Early February 2019

10th February. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach along with 2 Hooded Crow. The group of 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) was feeding on fields west of the River Steeping with 42 Whooper Swan. A Red-necked Grebe was on the sea out from Mill Hill in the afternoon and a second calendar year Mediterranean Gull flew south. Around the rest of the reserve were a drake Goldeneye, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2500 Golden Plover, 600 Lapwing, 30 Snipe, a Merlin, 32 Fieldfare and 2 Rock Pipit.

Coot, 10th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont



Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 10th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Golden Plover, 10th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Drake Goldeneye, 10th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
9th February. 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding on the fields west of the River Steeping along with 36 Whooper Swan. Birds around included a drake Pintail, 17 Eider, a drake Goldeneye, 80 Lapwing, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Fieldfare and 3 Rock Pipit. Going north were 8 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, a Razorbill and 7 Guillemot; and going south were 25 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Razorbill.

Snowdrops in the plantation, 9th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
8th February. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach. On Jackson's Marsh were a drake Pintail and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on the Mere was a drake Goldeneye. Going north over the sea were 5 Red-throated Diver and a Little Auk; and south went 163 Eider, 66 Red-throated Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Razorbill and 9 Guillemot.

Eider, 8th February 2019.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 8th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 8th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
7th February. The family group of 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide at 17:08. On the beach were a juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Hooded Crow. Also seen were 30 Whooper Swan, 114 Wigeon, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Barn Owl and a Water Pipit.

6th February. Two juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were seen on the beach. 7 Eurasian White-fronted Goose were seen from Jackson's Marsh on the banks of the River Steeping. A Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (a male and a ringtail), a Buzzard and a Peregrine were seen from The Wash viewpoint. 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands at 16:55. Also on Tennyson's Sands were 30 Snipe; on the Mere was a drake Goldeneye; and on Fenland Lagoon was a Kingfisher. Also around were 39 Whooper Swan, 2 Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff, 3 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipit and 50 Corn Bunting.

5th February. One juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach. 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide at 16:55. On the Mere was a drake Goldeneye. Other highlights included a Great Crested Grebe, 28 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, a Stonechat and 71 Corn Bunting.



Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 5th February 2019.
Photos- Owen Beauumont
4th February. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach. 5 Bewick's Swan were with 35 Whooper Swan on fields to the west of the Steeping River. On Jackson's Marsh were a drake Pintail and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and a drake Goldeneye was on the Mere. Also around were a Water Rail, a Woodcock, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, 13 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.

Canada Goose, 4th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Curlew, 4th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Robin, 4th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Mallard, 4th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw
3rd February. The two juvenile Glaucous Gulls were seen on the beach throughout the day along with 3 Hooded Crow. On the sea was a Red-breasted Merganser. Birds around included 300 Brent Goose, 31 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan, a Marsh Harrier, 5 Woodcock, 9 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, 4 Rock Pipit and 60 Corn Bunting.




Juvenile Glaucous Gull in flight, 3rd February 2019.
Photos - Paul Neale
2nd February. Two juvenile Glaucous Gull were feeding on a seal carcass on the beach. A Hooded Crow was also on the beach out from Mill Hill. 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding with 37 Whooper Swan on fields to the west of the Steeping River. On Jackson's Marsh were 220 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands were a drake Goldeneye and a Snipe. Around the reserve were a Merlin, 32 Fieldfare and 72 Corn Bunting. 

Two juvenile Glaucous Gulls on the beach, 2nd February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Two juvenile Glaucous Gulls on the beach, 2nd February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
1st February. The juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach throughout the day. In the afternoon 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose were on Jackson's Marsh. Also on Jackson's Marsh were 170 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye. Around were 19 Whooper Swan, 700 Pink-footed Goose, 350 Brent Goose (including 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose), 5 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, a Goldcrest, 6 Rock Pipit and 6 Corn Bunting. The 5 Bewick's Swans went to roost on Tennyson Sands at 16:50.

White-fronted Geese with Wigeon, 1st February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont


Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 1st February 2019.
Video - Owen Beaumont

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 1st February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw
Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 1st February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
Common Snipe, 1st February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw