Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Late January 2019

January 31^st. There was a heavy fog for most of the day which eventually cleared mid-afternoon. The juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen on the beach throughout the day; and a Hooded Crow was also seen on the beach out from Mill Hill. Despite the water bodies being mostly frozen throughout the day, 100 Wigeon and a drake Pintail were on Jackson’s Marsh; and 2 Snipe were on Tennyson’s Sands. Some other sightings from around the reserve include a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a Coal Tit, 14 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat, a Water Pipit, a Rock Pipit and 12 Corn Bunting.

Glaucous Gull, 31st January 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Stonechat, 31st January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Visitor Centre winter scene, 31st January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 31st January 2019.
Photo - Andrew Chick

Glaucous Gull, 31st January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

30th January. In the afternoon, a White-fronted Goose was found with 800 Pink-footed Goose on Croftmarsh. On Jackson's Marsh were 104 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Snipe; and on the Mere was a drake Goldeneye. The juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen on the beach.10 Whooper Swan and 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding on the fields to the west of the Steeping. Around the reserve were 79 Eider, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Peregrine, a Coal Tit, 11 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipit, a Brambling and 10 Corn Bunting. 4 Siskin went south.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 30th January 2019.
Photo - Russell Hayes

First winter White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese, 30th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wigeon, 30th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Drake Pintail and Wigeon, 30th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Little Egret fishing, 30th January 2019.
Video - Jim Shaw

29th January. 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide late in the afternoon. A Brambling was visiting the feeding station in the Plantation; and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach. Other highlights included 21 Whooper Swan, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 350 Brent Goose, a drake Pintail, a drake Goldeneye, 180 Common Scoter, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff, 17 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Rock Pipit, a Siskin and 40 Corn Bunting.

Little Egret, 29th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Common Scoter, 29th January 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Brambling and Great Tit, 29th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Coot, 29th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

28th January. 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide at 16:20; and in the morning 450 Brent Goose, including 3 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, were on Tennyson's Sands. 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach out from Mill Hill. Around the reserve were 31 Whooper Swan, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, 2 Eider, a drake Goldeneye, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Barn Owl, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit and 51 Corn Bunting.

Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese with a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 28th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Snowdrops, 28th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

27th January. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach; and 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding with 54 Whooper Swan on fields to the west of the Steeping River. Around the rest of the reserve were 600 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Hen Harrier (a male and a ringtail), a Merlin, a Peregrine and 24 Corn Bunting. On the sea were 140 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe. Going north were 24 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Guillemot; and going south were 28 Wigeon, an Eider, 39 Red-throated Diver, 5 Gannet and 5 Guillemot.

26th January. 5 Bewick's Swan and a Whooper Swan roosted on Tennyson's Sands in the evening (best seen from Harvey's Hide). 2 Marsh Harrier and a Male Hen Harrier were seen from the Wash Viewpoint in the morning; and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach out from Mill Hill. Around the reserve were 45 Whooper Swan, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 140 Brent Goose, 150 Wigeon, a drake Pintail, a drake Goldeneye, a Buzzard, 350 Golden Plover, 485 Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Snipe, a Peregrine Falcon, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Mistle Thrush, 3 Rock Pipit and 45 Corn Bunting. On the sea were 7 Eider, 120 Common Scoter, 20 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Great Crested Grebes. Going north were 12 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Razorbill; and going south were 22 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Guillemot and 2 adult Kittiwake.

Song Thrush, 26th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Goldeneye, 26th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

25th January. The family group of 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) was on Tennyson's Sands between 13:05 and 14:25. Also on Tennyson's Sands were a Pochard, a Water Rail, a Dunlin and 8 Snipe. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach out from Mill Hill in the afternoon and a juvenile Iceland Gull flew south toward the Wash at 16:20. Seen around the reserve were 800 Pink-footed Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 300 Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Snipe, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow, a Coal Tit, 20 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and 30 Corn Bunting.

Bewick's Swan family group, 25th January 2019.
Photos - Owen Beaumont

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 25th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

24th January. 4 Hooded Crow were on the beach. 79 Eider, 150 Common Scoter, 26 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe were on the sea. Around the reserve were 33 Whooper Swan, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 300 Brent Goose, 108 Shelduck, 2 Goosander, a male Marsh Harrier, 3 Water Rail, a Woodcock, 4 Snipe, a Kingfisher, 3 Coal Tit, 12 Fieldfare, 32 Rock Pipit and 50 Corn Bunting. A cream crowned Marsh Harrier flew north and 7 Fieldfare went south.

Dunlin, 24th January 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Shoveler, 24th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Mute Swan, 24th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Shoveler, 24th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

23rd January. 52 Whooper Swan and 5 Bewick's Swan were on fields to the west of the River Steeping. 8 Goosander and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach in the afternoon; and 126 Eider were on the sea out from the Wash Viewpoint at high tide. Around were 900 Pink-footed Goose, 250 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 2 Snipe, a Peregrine, 10 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Rock Pipit and 40 Corn Bunting. 5 Kittiwake were following a fishing trawler offshore. Going north were 21 Red-throated Diver, a Razorbill, 2 Guillemot and a Short-eared Owl; and going south were 68 Red-throated Diver and 2 Guillemot.

Goosanders on the beach, 23rd January 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

22nd January. A ringtail Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and a Peregrine were seen from the Wash Viewpoint in the evening; and 2 Hooded Crow were seen on the beach out from Mill Hill. The 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding in the fields to the west of the Steeping River with 57 Whooper Swan. Other highlights included 867 Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, a Goldeneye, a Sparrowhawk, a Water Rail, 150 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff, 42 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Rock Pipit, a Siskin and 62 Corn Bunting.

Pintail, 22nd January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Corn Buntings, 22nd January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Coal Tit, 22nd January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

21st January. The 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) were seen flying into roost on Tennyson's Sands in the evening. On Jackson's Marsh was a drake Goldeneye. Around the reserve were 42 Whooper Swan, 600 Pink-footed Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Peregrine.

Peregrine, 21st January 2019.
Photo - Kevin Wilson