Late February 2017

February 28th. A Puffin was seen offshore in the morning. Around were 15 Redwing, a Hen Harrier, a Treecreeper, 40 Corn Bunting, a Barn Owl, a Woodcock, a male Stonechat and 4 Pink-footed Goose. On the move were 13 Whooper Swan, 40 Chaffinch, 15 Starling, 4 Meadow Pipit and 10 Rook.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 28th February 2017

Treecreeper in the Plantation, 28th February 2017

February 27th. Offshore were 57 Red-breasted Merganser (mostly south), 37 Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot, 7 Eider, a Razorbill, 5 Great Crested Grebe and a Black-throated Diver south.  About were 2000 Oystercatcher and a Merlin.

February 26th. The highlight of the day was a Woodlark which flew south over the Visitor Centre. Offshore were 2 Long-tailed Duck, 30 Red-throated Diver, 2 Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 4 Pintail.

February 25th. Offshore were 2 Great Northern Diver, a Long-tailed Duck, a Gannet, 30 Red-breasted Merganser, a Kittiwake and a Slavonian Grebe. Around were 300 Sanderling, 1400 Oystercatcher and an Avocet.

February 24th. On the beach were 2 Caspian Gull with 3000 Herring Gull.

February 23rd. No records received today.  

February 22nd. Around were 27 Corn Bunting, a Hen Harrier and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.

February 21st. A Raven was seen over Croft Marsh late morning. Around were 2 Common Buzzard, 16 White-fronted Goose, 2 Woodcock, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Merlin, a Corn Bunting, a Treecreeper, 5 singing Song Thrush and a Water Pipit. Flying south were 6 Rook, 9 Blue Tit, 5 Meadow Pipit, 20 Linnet, 10 Siskin and a Bambling. Offshore were 170 Red-throated Diver, a drake Goosander and 5 Avocet south. 

Corn Bunting, 21st February 2017

Treecreeper, 21st February 2017

Mid February 2017

February 20th. A scrutiny of the Brent Goose flock produced an adult Black Brant. Other highlights of the day included 2 Siskin, a Brambling and 4 Pintail. A group of 16 White-fronted Goose flew south.
 A Spring Usher and Chestnut were trapped overnight. 

Chestnut trapped overnight, 20th February 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Spring Usher trapped overnight, 20th February 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson

 February 19th. The Waxwing reappeared at Sykes Farm briefly early morning. On Croft Marsh were the 16 'European' White-fronted Goose and 250 Pink-footed Goose. In the Plantation were 4 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 12 Corn Bunting and 2 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Black-tailed Godwit and 350 Lapwing. Other birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechat, a Collared Dove and a Merlin.   

Waxwing near Harvey's Hide, 19th February 2017
Photo - Alan Brewster

Waxwing near Harvey's Hide, 19th February 2017
Photo - Alan Brewster

White-fronted Geese at dawn, 19th February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan 

February 18th. Around the reserve were 2 Brambling, 5 Mistle Thrush, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 'European' White-fronted Goose, a Stonechat and a Peregrine. Offshore were 20 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver. A Waxwing briefly touched down in the Sykes Farm hedge. An Avocet was on Tennyson Sands in the afternoon.

March Moth, 18th February 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Pale-brindled Beauty, 18th February 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson

February 17th. Around were 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Collared Dove, a House Sparrow and a Crossbill.

February 16th. On Croft Marsh were 260 Pink-footed Goose and 16 'European' White-fronted Goose. Other birds around included a Jack Snipe, a Peregrine (in off), 10 Corn Bunting, 6 Pintail, 2 Rook, a Water Pipit, a Stonechat, an adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 2 adult Mediterranean Gull.

February 15th. Slight visible migration evident early morning with 2 Whooper Swan, a Yellowhammer, 2 Brambling, 3 Siskin and 22 Starling flew south. On Croft Marsh were 8 'European' White-fronted Goose and 80 Pink-footed Goose. Around were 2 Water Pipit and a Brambling.

February 14th. On Croft Marsh were 278 Pink-footed Goose, 104 'European' White-fronted Goose, a Tundra Bean Goose, 14 Barnacle Goose and 300 Brent Goose. Around were 12000 Knot, 3500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4000 Grey Plover, 2500 Oystercatcher, 2000 Dunlin, 800 Sanderling, a Peregrine and 40 Corn Bunting.

Lapwings over Croft Marsh, 14th February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

White-fronted Geese arriving from the north, 14th February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

February 13th. No records received.  

February 12th. The only species of note was a Woodcock in the Plantation.

February 11th. About were 30 Corn Bunting, 400 Lapwing, 50 Golden Plover, a Treecreeper, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl. A flock of 80 White-fronted Goose flew low over the Visitor Centre late afternoon.   

Early February 2017

February 10th. Around the reserve were 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Snipe, 3 Goldeneye, 350 Lapwing and 13 Golden Plover. On Croft Marsh were 15 White-fronted Goose and a Barnacle Goose.

February 9th. The highlight of the day was an adult Mediterranean Gull on the beach in the morning.

February 8th. Around were 783 Brent Goose, 3 Goldeneye, 200 Lapwing, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Woodpecker, a Coal Tit, 6 Eider and a Fieldfare. An evening watch by the Visitor Centre produced single sightings of Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier.

February 7th. On the reserve were 110 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 45 Corn Bunting, 300 Lapwing and a male Brambling. A Barn Owl was hunting over the Old Saltmarsh.

February 6th. The highlights of the day were 2 Brambling and a Green Woodpecker.

February 5th. Notable species for the day include 2 Grey Partridge, 3 Woodcock, 11 Corn Bunting, 96 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Redwing, 2 Barn Owl, a Common Buzzard and 13 Red-throated Diver. A group of 4 Snow Bunting were confiding on the Millennium Ridge.

Snow Bunting on Millennium Ridge, 5th February 2017
Photo - Rob Watson

Sunset, 5th February 2017
Photo - Rob Watson

February 4th. Around were 10 Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 150 Wigeon, 800 Brent Goose, a Peregrine, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Song Thrush and a Short-eared Owl.

February 3rd. A beautiful sunny day.
 On the reserve were 1200 Brent Goose, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail), a Merlin, 5 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 60 Corn Bunting, 209 Curlew, 150 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 12 Turnstone, 41 Shelduck, a Water Pipit, 140 Skylark, 50 Rock Pipit, 10 Redwing, a Coal Tit and 6 Black-tailed Godwit. An hours seawatch mid-morning produced 8 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Red-throated Diver, a drake Eider and 40 Wigeon. The evening gull roost yielded a stunning adult winter Mediterranean Gull, 5000 Black-headed Gull and 800 Common Gull.

Good numbers of Skylark on the reserve today, 3rd February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

February 2nd. Around were 500 Brent Goose, 150 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 800 Lapwing, 250 Golden Plover, a Sparrowhawk and 6 Yellowhammer.
 Winter Aconites are beginning to flower in the Orchard and Snowdrops are in abundance.

Sparrowhawk from Jackson's Marsh hide, 2nd February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

Winter Aconites in the Orchard, 2nd February 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

Snowdrops in the Orchard, 2nd Febuary 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

February 1st. Notable species for the day include 80 Corn Bunting, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail), a Water Pipit and a singing Song Thrush.