io6 Birds of Suffolk Moorlands 



may be found in the centre of one of the big commons, remaining 

 but httle altered since the plough was last over it. 



In other parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, these lands are called 

 " brecks " {I.e., land which has been at some time broken by the 

 plough), cf., the Newmarket, Thetford and Swaffham districts. 



Stevenson, in the preface to his " Birds of Norfolk," divides 

 that county into six districts which represent fairly distinct faunal 

 areas. One of these he terms " the Breck district," and the moor- 

 lands I am dealing with here possess an avifauna very similar to 

 his " Breck " region. 



The birds of a region such as this are characteristic, well-defined, 

 and in some cases restricted to the common-lands, and found nowhere 

 else. The ornithology is peculiar, not only in the birds that are 

 found within the area, but also in those that are wanting. For, 

 since there are no woods or trees or hedgerows, a vast number of the 

 Passerine birds. Warblers and so forth, are absent. As there is no 

 water, wading and aquatic birds are missing ; and as there is no grain, 

 the game birds are not found here in any quantity, except on the 

 edge of the moor, where the arable land meets the heathery waste. 



On the other side of the ledger, we find a number of birds that are 

 more or less characteristic of the district. They are such as breed on 

 the ground ; or, as in the case of the Wheatear and Stockdove, wider 

 the ground ; or at the most, content themselves with low bushes. 



Of the Passerine birds, Larks, Buntings (especially the Com- 

 bunting), and Pipits breed in abundance. The moorlands are the 

 stronghold of our three British Chats — the Wheatear, Stone-chat, 

 and Whin-chat. It is here only that the rare and generally retiring 

 Dartford Warbler can be observed. Nightjars are numerous, and 

 form a very characteristic feature in the bird life. 



Raptors, of one sort or another, are not uncommon, owing to 

 the abundant supply of food in the shape of rabbits. In the winter, 

 Peregrine Falcons and Rough-legged Buzzards are sometimes 

 plentiful ; while on rare occasions a White-tailed Eagle puts in an 

 appearance. 



In the summer, the Hen Harrier and Montagu's Harrier are not 

 very infrequent visitors ; the latter bird has nested with us on more 

 than one occasion in recent times. 



The Short-eared Owl is very abundant in most years from 

 October to February, and these commons may be looked upon as 

 their headquarters. In the summer, a pair or two may sometimes 

 still be found breeding. 



Lapwings lay in large numbers on some of the more open parts 

 of the Warrens. Here, too, a stray pair of Redshank or Ringed 

 Plover may deposit their eggs ; both species rather out of place, 

 for the Redshank is naturally a denizen of the marsh-lands, and the 

 Ringed Plover of the sea-shore. 



But the glory of the Breck district has departed with the 

 extermination of the Bustard ; this took place in Suffolk about 



