Late November 2025

November 30th. Partly cloudy, with fresh westerly to south-westerly wind.

November 29th. A miserable day with rain from before first light for most of day in a moderate south-westerly wind.

Brent Geese, 25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Greylag Geese, 25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Sanderling and Oystercatchers feeding on the beach, 25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Goldcrest, 25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Still plenty of Blackbirds about around the reserve, 25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 28th. Partly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

Linnet, 28th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Waders over the Wash, 28th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Pheasant, 28th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 27th. A soggy start after overnight rain, warmer and cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

  Recent thoughts that visible migration had just about ceased were proved wrong today when 73 Siskin and 47 Chaffinch moved south in under an hour with several groups of Starlings, 14 Rock Pipit and the highlight being a single Waxwing. Passage over the sea remained somewhat slow but did include 3 southbound Pochard, a Shoveler and several Teal and unusually a party of three small Grebes (Slavonian/Black-necked).

  The Purple Sandpiper remained distant with other waders on Greenshanks Creek. A Bullfinch was again vocal around the East Dunes and 2 Chiffchaffs were in regular haunts with several Goldcrests. The male Black Redstart showed well around the Visitor Centre but only for a brief period and 5 Corn Buntings were a welcome sight around Rock Ridge, although representing a further decline in a wintering flock that used to number 50.

Black Redstart, 27th November 2025
Photo - Rob Watson

Corn Buntings, 27th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Gadwall, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwit, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black Redstart, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Stonechat, 27th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Muntjac Deer, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

November 26th. Freezing, clear start, gradually warming up and becoming cloudy, with an increasing south-westerly wind.

  The male Black Redstart remained around the Visitor Centre. 5 Stonechats were in typical locations and several Woodcocks were present.

Black Redstart, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black Redstart, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black Redstart, 26th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

November 25th. Partly cloudy, with some afternoon rain and fresh north-westerly wind.

  A juvenile Pomarine Skua was the highlight of an otherwise quiet sea-watch early morning. Also on the sea were 15 Eider, 20 Common Scoter and 9 Red-throated Diver, whilst on the beach were 200 Oystercatcher, 7 Turnstone, 193 Cormorant and a Peregrine. Highlight on the beach was a highly unusual for the reserve, Purple Sandpiper feeding with other waders on the beach wrack washed up after the recent rough weather.

  Tennyson's Sands held 74 Brent Geese, 47 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 150 Wigeon, 600+ Teal and 1 Tufted Duck whilst over Croft Marsh a Marsh Harrier was hunting. Just a few Finches, Pipits and Skylarks were moving south and 2 Black Redstarts around the Visitor Centre were new arrivals. A Woodcock was in the East Dunes in the afternoon, a Kingfisher on Fenland Lagoon and 50+ Goldcrest and 5 Stonechat were around the reserve.

Black Redstart, 25th November 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Black Redstart, 25th November 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Purple Sandpiper (To the left of the Redshank), 25th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Waders galore and gulls feeding on the masses of seaweed and beach wrack washed up recently.
A result of the recent rough weather. 25th November 2025
Photo  - Tom Baker

Teal, 25th November 2025
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Shoveler, 25th November 2025
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Female Shoveler in the rain, 25th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Shoveler, 25th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Gadwall, 25th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Fieldfare, 25th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Blackbirds still clearing the berries from the Hawthorns around the reserve.
25th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Goldcrest, 25th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

November 24th. Mostly cloudy, with occasional rain and light to moderate north-westerly wind.

  On the water bodies around the reserve there were 2000+ Teal, 58 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, 150 Wigeon, 32 Mallard, 1 Water Rail, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Redshank. Elsewhere there were 7 Whooper Swan, 100+ Shelduck (on the estuary), a Woodcock, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands from North Hide), 45 Blackbird, 1 Stonechat (West Dunes near Mere Hide), 32 Goldfinch and 18 Siskin.

Goldfinch's enjoying a sunshine lunch break, 24th November 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Woodcock (Centre of picture!), 24th November 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Buzzard over the Plantation, 24th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Rock Pipit on Fenland Lagoon, 24th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

November 23rd. Cloudy with rain on and off all day, feeling cold in a fresh south-westerly wind.

  Due to the constant rain again we received no records today. No birders on site!

Greenshanks Creek outlet, up near the sleeper track now.
Note the WW2 defences, now exposed for 100's of yards.
25th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Tennyson's Sands slowly refilling with water with the heavy rains.
25th November 2025.
Photo - David Nutt

November 22nd. Cloudy and cold with rain for most of day and fresh south-westerly to southerly wind.

