Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid February 2019

20th February. 12 Common Crossbill were feeding in Beach Car Park in the afternoon; and a Woodlark was seen in West Dunes. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach. 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands at 17:05. Also on Tennyson's Sands were a drake Pintail and 4 Avocet. The Cetti's Warbler was heard singing at the north of the reserve in the afternoon. Other sightings included 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Hen Harrier (a male and a ringtail), a Woodcock, a Coal Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Redwing, 3 Rock Pipit and 8 Corn Bunting. 560 Eider and 7 Red-breasted Merganser were on the sea from the Wash Viewpoint in the morning.

Woodlark, 20th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Common Crossbill, 20th February 2019.
Photos - Owen Beaumont

19th February. On the beach were 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow. The Cetti's Warbler was singing to the north of the reserve. 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose were seen to the north of Tennyson's Sands; and 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide in the evening. 4 Snow Bunting were seen on Millenium Ridge in the afternoon. Other highlights included 38 Whooper Swan, 350 Pink-footed Goose, 377 Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, a drake Goldeneye, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Grey Partridge, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 22 Ringed Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Woodcock, 4 Snipe, a Merlin, 3 Coal Tit, 9 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, a Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit, a Siskin, a Yellowhammer and 48 Corn Bunting. Offshore were 120 Eider and 5 Red-breasted Merganser.

Snow Bunting, 19th February 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

18th February. Seen on Jackson's Marsh were 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose, a drake Pintail and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. The Cetti's Warbler remained to the north of the reserve, along with a Red-legged Partridge. A juvenile Glaucous Gull, an adult male Hen Harrier and 9 Black-tailed Godwit were seen from the Wash Viewpoint late in the afternoon; and a Grey Partridge was again heard calling from the Visitor Centre Car Park at dusk. Also around were 38 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan, 350 Pink-footed Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Chiffchaff, 2 Water Pipit, a Brambling and 38 Corn Bunting.

Winter Aconites and Snowdrops, 18th February 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

17th February. A glorious sunny day on the reserve. Visiting birders were rewarded with excellent views of a Great White Egret, 35 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan and 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose on Jackson's Marsh and Tennyson's Sands. A Cetti's Warbler was singing to the north of the reserve. An afternoon visit to the Wash Viewpoint was rewarded with views of 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull, a Merlin, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Pintail and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. A Grey Partridge was calling at dusk.

Great White Egret, 17th February 2019
Photo - Roger Riddington

Whooper Swans (front), Bewick's Swans (rear), 17th February 2019
Photo - Roger Riddington

Great White Egret, 17th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Thanks to Paul Neale for some excellent photos from today:

Great White Egret

Whooper Swans

Bewick's Swans

Eurasian White-fronted Geese

Skylark

16th February. Surprise highlight of today came in the form of 4 Grey Partridge between the Wash Viewpoint and Visitor Centre Car Park at dusk. Sightings from elsewhere on the reserve today were 2 Hooded Crow, 2 Stonechat, 2 Water Pipit, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and 38 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Avocet, a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye. The 5 Bewick's Swans came into roost at 1635hrs giving good views from Harvey's Hide.

Bewick's Swans, 16th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Corn Buntings, 16th February 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

15th February. There was a light movement of finches, corvids and Starlings south early morning, including 3 Brambling. The 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull remained on the beach. On Jackson's Marsh sightings included a male Marsh Harrier, a Grey Heron, a drake Pintail, a ringtail Hen Harrier and 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose.
The family group of 5 Bewick's Swan came in to roost on Tennyson Sands at 1635hrs; also present were a drake Goosander and a lone Avocet. A Grey Partridge (rare here) was heard calling from the Wash Viewpoint at dusk. Other sightings from around the reserve were 3 Chiffchaff, a Water Pipit, a Siskin, an adult Male Peregrine, a Merlin and 50 Corn Bunting.

Photos by Paul Neale

Roe Deer, 15th February 2019

Male Marsh Harrier, 15th February 2019

14th February. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull were on the beach along with a Hooded Crow. The group of 5 Bewick's Swan roosted on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide in the evening. Around were 40 Whooper Swan, 250 Brent Goose (including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose), 250 Wigeon, a drake Goldeneye, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 13 Snipe, 2 Rock Pipit and 15 Corn Bunting.

Mute Swan, 14th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Whooper Swan, 14th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Sunset over Jackson's Marsh, 14th February 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

13th February. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach. 300 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver went south in the morning. Around were 3 Song Thrush and a Water Pipit.

12th February. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach. 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) were on fields west of the River Steeping with 41 Whooper Swan. The first Avocet of the year was on Tennyson's Sands. Other highlights included 300 Brent Goose, 2 Hen Harrier (a male and a ringtail), a Sparrowhawk, 500 Lapwing, 11 Woodcock, 2 Redwing and 45 Corn Bunting.

Turnstone, 12th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Juvenile Glaucous Gull, 12th February 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

11th February. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach. 6 Eurasian White-fronted Goose were on Jackson's Marsh in the morning; and 5 Bewick's Swan went to roost on Tennyson's Sands in the evening. Out to sea were 30 Eider, 60 Common Scoter 17 Red-breasted Merganser and 200 Red-throated Diver. Also around were 300 Brent Goose (including one Pale-bellied Brent Goose), a drake Pintail, a drake Goldeneye, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Water Rail, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 45 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, 10 Rock Pipit and 51 Corn Bunting. A Great White Egret reportedly flew south over the Visitor Centre in the morning.