March 31st. Around were 30 Corn Bunting,
a Red Kite, 2 Blackcaps and the first
Yellow Wagtail of the year. A
Black Redstart was discovered by the Visitor Centre mid afternoon.
Late news received of 4 Wheatear around the reserve.
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Brimstone, 31st March 2017
Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
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Migrating Rook, 31st March 2017
Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
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Black Redstart by Visitor Centre, 31st March 2017
Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
March 30th. The morning high tide wader roost was spectacular with 6620 Grey Plover, 3230 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10340 Knot, 1800 Dunlin, 8 Turnstone and 150 Redshank. A
Firecrest was singing in the pines by the bird feeding station at dawn. Around were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Brambling, 86 Brent Goose and 3 Stock Dove.
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Firecrest along Sykes Farm track, 31st March 2017
Photo - Adrian Royle |
March 29th. An
OSPREY was observed over Croft Marsh briefly before flying off north-west. On Jackson's Marsh was a
first-summer Mediterranean Gull and over Croft Marsh was a
Red Kite (presume same bird as yesterday). Around were 40 Corn Bunting, 4 Redwing, a Fieldfare, a Common Buzzard, 2 Brambling and a Yellowhammer. On the move were 92 Chaffinch, 28 Siskin, 30 Carrion Crow, 6 Rook, 2 Barnacle Goose, a Collared Dove and a Crossbill. The first
Swallow of the year was over Sykes Farm in the afternoon. A
Firecrest was found in the Plantation mid-afternoon.
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Brambling at the feeding station, 29th March 2017
Photo - Adrian Royle |
March 28th. The highlights of the day were a
Red Kite over the East Dunes, a
Ring Ouzel on the cycle track and the first
5 Sand Martin of the year over Jackson's Marsh. In the Plantation were 3 Siskin, a Lesser Redpoll and a Brambling. A House Sparrow was also seen at Aylmer with nesting material.
A Red Chestnut and Dotted Chestnut were in the moth trap.
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House Sparrow with nesting material, 28th March 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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Dotted Chestnut, 28th March 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy |
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Red Chestnut, 28th March 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy |
March 27th. Around were 65 Corn Bunting, 2000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3000 Grey Plover, 10000 Knot, a male Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl.
March 26th. A
Bearded Tit was heard calling on Tennyson's Sands at dawn. Around were 49 Brent Goose, 3 Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, a Common Buzzard, 42 Avocet, 350 Oystercatcher, 4000 Knot, 400 Dunlin, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Rook, 4 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, a Yellowhammer and 37 Corn Bunting.
A Comma was seen in the East Dunes.
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Comma in the East Dunes, 26th March 2017
Photo - Rob Watson |
March 25th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2
Bearded Tit, a
Cetti's Warbler (rare here!) and
50 Avocet. Other birds around were 30 Brent Goose, a Green Woodpecker, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Siskin, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Tree Sparrow, 40 Corn Bunting and 2 Common Buzzard.
The first Brimstone butterfly of the year was on the wing this afternoon.
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Tree Sparrow, 25th March 2017
Photo - Kevin Wilson |
March 24th. The
2 Bearded Tit were still present on Tennyson's Sands. Around were 19 Goldcrest, 12 Chiffchaff, 20 Wigeon, a Red-legged Partridge, 2 House Sparrow and 3 Yellowhammer.
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Yellowhammer, 24th March 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Black-headed Gull displaying on Tennyson's Sands, 24th March 2017 |
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| Mistle Thrush, 24th March 2017 |
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| Mute Swan taking flight, 24th March 2017 |
March 23rd. An early
Ring Ouzel on the Fresh Water Marsh was the most surprising record of the day. On Tennyson's Sands were 55 Avocet, 2
Bearded Tit and a Marsh Harrier.
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Bearded Tits on Tennyson's Sands, 23rd March 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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Male Ring Ouzel on Freshwater Marsh, 23rd March 2017
Photo - Nige Lound |
March 22nd. The highlights of the day were a
Bearded Tit on Tennyson's Sands, a
Firecrest in the East Dunes and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull on the beach.
March 21st. A
GREAT GREY SHRIKE was seen by the Wash Viewpoint late afternoon. Around were 47 Avocet, an early
Sandwich Tern, a Rook, 30 Corn Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 40 Redwing. On the move were 17 Fieldfare, 260 Starling and 66 Chaffinch.
An Early Thorn and Twin-spotted Quaker were trapped overnight.
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Early Thorn trapped overnight, 21st March 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy |
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Twin-spotted Quaker trapped overnight, 21st March 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy |
