Bird Sighting 2014

Hen Harriers were seen at Haddiscoe Island (male and ringtail) and Belton Marshes (male), 29 December, Marsh Harriers were recorded at Beccles Marshes, 28 December, Belton Marshes, Herringfleet Marshes (two) and Oulton Marshes, 29 December, Haddiscoe Island (18), 30 December and Carlton Marshes, 1 January, while three Buzzards were noted at Beccles, 28 December with another three at Herringfleet Marshes the following day. Short-eared Owls were seen at Waveney Forest, Fritton, 28 December, Belton Marshes (three), 29 December and Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe (two), 3 January, with Barn Owls at Barsham Marshes and Beccles Marshes, 28 December, Belton Marshes (two), Herringfleet Marshes, Lopham Fen and Oulton Marshes, 29 December, Haddiscoe Island (two) and Burgh Castle, 30 December, Geldeston Marshes, 31 December, Worlingham, 1 January and Waveney Forest (two), 2 January.

A group of seven Bewick’s Swans was present at Camps Heath Marshes, 1 January, while Pink-footed Geese were noted at Wheatacre Marshes (2000) and St Olaves (60 flew south), 1 January and Haddiscoe Island (2000), 3 January.

A wintering Chiffchaff was seen at Waveney Forest, 29 December and four Tree Sparrows were present in a garden at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, 3 January. Stonechats were recorded at Carlton Marshes and Oulton Marshes, 1 January and Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe (two), 3 January, Cetti’s Warblers at Herringfleet Marshes (two), 29 December and Carlton Marshes (three), 1 January, Bearded Tits at Herringfleet Marshes (six) and Lopham Fen (two), 29 December and Oulton Marshes (two), 1 January and Kingfishers at Carlton Marshes, 1 January and Beccles Marshes, 2 January.

A Redshank and four Curlews were recorded at Burgh Castle Flats, 30 December and ten Redshanks at Carlton Marshes, 1 January, while single Woodcock were noted at Puddingmoor, Beccles, 29 December and Waveney Forest, 3 January. Finally, Little Egrets were present at Belton Marshes, 29 December, Carlton Marshes (two), 1 January and Lopham Fen, 3 January.

Photo of Short-eared Owl © Craig Shaw

A male Peregrine was present at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 26 December. Marsh Harriers were noted at Haddiscoe Island (19), 21 December, Carlton Marshes (three), 24 December, Gillingham, 25 December, Castle Marsh (three), 26 December and Somerleyton, 27 December, while three Buzzards were seen at Blundeston Marshes, 27 December. A Short-eared Owl was recorded at Waveney Forest, Fritton, 21 December, with Barn Owls reported from Haddiscoe Island, 21 December, Beccles Marshes, 24 December and Lopham Fen, 27 December.

There was a noticeable increase in swan numbers, with seven Bewick’s Swans and 150 Mute Swans at Aldeby shooting lakes, 25 December; two Whooper Swans flew over Outney Common, Bungay and nine Bewick’s Swans were present at Castle Marsh, 26 December and eight Whooper Swans were reported at Castle Marsh, 27 December. Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Waveney Forest (200 flew east), 21 December, St Olaves (500 flew south-west), 23 December and Somerleyton (500), 24 December.

Little Egrets were noted at Haddiscoe Island, 21 December, Carlton Marshes, 24 December and Outney Common (seven), 26 December. Single Woodcocks were seen at Lopham Fen, 24 December and Fisher Row, Oulton, 27 December, eight Redshanks were present at Carlton Marshes, 24 December and three Green Sandpipers at Outney Common, 26 December.

Two Bearded Tits and two Stonechats were recorded at Castle Marsh and four Bearded Tits and a Kingfisher at Fritton Marshes, 26 December, with another Kingfisher at Somerleyton the following day.

Photo of Peregrine © Shutterstock/Mark Bridger

A Whooper Swan was present at Aldeby shooting lakes, 18 and 19 December, while nearby four Bewick’s Swans were seen at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 20 December. Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Herringfleet (80 in flight), 14 December, St Olaves (90 flew south), 17 December and Haddiscoe Island (1500), 19 December.

A Great White Egret flew south at Burgh Castle, 14 December and Little Egrets were noted at Earsham (two) and Carlton Marshes on the same day.

Two Firecrests were reported near George Westwood Way, Beccles, 18 December, while Blackcaps continued to be seen in a garden along Ellough Road, Beccles, with a male and a female, 14 and 17 December, and a Chiffchaff and a Stonechat were recorded at Beccles Marshes, 16 December. Elsewhere, a Nuthatch was noted in Diss, 14 December, four Bearded Tits and two Cetti’s Warblers were recorded at Herringfleet Marshes, 16 December, while a further Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Carlton Marshes on the same day.

Marsh Harriers were recorded at Outney Common, Bungay, 14 December, Herringfleet Marshes, 16 December and Beccles Marshes and Oulton Marshes (two), 20 December, with a Barn Owl noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 16 December.

