Bird Sightings 2017

Two Whooper Swans were present at Castle Marsh, North Cove, 1 January and a Bewick’s Swan and 121 Mute Swans were seen at the same site on 6 January. Fly-over Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Somerleyton (200), 1 January and Carlton Marshes (60), 3 January, with notable counts of 400 Greylag Geese and 200 Wigeon at Carlton/Castle Marshes, 1 January and 120 Teal at Carlton Marshes, 2 January.

The regular Great White Egret was seen at Redgrave Fen from 31 December to 2 January at least, while Little Egrets were noted at Carlton Marshes (two) and Lopham Fen, 1 January and Castle Marsh (two), 2 January.

A Merlin was seen at Carlton Marshes, 2 January and a Peregrine at nearby Oulton Marshes, 3 January, with Marsh Harriers reported from Lopham Fen (two), 1 January, Castle Marsh (two), 2 January and Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe (15) and Carlton Marshes (four), 3 January. Short-eared Owls were hunting at Oulton Marshes (four) and Carlton Marshes, 5 January and Barn Owls at Carlton Marshes (four) and Lopham Fen, 1 January and Haddiscoe Island, 5 January.

Three Water Pipits were recorded at Carlton Marshes and three Lesser Redpolls at North Cove SWT reserve, 1 January. Grey Wagtails were noted at Beccles, 31 December and North Cove, 1 January; Stonechats at Lopham Fen, 1 January and Castle Marsh (four), Oulton Marshes (three) and Carlton Marshes (two), 6 January; Bearded Tits at Carlton Marshes (two), 1 January and Castle Marsh (two), 2 January; Cetti’s Warblers at Lopham Fen, 31 December, Carlton Marshes, 2 January and Oulton Marshes (six), 6 January and Kingfishers at Lopham Fen, 31 December and Carlton Marshes (two), 1 January. A pre-roost count of 4250 Starlings was made at Lopham Fen, 1 January and a flock of 150 Fieldfares was noted at Oulton Marshes, 6 January.

Waders included a Green Sandpiper at Carlton Marshes and 3000 Lapwings at Oulton Marshes, 1 January, a Redshank and 20 Snipe at Carlton Marshes, 2 January and three Woodcock at Barsham Marshes, 3 January.

Photo of Whooper Swans © Jon Evans

A Hoopoe was reported flying south over the river at Harleston, 30 December. Three Water Pipits and two Stonechats were noted at Carlton Marshes, a Chiffchaff at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe and a Grey Wagtail at Beccles, 24 December, a Bearded Tit at Lopham Fen, 25 December and a Brambling at St Olaves, 28 December. Lesser Redpolls were seen at Carlton Marshes, 24 December and St Olaves, 27 December. A pre-roost count of 4500 Starlings was made at Lopham Fen, 30 December.

A Spotted Redshank was seen at Burgh Castle, 24 December, while waders at Carlton Marshes included a Green Sandpiper, 24 December and a Redshank, 29 December.

Marsh Harriers were recorded at Haddiscoe Island (six), 28 December, Carlton Marshes, 29 December and Lopham Fen, 30 December and Barn Owls at Carlton Marshes and Lopham Fen, 30 December.

Finally, Little Egrets were noted at Carlton Marshes, 24 December and Lopham Fen, 25 December.

Three Water Pipits were seen at Carlton Marshes, 23 December. A Grey Wagtail was noted at Beccles and two Stonechats at Carlton Marshes, 17 December. Bearded Tits were recorded at Herringfleet Marshes (four) and Lopham Fen, 19 December and Carlton Marshes (20), 21 December, Cetti’s Warblers at Lopham Fen (two) and Herringfleet Marshes, 19 December and Kingfishers at Oulton Marshes, 18 December and Carlton Marshes, 20 December. A pre-roost count of 130 Pied Wagtails was made at Lopham Fen, 19 December.

A Merlin was seen at Belton Marshes, 22 December, Marsh Harriers were recorded at Oulton Marshes, 18 December, Lopham Fen, 19 December and Carlton Marshes (four), 22 December and a Barn Owl was noted at Herringfleet Marshes, 19 December.

Single Woodcock were seen at St Olaves, 18 December, Oulton Marshes, 19 December and Belton Marshes, 22 December, while at Carlton Marshes, a Green Sandpiper and three Redshanks were present on 20 December and 29 Snipe on 22 December.

Pink-footed Geese were noted at Herringfleet Marshes (120), 19 December and Blundeston Marshes (1500), 22 December. Finally, two Little Egrets were present at Carlton Marshes, 17 December.

