January 20th. Around were 5 Snow Bunting, male Hen Harrier and 2 Bullfinch.
January 19th. Frost overnight.
On Croft Marsh were 800 Golden Plover, 30 Pink-footed Goose and 100 Lapwing. Around the reserve were 5 Corn Bunting, a male Hen Harrier and a Bullfinch.
January 18th. Strong winds early morning, dropping by mid-morning, sunny and bright with intermittent showers.
Birds around were 16 White-fronted Goose, a Water Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 10 Corn Bunting and 4 Bullfinch.
January 17th. Cold start after overnight snow, then sunny but windy.
Around were 250 Lapwing, 1000 Golden Plover, 16 White-fronted Goose (including bird with neck collar), 2 Woodcock, 25 Corn Bunting, 2 Stonechat and a Siskin.
January 16th. Birds around included 20 Pink-footed Goose. On or over Croftmarsh were a Tundra Bean Goose (briefly) and a Common Buzzard.
While cleaning out the nest boxes two interesting discoveries were made. In a small box were some hibernating insects, probably Drone Flies (a type of Hoverfly). In a big box were two long-dead full-grown Kestrels with non-GPBO rings.
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| Hibernating insects, probably Drone Flies, 16th January 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
On Croftmarsh were 16 White-fronted Goose (including one with a neck collar fitted in the Netherlands in 2013, the first British sighting from this scheme) and 100 Pink-footed Goose.
January 14th. Around were 450 Brent Goose, 300 Wigeon, a Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat, 2 Treecreeper, a Bullfinch, 2 House Sparrow and 20 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 372 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Pintail and 2 Goldeneye; on Tennyson's Sands a Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Snipe; on the Mere a Goldeneye and a Kingfisher; over Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard; and on Wainfleet Marsh 150 Pink-footed Goose. Flying south were 10 Golden Plover.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided a new Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Great Tit and a Goldfinch.
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| Kingfisher, 14th January 2018. Photo - Nige Lound |
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 3 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
January 12th. Around were 184 Pink-footed Goose, 450 Brent Goose, 5 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, 11 Fieldfare and a Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Pochard, 2 Water Rail and a Black-tailed Godwit; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Goldeneye; and over Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard. Heading west was a White-fronted Goose; and south a Bullfinch.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber and Richard Doan, produced just 2 new Great Tit.
The Snowdrops have started flowering around the Plantation and Orchard.
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| Snowdrops, 12th January 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
Heading south were a Waxwing and 14 Whooper Swan. A Bittern flew to the back of the Mere, where was a Water Rail. On Tennyson's Sands were 453 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a possible hybrid Dark-bellied Brent Goose x Black Brant. Birds around included 300 Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 4 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch and 20 Corn Bunting. Flying north were a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Common Scoter and 2 Snow Bunting. Observed sparring were 2 male Pheasant.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 5 new birds: a Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch; and 2 retrap Blue Tit.
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| Dark-bellied Brent Goose showing substantial Black Brant-type neck collar, 11th January 2017. Photo - Richard Doan |
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| Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 11th January 2017. Photo - Richard Doan |
