March 20th. The
Glaucous Gull appeared in the evening high tide gathering of larids at Greenshanks Creek, to the delight of those assembled for the spring wader watch event, where there were also 2
Hooded Crow, complementing the wader spectacle. Birds around included 52 Brent Goose, a Pintail, 51 Eider, 2 Red-legged Partridge, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier, 4 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 3000 Grey Plover, 49 Ringed Plover, 76 Curlew, 300 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15000 Knot, 400 Sanderling, 1000 Dunlin, 9 Turnstone, 206 Redshank, 2 Woodcock, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1100 Starling, 12 Redwing, 3 Wheatear (first of the year), a
Water Pipit, a Brambling, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Yellowhammer and 8 Corn Bunting. Heading south were a
Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Stock Dove, a Rook, 3 Alba Wagtail, 42 Chaffinch, a Brambling and 4 Siskin.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 5 new birds: a Chaffinch and 4 Goldfinch; and 2 retrap Goldfinch.
Glaucous Gull, amongst the highlights from the evenings wader watch event, 20th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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Wheatear, 20th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Ringing Control:
Goldfinch ringed Beloeil, Belgium 10 March 2018, controlled GPBO 30 September 2018.
March 19th. Misty start, soon clearing.
On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, a Pochard,
12 Goosander (joint second highest reserve count), 75 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and a Water Rail. Birds around included 8
White-fronted Goose, 2 Red-legged Partridge, a Grey Partridge, a Grey Heron, 2 Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Woodcock, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a
Hooded Crow, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 3 White Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Yellowhammer and 22 Corn Bunting. Heading south were 2 Rook, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Siskin; and east, out to sea, went 260 Starling.
Short-eared Owl, hunting early morning, 19th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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Short-eared Owl, 19th March 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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Song Thrush, 19th March 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont |
Ringing Control:
Chiffchaff ringed GPBO 13 October 2013, controlled P Dell'Arco, Italy 9 April 2014.
March 18th. The
Glaucous Gull was again on the beach early morning. Heading north were 46 Whooper Swan; north-west 5 Buzzard; and south a
Red Kite and a Grey Heron. Birds around included 8
White-fronted Goose, 50 Brent Goose, a Pintail, a Grey Heron, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 70 Avocet, 40 Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Peregrine, a
Woodlark, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a
Hooded Crow, 536 Starling, 5 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2
Water Pipit, a Bullfinch, 4 Yellowhammer and 43 Corn Bunting.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 2 new birds: a Great Tit and a Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch and a Great Tit.
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Red Fox, 18th March 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound
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House Sparrow, 18h March 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound
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Sundog (Parhelion), 18th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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March 17th. Moderately strong westerly wind, gradually decreasing.
Another notable movement of Merlin transpired during the morning with
6 individuals heading south over the sea. Heading in the opposite direction was a Goosander. A vocal
Raven was to the north-west of the reserve late afternoon. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail,
11 Goosander and 35 Avocet. Birds around included 8
White-fronted Goose, 128 Eider, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, 7 Stock Dove, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a
Hooded Crow, 2 Chiffchaff, 200 Starling, 12 Redwing, 2 White Wagtail, a Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer and 28 Corn Bunting.
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Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale |
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Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale |
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Bullfinch, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Siskin, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Yellowhammer, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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March 16th. Strong westerly wind, slowly decreasing.
Heading south were 6 Little Gull, 2 Rook and a
Woodlark. On Tennyson's Sands were 52 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and a Grey Wagtail. Birds around included 8
White-fronted Goose, a Pintail, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 132 Golden Plover, 2 Woodcock, 8 Stock Dove, a Tawny Owl, 2 Merlin, a Chiffchaff. 350 Starling, 5 Fieldfare, 87 Redwing, 2 White Wagtail and 4 Corn Bunting.
March 15th. Strong westerly wind.
Flying south were 3
Woodlark and a staggering
4232 Chaffinch (
reserve record). On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, 49 Avocet and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 66 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 18 Eider, 2 Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 800 Golden Plover, 6 Turnstone, 8 Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, 2
Hooded Crow, 2 Chiffchaff, 340 Starling, 116 Redwing, 3 White Wagtail, 176 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch and 28 Corn Bunting.
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Hen Harrier, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Hooded Crow, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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White Wagtails, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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March 14th. Strong westerly wind.
Going south were a Merlin, 7 Redwing, 740 Chaffinch and a Crossbill. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 104 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Pintail, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Hen Harrier, 46 Avocet, a Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, a Merlin, 2
Hooded Crow (at North End), a Chiffchaff and 3 White Wagtail.
March 13th. Strong westerly wind.
The fourth
Glaucous Gull of the year was on the beach during the morning, today's individual being a third calendar year. Birds around included 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 94 Eider, 45 Common Scoter, a
Velvet Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 46 Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Turnstone, a Jack Snipe, 6 Woodcock, a Mediterranean Gull, a Tawny Owl, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a
Hooded Crow, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Fieldfare, 49 Redwing and a Corn Bunting. Heading south were a Tufted Duck, a Great Crested Grebe, 9 Red-throated Diver, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Merlin, a Rook, 2 Alba Wagtail, 3 Rock Pipit, 23 Chaffinch and a Corn Bunting.
Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
Ringing Recovery: Blackbird ringed GPBO 5 November 1961, shot Heligoland, Germany unknown date.
This remarkable old recovery has only recently been reported.
March 12th. Strong south-westerly wind, and rain for much of the day.
On Jacksons Marsh was a
Water Pipit; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Pink-footed Goose and a Pintail. A
Red-necked Grebe was offshore. Birds around included 2 Tawny Owl, a Bullfinch and 20 Corn Bunting.
March 11th. Strong westerly wind.
Heading south were 2 Buzzard, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, a Guillemot, a Merlin, a
Woodlark, 2 alba Wagtail and 100 Chaffinch; and north a
Red-necked Grebe and a
Black-throated Diver. In off the sea came a Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were 8
White-fronted Goose, a Great Crested Grebe, 39 Avocet and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail and a
Water Pipit. Birds around included a
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2
Velvet Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 12 Turnstone, 9 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, 3 Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 3
Hooded Crow (on the beach), a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and 47 Corn Bunting.
