Sightings 2021 & 2022

At Westleton the party of 8 Whooper Swans remained along Lymball’s Lane, from mid month they were joined by 7 Bewick’s Swans. Up to 3 Pink-footed Geese were present in the Aldringham

January is a busy month for those who like to kick off their year lists, scarce and rare birds have to be seen and time also has to be devoted to chasing species that will become plentiful later in the year.

The Minsmere area was pretty much the only place to view winter swans as the year came to its end, Whooper Swans were seen about the reserve on several dates with a maximum of 7 on the 29th.

Winter wildfowl began to appear during this month with reports of Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans, five of the former seen at Minsmere and seven of the latter at Covehithe

What a disappointing month October proved to be with relatively low numbers of both common and scarce migrants. A slight increase in wildfowl reports over last month, most tantalising was

The only wildfowl report of note for September involved a Pale-bellied Brent Goose on Minsmere scrape on the 13th. On the 19th two Red-necked Grebes were seen off Thorpeness.

August is the month when migration starts to become evident, particularly waders and seabirds. Starting off with wildfowl the only reports of note concerned a Ruddy Shelduck on Southwold marshes

July is normally a quieter month but still able to throw up the occasional surprise. On the 9th a drake Scaup was discovered on Benacre broad, this increased to two on 13th-17th.

Reports of Purple Herons featured at the beginning and at the end of this months sightings, on the 5th a first summer was seen at Carlton marshes and an adult

Wildfowl records were sparse this month, two Garganey at Minsmere on the 15th and a Pink-footed Goose at Reydon on the 22nd were the pick. May is not usually a month associated with a lot of action offshore so four Manx Shearwaters south off Dunwich

The first day of January is traditionally the day when many birders like to get out in the field and start their year lists, little did everybody know how short-lived this freedom would be this month.

The male Eastern Yellow Wagtail continued to frequent Peto’s marsh at Carlton marshes on a few dates throughout the month, Water Pipits were also reported from here (3) and at Minsmere (2). day of January is traditionally the day when many birders like to get out in the field and start their year lists, little did everybody know how short-lived