NorTblk Bird & Mammal Report 1998 Volume 32 part 2 1 Norfolk Bird Report - 1998 Editorial 1 29 Obituary: Michael Seago 1 32 Review of the Year 1 34 Wetland Bird Surveys 1 40 Systematic List 1 43 Introductions, Escapes, Ferals and Hybrids 272 Earliest and Latest Dates of Summer Migrants 276 Latest and Earliest Dates of Winter Migrants 277 Non-accepted Records and Non-submitted Records 278 Contributors 279 Ringing Report 28 Breeding Woodland Birds of Holkham Park between 1995 and 1997 293 Titchwell - a day to remember 299 The Classic Robin fall of early October 1998 300 Pied Wagtails in Central Norwich 304 Ringing in Norfolk 307 The Birds of The Wash - corrections 3 1 Norfolk Mammal Report - 1998 Editorial Classified List 313 Contributors 325 The Broadland Bat Survey 326 Harbour Porpoises at Sheringham 1993-1998 329 A Survey of Mammals Flattened on Norfolk’s Roads ( 1996-1999) 331 Published by NORFOLK AND NORWICH NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY, Castle Museum, Norwich, NRl 3JU [Transactions Volume 32 part 2 October 1999) ISSN 0375 7226 Keepsake back numbers are available from Mrs M J Dorling, 6 New Road, Hethersett, NR9 3HH Front cover photograph: Barn Owl (C R Knights) Back cover photograph: Harvest Mouse (M R Perrow) HjiTOHY -3 OEC 1999 Norfolk Bird Report - 1998 eXCKAMXO QENERAL Editorial The Council ot the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists Society presents the annual report on the birds ot Norfolk. An introduction to those involved in the current report is given below. The close liaison with the Norfolk Bird Club and Birdline East Anglia has continued. Many readers will be aware that the 1997 Norfolk Bird Report was again successful in the prestigious ‘British Birds’ Bird Report of the Year competition having been awarded second place, after being joint winners in 1994 and 1995. The majority of readers will already know of the sad death of Michael Seago in July 1999. Michael was unique both locally and nationally on the ornithological scene and to many it was a pleasure to have known him. Two of his close friends, Don Dorling and Peter Allard, who both knew him for over 40 years and helped him with the Report, have expressed their thoughts and memories on the following pages. Don served alongside Michael on Society Committees over many years as well as being a work colleague; Peter met Michael when he first started birdwatching and regarded him as his mentor. It is also of great regret that Michael passed away only a matter of weeks before the publication of the new 'The Birds of Norfolk ’. For many years he had been contemplating updating his previous ‘Birds of Norfolk’ (1967 and 1977) and fortunately he was able to make a major contribution to the new volume, much before his illness. The new definitive work will undoubtedly serve as a lasting memory to him. Editor: Giles Dunmore. Responsible, on behalf of the Society as publishers, for editing the Report as a whole. Editors of the Systematic List and County Recorders: Giles Dunmore and Neil Lawton. Responsible for assembling teams of compilers and authors and producing the final edited List. Record Card Compilers: Dave and Jacquie Bridges, Giles Dunmore. Vince Hanlon. Justin Lansdell, Neil Lawton, Mick Saunt and John Williamson. Systematic List Authors: Peter Allard, Dave Appleton. Julian Bhalerao, Andrew Bloomfield, Dave and Jacquie Bridges, Andy Brown, Peter Clement, Giles Dunmore, Keith Dye, Mark Eldridge, Vernon Eve, Paul Fisher, Mick Fiszer, Vince Hanlon. Phil Heath, Gary Hibberd. Ian Johnson, John Kemp, Chris Lansdell. Justin Lansdell, Neil Lawton. Mick Saunt, John Williamson and Mike Young-Powell. Review of the Year: Mick Saunt and Steve Wakeham Recording: All Systematic List records, including those relating to national and county rarities, should be sent on a monthly basis to Giles Dunmore at 49 Nelson Road. Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8DA. In the case of national rarities details (in duplicate please) should be sent as soon as possible and not left until the year-end. Observations will not normally be acknowledged but names of all contributors will be published. All records should be listed in the order of species appearing in this Report. To obtain as complete coverage as possible 129 records ‘phoned-in’ to Birdline East Anglia have been frequently used in the compilation of the List. However, records of national and local rarities have only been included where considered and accepted by the appropriate committee. Receipt of late records causes a major problem in drafting the Systematic List and observations received after February of the following year cannot be guaranteedfor inclusion in the Report. Editorial Material: Articles for consideration, artwork, photographs and transparencies should continue to be submitted to the Editor, Giles Dunmore at 49 Nelson Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8DA. County Records Committee: Steve Gantlett, Phil Heath, John Kemp, Andy Stoddart and John Williamson with Giles Dunmore as Secretary. A