Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: January 2017

Late January 2017

January 31st. Offshore were 30 Red-throated Diver and 10 Red-breasted Merganser. Around were w Water Rail, 30 Golden Plover, a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, 22 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing and a Treecreeper, 400 Brent Goose and 350 Wigeon.

January 30th. The only species of note were 2 singing Song Thrush, a singing Coal Tit and a male House Sparrow.

January 29th. In the Plantation early morning were 15 Redwing, a Green Woodpecker and a singing Coal Tit. Around were 3 Goldcrest, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 150 Lapwing and a Barn Owl.

January 28th. On the reserve were 200 Wigeon, 800 Brent Goose, 4 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier (ringtail), 3 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Barn Owl, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, a Goldcrest and a Kingfisher. A brief seawatch at midday produced 53 Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe.

January 27th. Offshore were 48 Red-throated Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe, a Slavonian Grebe, 30 Common Scoter, a Fulmar, 2 Eider and a Guillemot. A scrutiny of the Brent flock on Jacksons Marsh revealed 900 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Black Brant. Around were 7 Pintail, 200 Wigeon, 5 Snipe, a Merlin, 25 Pink-footed Goose, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, a Treecreeper, 4 Redwing and 30 Corn Bunting.
Offshore was a Harbour Porpoise.

Black Brant with Brent Geese on Jackson's Marsh, 27th January 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

January 26th. About were 4 Goosander, 2 Pintail, 2 Woodcock, 3 Snow Bunting, 20 Bunting and and 27 Rock Pipit. On the water bodies were 76 Teal, 279 Wigeon, 1000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 20 Little Grebe, 8 Pintail, 2 Water Rail, 6 Snipe and a Dunlin.

Spot the Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 26th January 2017
Photo - Rob Watson

January 25th. Around were 600 Brent Goose and a Woodcock.

January 24th. The quiet spell continues.
On Jackson's Marsh were 600 Brent Goose, 250 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Pintail. A Song Thrush was singing in the Plantation in the morning.

January 23rd. Around the reserve were 600 Brent Goose, 4 Pintail, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Stonechat, 14 Fieldfare, a Water Pipit and 2 Siskin. On the sea were 11 Red-throated Diver and 7 Great Crested Grebe.

January 22nd. Notable species for the day include 3 Snow Bunting, a Water Rail, 3 Goosander, 13 Corn Bunting, 537 Brent Goose and a male Hen Harrier.

Snow Bunting, 22nd January 2017
Photo - Rob Watson

January 21st. Offshore were 250 Common Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe and 62 Red-throated Diver. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Goosander.

Mid January 2017

January 20th. Notable species for the day include 3 Water Pipit, 7 Redwing, a Brambling and a Woodcock.

January 19th. A Mistle Thrush was heard singing at Aylmer Avenue.

January 18th. The highlights of a morning seawatch were 2 Slavonian Grebe, 20 Red-throated Diver and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. A group of 4 Waxwings landed briefly near the Bird Observatory. Other notable sightings for the day include 600 Brent Goose, 2 Water Rail, 5 Pintail, a Water Pipit, 3 Goldeneye and a Goldcrest.
A Fox was found sleeping on the verge by Mill Hill at 1930hrs during a night walk.

Fox sleeping on verge by Mill, 18th January 2017
Photo (with iPhone) - Richard Doan

January 17th. Offshore were 75 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 3 Auk spp and 3 Eider. Around were 300 Pink-footed Goose, 700 Brent Goose and a Woodcock.
A Harbour Porpoise was offshore mid-morning.

January 16th. Around the reserve were 160 Greylag Goose, 37 European White-fronted Goose, 250 Pink-footed Goose, a Woodcock, 200 Golden Plover, 4 Water Rail and 3 Goldeneye. A Tundra Bean Goose was found with the Greylag Goose flock on Tennyson's Sands this evening.

Tundra Bean Goose on Tennyson's Sands this evening, 16th January 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

Goldeneye drake on Fenland Lagoon, 16th January 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 15th. Heavy rain all day.
No records received due to poor weather.

January 14th.
On Croft Marsh were 250 Pink-footed Goose, 34 European White-fronted Goose, a Tundra Bean Goose and 14 Barnacle Goose. On The Wash at high tide were 4000 Bar-tailed Godwit and 5000 Knot. Offshore were 10 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver. Around were 200 Brent Goose, a Treecreeper, a ringtail Hen Harrier and 50 Corn Bunting.

Goose flock on Croft Marsh this afternoon, 14th January 2016
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

White-fronted Geese in flight over Croft Marsh, 14th January 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

High tide from The Wash Viewpoint, 14th January 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

High tide near Fenland Lagoon West Hide, 14th January 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

High tide from The Wash Viewpoint, 14th January 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

January 13th. Snow in morning.
  Birds around included 250 Wigeon, a male Hen Harrier, 5000 Knot, 2000 Grey Plover and 10 Ringed Plover.

  It is with deepest regrets that I (Mick Briggs) must convey some sad news that I have just been made aware of - Bill Paul passed away back on January 1st, joining his late wife Ida. The Observatory Team's thoughts are with Bill's family at this difficult time.
  Bill was "Ringer in Charge" at the Observatory from 1986 until 1996. He was responsible for training a lot of people during his time and some great ringers. After retiring from active ringing, Bill could often be found in the main car park with his wife Ida sampling the scenic views of the reserve and keeping a check on the latest batch of ringers travelling back from the Observatory.
  I was Bill's last ringing trainee and he only ever gave me "great" advice and "great" training and I for one shall miss his words of wisdom. His talk of birds and of ringing was infectious for anybody who was fortunate enough to talk to him about such matters.

  Safe travels Bill...

January 12th. Around were a Merlin, 150 Brent Goose, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 120 Red-throated Diver, 17 Great Crested Grebe, 150 Lapwing, 3 Woodcock, a Merlin, 2 Stonechat and a Snow Bunting. Flying south were a Great Northern Diver, 20 Wigeon and 800 Herring Gull.

Merlin, 12th January 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound

Snow Bunting, 12th January 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 11th. Birds around included 150 Brent Goose, 150 Lapwing and 3 Goldcrest.

Early January 2017

January 10th. Around were a Red Kite, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 550 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 228 Sanderling, a Mediterranean Gull, 250 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, 90 Red-throated Diver, 2 Merlin, a juvenile Peregrine and 2 Siskin. Going south were 2 Bean Goose, and west or south 20 Skylark.

January 9th. Birds around included 6 Pintail, a Long-eared Owl, 300 Lapwing and a Coal Tit.

January 8th. Around were 20 Pink-footed Goose, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Goldeneye, a Common Buzzard, 45 Red-throated Diver, 500 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 5 Snipe, 49 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, a Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 5 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit, 2 Siskin, 33 Corn Bunting and a Snow Bunting. West of Croftmarsh were 2 Whooper Swan.

January 7th. Birds around included 270 Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 5 Water Rail, 600 Golden Plover, 600 Lapwing, 6 Redwing, a Treecreeper and a Chiffchaff. Heading southwest were 24 Pink-footed Goose.

January 6th. Frosty start.
On Jackson's Marsh was a male Goldeneye. Around were 10 Pink-footed Goose, 200 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 28 Turnstone, 7 Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Brambling. In came 68 Teal, 17 Wigeon and 3 Goldeneye, while flying south were 12 Pintail, 13 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Razorbill, a Black-throated Diver and most of 43 Red-throated Diver.

January 5th. Frosty start.
A Caspian Gull was discovered on the beach out from Mill Hill early morning. Birds around included 10 Song Thrush, a Redwing, 3 Fieldfare and 2 Stonechat. Offshore were 4 Red-breasted Merganser. North went 17 Little Gull and most of 73 Red-throated Diver.

January 4th. Around were 3 Hen Harrier (2 ringtails and a male), a Green Woodpecker, a Jack Snipe, 10 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Water Rail, a Woodcock, a Coal Tit, 2 Pintail, 40 Corn Bunting and a Siskin. At least 1 Twite was present with the Linnet flock on the Old Saltmarsh. Going north were 70 Gannet, 60 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar and 3 Great Skua; south 5 Great Skua and 30 Red-throated Diver; and south-east 7 Whooper Swan (6 adults and 1 juvenile).

January 3rd. Frosty start.
A group of 3 Waxwing were at Sykes Farm entrance briefly, then flew south with 4 Redwing. Around were 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail), a Merlin, 25 Pink-footed Goose, 40 Common Scoter, a Goosander, 600 Golden Plover, 10 Ringed Plover, 250 Lapwing, 3 Goldcrest, 70 Blackbird (small arrival evident), 15 Redwing, a Brambling, a Siskin and 50 Corn Bunting. On the water bodies were 38 Shoveler, 4 Pintail, 157 Wigeon, 373 Teal, 4 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Water Rail.

Curlew on Mere Meadow, 3rd January 2016.
Photo - Richard Doan

Waxwing (1 of 3) at Sykes Farm entrance briefly, 3rd January 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan

January 2nd. Heading south were an Iceland Gull, 30 Gannet, a Long-tailed Duck and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. Around were 800 Brent Goose, 20 Red-throated Diver, a Merlin, 200 Lapwing, a Goldcrest and a Brambling.

January 1st. Rain until mid afternoon.
Birds around included a Pink-footed Goose and 50 Lapwing.