Late February 2018

February 28th. A bitterly cold day with temperatures below freezing and persistent heavy snow showers.

An arrival of Woodcock was evident with at least 23 birds present, all on the west side of the reserve, several birds seen coming in during the morning and afternoon. On Tennyson's Sands were 2-3 Water Pipit, 8 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 1+ Bearded Tit (heard only) and 2 Ringed Plover. Jackson's Marsh held 34 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, 3 Pochard, a Black-tailed Godwit and 180 Wigeon. At Sykes Farm were 3 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare and a pair of Bullfinch. The evening gull roost count from the Wash Viewpoint yielded 3263 Black-headed Gull, 2320 Common Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1766 Herring Gull and 116 Great Black-backed Gull.   

Song Thrush and Redwing- 28th February 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

Robin - 28th February 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

Fieldfare - 28th February 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

Snowy scenes from the reserve.
Photo's - Richard Doan

February 27th. A Kingfisher was fishing on the River Steeping in the morning. Around the Wash Viewpoint were 13 Corn Bunting and a male Hen Harrier on the adjacent saltmarsh. The Plantation held a Green Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing and a Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 male Pintail, 120 Wigeon and 54 Pink-footed Goose. A Water Rail showed well on Tennyson's Sands from Fenella Hope hide. 

Distant male Hen Harrier from the Wash Viewpoint, 27th February 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan

Kingfisher feeding on the River Steeping, 27th February 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan

Snipe on the Mere, 27th February 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

February 26th. On the water bodies were 3 Goldeneye, a Water Pipit, 200 Pink-footed Goose and 500 Golden Plover. In the Plantation were 2 Bullfinch, a Siskin and 10 Redwing.

Mill Pond road in the snow, 26th February 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

February 25th. Around were 5 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, a Peregrine, a Merlin, 2 Bullfinch, 17 Corn Bunting and 2 Goldeneye. Offshore were 19 Red-throated Diver and a Red-breasted Merganser.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25th February 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson

February 24th. On Croft Marsh were 80 Pink-footed Goose, 800 Golden Plover and 350 Lapwing. Around were 3 Corn Bunting, a Water Pipit (in flight over Jackson's Marsh), a Treecreeper, 2 Common Buzzard, a House Sparrow, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Goldcrest.

February 23rd. Around were 600 Pink-footed Goose, 300 Golden Plover, 8 Redwing and a Bullfinch.

February 22nd. Highlights of a morning walk down Millenium Ridge were 3 Ringed Plover and 500 Brent Goose. 5 Eider flew South.

February 21st. 3 Snow Buntings were the highlight of a quiet day on the reserve.

Mid February 2018

February 20th. Birds around included a House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow,3 Bullfinch, 450 Lapwing and a Pochard. The male Hen Harrier was seen going to roost about 1600hours. Among a Brent flock of 176 was a bird ringed as a juvenile at Terschelling, Netherlands on 030412 and sighted at Gibraltar Point on 21 occasions since!

February 19th. Birds around included 12 Redwing and 2 Siskin.

February 18th. Around were 2 Woodcock, a Treecreeper, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Song Thrush and a male Hen Harrier

Winter Aconites in the Orchard, 18th February 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan

February 17th. The highlight of the day was a Woodlark over Mill Hill in the morning. Other birds around included 3 Rook, a Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, a Water Pipit, 600 Pink-footed Goose and 10 Redwing.

 The evening bird watching event 'Roosting Birds of the Wash' was productive with great views of a male Hen Harrier, Merlin chasing a skylark, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl and 20 Corn Bunting.

February 16th. Birds around were 4 Water Pipit, 5 Redwing and a Treecreeper.

February 15th. Croft Marsh held 600 Pink-footed Goose, 1500 Golden Plover and 600 Lapwing. In the Plantation were 2 Bullfinch, a Goldcrest and 10 Redwing.

February 14th. Notable birds for the day include 2 Water Pipit, 3 Bullfinch, 10 Redwing and a Treecreeper.

February 13th. Around were 2 Water Pipit, a Treecreeper, 16 Redwing, 600 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Bullfinch. The first Avocet of the year returned to Tennyson's Sands.

February 12th. Bird included 300 Lapwing, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 1200 Golden Plover, 3 Common Buzzard and 2 Short-eared Owl.

Snowdrops in the Orchard, 12th February 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan

February 11th. Croft Marsh held 770 Pink-footed Goose, 75 Wigeon and 300 Lapwing. Other birds around were 80 Common Scoter, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Bullfinch, a Woodcock, 300 Brent Goose and a Water Rail.

Early February 2018

February 10th. Around were 2 Water Pipit, 3 Song Thrush, 300 Golden Plover and 2 Stonechat.

February 9th. Bird around included 8 Redwing, a Treecreeper, 250 Lapwing, 2500 Golden Plover and 2 Water Pipit.

February 8th. Offshore were 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Eider, 60 Red-throated Diver, a Black-thoated Diver and a Razorbill. Around were 520 Curlew, a Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Water Pipit, 60 Rock Pipit, a Treecreeper and 15 Corn Bunting.

Water Rail from Fenella Hope Hide, 8th February 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Treecreeper, 8th February 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

February 7th. Around 600 Pink-footed Goose, 500 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, 2 Water Pipit and 2 Goldeneye.

February 6th. The Glaucous Gull was again present at Greenshank's Creek. Around were 2 Stonechat, 3 Fieldfare and 600 Pink-footed Goose. 

Glaucous Gull at Greenshank Creek, 6th February 2018.
Photo - Nigel Lound

February 5th. Birds around the reserve today included 650 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, a Bullfinch and a male Hen Harrier.

February 4th. Highlights from a morning seawatch from Mill Hill included 190 Common Scoter, 95 Red-throated Diver, 1000 Herring Gull and a 2CY Glaucous Gull. Birds elsewhere on the reserve included a Merlin and a Barn Owl.

Stonechat, 4th February 2018
Photo - Paul Johnson

Goldfinch, 4th February 2018
Photo - Paul Johnson

Grey Squirrel, 4th February 2018
Photo - Paul Johnson

February 3rd. Morning WeBS count produced 5000 Knot, 2800 Dunlin, 800 Sanderling, 2000 Oystercatcher, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Turnstone, 9 Ringed Plover, 250 Curlew and 100 Redshank. Other birds around were 2 Snow Bunting (Millennium Ridge), a Lapland Bunting, 17 Corn Bunting 2 Stonechat, a Green Woodpecker and a Barn Owl. On Croft Marsh were 800 Pink-footed Goose and 500 Lapwing. Offshore were 7 Eider, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 15 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.

February 2nd. A Bittern was seen in flight past Jackson's Marsh hide heading northwards. Croft Marsh held 2 White-fronted Goose, a Barnacle Goose and 500 Pink-footed Goose. Other birds around include 2 Water Pipit, a Common Buzzard and 300 Lapwing.

February 1st. Overnight frost.
In the Plantation were 2 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and a Treecreeper. On Croft Marsh were 5 White-fronted Goose, 807 Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose.

Pink-footed Goose, 1st February 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Whooper Swans, 1st February 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth