31st March. Bracing northerly with occasional hail, sleet and snow. The highlight of the day was the evenings high tide, which was much higher than predicted (full counts to follow), pushing up masses of waders and Larid from the Wash. Around were 130 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Pintail, 56 Eider, 22 Turnstone, a Little Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, 550 Common Gull, 55 Great Black-backed Gull, 850 Herring Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 65 Redwing and a Corn Bunting.
30th March. Cool northerly with rain from mid morning. Around were a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 166 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 7 Pintail, 62 Eider, 22 Turnstone, 212 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank (Old Saltmarsh), 2 Mediterranean Gull, a presumed Viking Gull, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Blackcap, 2 Fieldfare, 62 Redwing, a Stonechat, a Water Pipit, a Brambling, a Bullfinch and 2 Corn Bunting.
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| Spotted Redshank, 30th March 2022. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| A Light-bellied Brent amongst Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30th March 2022. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| 2cy Viking Gull, presumed, or pale end argentatus, 30th March 2022. Photo - Ben Ward |
29th March. Around were a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 166 Bark-bellied 3Brent Goose, 28 Eider, a Whimbrel, 320 Sanderling, 3 Woodcock, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, the first Willow Warbler of the year, 3 Blackcap, 16 Fieldfare, 78 Redwing, 27 Song Thrush, a Black Redstart, a Stonechat, a Yellow Wagtail, a Brambling, a Bullfinch and 4 Corn Bunting.
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Stonechat, 29th March 2022. Photo: Ben Ward |
28th March. Bright but chilly day, decreasing visibility in the evening. Another good day for raptor passage which included south; 6 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Red Kite, 43 Buzzard, and 6 Kestrel. Around were a Grey Partridge, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Pintail, 3 Ruff, 14 Snipe, a Great Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, a male Merlin, the first Yellow Wagtail of the year, a Water Pipit and a Corn Bunting. 2 Goosander flew south over the shore.
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| Short-eared Owl, 28th March 2022. Photo: Matt Laing |
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| Ringed Plover, 28th March 2022. Photo: Ben Ward |
27th March. A Long-eared Owl was the day's highlight.
26th March. 2 Black Redstart remained and another Red Kite flew south. Starlings were reduced to 10,000 at roost.
25th March. 2 Black Redstart were around the Visitor Centre this morning and some 40 Redwing were around. Vis mig highlights were 8 Crossbill and a Red Kite south and an early Whimbrel north. Starling numbers had dropped right down to 30,000 at roost. Other highlights were single Jack Snipe and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose still with the Brent flock.
24th March. A Black Redstart was at the Visitor Centre early morning and there was further Thrush and Finch movement early morning, including 44 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, 2 Tree Sparrow, 12 Brambling, 5 Crossbill and 203 Siskin as well as another arrival of Woodcock (11), a single Jack Snipe and the first Ring Ouzel of the spring. Around were 140 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Mediterranean Gull, a Great Egret, 2 Blackcap, 200,000 Starling, 25 Fieldfare,18 Redwing, a White Wagtail, a Water Pipit and a Corn Bunting.
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| Black Redstart 24th March. Photo: Ben Ward |
Dotted Border 24th March. Photo Nige Lound
23rd March. A Hawfinch was again elusive around the Plantation. Black Redstart and Lapland Bunting were new arrivals with a notable increase in thrushes with 62 Blackbird, 2 Redwing and 21 Song Thrush. There were 7 Egyptian Geese and a Marsh Harrier over Croftmarsh. Around were a Little Gull, 5 Sparrowhawk, 2 mobile Bearded Tit, a singing Blackcap, 190000 Starling, 2 Water Pipit and 11 Corn Bunting. 104 Siskin flew south.
The highlights of overnight moth-trapping were Oak Beauty and Yellow-horned (new for the Reserve list).
Great Crested Grebe and Egyptian Geese 23rd March. Photos: Tom Baker
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Photos: Nige Lound
22nd March. Another day of varying mist. The Starling again stole the show on a day otherwise of quality over quantity! Around were a light bellied-brent goose, 6 pintail, 49 Eider, 16000 Knot, 17 Turnstone, a Ruff, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Sandwich Tern, 4 Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, a Barn Owl, 300000 Starling, 2 Firecrest (east dunes and north end of west dunes), 2 Water Pipit. A migrant Long-eared Owl was flushed inadvertently. Flying south; 2 Red Kite, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Crossbill and 171 siskin.
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| Ruff 22nd March 2022. Photo: Ben Ward |
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Pintail 22nd March 2022. Photo: Ben Ward   Blackbird, Peacock and Comma 22nd March. Photos: Tom Baker |
21st March. A hard frost and foggy start to the morning then bright sunshine prompted raptor passage with; 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 14 Red Kite, 33 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel. There again were 3 Firecrest; Sykes Farm Track, East Dunes and roadside north of Aylmer. 2 Crossbill moved south and a Hawfinch was calling in the Plantation amidst finch passage. Those fortunate to be on the reserve at dusk were treated to a show of unprecedented proportions; estimates by assembled local birders were in the region of a Million Starling which accumulated from many directions and eventually settled to roost on the Mere.
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