  Constant rain for most of the day meant very few observers on site today. However one very good one was present and had a look in all the hides! The Mere held 14 Mallard and 1 Snipe with 1 Marsh Harrier over Freshwater Marsh. Jackson's Marsh held 84 Teal. Tennyson's Sands though was where all the action was with an incredible clicker count of 2712 Teal, (Making at least 2796 on the reserve for the day!), 46 Shoveler, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Water Rail, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide) and 1 Water Pipit showing well just to the left of Harvey's Hide.

A wet day produced several rainbows through the day, 25th November 2025
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

November 21st. A hard frost started the day with increasing cloud and a still bitterly cold south-westerly wind.

  Today there were 1300+ Teal, 60+ Mallard, 88 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Stonechat on Tennyson's Sands. On Jackson's Marsh were 6 Whooper Swans and 3 Gadwall. The Mere was home to 11 Gadwall, 33 Mallard and 52 Teal. Another Stonechat was on Fenland Lagoon and another was around the boats on the river. Also around were 220 Pink-footed Geese, 11 Turnstone, 270 Sanderling, 1 Woodcock, 1 Snipe, 2900 Herring Gull, 42 Cormorant, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap and 70 Blackbird. 

Whooper Swans over Jackson's Marsh, 21st November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Whooper Swans over Jackson's Marsh (Note the adult with a GPS tracker on its neck),
21st November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Whooper Swans on Jackson's Marsh, 21st November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

A very smart looking Teal, 21st November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Some of over 1000 Teal on Tennyson's Sands, 21st November 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

A very smart looking Shoveler, 21st November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwit on the beach, 21st November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Stonechat on Tennyson's Sands, 21st November 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Mid November 2025

November 20th. Partly cloudy, with rainy spells and a bitingly cold north-westerly to northerly wind.

  Sea-watching produced a Light-bellied Brent Goose (North at sea at 9.11am), 10 Eider, 16 Common Scoter (South), 4 Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Gannet. On the beach were 1 Snipe (In off the sea), 8 Turnstone, 85 Curlew, 180 Sanderling, 3000 Herring Gull, 122 Great Black-backed Gull and 46 Cormorant.

 Blackbirds were still much in evidence with at least 81 along the Cycle Track during the late afternoon and over 90 recorded for the day. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from opposite Mill Pond and another 2 were around Fenella Hope Hide close to dusk. Also on Tennyson's Sands close to dusk were 2167 Teal and 40+ Shoveler. On the Mere were 14 Gadwall, 42 Mallard and 36 Teal. Elsewhere on the reserve there were a Woodcock (East Dunes), 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Chiffchaff (Sykes Farm), 1 Brambling and 2 Siskin (both South).

Shoveler, 20th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Teal, 20th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwit in the river, 20th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

November 19th. A bitterly cold day with cloud and occasional driving wintry showers in a strong north-westerly wind.

  A morning sea-watch resulted in very little for the conditions: 1 Pintail, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet (North) and 43 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebe (South). On the beach were 11 Turnstone, 3500 Herring Gull, 88 Great Black-backed Gull, an adult winter Mediterranean Gull, 150 Oystercatcher and 38 Cormorant. Elsewhere there were 300 Wigeon on the reserve. An unusual record today was of a Badger 100 metres North of the Beach Car Park on the road briefly.

Stonechats, 20th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Fungus of some sort unknown, 20th November 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

November 18th. A cold start to the day with a light westerly wind and rain from early afternoon onwards.

  Around the reserve today were 180 Brent Geese, 6 Whooper Swan (South), 21 Gadwall (Mere), 324 Teal (besides birds on Tennyson's Sands), 30 Golden Plover (South), 2 Woodcock, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 44 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Stonechat (1 Croftmarsh and a pair on New Saltmarsh) and a Black Redstart (around the Visitor Centre).  Morning vis migration included over 100 Siskin, 80 Linnet with a further flock of 80 around the beach, 500 Woodpigeon, 40 Chaffinch and several Rock Pipit.

  Tennyson's Sands held 25 Shoveler, 1182 Teal (making 1500+ for the day!), 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Water Rail.

Shovelers in flight, 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Shovelers in flight, 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Male Shoveler in fresh new resplendent plumage, 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Teal spooked by a Marsh Harrier (bottom left), 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Marsh Harrier over Tennyson's Sands, 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Teal not sure whether to be afraid of a Marsh Harrier or not? 18th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 17th. A cloudy day again with occasional showers in the morning with a very cold northerly wind.

