Early February 2020

February 10th. Strong westerly wind with rain and light snow in the afternoon.
 The Barnacle Goose and 2 Tundra Bean Goose were amongst 670 Pink-footed Goose which commuted between Croftmarsh and adjacent farm fields. Also on Croftmarsh were 2 Pintail, 19 Stock Dove, 260 Lapwing, 30 Golden Plover, 97 Curlew, a Ruff, 13 Redshank and 40 Starling; and on Jackson's Marsh were 5 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Snipe and a Water Pipit. Birds around included 25 Canada Goose, 13 Greylag Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 17 Shelduck, 30 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 273 Wigeon, 88 Mallard, 104 Teal, 39 Tufted Duck, 13 Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, 4 Turnstone, 2 Snipe, 9 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 15 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 11 Robin, a Stonechat (Mere Meadow), 2 Alba' Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit (off Freshwater Marsh), 15 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch and 10 Goldfinch.

Tundra Bean and Pink-footed Goose, 10th February 2020.
Photos - Ben Ward

Tundra Bean and Pink-footed Goose, 10th February 2020.
Video - Ben Ward 

Stonechat, 10th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
February 9th. Gale force south-westerly winds and showers throughout the day.
 The Barnacle Goose and a Tundra Bean Goose were on fields west of the River Steeping in the afternoon. On Croftmarsh were 222 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Shelduck, 374 Wigeon, 9 Redshank and 35 Starling; on Jackson's Marsh were 3 Brent Goose, 4 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe and 41 Stock Dove; and on Tennyson's Sands a Great Crested Grebe. Birds around included 46 Canada Goose, 4 Greylag Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 43 Shoveler, 49 Gadwall, 144 Mallard, 78 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 15 Coot, 15 Little Grebe, 72 Curlew, 12 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 18 Blackbird, 30 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Robin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 18 Chaffinch, 9 Greenfinch and 12 Goldfinch.

The view from Sykes Farm office in the afternoon, 9th February 2020.
Video - Jim Shaw

Stock Dove, 9th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

February 8th. A Black Brant was off Millennium Ridge in the morning with 788 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. On Croftmarsh were 2 Light-bellied Brent Goose, 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, 16 Stock Dove and 140 Starling; on Jackson's Marsh were 3 Pintail, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Little Egret (pre roost congregation) and a Water Pipit; and on Tennyson's Sands were a Goldeneye, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and a Grey Heron. Birds around included 450 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 4 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 205 Wigeon, 74 Mallard, 26 Teal, 42 Tufted Duck, 14 Little Grebe,78 Curlew, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, a Kestrel, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 19 Blackbird, 8 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 19 Greenfinch, 14 Goldfinch and 3 Reed Bunting.

Great Crested Grebe, 8th February 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

Little Egret congregation, 8th February 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound
February 7th. A Richard's Pipit flew south over the hump and onto the New Saltmarsh during a roost movement of Pipit at sunset. On Croftmarsh were a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 724 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Canada Goose, a Barnacle Goose, 1440 Pink-footed Goose and a Tundra Bean Goose. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 2 Snipe and a Grey Heron; and on Tennyson's Sands a Great Crested Grebe and a Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 4 Mute Swan, 3 Whooper Swan (fields west of the River Steeping), 29 Shelduck, 31 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 230 Wigeon, 108 Mallard, 62 Teal, 43 Tufted Duck, 17 Stock Dove, a Water Rail, 14 Little Grebe, 92 Curlew, a Woodcock, 12 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 65 Starling, 29 Blackbird, 12 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 6 Mistle Thrush, 24 Robin, 7 Meadow Pipit, 12 Rock Pipit, 18 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch, 26 Corn Bunting (to roost) and 8 Reed Bunting.
Wigeon, feverish courtship behaviour prompted by the fine conditions, 7th February 2020.

Goldeneye, adult drake, 7th February 2020.

Redwing, 7th February 2020.

Sunset, 7th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
February 6th. Frosty start.
 On Croftmarsh were 2 Light-bellied Brent Goose, 359 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Barnacle Goose, 1683 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Tundra Bean Goose, 260 Wigeon, 10 Stock Dove, 320 Lapwing, 62 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Buzzard and 80 Starling; On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and a Goldeneye; and on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Avocet, 3 Snipe, a Grey Heron and a Cetti's Warbler (from North Hide). Flying north-west were 305 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around included 4 Mute Swan, 26 Shelduck, 35 Shoveler, 32 Gadwall, 47 Teal, 38 Tufted Duck, 15 Little Grebe, 11 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 19 Blackbird, 3 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, a Stonechat (Mere Meadow), 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 18 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 7 Corn Bunting (Wash Viewpoint) and 7 Reed Bunting.
Tundra Bean Goose, 6th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

Frosty start, Millennium Ridge in the morning, 6th February 2020.
Photo - Jim Shaw
February 5th. The Red-crested Pochard commuted between the Mere and Jackson's Marsh. The Barnacle Goose was with 1200 Pink-footed Goose on fields west of the river in the morning. Birds around included 70 Brent Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 13 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 260 Wigeon, 58 Mallard, 2 Pintail (Jackson's Marsh), 22 Teal, 38 Tufted Duck, 10 Stock Dove, 4 Little Grebe, 360 Lapwing, 58 Curlew, 9 Little Egret, 2 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 60 Starling, 14 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Robin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 15 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch, 10 Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch and 27 Corn Bunting (from the Visitor Centre Car Park).
Kestrel, pair just prior to roost, 5th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
February 4th. Strong westerly and then north-westerly wind throughout the day.
 A Great Northern Diver was on the sea out from Mill Hill throughout the morning, where there were also an Eider, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Red-throated Diver. Flying south over the sea were a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Greylag Goose, 3 Shelduck, a Wigeon, an Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Goldeneye, 6 Great Crested Grebe, a Kittiwake, 18 Red-throated Diver and a Peregrine; and north 8 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar and a Gannet; and in from the sea came 2 Greylag Goose. The fifth (fourth record) Red-crested Pochard for the recording area was on Jackson's Marsh late morning before relocating to the Mere. On Croftmarsh were 425 Lapwing, 70 Golden Plover and 80 Starling; on Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and a Goldeneye; and on Tennyson's Sands were 4 Goosander (to roost) and a Grey Heron. Birds around included 13 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1400 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 20 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 220 Wigeon, 71 Mallard, 55 Teal, 31 Tufted Duck, 10 Stock Dove, 14 Little Grebe, 122 Curlew, 22 Turnstone, a Woodcock, 10 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 2 Goldcrest, 14 Blackbird, 26 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat (Mere Meadow), a Water Pipit (over the Mere), 12 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 6 Greenfinch and 8 Goldfinch.
Red-crested Pochard, 4th February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
Red-crested Pochard, 4th February 2020.

Goldeneye, 4th February 2020.
Robin, 4th February 2020.
February 3rd. On Jackson's Marsh were 22 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 55 Mallard, 3 Pintail, 37 Teal, 24 Tufted Duck and 4 Little Grebe; and on Tennyson's Sands was a Light-bellied Brent Goose. Birds around included 420 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Canada Goose, 41 Greylag Goose, 900 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 179 Wigeon, 14 Stock Dove, 850 Lapwing, 4 Golden Plover, 54 Curlew, 10 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier (over Old Saltmarsh), a Buzzard, 3 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 200 Starling, 16 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush. 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Robin, 5 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit (over Sykes Farm), 16 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch and 11 Corn Bunting (from Visitor Centre Car Park). Heading south over the East Dunes was a Marsh Harrier.
Light-bellied Brent Goose, 3rd February 2020.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Pintail, 3rd February 2020.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Wigeon, 3rd February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
February 2nd. Rain and poor visibility in the morning.
 A Lapland Bunting flew over the East Dunes late morning. On the sea were 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Red-throated Diver; flying north were 17 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver; south 9 Common Scoter; and in from the sea came 2 Pintail. Birds around included a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 97 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Brent Goose intergrade, 87 Canada Goose, 50 Greylag Goose, 302 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Mute Swan, 15 Shelduck, 37 Shoveler, 58 Gadwall, 235 Wigeon, 114 Mallard, 6 Pintail (Jackson's Marsh), 120 Teal, 31 Tufted Duck, 15 Little Grebe, 220 Lapwing, 30 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 127 Curlew, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 140 Dunlin, 3 Woodcock, 4 Snipe, 129 Redshank, 11 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 3 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 139 Starling, 27 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 13 Robin, 3 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 28 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 16 Goldfinch and 8 Reed Bunting.
Presumed Light-bellied x Dark-bellied Brent Goose intergrade, 2nd February 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
February 1st. Strong westerly wind.
 Birds around included 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 66 Canada Goose, 6 Greylag Goose, 260 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Mute Swan, 48 Shoveler, 38 Gadwall, 190 Wigeon, 99 Mallard, 5 Pintail (Jackson's Marsh), 72 Teal, 26 Tufted Duck, 14 Stock Dove, 9 Coot, 11 Little Grebe, 170 Lapwing, 31 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Heron, 6 Little Egret, a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 200 Starling, 18 Blackbird, 35 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, an Alba Wagtail, 24 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch and 12 Goldfinch.
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