I collected my friend Ivan & with my partner Mandy traveled to Colin’s where we walked up the path between Workhouse Wood 7 Flixton Holes.
We could all see that the Hirundine flock was still present & at the earliest opportunity I set up my scope to search some of the telephone wires the birds were perched on to see if I could locate these two Red rumps.
The first scan produced nothing so I passed the scope to Ivan who had past experience of these birds abroad. Whilst he was scanning I pointed out that a lot of Hirundines were perched on an oak tree whereupon Ivan aimed the scope & loudly announced that he had seen one of the red rumps perched on a lower branch.
At this time the birds all flew off the tree & began feeding on insects over the barley field next door. Ivan said that red rumps have a fixed wing glide & the rump is very distinctive in flight giving the impression of a Barn Swallow with a House Martin’s rump.( The Red Rump refers to the Swallow’s pale rusty red rump which looks white from a distance)
Mandy, who did not have the use of binoculars shouted “there’s two birds there gliding,” pointing excitedly towards the barley field. Both Ivan & I scanned the filed with our bins & we were able to confirm they were indeed the red rumps seen by Colin & his wife earlier.
We stayed to watch them for some ten to fifteen minutes & observed that they kept away from the main flock of Hirundines, by flying higher & slightly away from the others.
The Hirundines would erupt from the Oak & the pylons as darkness fell before all the birds flew west towards the extensive reedbeds of Blundeston Marshes.
Colin stated that he & his wife had seen them perched on the wires on their own at 7pm. The birds were exhibiting a reddy brown nape & ruddy Rump. The undertail coverts were inky black. He also stated that the birds rested “bent” rather than the straight posture of Barn swallows. Colin & his wife had views of these birds down to ten feet as they perched on the wires above them.
Little Owl & Barn Owl were also seen here.
It is interesting to note that this is arable farmland that is managed badly for wildlife, but seems to be a magnet for migrant birds. Other goodies here have been Ring Ouzel & osprey.
The Waveney valley is to the west of this farmland & it may act as a funnel for migrant birds during Spring migration as they come in from the sea some two miles to the east.
On Wednesday 1st January 2003. The Suffolk Bird recorder told me that the birds have been accepted into the Suffolk Bird report as National Rarities.
To say I am pleased would be an understatement.
CJ
