20th April: An adult male Subalpine Warbler was discovered in front of Tennyson Sands north hide this evening, showing very well in Sea Buckthorn scrub. Meanwhile, offshore 7 Common Cranes flew north. The Red Kite appeared again this time over the Visitor Centre mid morning.
19th April: Grounded migrants included 2 Firecrests, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers and 6 Chiffchaffs. Flying about offshore were a Commic Tern and 4 Little Terns.
18th April: At Sykes Farm were a male Redstart and a Firecrest. 2 Marsh Harriers flew south over the reserve mid morning. The first Swifts of the year were seen over the Mere at dusk.
17th April: Flying south were 1300 Chaffinches, 10 Bramblings, 31 Linnets, 9 Yellow Wagtails and 11 Siskins. The Firecrest was around Sykes Farm early morning, and a Mediterranean Gull flew over the Plantation at dawn.
16th April: There was a remarkable total of 5 Firecrests on the reserve today, with 3 together in the East Dunes, 1 at Beach Car Park and the usual bird at Sykes Farm. Flying south were 500 Chaffinches, 20 Bramblings, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 40 Siskins. The Red Kite was over Jackson's Marsh mid afternoon, and 7 Wheatears were on the saltmarsh by the beach.
15th April: A complete clear out of Redwings and wildfowl was noticeable early morning, the clear skies over night encouraging them to move on to their breeding grounds to the east. Hirundines flew through continuously all day, with Swallows reaching triple figures. Grounded migrants included 16 Wheatears, a male Ring Ouzel, 5 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps. The Firecrest remained faithful to Sykes Farm for most of the day, and the Red Kite showed well early evening from the Wash Viewpoint.
19th April: Grounded migrants included 2 Firecrests, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers and 6 Chiffchaffs. Flying about offshore were a Commic Tern and 4 Little Terns.
18th April: At Sykes Farm were a male Redstart and a Firecrest. 2 Marsh Harriers flew south over the reserve mid morning. The first Swifts of the year were seen over the Mere at dusk.
17th April: Flying south were 1300 Chaffinches, 10 Bramblings, 31 Linnets, 9 Yellow Wagtails and 11 Siskins. The Firecrest was around Sykes Farm early morning, and a Mediterranean Gull flew over the Plantation at dawn.
16th April: There was a remarkable total of 5 Firecrests on the reserve today, with 3 together in the East Dunes, 1 at Beach Car Park and the usual bird at Sykes Farm. Flying south were 500 Chaffinches, 20 Bramblings, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 40 Siskins. The Red Kite was over Jackson's Marsh mid afternoon, and 7 Wheatears were on the saltmarsh by the beach.
15th April: A complete clear out of Redwings and wildfowl was noticeable early morning, the clear skies over night encouraging them to move on to their breeding grounds to the east. Hirundines flew through continuously all day, with Swallows reaching triple figures. Grounded migrants included 16 Wheatears, a male Ring Ouzel, 5 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps. The Firecrest remained faithful to Sykes Farm for most of the day, and the Red Kite showed well early evening from the Wash Viewpoint.
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| The wintering Golden Plover flock on Croftmarsh (Richard Doan) |
14th April: The prolonged rainfall and cloudy conditions overnight made it ideal for grounding migrants birds. Heading south were 2000 Redwings, 60 Chaffinches, 13 Siskins, 80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1000 Starlings, a Yellowhammer, 35 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 6 Sand Martins, 4 Yellow Wagtails and a Sandwich Tern. Grounded migrants included 2 Ring Ouzels, a Firecrest, 15 Goldcrests, a Black Redstart, 400 Redwings, 140 Blackbirds, a Bullfinch and a male Blackcap. Other birds around included a Red Kite, a Short-eared Owl, a Tawny Owl and a Glaucous Gull, the latter flying into the Wash to roost.
13th April: Flying south were a Hawfinch, 3000 Redwings, 47 Linnets, 153 Chaffinches, 3 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, a Brambling and a Yellow Wagtail. Grounded migrants included 2 Black Redstarts around the Visitor Centre, 2 Ring Ouzels, 250 Redwings, 100 Blackbirds, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and several newly arrived Goldcrests.
12th April: Today's highlights were 2 Black Redstarts around the Visitor Centre, and 200 Redwings on Jackson's Marsh field. A Chiffchaff was singing in the Plantation late morning.
11th April: Around the Visitor Centre were 3 Black Redstarts. A Red Kite flew southwest over Croftmarsh late afternoon, flushing 200 Golden Plovers. 2 Woodcocks and a couple of Goldcrests were worthy of note around the reserve.
