A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 5 new birds: a Chaffinch and 4 Goldfinch; and 2 retrap Goldfinch.
Glaucous Gull, amongst the highlights from the evenings wader watch event, 20th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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Wheatear, 20th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Goldfinch ringed Beloeil, Belgium 10 March 2018, controlled GPBO 30 September 2018.
March 19th. Misty start, soon clearing.
On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, a Pochard, 12 Goosander (joint second highest reserve count), 75 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and a Water Rail. Birds around included 8 White-fronted Goose, 2 Red-legged Partridge, a Grey Partridge, a Grey Heron, 2 Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Woodcock, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Hooded Crow, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 3 White Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Yellowhammer and 22 Corn Bunting. Heading south were 2 Rook, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Siskin; and east, out to sea, went 260 Starling.
Short-eared Owl, hunting early morning, 19th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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| Short-eared Owl, 19th March 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Song Thrush, 19th March 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
Chiffchaff ringed GPBO 13 October 2013, controlled P Dell'Arco, Italy 9 April 2014.
March 18th. The Glaucous Gull was again on the beach early morning. Heading north were 46 Whooper Swan; north-west 5 Buzzard; and south a Red Kite and a Grey Heron. Birds around included 8 White-fronted Goose, 50 Brent Goose, a Pintail, a Grey Heron, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 70 Avocet, 40 Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Peregrine, a Woodlark, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Hooded Crow, 536 Starling, 5 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Water Pipit, a Bullfinch, 4 Yellowhammer and 43 Corn Bunting.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 2 new birds: a Great Tit and a Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch and a Great Tit.
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Red Fox, 18th March 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound
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House Sparrow, 18h March 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound
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Sundog (Parhelion), 18th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Another notable movement of Merlin transpired during the morning with 6 individuals heading south over the sea. Heading in the opposite direction was a Goosander. A vocal Raven was to the north-west of the reserve late afternoon. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, 11 Goosander and 35 Avocet. Birds around included 8 White-fronted Goose, 128 Eider, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, 7 Stock Dove, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a Hooded Crow, 2 Chiffchaff, 200 Starling, 12 Redwing, 2 White Wagtail, a Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer and 28 Corn Bunting.
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| Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 17th March 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, 17th March 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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Bullfinch, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Siskin, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Yellowhammer, 17th March 2019.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Heading south were 6 Little Gull, 2 Rook and a Woodlark. On Tennyson's Sands were 52 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and a Grey Wagtail. Birds around included 8 White-fronted Goose, a Pintail, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 132 Golden Plover, 2 Woodcock, 8 Stock Dove, a Tawny Owl, 2 Merlin, a Chiffchaff. 350 Starling, 5 Fieldfare, 87 Redwing, 2 White Wagtail and 4 Corn Bunting.
March 15th. Strong westerly wind.
Flying south were 3 Woodlark and a staggering 4232 Chaffinch (reserve record). On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, 49 Avocet and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 66 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 18 Eider, 2 Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 800 Golden Plover, 6 Turnstone, 8 Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow, 2 Chiffchaff, 340 Starling, 116 Redwing, 3 White Wagtail, 176 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch and 28 Corn Bunting.
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Hen Harrier, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Hooded Crow, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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White Wagtails, 15th March 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Going south were a Merlin, 7 Redwing, 740 Chaffinch and a Crossbill. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 104 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Pintail, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Hen Harrier, 46 Avocet, a Woodcock, a Tawny Owl, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow (at North End), a Chiffchaff and 3 White Wagtail.
March 13th. Strong westerly wind.
The fourth Glaucous Gull of the year was on the beach during the morning, today's individual being a third calendar year. Birds around included 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 94 Eider, 45 Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 46 Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Turnstone, a Jack Snipe, 6 Woodcock, a Mediterranean Gull, a Tawny Owl, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a Hooded Crow, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Fieldfare, 49 Redwing and a Corn Bunting. Heading south were a Tufted Duck, a Great Crested Grebe, 9 Red-throated Diver, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Merlin, a Rook, 2 Alba Wagtail, 3 Rock Pipit, 23 Chaffinch and a Corn Bunting.
Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13th March 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
Ringing Recovery: Blackbird ringed GPBO 5 November 1961, shot Heligoland, Germany unknown date.
This remarkable old recovery has only recently been reported.
March 12th. Strong south-westerly wind, and rain for much of the day.
On Jacksons Marsh was a Water Pipit; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Pink-footed Goose and a Pintail. A Red-necked Grebe was offshore. Birds around included 2 Tawny Owl, a Bullfinch and 20 Corn Bunting.
March 11th. Strong westerly wind.
Heading south were 2 Buzzard, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, a Guillemot, a Merlin, a Woodlark, 2 alba Wagtail and 100 Chaffinch; and north a Red-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver. In off the sea came a Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 White-fronted Goose, a Great Crested Grebe, 39 Avocet and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail and a Water Pipit. Birds around included a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Velvet Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 12 Turnstone, 9 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, 3 Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 3 Hooded Crow (on the beach), a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and 47 Corn Bunting.
