Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Late February 2019

28th February. 2 Hooded Crow were at the north end of the reserve. On Jackson's Marsh were a drake Pintail, a drake Goldeneye and 7 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands were 11 Avocet. Around were 320 Brent Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 6 Woodcock, a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 40 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 10 Rock Pipit, a Yellowhammer and 41 Corn Bunting.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 19 new birds: 8 Great Tit, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit and a Chaffinch; and 7 retraps: a Coal Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Great Tit.

Yellowhammer, 28th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Linnet, 28th February 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Greenfinch, 28th February 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Reed Bunting, 28th February 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

27th February. 2 Common Crossbill were seen in the Beach Car Park in the morning. On the beach were a juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Avocet and 4 Snipe. Birds around included 200 Brent Goose, 7 Eurasian White-fronted Goose, a drake Pintail, 3 Grey Partridge, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Woodcock, 2 Snipe, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Rock Pipit and 60 Corn Bunting. Going south were a Red Kite, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Woodlark and 6 Siskin; and north went a Buzzard.

Wren, 27th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

26th February. A Cattle Egret flew south over Tennyson's Sands in the afternoon but was not seen again. 7 Common Crossbill were in Beach Car Park throughout the day and a Cetti's Warbler was heard around Mill Pond. A Grey Partridge was heard from the Visitor Centre at dusk. On Jackson's Marsh were a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye. Around were 100 Brent Goose, a Snipe, a Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Rock Pipit, 4 Siskin, a Yellowhammer and 10 Corn Bunting. In the morning a Brambling and 35 Siskin went south.

Male Common Crossbill, 26th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Female Common Crossbill, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Male Common Crossbill, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Ringed Plovers, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Ringed Plover, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Male Common Crossbill, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Oystercatcher, 26th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

25th February. 3 Common Crossbill and a Siskin were in the Beach Car Park throughout the afternoon. 5 Bewick's Swan were on Tennyson's Sands periodically; and a drake Goldeneye was on the Mere. 2 Grey Partridge were heard from the Visitor Centre at dusk. Also around were 10 Whooper Swan, 200 Brent Goose, 7 Eurasian White-fronted Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow, 2 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, a Siskin and 25 Corn Bunting.

Siskin and Common Crossbill, 25th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Common Crossbill, 25th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Common Crossbill, 25th February 2019.

Common Crossbills, 25th February 2019.

Common Crossbill, 25th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Siskin, 25th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

24th February. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Hooded Crow were on the beach. 3 Water Pipit were on Fenland Lagoon in the afternoon; and from The Wash Viewpoint in the afternoon were 150 Brent Goose (including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose), a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl and a Merlin. Birds around included 27 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults), 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Woodcock, a Stonechat, 7 Rock Pipit, a Siskin, 3 Yellowhammer and 43 Corn Bunting.

Water Pipit, 24th February 2019.
Photo - Robert Watson

23rd February. 4 Snow Bunting were on the saltings at the north end of the reserve. 3 Hooded Crow and 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull were on the beach. Offshore were 788 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe. 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands in the evening; and a Water Pipit was on Fenland Lagoon. Birds around included a drake Goldeneye, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Stonechat, 25 Rock Pipit, a Yellowhammer and 20 Corn Bunting.

Rock Pipit, 23rd February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Snow Bunting, 23rd February 2019.
Photo - Liam Andrews

Snow Buntings, 23rd February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

22nd February. A Cetti's Warbler and 3 Common Crossbill were in the Beach Car Park. A Eurasian White-fronted Goose was with 600 Pink-footed Goose on Croftmarsh. On Tennyson's Sands throughout the day were 28 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan, a Water Rail, an Avocet and 11 Snipe; on the Mere was a drake Goldeneye; and on Fenland Lagoon were a Kingfisher and 2 Water Pipit. Around were 150 Brent Goose, a Pintail, a Red-legged Partridge, a Grey Partridge, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Woodcock, 4 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, a Hooded Crow, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreeper, 5 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat, 7 Rock Pipit, a Brambling, a Siskin and 16 Corn Bunting. Going north was a Kittiwake; and south went a Gannet, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier. On the sea were 58 Eider and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.

21st February. On the beach was the darker-plumaged juvenile Glaucous Gull and the other pale bird was seen from The Wash Viewpoint in the evening. 2 Hooded Crow were also on the beach. 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands at 16.55hrs. Also on Tennyson's Sands were a drake Pintail, a Grey Heron, an Avocet and 3 Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh was a drake Goldeneye. 7 Eurasian White-fronted Goose were on the Freshwater Marsh mid morning. Also around were 41 Whooper Swan, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 322 Brent Goose, a Grey Partridge, a Buzzard, 3 Woodcock, 1 Snipe, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Coal Tit, 7 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat, 2 Water Pipit, 8 Rock Pipit, 2 Crossbill and 30 Corn Bunting. Offshore were 440 Eider, 18 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Great Crested Grebe; and going south were a Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-necked Grebe, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Woodlark, 5 Siskin and 5 Snow Bunting.

Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 21st February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Guillemot, 21st February 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Snipe, 21st January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw