Early January 2020

January 10th. A Lapland Bunting flew over to the fields west of the River Steeping in the morning, where there were also 17 Whooper Swan, 17 Stock Dove, 4 Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer. The 4 White-fronted Goose remained in the area and put in an appearance on Croftmarsh in the early afternoon, the Barnacle Goose was also amongst 1450 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around included 412 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 33 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 172 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 27 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 6 Little Grebe, 78 Lapwing, a Woodcock, a Snipe, 9 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Tawny Owl, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2 Starling, 55 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 15 Song Thrush, 16 Robin, 15 Dunnock, an Alba Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit (over Sykes Farm in the afternoon), 4 Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch, 17 Greenfinch, 24 Goldfinch and 10 Reed Bunting.

Red Fox, on Croftmarsh, 10th January 2020.

Photo - Chris Cullen

White-fronted Goose and Pink-footed Goose, 10th January 2020.

Photo - Ben Ward

Stunning scenes in the late afternoon, 10th January 2020.

Photos - Chris Cullen

Pink-footed Goose, descending onto Croftmarsh, 10th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

January 9th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 9 Whooper Swan flew south early morning. On Jackson's Marsh were 18 Shoveler, 86 Gadwall, 210 Wigeon, 68 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 54 Teal, 26 Tufted Duck, 6 Moorhen, 3 Coot, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, a Snipe, a Grey Heron and a Water Pipit. The Barnacle Goose and 4 White-fronted Goose were with 1250 mobile Pink-footed Goose which were commuting between fields to the north and south-west of the reserve throughout the day. Birds around included 400 Brent Goose, 105 Canada Goose, 60 Greylag Goose, 11 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 31 Stock Dove, 12 Little Grebe, 65 Lapwing, 74 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 16 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a male Hen Harrier (over the Old Saltmarsh early morning), a Buzzard, a Barn Owl (along the Golf Course edge in the evening), 4 Tawny Owl, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 18 Starlin, 28 Blackbird, 15 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Robin, 2 Stonechat (Wash Viewpoint), 6 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit (over the north end of the West Dunes), 4 Rock Pipit, 16 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch, 15 Greenfinch, 30 Goldfinch and a Corn Bunting (Wash Viewpoint).

Ruff, 9th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Pintail, 9th January 2020

Photo - Owen Beaumont

Little Egret, 9th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

January 8th. Little observer coverage.
 On Jackson's Marsh were 18 Shoveler, 56 Gadwall, 210 Wigeon, 55 Mallard, a Pintail, 3 Pochard, 33 Tufted Duck, 5 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, a Snipe and a Grey Heron. Birds around included 740 Brent Goose, 110 Canada Goose, a Barnacle Goose (with the Pink-footed Goose flock), 65 Greylag Goose, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 28 Shelduck, 6 Stock Dove, 77 Curlew, 17 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a Merlin, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 24 Blackbird, 18 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, 5 Meadow Pipit, 8 Rock Pipit, 14 Chaffinch, a Brambling, a Bullfinch, 16 Greenfinch, 35 Goldfinch and a Siskin. Heading south-west were 571 Lapwing.

Pochard, 8th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Barnacle Goose, with Pink-footed Goose, 8th January 2020.

Photo - Ben Ward

January 7th. Little observer coverage.
 On Jackson's Marsh were 83 Canada Goose, 72 Greylag Goose, 21 Shoveler, 66 Gadwall, 182 Wigeon, 59 Mallard, 3 Pintail, 44 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 6 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, a Snipe, a Little Egret and a Water Pipit; and on Jackson's Marsh Meadow 19 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush. Birds around included 420 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Stock Dove, 65 Lapwing, 77 Golden Plover, 64 Curlew, a Snipe, 3 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 18 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush, 9 Robin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 18 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 12 Greenfinch, 15 Linnet, 22 Goldfinch and a Siskin.

Wildfowl, take-off, 7th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw 

Snowdrop, 7th January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Ringing Control:
Great Tit, ringed GPBO 7 July 2018, controlled Holme Bird Observatory, Norfolk 24 April and 30 April 2019.

January 6th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 Flying south over the sea were 28 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 35 Golden Plover, 3 Guillemot, 17 Auk Sp, 33 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and a Diver Sp; and north 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Razorbill and 2 Red-throated Diver. On the sea were 2 Eider, 20 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and 12 Red-throated Diver. In from the sea came 42 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Heading south and then west over land was a Marsh Harrier. A Barnacle Goose and a White-fronted Goose were with 1200 mobile Pink-footed Goose, commuting to various locations throughout the day. Other birds around included 300 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 172 Canada Goose, 81 Greylag Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 5 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 43 Shoveler, 114 Gadwall, 268 Wigeon, 112 Teal, a Water Rail, 22 Stock Dove, 12 Little Grebe, 121 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, 4 Snipe, 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a Peregrine, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2 Starling, 25 Blackbird, 4 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Robin, 2 Bullfinch, 18 Greenfinch and 25 Goldfinch. On Jackson's Marsh were 6 Pintail, 31 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail and 13 Little Egret (pre-roost congregation).

Marsh Harrier, 6th January 2020.

Photo - Ben Ward

January 5th. A Snow Bunting flew over Mill Hill in the afternoon. On the sea were 3 Common Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 14 Red-throated Diver. Flying south over the sea were 9 Grey Goose Sp, 27 Wigeon, 38 Teal, 2 Guillemot, 2 Auk Sp and 12 Red-throated Diver; and north 72 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Shelduck, a Great Crested Grebe, a Razorbill, an Auk Sp and 2 Red-throated Diver. Bird around included 800 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 80 Canada Goose, 45 Greylag Goose, 1100 Pink-footed Goose, a White-fronted Goose (fields west of the River Steeping), 2 Mute Swan, 6 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 39 Shoveler, 66 Gadwall, 220 Wigeon, 4 Pintail (Jackson's Marsh), 52 Teal, 49 Tufted Duck, a Goosander, 8 Little Grebe, 131 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Turnstone, 3 Snipe, 7 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 male Hen Harrier, a Tawny Owl, a Kingfisher, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 15 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 48 Blackbird, 16 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 22 Robin, a Stonechat (Visitor Centre Car Park), 2 House Sparrow, a Water Pipit (Jackson's Marsh), 2 Bullfinch, 17 Greenfinch, 37 Goldfinch, a Corn Bunting (from Visitor Centre Car Park) and 13 Reed Bunting.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 4 new birds: 2 Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch; and 12 retraps: 5 Blue Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldfinch and a Great Tit.

January 4h. A Slavonian Grebe flew north and then south, briefly alighting, out from Mill Hill in the morning. A Lapland Bunting flew over the northern end of the reserve mid-day. Birds around included a Pale-bellied Brent Goose (with the Dark-bellied Brent Goose flock), 880 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a 1100 Pink-footed Goose, 5 White-fronted Goose (briefly on fields west of Croftmarsh), 2 Mute Swan, 4 Whooper Swan (on fields west of the River Steeping), 24 Shoveler, 77 Gadwall, 3 Pintail (Jackson's Marsh), 30 Teal, 24 Tufted Duck, 20 Common Scoter, 37 Stock Dove, 4 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 80 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 2 Guillemot, 3 Red-throated Diver, 5 Little Egret, a male Hen Harrier (from Wash Viewpoint), a Buzzard, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl (from Wash Viewpoint), a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 8 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2 Starling, 34 Blackbird, 20 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 18 Robin, 5 Stonechat (1 Visitor Centre Car Park, 2 Mere Meadow and 2 North End), 3 Bullfinch, 22 Greenfinch, 12 Linnet, 30 Golfinch, a Siskin and 10 Reed Bunting. Flying south were 2 Fieldfare and a Red-throated Diver; and north an Auk Sp.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, resulted in a new Goldfinch; and 6 retraps: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldfinch and a Great Tit.
   

Harbour Porpoise, breaching, 4th January 2020.

Photo - Liam Andrews

January 3rd. A White-fronted Goose arrived from the north onto Croftmarsh late morning. Heading north were 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 11 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Gannet, a Guillemot, 8 Auk Sp; and south a Shelduck, 31 Common Scoter, 46 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard and 4 Auk Sp. Birds around included 672 Brent Goose, 451 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), an Eider, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Red-throated Diver, 10 Little Grebe, 37 Stock Dove, a Water Rail, 60 Lapwing, a Snipe, 14 Little Egret (roost count), a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a juvenile Peregrine, 8 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2 Starling, 16 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 10 Robin, 2 Stonechat (Visitor Centre Car Park), a Bullfinch, 20 Greenfinch, 20 Goldfinch and a Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 5 Shoveler, 49 Gadwall, 190 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 5 Teal, a Pochard and 28 Tufted Duck.

Bullfinch, 3rd January 2020.

Photo - Nige Lound

Peregrine, 3rd January 2020. 

Video - Ben Ward

January 2nd. A Slavonian Grebe flew in from the north and alighted on the sea off Greenshanks Creek, out from Mill Hill, where there were also 20 Common Scoter, 2 Eider, a Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Red-throated Diver and 4 Great Crested Grebe. Flying south-west over land were 19 White-fronted Goose; south over the sea a Brent Goose, 5 Pink-footed Goose, 10 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 87 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 10 Teal, 3 Eider, 3 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Golden Plover, a Purple Sandpiper, 7 Curlew, a Guillemot and 3 Auk Sp; and north an Eider. Arriving from the Sea was an Egyptian Goose, then relocating to Jackson's Marsh; where there were also 101 Canada Goose, 17 Greylag Goose, 280 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, a Pochard, 27 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail and 2 Water Pipit. Birds around included a Grey Partridge, 66 Brent Goose, 1078 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 55 Shoveler, 83 Gadwall 22 Teal, 9 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, a Water Rail, 40 Lapwing, 92 Curlew, 12 Turnstone, 2 Snipe, 2 Stock Dove, a Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a Merlin, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Starling, 25 Blackbird, 16 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, 21 Greenfinch, 8 Linnet and 12 Goldfinch.

Egyptian Goose, 2nd January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Redwing, 2nd January 2020.

Photo - Jim Shaw 

January 1st. The Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose were with the Dark-bellied Brent flock on fields west of the River Steeping in the afternoon, where there were also a Barnacle Goose with the Pink-footed Goose flock, 2 White-fronted Goose and 5 Whooper Swan. Birds around included 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 100 Canada Goose, 40 Greylag Goose, 950 Pink-footed Goose, 45 Shelduck, 22 Shoveler, 67 Gadwall, 232 Wigeon, 119 Teal, 32 Tufted Duck, an Eider, 30 Common Scoter, 2 Goosander, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier (ranging widely), a Buzzard, 3 Water Rail, 70 Lapwing, 200 Curlew, 30 Golden Plover, 90 Grey Plover, 36 Bar-tailed Godwit, 24 Turnstone, 130 Knot, 18 Sanderling, 150 Dunlin, 6 Woodcock, 9 Snipe, 37 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Kestrel, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 13 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 8 Starling, 42 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 21 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 22 Robin, 6 Stonechat (2 Visitor Centre Car Park, 2 Mere Meadow and 2 out from Mill Hill), 3 House Sparrow, a Water Pipit, 3 Bullfinch, 35 Greenfinch, 8 Linnet, 35 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 6 Corn Bunting (around Visitor Centre Car Park) and 13 Reed Bunting. Going southwest over Croftmarsh late morning were 15 White-fronted Goose; and south a Barnacle Goose, 11 Whooper Swan, 59 Wigeon, 19 Shoveler, an Aythya Sp, a Common Scoter, a Grey Heron, 23 Lapwing, 76 Golden Plover; and north-west 60 Pink-footed Goose.

Stonechat, 1st January 2020.

Photo - Ben Ward