10th April. A Cetti's Warbler and a Black Redstart were discovered near North Hide. Other birds of note were a Great Crested Grebe on Jackson's Marsh, a Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl and a Brambling.
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Brambling, 10th April 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson |
9th April. Birds around included 5 Chiffchaff,
2 Garganey, and a Sedge Warbler. A Tree Pipit was briefly observed perched in the West Dunes before heading South. The most unusual record of the day was a Wood Duck of unknown origin.
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Wood Duck, 9th April 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
8th April. The
Garganey pair were again on the Old Saltmarsh. In the Plantation were 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Brambling (1 male in full song) and 15 Redwing. The first Sedge Warbler of the year was heard along Mill Pond Road (path to Mill Hill). Flying south were 80 Chaffinch, 3 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin.
Local News - A
Glaucous Gull (picture below) was found in Skegness at the Festival Car Park by Kevin Wilson.
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Glaucous Gull, Festival Car Park, 8th April 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
7th April. A group of
6 Common Crane were tracked heading south along the coast, the group arrived over the reserve at 1746hrs, and then flew south-east over the Wash. A pair of
Garganey were on the Old Saltmarsh. A
Firecrest was discovered near Mill Hill. The first Willow Warbler of the year was singing near North Car Park. Other birds around were 3 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier,
2 Red Kite, 19 Avocet, 2 Ruff, a Woodcock, 2 Short-eared Owl, 9 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 31 Redwing, 2 Black Redstart (Visitor Centre) and a Wheatear (Wash Viewpoint).
'Many thanks to Cliff Morrison for alerting us to the six cranes that flew over Saltfleetby late afternoon heading down the coast'.
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Common Cranes south over the reserve in the evening, 7th April 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Common Cranes south over the reserve in the evening, 7th April 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Red Kite over Mill Hill, 7th April 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Pink-footed Goose on Croft Marsh, 7th April 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Wheatear near the Wash Viewpoint, 7th April 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
6th April. Visible migration was again evident early morning (all south); 71 Brambling, 532 Chaffinch, 105 Siskin and 120 Starling. The first
Ring Ouzel of the year was seen by the Yacht Club. A
Firecrest was seen near North Building. The
3 Garganey were again seen from Harvey's Hide.
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Ring Ouzel near the Yacht Club, 6th April 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan |
5th April. The first
2 Spoonbill of the year were on Tennyson's Sands this morning. A
Black Redstart near the Visitor Centre. A
Red Kite was hunting over the New Saltmarsh. Around were
4 Mediterranean Gull (south into roost), 10 Corn Bunting and a Short-eared Owl.
The first butterfly transect survey of the year produced 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock.
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Adult Mediterranean Gulls south into roost, 5th April 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan |
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Peacock, 5th April 2018.
Photo - Jack Wilson |
4th April. Excellent morning visible migration, over the East and West Dunes, with the following south;
2526 Chaffinch (new reserve record!), a
Hawfinch (briefly perched up then south with chaffinch flock), 4 Brambling, 51 Siskin, 63 Linnet, a
Great White Egret, 21 Rook,
2 Red Kite, 2 Swallow and a single Sand Martin.
A
Firecrest was seen by North Car Park in the morning. The first Whimbrel and Yellow Wagtail of the year were noted. On the water-bodies were
3 Garganey (Croft Marsh), 18 Avocet (Tennyson's Sands), 6 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail and 200 Golden Plover. Other birds around were a Short-eared Owl, a Woodcock, 13 Corn Bunting, 2 Black Redstart and a Merlin.
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Distant Hawfinch perched up in the Plantation, 4th April 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan |
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Migrating Chaffinch (reserve record broken today!), 4th April 2018.
Photo - Richard Doan |
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Marsh Harrier, 4th April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Brambling, 4th April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
Short-eared Owl, 4th April 2018
Video - Stuart Ainsworth
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Garganey on Croft Marsh, 4th April 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
3rd April. A
Raven put in another appearance in the evening over the East Dunes. Other birds around were 4 Ruff (first of the year), 2 Black Redstart (Visitor Centre & Sykes Farm), White Wagtail (Wash Viewpoint), 3 Chiffchaff and Red Kite (East Dunes).
2nd April. Highlights of the day were a Firecrest and Black Redstart. Also on the reserve were 4 Chiffchaff, a Brambling, Peregrine, Adult male Hen Harrier, 10 Avocet and 9 Corn Bunting. A small group of 6 Pink-footed geese were on Croft Marsh.
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Chiffchaff, 2nd April 2018
Photo - Nige Lound |
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Black Redstart, 2nd April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Barn Owl, 2nd April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
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Brambling, 2nd April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
1st April. Around were 11 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Sparrowhawk and 13 Avocet. Sightings over the Old Saltmarsh early evening included a Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl and 4 Marsh Harrier. 11 Corn Bunting were in the pre roost gathering.
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Siskin, 1st April 2018
Photo - Ben Ward |
