process. The end of March saw the departure of the majority and only three sightings were made in April.

At Lowestoft northbound birds were seen on the 15th (12 juveniles + 4 adult type birds), 16th (4) and 18th (4). It is likely that these birds had overwintered in Suffolk but could have been passing through from further south. The main population of wintering birds was centred in the Dunwich and Sizewell area.



MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - Sightings on the 13th (1 S), 25th (1 N, 1 S), 27th (1 S) and 30th (1 N) probably related to the same individual.



KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - Recorded on 22 dates.
Monthly Total = 322 (215 N, 107 S).



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis
The first of the spring flew north on the 30th with a further two on the 31st.



AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - Recorded on 22 dates.
Monthly Total = 34 (24 N, 10 S).



WOOD PIGEON Columba palumbus
Noted in off the sea at Kessingland on the 7th (14) and 9th (1).



SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was watched trying to arrive off the sea at Kessingland on the 8th. A force 6 westerly wind slowed it down and after 20 minutes it was lost to sight still not over the beach and being mobbed by gulls.



SHORELARK Eremophila alpestris
One was north of Kessingland Sluice on the 10th where 5 were present on the 31st.



WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
One Kessingland Sluice on the 16th.



WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Singletons noted at Kessingland Sluice on the 16th and 26th.



CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
First noted at Kessingland sewage works on the 13th.



SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
The last sighting of the winter involved a flock of 12 at Kessingland Beach from the 6th-9th.

COMMON CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
The only sighting involved a pair at Ashby Dell on the 25th.