Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid February 2022

20th February. SW winds and rain increasing to gale throughout the day with a torrential rainstorm at dusk. The highlights of an hour seawatch 0800-0900 were 2 little Gull and a Black-throated Diver south and 2 Harbour Porpoise. 450 Golden Plover came off the local fields and 2 Coal Tit were together at Aylmer.

19th February. 700 Pink-footed Geese left the roost on Croftmarsh early morning with 2 Barnacle Geese still around. The Red-breasted Goose was with 200 Brent Geese on the River Haven on the dropping tide mid-morning and there were 1400 Eider on the sand bars beyond. Another busy sea-watch for Red-throated Divers, Auks and Red-breasted Mergansers (64), with possibly the same 2 Goosanders making another appearance. Highlights were single Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe and Red-necked Grebe heading south while 35 Snow Buntings were feeding along the shore. A Glossy Ibis was seen flying SSW over the Visitor Centre at around 1050 having been seen earlier further up the coast. At least 3 Stonechat remained and a Barn Owl was seen at dusk.

18th February. Early morning rain was followed by intermittent showers accompanied by the gale force SW winds of Storm Eunice. An hour seawatch in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon produced low numbers of the usual Eider, Merganser and Red-throated Diver and highlights of single Gannet and Goldeneye south, 2 Fulmar and 2 Goosander south. A Water Pipit was on Mere Meadow.

17th February. Overnight gales from Storm Dudley had subsided to a strong SW breeze at dawn but this was increasing during the morning with Storm Eunice in prospect. The only evidence of displaced seabirds this morning involved 28 Little Gull and 60 Kittiwake south. A single Med Gull and a a Slavonian Grebe were other highlights offshore, whilst the Red-breasted Goose came in late morning. Elsewhere, a flock of 12 Siskin headed south.

Bank Vole 17th February. Photos: Adrian Royle

Blue Tit 17th February. Photos: Adrian Royle

Goldfinch 17th February. Photos: Adrian Royle

Red-bresated Goose. Photo: Adrian Royle

16th February. A very mild morning with a SW wind. An increase of Pink-footed Geese today, with 1200 coming out of the roost on Croftmarsh. The Red-breasted Goose was still with the Brent flock, making at least two visits to Tennyson's Sands today, between 1030 - 1230 and again from 1400 - 1430. A brief seawatch recorded 3 Little Gull south. Otherwise, 3 Woodcock and a Sparrowhawk were seen during a common bird count of the East Dunes. Two Red Kite flew south down the East Dunes together and several Skylarks were in song over the saltmarshes.

15th February. A strong SW breeze with moderate rain from 0900. Following a period of generally low numbers, 600 Pink-footed Geese were on Croftmarsh this morning. Other than that, the only records were form an hour seawatch. Again, plenty of the expected species with the highlights being a Great Northern Diver flying out south-east and 2 Fulmar south. The Red-breasted Goose was reported on Jacksons Marsh around mid-day.

14th February. The Red-breasted Goose remains with the Brent flock - showing well on on Tennyson's Sands throughout the morning and then moving to Jacksons Marsh. A Red Kite passed over Croftmarsh adjacent. The sea was productive again for Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser, with a single Black-throated Diver. At least 1700 Eider were offshore early morning, moving deeper into the Wash later.

13th February. A strong SW wind again with rain commencing late morning. The Brent flock with the Red-breasted Goose visited Jackson's Marsh late morning and looked set to continue the pattern of commuting between the lagoons and local fields. Fair numbers of Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Red breasted Merganser and Eider were offshore with a single Great Northern Diver. A Red-necked Grebe arrived from the north and landed distantly.

12th February. A strong SW wind during the morning. Records only received for the sea where an hours watch produced 46 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Red-breasted merganser, 31 Red-throated Diver, 2 Kittiwake and a passage of 570 Herring Gull. Small numbers of Dunlin, Sanderling and Knot were moving south along the shore with the first three Avocet of the year and a Lapwing. The Red-breasted Goose was seen on Jackson's Marsh late morning and again late afternoon.

11th February. The Red-breasted Goose remained with the Brent flock, commuting between Tennyson's Sands and local fields. Also on TS were 6 Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler, with a Peregrine settled on Croftmarsh beyond. Two Merlin were hunting the foreshore where there were flocks of 60 Linnet and 18 Snow Bunting.