total of 126 records were considered in the year; 18 of these were rejected, mostly as a result of insufficient detail and not owing to an incorrect identification. The Committee also reviewed the list of species needing submission of a written description or photographic evidence (and subject to acceptance) prior to publication and decided to make two additions to that published in the 1997 Report; ie Greenland White-fronted Goose and ‘small race’ Canada Goose as from 1 January 2000. Two species have also been deleted as they became national rarities as from 1 January 1999; ie Ferruginous Duck and Savi’s Warbler. The list is as follows: Black-necked Grebe (at sea) Lesser Black-backed Gull (fuscus race) Cory’s Shearwater Ring-necked Parakeet Great Shearwater Bee-eater Balearic Shearwater Short-toed Lark Storm Petrel Tawny Pipit Purple Heron Flava Wagtail (Continental races except White Stork Blue-headed and Grey-headed) Greenland White-fronted Goose Bluethroat (White-spotted only) ‘small race’ Canada Goose Aquatic Warbler Green-winged Teal Marsh Warbler Ring-necked Duck Melodious Warbler Surf Scoter Dartford Warbler Spotted Crake Pallas’s Warbler Corncrake ChiflFchaff (tristis race) Buff-breasted Sandpiper Woodchat Shrike Grey Phalarope (in flight at sea) Raven Sabine’s Gull Serin Ring-billed Gull Common Rosefinch Yellow-legged Gull {cachinnans race ie Ortolan Bunting Caspian Gull) Little Bunting Information regarding submission of descriptions was published in the 1995 Report. It should be noted that on occasions observers may be asked for further details of species not contained in the above list - if records relate to unusual dates, localities etc. 130 5 Acknowledgements Thanks are due to the following artists and photographers: N Arlott, P Beeson, J Bhalerao, A Bloomfield, N Bowman, S Cale, R Chittenden, R Gillmor, V Hanlon, T Howes, P Jones, C R Knights, C Lansdell, 1 Leach, B Macfarlane, R Millington, D Nye, M Preston, M Rawlings, G Smith, A Tate, and S Young. Special thanks are due to the artists who produced work at short notice due to the late change in editorship. Acknowledgements are also due to the team of compilers of the recording cards (especially Neil Lawton); the authors of the Systematic List; Dave Appleton for analysing/summarising the Breeding Birds Survey information; Andy Stoddart for advice on races/sub-species; Pat Bonham for his diligent proof reading of the draft Systematic List and advice on the use of English; Enid Stanford for proof reading the draft articles; Julian Bhalerao for his assistance and advice on the selection of photographs and sketches; John Williamson for liaising with the printers; and Judy Dunmore for her continued forbearance during the preparation of the Report. Thanks are also due to the observers and particularly organisers of the Great Crested Grebe and Heron surveys as well as Birdline East Anglia, BTO (for making available the Breeding Birds Survey information), Cley Bird Club, Eastern Counties Newspapers (for providing the county map), English Nature, Gt Yarmouth Bird Club, Nar Valley Ornithological Society, National Trust, Norfolk Bird Club, Norfolk Ornithological Association, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Stanford Training Area Bird Club, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and all other contributors. THE NORFOLK & NORWICH NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY (Reg Charity No 291604) Patron: Her Majesty the Queen The county’s senior natural history society. It has for its principal objectives the practical study of natural science, the conservation of wildlife, the publication of papers on natural history, especially those relating to the county of Norfolk, arranging lectures and meetings and the promotion of active field work, Specialist groups cover most aspects of the county’s flora and fauna. Annual Subscription Rate: Publications: Individual/Family £10.00 Transactions Affiliated Groups £15 Bird & Mammal Report Overseas Members £ 1 Quarterly newsletter “Natterjack” Secretary: Membership Secretary: Dr A R Leach S M Livermore 3 Eccles Road 6 Terence Avenue Holt Sprowston NR25 6HJ Norwich NR7 8EH 131 Michael J Seago 1926-1999 The Norfolk Bird Report published in 1 954 covering the events of 1 953, contained an obituary of Bernard Riviere. That first issue of the annual Report was produced under the editorship of Michael Seago, and it is with great sadness that this first issue under a new Editor should have to report his death on 9 July 1 999 at the age of 73. Michael who was bom in Norwich in 1926 and educated at Norwich High School for Boys (now Langley School), soon developed a passion for bird watching. He joined the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society in 1 943 and in the following year the first of many articles appeared in the Society’s Transactions', it dealt with records of rare birds that had occurred in the county between 1934 and 1943. On leaving school he was called up for military service which involved a posting to India via East Africa.