January 20th. Some early morning light rain.
Birds around included 42 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 80 Red-throated Diver, 10 Woodcock, 2 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Fieldfare and 12 Snow Bunting. On Croftmarsh were 1000 Pink-footed Goose; and on Wainfleet Marsh 52 Whooper Swan. Going south were 3 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Goosander and 15 Kittiwake; and north a Great Northern Diver and 3 Kittiwake.
A rain-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 2 new birds: a Great Tit and a Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit.
 |
| Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 20 January 2022. Photo - Rob Watson |
 |
| Mute Swan courtship, 20 January 2022. Photo - Mike Chester |
Ringing Control: Goldcrest, ringed GPBO 25 April 2021. controlled North Ronaldsay, Orkney 24 May 2021.
January 19th. Around were 4 Woodcock, a Hen Harrier and 2 Stonechat. On Croftmarsh were 1000 Pink-footed Goose; on Tennyson's Sands 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Curlew and a Cetti's Warbler; and over Wainfleet Marsh 900 Lapwing.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 2 new Blue Tit; and 6 retraps: 4 Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Goldfinch.
 |
| Conger Eel, 19 January 2022. Photo - Nige Lound |
Ringing Recovery: Blackcap, ringed GPBO 23 October 2020, found sick then released South Norwood, London 19 December 2021.
January 18th. Frozen start, gradually thawing.
Birds around included 2 Redwing and 3 Greenfinch. On Croftmarsh were 1000 Pink-footed Goose.
January 17th. Frosty start.
Around were 2 Woodcock, a Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Bullfinch, 21 Greenfinch, a Corn Bunting and 65 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Egyptian Goose, 21 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh 1000 Pink-footed Goose; on the Mere 2 Water Rail; and on Wainfleet Marsh 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Heading west were 27 Pink-footed Goose.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 2 new birds: a Chaffinch and a Great Tit; and 5 retraps: 3 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit.
 |
| Egyptian Geese, 17 January 2022. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
| Chaffinch, ringed 17 January 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
January 16th. Birds around included 750 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Long-eared Owl and a Merlin. On Tennyson's Sands were 6 Black-tailed Godwit; and on the sea a Long-tailed Duck, 870 Eider, 88 Red-throated Diver and 45 Great Crested Grebe. Flying south were 300 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 48 Common Scoter, 66 Red-throated Diver, 6 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Shag.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 2 new Goldfinch; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Goldfinch.
January 15th. Foggy, wet start.
Around were 3 Woodcock, 3 Stonechat and a Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were 80 Pink-footed Goose, 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Water Rail and 3 Curlew; and on Croftmarsh a Buzzard. Going south were 100 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Grey Heron; and east 110 Pink-footed Goose.
 |
| Barn Owl pellets from a winter roost site, 15 January 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
January 14th. Frozen start, gradually thawing.
Birds around included 60 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Woodcock. On Tennyson's Sands were a Short-eared Owl, 5 Curlew, 11 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Water Rail; on Wainfleet Marsh 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose; and on the sea 650 Wigeon, 76 Great Crested Grebe and 10 Red-throated Diver. Heading south were 2 Little Gull.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 2 new Great Tit; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch.
January 13th. A White-tailed Eagle left its roost in a local wood and flew south-east over the reserve at 0800hrs. Around were a Whooper Swan and 2 Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Curlew.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided just a new Blackbird.
White-tailed Eagle leaving roost, 13 January 2022
Video- Stuart Ainsworth
 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker, January 2022. Photo - Mike Chester |
January 12th. Frosty start.
Birds around included 176 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Pink-footed Goose, 670 Golden Plover, a male Hen Harrier, 4 Buzzard, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechat, 9 Snow Bunting and 8 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Curlew, a Sanderling and a Redshank; on Tennyson's Sands 10 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Curlew and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Wainfleet Marsh 254 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Short-eared Owl. Flying south were 12 Pink-footed Goose.
Snowdrops are beginning to flower.
 |
| Sunset, 12 January 2022. Photo - Rob Watson |
 |
| Snowdrops, 12 January 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
January 11th. Rain until mid morning, then soggy.
Around were 450 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands was a Black-tailed Godwit.
