Around were a Chiffchaff, 47 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Song Thrushes, a male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 1200 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Pintail, a Water Rail and a Green Woodpecker.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE RESERVE IS STILL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
December 9th: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy.
Birds around included a Water Rail, 48 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Buzzard, a Whooper Swan, a Woodcock, 2 Pintail, a Yellowhammer and a Song Thrush.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE RESERVE IS STILL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
December 8th: Moderate south-westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
Around were a Lapland Bunting, a Common Buzzard, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, 4 Snow Buntings, 12 Fieldfares, 21 Black-tailed Godwits and a Green Woodpecker.On Jackson's Marsh was a Pintail. Offshore were 6 Common Scoters, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and 103 Cormorants. Early morning, 900 Pink-footed Geese flew from the estuary across the River Steeping.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 12 new birds and 24 retraps. The new birds were 10 Greenfinches, a Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff. The retraps were 9 Greenfinches, 5 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and singles of Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock and Goldcrest. The Chiffchaff was the first December-ringed Chiffchaff since 2009!
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE RESERVE IS STILL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
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| Tide mark on outside of Bird Observatory, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Gibraltar Road near Yacht Club still flooded, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Entrance to Mill Pond Road, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Breach in Bulldog Bank, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Another breach in Bulldog Bank, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Fenland Lagoon Sluice isolated by breach in bank, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Subsidence at West Dunes, 8 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
Birds around included a male Hen Harrier, 5 Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 11 Fieldfares, 2+ Water Pipits, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Siskin and a Goldcrest. Offshore were 2 Common Scoters and a Gannet.
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| Mere Meadow and Freshwater Marsh flooded, 7 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Mill Pond Road flooded and Mere Hide cut off, 7 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Collapsed ramp of Heligoland trap, 7 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Shorebird Warden's Base (Tern Hut) shifted, 7 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| South Marsh Road flooded, 7 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
All of the buildings at the Field Station complex,including the Cafe and Shop, and large parts of the reserve, have been flooded.
The NNR, Field Station, Cafe and Shop are closed until further notice.
Around were 3 Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a male Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, 3 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares. At high tide 1000 Bar-tailed Godwits were counted.
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| Drift material on top of gate, 6 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Collapsed wall at Field Station, 6 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Tide mark on outside wall of Field Station, 6 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Drift material by bicycle racks, 6 December 2013. George Gregory |
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| Internal flood damage in Field Station Annexe, 6 December 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
Birds around included a Merlin and a Woodcock. On Fenland Lagoon were a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Redshanks, on Tennyson Sands 2 Gadwall, on Croftmarsh 35 Lapwings, and on Jackson's Marsh 25 Wigeon and a Curlew.
December 4th: Moderate westerly wind, clouds and sun.
The Hume's Leaf Warbler remained in the Plantation. Around were 2 Redwings and a Redpoll. On the Mere were 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Pintail, on Fenland Lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit, and on Tennyson Sands 800 Lapwings, 4 Curlews, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Pintail.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 12 new birds: 6 Goldfinches, a Blue Tit and 5 Greenfinches; and 11 retraps: 2 Blue Tits, 2 Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock, a Great Tit, 2 Greenfinches, a Robin and a Wren.
We are very grateful to Graham Catley for sending his excellent images of the Hume's Leaf Warbler.
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| Hume's Leaf Warbler in the Plantation. Photo - Graham Catley |
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| Hume's Leaf Warbler in the Plantation. Photo - Graham Catley |
The Hume's Leaf Warbler was still in the Plantation.
December 2nd: Light south-westerly wind, damp start, foggy all day.
A Hume's Leaf Warbler was discovered in the Plantation. Also around was a Merlin. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pink-footed Goose and a Pochard, on Tennyson Sands a Pintail, on the Mere 8 Black-tailed Godwits and a Pintail, and on Croftmarsh 6 Whooper Swans, 200 Lapwings and 20 Golden Plovers.
December 1st: Light north-westerly wind, sunny but freezing start, then warmed up.
At dusk a Common Crane and 70 Little Egrets flew inland. Around were 2 Short-eared Owls, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Fieldfares, 6 Snow Buntings and a Goldcrest. On the Mere were 46 Black-tailed Godwits, and on Fenland Lagoon 5 Redshanks. A Common Buzzard, 50 Pink-footed Geese, a Common Snipe and a Siskin flew south over land. At sea an Eider and 6 Red-throated Divers flew south, and 64 Common Scoter, 2 Gannets and 6 Red-throated Divers north, while offshore were 24 Red-throated Divers, 154 Cormorants and 13 Common Scoter.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 17 new birds and 31 retraps. The new birds were 11 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches and singles of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Blackbird. The retraps were 10 Greenfinches, 6 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 3 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Goldfinches and singles of Chaffinch, Blackbird and Coal Tit.
Good insects for December were a Peacock and 2 Ruddy Darters.
