21st April. Light hirundine passage included a fine Red-rumped Swallow mid morning, initially to the north of the reserve and then south over the sea. Again on the migration from 12 Jay blogged up an down indecisively, 7 Yellow Wagtail flew south, and a light fall of new grounded migrants was in evidence The Hawfinch flew south to the Plantation from Aylmer in the morning and was seen again briefly by the hump, later at the top of the farm track. bird around were 4 Cuckoo, 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Great Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a probable Siberian Chiffchaff, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Ring Ouzel (north of Mill Hill), a Stonechat, 2 Wheatear and 2 Tree Pipit (East Dunes).
The first Small Copper of the
year was noted.
20th April. Light north-easterly winds. The increasingly reclusive Hawfinch made another brief appearance along the Sykes Farm track. On the migration front a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver, small groups of Common Scoter and 5 Sandwich Tern flew north during a short morning sea watch; and the first two Arctic Tern of the year flew north through Fenland Lagoon, where there were 2 Bar-tailed Godwit; and the continuing Spotted Redshank; a Turnstone was on Tennyson's Sands. Around were 3 Cuckoo, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Grasshopper Warbler now (best from Mill Pond Road), a Redpoll sp and a Siskin,
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Hawfinch, 20th April 2022. Photos; Ben Ward    |
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19th April. The Hawfinch was again seen around Sykes Farm in the morning. Light visible migration included 2 Brambling and 2 Siskin flying south. From the Wash viewpoint in the evening were a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, 5 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl and a Merlin. The years first Common Sandpiper and Reed Warbler were logged today; also around were 3 Barnacle Goose, 3 Pintail, 2 Cuckoo, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank (Fenland Lagoon), 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Grasshopper Warbler (Mill Pond Road), a Redstart (North Building Ridge), a Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Siskin.
18th April. Two new Common Redstarts were found along North Building Ridge and there was an arrival of 22 Wheatear. The Ring Ouzel remained elusive north of Mill Hill. Jays were up and down the dunes again this morning with at least 28, while other Corvids were making a more determined migration. Some 90 Carrion Crow and 12 Rook headed south with a single Raven. Also moving south, 2 Mediterranean Gull, small flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch, 17 Swallow, several Sand Martin, Siskin and Yellow Wagtail and a Bullfinch. 12,000 waders came up to roost on the high tide, mostly Knot.
113 species of bird recorded on the reserve today
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Chiffchaff, 18th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward   |
17th April. A vocal Richard's Pipit was seen flying over the south end of the reserve by the Shorebird Warden. The Hawfinch performed well on and off all day around Sykes Farm, the Cycle track and the West Dunes. Often favoring feeding along the track margins and even seen bathing in the puddles. Two Green Sandpipers were new arrivals but did not stay long. Three Mediterranean Gulls and single Spotted Redshank and Garganey were still present. The morning WeBS count involved 8000 Knot, 700 Oystercatcher and 440 Sanderling. Other highlights were 4 Pintail, a Pochard, a Cuckoo, a Whimbrel, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Jay, 2 Redwing, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Brambling, Merlin and the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year.
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Green Sandpipers 17th April. Photo: Tom Baker     |
Butterflies on the wing included Green Hairstreak Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and many Peacocks.
Blackcap 16th April. Photo: Tom Baker
Pied Wagtail 16th April. Photo: Tom Baker
15th April. Southeast wind turning to moderate easterlies with sea fret. Around were a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Garganey (pair on Jackson's Marsh), 5 Pintail, 2 Eider, a Cuckoo, a Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, a Ruff, 340 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Mediterranean Gull, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Firecrest (new bird in East Dunes), 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 11 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 4 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, a Water Pipit and a Hawfinch (still around the Plantation). Heading south were a Little Ringed Plover and 13 Jay.
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| Mediterranean Gull pair, 15th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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Wheatear, 15th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward      Cuckoo 15th April, Photo: Nige Lound |
14th April. A significant arrival of warblers reserve wide and light morning visible migration. Around were 3 Barnacle Goose (different to yesterday), 5 Pintail, an Eider, 2 Goldeneye, the first Cuckoo of the year, a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 7 Jack Snipe (during surveys), a Great Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Willow Warbler, 29 Chiffchaff, 12 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 27 Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat, a Firecrest (still in Plantation), 4 Redwing, 4 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a Water Pipit, a Crossbill and a Hawfinch (in the Plantation). Flying south were 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Jay, a Tree Sparrow, 3 Brambling, 16 Siskin and a Hawfinch; and north a Whimbrel and 6 Yellow Wagtail.
The first Green Hairstreak of the year was noted along the Sleeper Track.
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| Jay, 14th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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| Merlin, 14th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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| Ringed Plover, 14th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
13th April. Light south easterly with heavy showers in the afternoon. Heading south were a Collared Dove, 5 Red Kite, 4 Marsh Harrier, good numbers of corvids including 4 Jay, 8 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 alba Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 21 Siskin, 2 Hawfinch (together) and a Yellowhammer. Around were 3 Barnacle Goose, a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, 46 Eider, a Spotted Redshank (Fenland Lagoon), a Short-eared Owl, 3 Swallow, 27 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 21 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, a Firecrest (Plantation), a Ring Ouzel (Rock Ridge), 6 Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit (East Dunes) and a Crossbill (Plantation).
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| Red Kite, 13th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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| Speckled Wood, 13th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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Red Admiral, 13th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward  |
April 12th. South and east winds. Flying south were 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Red Kite, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sand Martin, a House Martin, 7 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail, a Crossbill, 19 Siskin; and west a Barnacle Goose. At Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Redshank and a Water Pipit; and at Tennyson's Sands a Common Tern, 2 Swallow and a White Wagtail. Other migrants included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Jay, 2 Sedge Warbler, 14 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 2 Ring Ouzel, 11 Song Thrush, 3 Wheatear. A new Light-bellied Brent Goose was with 95 Dark-bellied Brent Goose at the south end of the reserve; where the first Spoonbill of the year was reported.
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| Sparrowhawk, 12th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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| Spotted Redshank, 12th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward |
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Migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12th April 2022. Photo; Ben Ward       |
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The Streamer 12th April. Photo: Nige Lound