 Late news for 16th November - a Great Grey Shrike was seen and photographed in scrub near the Visitor Centre in the morning. The highlight of the today was a Yellow-browed Warbler which called briefly near the buildings in Sykes Farm near to Dusk at the same time as Blackbirds were piling into the middle of the Plantation to roost.

 A look at the sea revealed 4 Pintail, 2 Eider, 27 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Gannet, 7 Little Gull and 21 Kittiwake were all heading South, whilst heading North were 1 Razorbill. On the beach were 10 Turnstone and 1000 Herring Gull and a Merlin.

 Around today were 2 Barn Owl, 120 Brent Geese, 300 Wigeon, 11 Whooper Swan (North over the Freshwater Marsh), 100+ Blackbird (Cycle track). On the Mere were a Water Pipit, 11 Gadwall, 1 Stonechat and a Cetti's Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 900+ Starling (at roost), 950+ Teal, 20 Shoveler and 5 Cetti's Warblers.

Water Pipit on the Mere, a different bird to yesterdays.
Note the much bigger eye stripe on todays individual, 17th November 2025
Photo - Rob Stevenson

Corn Bunting by the Hump, 17th November 2025
Photo - Rob Stevenson

Corn Buntings hanging around, 17th November 2025
Photo - Rob Stevenson

Fieldfare, 17th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Redwing, 17th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Female Reed Bunting, 17th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Male Stonechat, 17th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Female Stonechat, 16th November 2025
Photo - Tony Foster

A Wren taking a drink, 17th November 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

November 16th. Cloudy, with fresh north-easterly wind.

  Early news concerned 100s of Blackbirds still on site up and down the Cycle Track and around Sykes Farm, with new arrivals in the East Dunes along with more Redwings and Fieldfares, 15 Woodcock, 3 Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer. A Firecrest was found in the East Dunes around lunchtime and a presumed northern form Bullfinch was seen in the West Dunes. A Short-eared Owl was hunting the New Saltmarsh and a Waxwing went south past the Wash View Point close to Dusk at 16.09.

  Around the reserve were 240 Brent Geese, 640 Pink-footed Geese, 40 Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 800 Teal, 1 Avocet, 400 Lapwing, 61 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (Male), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 420 Blackbird, 60 Fieldfare, 220 Redwing, 33 Robin, 1 Water Pipit (Mere), 2 Bullfinch and 17 Siskin.

  Highlights offshore were a 1 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill, 10 Red-throated Diver, Pomarine Skua, a Great Skua, a Little Auk, a Velvet Scoter, 30 Common Scoter, 11 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye and c 50 Little Gulls. Around the beach were 17 Turnstone, a Snow Bunting, a Merlin 1150 Herring Gull, 168 Great Black-backed Gull and a new Caspian Gull.

Water Pipit on the Mere, 16th November 2025
Photo - Tony Foster

A presumed "Northern" Bullfinch? 16th November 2025
Photo - Kev Wilson - comments to kwilson@linctrust.co.uk

Male Blackbird, 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Female Blackbird, 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Fieldfare, 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

An angry Robin! 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Goldcrests are still about the reserve, 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Weasel out looking for some lunch, 16thy November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

November 15th. A cloudy day with occasional light rain in a strong east north-easterly wind.

 A significant fall of Thrushes was evident from first light this morning with Blackbirds everywhere, having no doubt arrived during the bad weather yesterday, overnight and many continuing to arrive through the day with good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare. many birds were dropping out of the sky into cover, heading south or west in the mostly drizzly conditions. Many were feeding well on the abundant supply of Hawthorn haws before moving on.

  At least 3100 Blackbirds were counted and during a 30 minute period mid morning, 690 were seen leaving the Plantation in continuous groups of 10's , 20's and 30's. Over 3300 Redwing and 1800 Fieldfare were also counted. Robins, Goldcrests and Song Thrush were also new in with 20 Woodcock, 6 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, a Hawfinch, 3 Bullfinch, a Black Redstart at the Visitor Centre and at least one Ring Ouzel. A Bittern was another new arrival, seen dropping into the Cowbank Drain, a Caspian Gull was on the beach and up to 6 Water Pipits were around including 2 on the Mere.

Visibility at sea was improved somewhat on yesterday with highlights being 3 Red-necked Grebes, a Great Skua, a Skua sp and 2 Arctic Terns feeding offshore with 141 Little Gulls. 

