BIRD NOTES OF THE STOUR
327
Green Wood-
pecker
Great Spotted
Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker
Cuckoo
Swift
Kingfisher
Barn Owl
Hoopoe
Little Owl
Short-eared
Owl
Tawny Owl
Montagu's
Harrier

Has been seen on several occasions feeding on
shore.
Occurs mainly in Stour Wood area.
Has been seen at regular intervals.
Frequent summer visitor. Has bred via Meadow
Pipits.
Flies over shore line during evening flight.
Haunts dykes and creeks during winter.
Hunting grounds cover salting and shore line.
Has bred on adjacent marshes.
Seen on one occasion by a competent observer
(Miss Turner).
Common. Nests in old Rabbit burrows in cliffs.
Mainly occurs in winter. Hunting over saltings.
Keeps to adjoining woods. Seldom seen on
shore.
Seen on several occasions.
Occurs regularly each winter, feeding mainly on
wading birds.
Sparrow Hawk Common all the year round. Often feeds on
flocks of finches in winter. Great decline in recent
Kestrel
Merlin
Cormorant
Whooper Swan
Bewick's Swan
Mute Swan
years.
Common on adjacent farmlands.
Has appeared on a few occasions.
Common all the year.
Occasional visitor mainly in winter months. In
small parties.
Individuals seen in spring.
This bird has become symbolic of the Stour, large
numbers congregating in the Mistley and Man-
ningtree area. The numbers fluctuate between
500-900 birds. A few pairs find suitable sites
adjacent to the estuary but the majority are non-
breeding birds.
Has occurred on several occasions in small
parties.
Several seen in company with Shelduck.
Regular visitor each winter but not present in
large numbers between 100-300 birds.
Single specimens seen in company with Brents.
Three specimens have been seen in the last 10
years.
Resident on the estuary all the year. This species
has greatly increased in the last 10 years. Num-
bers in the winter build up to 3,000 + birds and
represent approx. 75% of the Shelduck popula-
White-fronted
Goose
Pink-footed
Goose
Brent Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck