Late February 2015

February 28th. Around were 3+ Barn Owl, 2 Merlin, 3 Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. Jackson's Marsh held 3 Avocet and 47 Black-tailed Godwit. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was located with the Brent Goose flock early morning. A Slavonian Grebe was offshore this evening; out from Mill Hill.

February 27th. The adult Black Brant was again present on Croft Marsh with the Brent Goose flock. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Avocet and a Water Rail.

February 26th. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Avocet, 1200 Brent Goose, 7 Snipe and 2 Pintail. Jackson's Marsh held 44 Black-tailed Godwit. A group of 4 Waxwing were discovered late afternoon; north of Aylmer Avenue. 

Waxwing on Gibraltar Road - north of Aylmer Avenue, 26th February.
Photo - Nigel Lound
February 25th. An adult Black Brant was discovered on Croft Marsh this evening with the Brent Goose flock. Flying through were a Siskin and 4 Rook. Around were a Red-legged Partridge, 4 Redwing, a Bullfinch, 2000 Golden Plover, 2 Yellowhammer and a Coal Tit. On the water bodies were 96 Wigeon, 12 Pochard and 57 Shoveler.

February 24th. Around were a Woodcock, 2 Barn Owl, a ring-tail Hen Harrier and a Merlin. On Jackson's Marsh were 42 Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Goldeneye.

Barn Owl, 24th February.
Photo - Paul Neale 
February 23rd. A Water Pipit was on the Fenland Lagoon. Around were 4 Song Thrush, 42 Corn Bunting, 3 Merlin, 1500 Golden Plover, 15 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, 6 Goldcrest, a Peregrine and a House Sparrow. On the water bodies were 47 Shoveler, 17 Little Grebe, 85 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 35 Gadwall, 8 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye and 13 Black-tailed Godwit. The high tide wader roost produced 10000 Knot and 3500 Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore were 18 Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Red-throated Diver.

High tide out from Sleeper Track at dawn
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
High tide out from Sleeper Track at dawn
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
February 22nd. Around were 6 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, 6 Snow Bunting, a Merlin and 4 Corn Bunting. At Greenshanks Creek were 2000 Grey Plover and 10 Ringed Plover. Tennyson Sands held 2 Avocet and 3 Goldeneye.

Corn Bunting, 22nd February.
Photo - Garry Wright 
Black-tailed Godwit on Croft Marsh, 22nd February.
Photo - Garry Wright
February 21st. The high tide wader roost produced 3000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2000 Grey Plover, 5000 Knot and 1000 Dunlin. Offshore were a Black-throated Diver, 15 Red-throated Diver and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. During the morning high tide 2 Water Rail were observed swimming across the flooded salt-marsh. A pair of Ringed Plover were displaying on Greenshanks Creek late afternoon.

Mid February 2015

February 20th. A Red Kite flew south early morning.

February 19th. Flying south offshore were 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Common Scoter and 27 Red-breasted Merganser. A Woodlark flew south over Sykes Farm early morning. On Tennyson Sands were 4 Goldeneye and a Water Rail.

February 18th. Around were 2 Woodcock, 1500 Brent Goose and 2000 Pink-footed Goose. A Song Thrush was singing in the Plantation early morning. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Goldeneye.

February 17th. 2 Waxwing were recorded from Aylmer Avenue early afternoon. The sea remained quiet with only 2 Red-throated Diver north and 5 Great Crested Grebe on the sea. Around were 2 Coal Tit, a Bullfinch, a Water Pipit, a Woodcock and 2 Stonechat. A Jack Snipe flew high south over Mill Hill and the first Avocet of the year was on Tennyson Sands.

February 16th. No records received today.

February 15th. 4 Great Crested Grebe and 2 female-type Scaup were on the sea. Around were 3 Goldcrest, 4 Woodcock and a pair of Stonechat.

February 14th. Birds around included 2400 Pink-footed Goose, 1200 Brent Goose and 3500 Golden Plover. A Skylark and a Chaffinch were in sub-song.

February 13th. Around were 2 Coal Tit. At sea 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and a Fulmar flew south whilst 2 Gannet and a Kittiwake went north. 17 Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Pintail were on Tennyson Sands.

February 12th. Birds around included a singing Mistle Thrush, 450 Pink-footed Goose, 800 Brent Goose and 3000 Golden Plover. On Tennyson Sands were a Cetti's Warbler and 387 roosting Lapwing. At sea were 14 Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Eider and a male Goosander.

February 11th. Around were a Redwing, 3 Corn Bunting and 2 Coal Tit. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Pintail, and on Jackson's Marsh 12 Black-tailed Godwit. Moving south through the dunes were 10+ Great Tit and Chaffinch.

Early February 2015

February 10th. Freezing fog at first. Birds around included a Coal Tit.

February 9th. Around were 38 Snow Bunting, a Bullfinch, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Goldcrest and 2480 Pink-footed Goose. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Goldeneye. Flying south were 8 Fieldfare.

February 8th. Birds around included 850 Pink-footed Goose, 3500 Golden Plover, a Buzzard, a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Woodcock, 60 Corn Bunting, 29 Snow Bunting and a Goldcrest.

February 7th. Around were 300 Pink-footed Goose, a Merlin and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Offshore were 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Eider.

February 6th. On Freshwater Marsh was a Water Pipit. Other birds around included 4 Goldcrest and a Coal Tit.

February 5th. Snow mostly melted.
 Around were 1500 Pink-footed Goose, a Coal Tit and a Redwing.

February 4th. Snow gradually melting.
 Birds around included a Woodcock and a Goldcrest.

February 3rd. Overnight snow, slowly melting.
 Around were a Marsh Harrier, 2 Woodcock, 3 Song Thrush, a Fieldfare, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 500 Golden Plover, 175 Cormorant, only 2 Red-throated Diver (very low count), 55 Snow Bunting, a Brambling, 2 Goldcrest and 27 Corn Bunting.

Muntjac tracks in snow, 3 February 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
Hebridean Sheep on Jackson's Marsh, 3 February.
Photo - George Gregory
February 2nd. Frozen start.
 Birds around included 42 Corn Bunting, 2 Goldcrest, a Hen Harrier, 10 Redwing, 8 Goldeneye, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 1200 Pink-footed Goose.

Tennyson Sands mostly frozen on surface, 2 February 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
February 1st. Occasional light rain.
 Around were 35 Snow Bunting, 600 Pink-footed Goose and a Coal Tit. Sea-watching provided 4 Great Skua, 4+ Pomarine Skua, 3 Little Gull north, 3 Kittiwake north and a Fieldfare in off.