Finally, notable waders included single Green Sandpipers at Carlton Marshes and Earsham, 14 December and ten Redshanks at Carlton Marshes, 16 December.

Photo of Whooper Swan © Craig Shaw

Raptor highlights included Merlins at Belton Marshes, 7 December and Oulton Marshes, 8 December, Peregrines at Worlingham Marshes, 7 December, Haddiscoe Island (two), 8 December and Redgrave Fen, 10 December and Hen Harriers at Belton Marshes (two) and Haddiscoe Island (two), 7 December and Herringfleet Marshes, 10 December. Marsh Harriers were recorded at Haddiscoe Island (ten), Burgh Castle (two), Beccles Marshes and Belton Marshes, 7 December, Somerleyton Marshes (seven), Carlton Marshes and Oulton Marshes (two), 8 December, Herringfleet Marshes, 10 December and Castle Marsh, North Cove, 13 December. Short-eared Owls were noted at Haddiscoe Island (three) and Waveney Forest, Fritton, 12 December and Herringfleet Marshes, 13 December and Barn Owls at Weybread GP and Waveney Forest, 7 December, Herringfleet Marshes, 11 December, Haddiscoe Island, 12 December and Beccles Marshes, 13 December.

Blackcaps were attracted to a garden along Ellough Road, Beccles, with a female, 8 to 10 December, two (one male), 12 December and four (two males), 13 December. A flock of 50 Siskins were present along the Angles Way at Blundeston, 11 December and a Grey Wagtail was seen at Bungay and two Cetti’s Warbler were noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 13 December. Stonechats were recorded at Beccles Marshes and Haddiscoe Island, 9 December and Lopham Fen (two), 13 December, Bearded Tits at Belton Marshes (three), 7 December and Herringfleet Marshes (four), Burgh Castle and Lopham Fen, 13 December and Kingfishers at Beccles Marshes and Weybread GP, 7 December.

Male Goosanders were present at Weybread GP, 7 December and on the river at Beccles the following day, while wildfowl counts included 218 Wigeon at Oulton Marshes, 8 December and 300 Teal at Burgh Castle Flats, 13 December. Pink-footed Geese were noted at Somerleyton Marshes (four), 8 December and St Olaves (112), 10 December.

A Bittern was seen at Haddiscoe Island, 9 December, with Little Egrets recorded at Belton Marshes (three), 7 December, Carlton Marshes (two) and Somerleyton Marshes, 8 December, Herringfleet Marshes, 10 December and Haddiscoe Island (three), 12 December. Finally, a Spotted Redshank was present at Burgh Castle Flats, 13 December.

Photo of Blackcap © DepositPhoto/broker 

Raptors at Haddiscoe Island included a Rough-legged Buzzard, 30 November and a Merlin, two Hen Harriers and a Peregrine the following day. Marsh Harriers were recorded at Geldeston Marshes and Castle Marsh, North Cove, 30 November, Waveney Forest, Fritton (12 flew east at dusk), Beccles Marshes and Carlton Marshes, 2 December and Outney Common, Bungay, 6 December. A Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 1 December, with further Barn Owls at Fritton Marshes (two), 2 December and Beccles Marshes and Outney Common (two), 6 December.

Ten White-fronted Geese were present at Haddiscoe Island, 1 December and four Pink-footed Geese at Barnby Marshes, 2 December.

Passerine highlights included a Nuthatch at Dunburgh Hill, 30 November, a Water Pipit at Haddiscoe Island, 1 December and a Grey Wagtail at Outney Common, 6 December. Stonechats were noted at Oulton Marshes (two), 30 November and Haddiscoe Island, 1 December, Bearded Tits at Burgh Castle, 30 November, Haddiscoe Island (two), 1 December and Fritton Marshes (two), 2 December and Cetti’s Warblers at Castle Marsh, 30 November and Haddiscoe Island, 1 December. Kingfishers were reported from Castle Marsh, 30 November, Haddiscoe Island, 1 December and Outney Common, 2 December.

Notable waders included two Spotted Redshanks at Burgh Castle Flats, 30 November and two Green Sandpipers at Outney Common, 6 December. Finally, Little Egrets were recorded at Haddiscoe Island (five) and Outney Common, 2 December.

Photo of Marsh Harrier © DepositPhoto/stephan49 

Hen Harriers were present at Belton Marshes (one male), 25 November and Haddiscoe Island (three), 29 November, while Marsh Harriers were recorded at Herringfleet Marshes, 24 November, Beccles Marshes, 25 November and Waveney Forest, Fritton (12 flew east at dusk), 29 November. A Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl were also noted at Waveney Forest on the same day.