Photo of Water Pipit © Jon Evans

A Merlin was seen at Haddiscoe Island, 15 December, three Marsh Harriers at Carlton Marshes, 14 December and a Barn Owl at Beccles Common, 16 December.

A male Blackcap was present in a garden along Ellough Road, Beccles, 12 December and a Water Pipit and a Lesser Redpoll were recorded at Carlton Marshes, 14 December. Stonechats were noted at Carlton Marshes (two) and Oulton Marshes, four Bearded Tits at Carlton Marshes and a Kingfisher at Oulton Marshes, 14 December.

A Green Sandpiper and five Redshanks were present at Carlton Marshes, 14 December and a Little Egret was noted at the same site on 11 December.

Finally, Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Somerleyton Marshes (800 flew south), 13 December and St Olaves (70 flew south), 16 December.

A Jack Snipe and a Woodcock were seen at Roydon Fen, 6 December, with further Woodcock present at Oulton Marshes, 4 December and Fritton Marshes, 9 December and four Redshanks at Carlton Marshes, 9 December.

A Long-eared Owl was again roosting in St James South Elmham churchyard on 3 December and Barn Owls were reported from Beccles Common and Oulton Marshes, 4 December, Somerleyton Marshes, 7 December and Carlton Marshes, 9 December. A Peregrine was seen at Fritton Marshes, 9 December and Marsh Harriers were recorded at Somerleyton Marshes (two), 7 December, Lopham Fen (two), 8 December and Carlton Marshes (two), 9 December.

The female Ring-necked Parakeet was seen again at Oulton, 9 December. A Water Pipit was present at Carlton Marshes, a Grey Wagtail at Worlingham Marshes and 30 Siskins at Somerleyton, 9 December. Single Lesser Redpolls were recorded at Redgrave Fen, 3 December and Somerleyton Marshes, 7 December and Bearded Tits at Oulton Marshes, 4 December and Carlton Marshes (four) and Fritton Marshes, 9 December. A Cetti’s Warbler was noted at Oulton Marshes, 4 December and a Kingfisher at Worlingham Marshes, 9 December.

The Great White Egret first seen at Redgrave Fen last week was still present on 8 December, while Little Egrets were present at Worlingham Marshes (four) and Somerleyton, 9 December.

Finally, Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Wheatacre Marshes (30), 7 December and Somerleyton (300), 9 December.

Photo of Jack Snipe © Jon Evans

A Long-eared Owl was roosting in St James South Elmham churchyard on 1 December and a Barn Owl was noted at Burgh Castle, 2 December. Marsh Harriers were reported from Burgh Castle (three), 29 November and Lopham Fen (two), 2 December.

A Great White Egret was present at Redgrave Fen, 2 December, while Little Egrets were seen at Burgh Castle, 29 November and Lopham Fen, 2 December.

Notable waders included a Jack Snipe at Roydon Fen, 28 November and two Avocets, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Redshanks and two Dunlin at Burgh Castle, 29 November.

The female Ring-necked Parakeet was seen again at Oulton, 28 November and three Stonechats and three Cetti’s Warblers were recorded at Lopham Fen, 2 December. Bearded Tits were noted at Herringfleet Marshes (two), 26 November, Burgh Castle (two), 29 November and Lopham Fen (ten), 2 December and a Kingfisher at Herringfleet Marshes, 26 November.

A ringtail Hen Harrier and a Peregrine were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 19 November and a Marsh Harrier at Oulton Marshes, 25 November.

Two Lesser Redpolls were noted at Lopham Fen and a Grey Wagtail and a Cetti’s Warbler at Redgrave Fen, 19 November. Stonechats were recorded at Lopham Fen, 19 November and Oulton Marshes (two), 25 November, Bearded Tits at Lopham Fen, 19 November and Carlton Marshes, 23 November and Kingfishers at Beccles Quay and Redgrave Fen, 19 November.

An impressive count of 265 Snipe was made at Carlton Marshes and a single Ruff was seen at Haddiscoe Island, 19 November.

Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Carlton Marshes (800), 19 November and Somerleyton Marshes (350), 21 November.

Finally, a Little Egret was seen at Lopham Fen, 19 November.