Redwings and a Fieldfare (Top bird), 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Fieldfares arrived on mass today, 16th November 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

The sun trying to poke some rays way through the thick cloud, 16th November 2025
Photo - Tony Foster

November 14th. Storm Claudia passing through today with thick cloud and rain all day, heavy at times and strong north-easterly wind.

  A very wet day with rain from dawn till dusk, heavy at times with a fierce north-easterly wind growing in strength throughout the day, which made it very difficult to get any records at all! Credit to those who did go out. It was apparent that some new Thrushes and Goldcrests had arrived with a few Woodcock. Tennyson's Sands held 1100 Teal, 4 Shoveler and 6 Redshank.

  The weather dictated that sea-watching should be the main focus and there were some good reports from up the coast but unfortunately, visibility here was reduced to around 100 meters. Thus 2 Skua sp and a small Grebe sp were unidentified some distance beyond. Fortunately, a Leach's Petrel battling north was just along the tideline and may have landed in the swell.

Rough conditions are on their way! 4th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 13th. Partly cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind.

  After two days of difficult travelling conditions for migrants, this morning was ideal and a really good movement was recorded. It was most pleasant for birders too!  In two hours down the East Dunes, 533 Chaffinch passed through, with 254 Siskin, 249 Goldfinch, 129 Linnet, 30 Brambling, 54 Rock Pipit, 205 Skylark, 2660 Woodpigeon, smaller numbers of Meadow Pipit, Redpoll, Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch and Redpoll, 12 Whooper Swan and 8 Pintail. Scarcities were 2 Raven, 2 Crossbill and a House Sparrow. 

  The highlight though was the arrival of many flocks of Golden Plover, up to 300 at a time arriving from the north and from offshore and settling on the Haven where 8000 had amassed on the flats. Similarly, Lapwing numbers have been increasing over recent days and a further immigration today resulted in a minimum count of 2,500.

  Little attention could be paid to the sea but a few Red-breasted Merganser, Eider and Common Scoter were seen, single Little Gull and Sandwich Tern went south and a Marsh Harrier was seen flying low, south, well offshore. On New Saltmarsh were 355 Brent Geese, 3 Snow Bunting were mobile along the beach and 3 Merlin were around the Haven and Millennium Ridge.

  During the late afternoon before dusk, Tennyson's Sands held a Kingfisher, 1200 Teal, 80 Shoveler and 20 Wigeon whilst on Croft Marsh, there were 700 Lapwing. There were also 7 Cetti's Warbler including 1 from Harvey's and 4 more around Fenella Hope Hide with a further 2 calling along Mill Pond Road. Long-tailed Tit flocks of 16, 18 and 17 went along the cycle track towards Sykes Farm near to dusk making 51 in total.

Still plenty of berries and haws available for any thrushes that arrive, 4th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

One of the last blue skies of Autumn? 4th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 12th. Cloudy with rain for much of the day, eventually clearing in the afternoon in a fresh south-westerly to southerly wind.

  The only report today was of a Snipe heading East from the Freshwater Marsh. Blackbirds up and down the dunes were greedily feeding on any berries they can find, otherwise very quiet after the morning's rain.

  Ringing Control: A Goldfinch, ringed by the Observatory on the 12th October 2025, has been controlled at Icklesham, East Sussex on the 11th November 2025 by the Rye Bay Ringing Group. A movement of 244km in 30 days in a near South direction. Another migrant heading towards the continent for the winter, possible heading as far as Spain eventually.

A blustery beach type of day, 4th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

A lone Redshank on Tennyson's Sands, 4th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

November 11th. Cloudy, with morning rain and an increasing southerly wind.

  Little recording this morning due to the weather but it was evident that some birds were struggling through south including flocks of Starlings and Finches. Fortunately, a Waxwing was vocal as it passed over Sykes Farm. 500+ Teal were on Tennyson's Sands along with 27 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 4 Mallard and 1 Curlew.

  Ringing Control: A Chiffchaff, ringed by the Observatory on the 7th October 2025, has been controlled at the Cam Valley, Cameley, Bath and NE Somerset on the 9th November 2025 by R D Medland. A movement of 280km in 33 days in a South West direction. An expected movement of a migrant that may well have been heading towards the south west of England or possibly over the channel into France for the Winter if conditions there were not favourable during the coming winter months.

Little Egret, 11th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Redshank, 11th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Starlings waiting to go to roost, 11th November 2025
Photo - David Nutt