Nuthatches were seen at Somerleyton, 24 November and Dunburgh Hill, 29 November and a Tree Sparrow was present at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, also 29 November. Four Bearded Tits were noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 27 November. Stonechats were recorded at Herringfleet Marshes (three), 24 November and Carlton Marshes the following day, Cetti’s Warblers at Beccles Marshes and Somerleyton, 27 November and Carlton Marshes (four), 29 November and a Kingfisher at Beccles Marshes, 25 November.

Finally, Little Egrets were noted at Waveney Forest (two) and Carlton Marshes, 29 November.

Photo of Hen Harrier © Shutterstock/Kippy Spilker

A female Blackcap was seen in a member’s garden at Worlingham, 16 November. Two Stonechats were present at Lopham Fen, 19 November and a Kingfisher was noted at Beccles Marshes, 22 November.

A Marsh Harrier was seen at Gillingham Marshes, 18 November and Barn Owls were recorded at Earsham, 17 November and Beccles Marshes, 18 November.

Little Egrets were present at Carlton Marshes (three), 16 November and Oulton Marshes (two), 21 November.

Photo of Blackcap © DepositPhoto/mikelane45 

Carlton Marshes hosted two Jack Snipe, 28 Common Snipe and two Green Sandpipers on 11 November, with a Woodcock seen at Beccles Marshes on the same day.

Two Lesser Redpolls were recorded at Redgrave Fen, 10 November and two Tree Sparrows at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, 15 November. Bearded Tits were noted at Castle Marsh, North Cove (five), 9 November and Redgrave Fen, 10 November and Kingfishers at Beccles Marshes, 9 November, Redgrave Fen, 10 November and Carlton Marshes, 11 November.

A ringtail Hen Harrier, ten Marsh Harriers and a Barn Owl were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 9 November, with another Barn Owl at Beccles Marshes the following day.

A flock of 230 Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Somerleyton, 15 November. Finally, a Little Egret was present at Carlton Marshes, 11 November.

Photo of Jack Snipe © DepositPhoto/mikelane45 

The first Bewick’s Swans (three) of the autumn were present at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 8 November, while a flock of 400 Pink-footed Geese flew north-east over Blundeston late morning on the same day.

A Great White Egret flew high south over Herringfleet Marshes late afternoon on 4 November and a Little Egret was seen at the same site on 6 November. A Bittern was observed in flight at Fisher Row, Oulton, 2 November.

A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe, 5 and 8 November, while Marsh Harriers were noted at Herringfleet Marshes (seven), Beccles Marshes and Haddiscoe Marshes, 4 November. Barn Owls were recorded at Herringfleet Marshes, 4 November and Oakley, 5 November.

A late Blackcap was present at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, 8 November. A Grey Wagtail was seen at Oulton, 2 November, while Stonechats were recorded at Oulton Marshes, 4 November and Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, 8 November. Four Bearded Tits and two Cetti’s Warblers were noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 4 November, with another Cetti’s Warbler at Beccles Marshes on the same day. Finally, a Kingfisher and 50 Pied Wagtails were recorded at Carlton Marshes, 4 November.

Photo of Bewick’s Swan © DepositPhoto/mikelane45

A Ring Ouzel was seen at Carlton Marshes, 1 November. Other notable passerines at Carlton Marshes included a Grey Wagtail, 26 October and two Snow Buntings, 28 October, while a Black Redstart was seen at Barnby and a Brambling at Burgh Castle, 29 October. Stonechats were present at Herringfleet Marshes, 28 October and Burgh Castle, 1 November, Bearded Tits at Burgh Castle (two), 26 October, Herringfleet Marshes, 28 October and Carlton Marshes and Lopham Fen, 1 November and Cetti’s Warblers at Burgh Castle, 26 October, Beccles Marshes and Somerleyton (three), 28 October and Oulton Marshes, 1 November. Kingfishers were noted at Beccles Marshes and Herringfleet Marshes, 28 October.

Raptors at Haddiscoe Island included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 26 and 31 October, a Merlin, 26 October and a Peregrine, 27 October. A Peregrine was also noted at Carlton Marshes, 1 November, with Marsh Harriers recorded at Beccles Marshes and Herringfleet Marshes, 28 October and Oulton Marshes, 1 November. Four Short-eared Owls were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 26 October and Barn Owls at Haddiscoe Island, 26 October and Beccles Marshes, 31 October.

A Great White Egret was present at Haddiscoe Island, 26 October, while Little Egrets were reported from Carlton Marshes (four), 26 October and Burgh Castle (three) and Oulton Marshes, 1 November.

Two Jack Snipe were seen at Oulton Marshes, 1 November, while at nearby Carlton Marshes notable waders included two Ruff, 26 October and a Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and a Green Sandpiper, 1 November. A count of 80 Curlews was made at Burgh Castle, 1 November. Finally, a flock of 120 Pink-footed Geese flew north over St Olaves at dusk on 26 October.

Photo of Ring Ouzel © DepositPhoto/mikelane45