Photo of Hen Harrier © Shutterstock/Kippy Spilker

A Hawfinch was seen in a garden at Beccles, 17 November, while a female Ring-necked Parakeet fed in gardens along Hall Road, Oulton, 14 and 15 November. A Lesser Redpoll was noted at North Cove SWT reserve, 12 November and a Cetti’s Warbler at Carlton Marshes, 16 November. Stonechats were recorded at Lopham Fen (two), 12 November, Carlton Marshes, 15 November and Oulton Marshes, 17 November, Bearded Tits at Lopham Fen, 15 November and Carlton Marshes, 16 November and Kingfishers at Beccles Quay (two), 12 November and Carlton Marshes, 16 November.

Pink-footed Geese were seen at Oulton Marshes (1000), 16 November and Somerleyton Marshes (60) and St Olaves (50), 18 November, Little Egrets at Carlton Marshes (three), 16 November and Blundeston Marshes, 18 November and a single Black-tailed Godwit was present at Carlton Marshes, 15 November.

Marsh Harriers were reported from Lopham Fen (two) and Carlton Marshes, 15 November and Haddiscoe Island (three), 17 November and Barn Owls from Haddiscoe Island (two) and Carlton Marshes, 17 November.

Single Bramblings were seen at Redgrave Fen, 6 November and Ditchingham, 9 November, a Lesser Redpoll at North Cove SWT reserve, 10 November and three Water Pipits at Carlton Marshes, 11 November. Stonechats were recorded at Fritton Marshes, 5 November, Castle Marsh, North Cove, 6 November and Carlton Marshes (four), 11 November; Cetti’s Warbler at Lopham Fen, 5 November, Castle Marsh (two) and Redgrave Fen, 6 November, Herringfleet Marshes, 10 November and Oulton Marshes (six), 11 November; Bearded Tits at Fritton Marshes (two), 5 November, Lopham Fen (five) and Castle Marsh (two), 6 November and Carlton Marshes (six), 11 November and Kingfishers at Lopham Fen, 5 November and Burgh Castle (two), 11 November. Also of note was a pre-roost count of 100 Pied Wagtails at Lopham Fen, 5 November.

Raptor highlights included a Peregrine at Castle Marsh, 6 November, a ringtail Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island, 8 November and a Red Kite at Lopham Fen, 11 November. Marsh Harriers were reported from Lopham Fen (three), 5 November, Castle Marsh (two), 6 November, Haddiscoe Island (two), 8 November and Burgh Castle and Oulton Marshes, 11 November and Barn Owls from Lopham Fen, 5 November, Haddiscoe Island, 8 November and Burgh Castle and Oulton Marshes, 11 November.

Bitterns were seen at Carlton Marshes, 8 November and Oulton Marshes, 11 November and Little Egrets at Castle Marsh, 6 November (two), Lopham Fen, 9 November and Burgh Castle, 11 November.

Woodcock were noted at Waveney Forest, Fritton, 5 November, Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, 6 November and Burgh Castle, 11 November and a flock of 300 Golden Plovers was present by Ellough Road, Worlingham and a Redshank at Castle Marsh, 6 November.

Notable passerines recorded at Carlton Marshes included five Water Pipits and 11 Cetti’s Warblers, 30 October, 18 Bearded Tits, 31 October and eight Lesser Redpolls and five Stonechats, 1 November. Elsewhere, a Grey Wagtail was noted at Ellingham Mill, 29 October, two Cetti’s Warblers at Haddiscoe Island, 1 November, 30 Siskins at Blundeston, 2 November, Stonechats at Oulton Marshes (two), 31 October, Haddiscoe Island, 1 November and Lopham Fen (two), 3 November and Bearded Tits at Haddiscoe Island (12) and Burgh Castle (two), 1 November. Kingfishers were seen at Haddiscoe Island, 1 November and Carlton Marshes the following day.

A Great White Egret was present at Carlton Marshes, 1 November and a Bittern at Oulton Marshes, 3 November, while Little Egrets were reported from Burgh Castle (three) and Haddiscoe Island (two), 1 November and Carlton Marshes (two) and Lopham Fen (two), 3 November.

Hen Harriers were seen at Carlton Marshes (male), 30 October, Fritton Marshes (ringtail), 31 October and Haddiscoe Island, 1 November and Marsh Harriers at Carlton Marshes (three), Haddiscoe Island (two) and Burgh Castle, 1 November.

Waders included a Woodcock at Carlton Marshes, 31 October, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, two Curlews, ten Redshanks and 20 Dunlin at Burgh Castle and two Curlews at Haddiscoe Island, 1 November and 28 Snipe and a Redshank at Carlton Marshes, 3 November.

Finally, Pink-footed Geese were recorded at Carlton Marshes (three), 29 October, Ashby (500) and Blundeston (60), 30 October.