20th December. A gloomy day with a damp start and increasing wind. Waterbirds around the lagoons were 573 Brent Geese, 450 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Pintails, 3 Whooper Swans and 18 Black-tailed Godwits. Other birds around were single Barn Owl, Woodcock, Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest and Redwing.
19th December. Largely poor weather. A Chiffchaff remained around Aylmer, a Woodcock was on the Cycle Track and 77 Fieldfare flew west out of the Plantation. A Pintail and a Pochard were on the lagoons with 600 Wigeon, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler and in the evening. 4 Marsh Harriers came in to roost.
18th December. Rain featured for the early morning period, clearing later. A few Fieldfare and Redwing were arriving during the early rain, with some moving off south. A Waxwing flew south down the West Dunes and was presumably one of the 11 seen opposite the Yacht Club later. Then another group of 26 Waxwings arrived to join them before they all flew off. The 4 Shorelarks were seen again, with a Snow Bunting today. Other birds around included Stonechat and Woodcock.
17th December. If the theme of the last week has been Waxwings, today was about Golden Plovers. The day commenced with 3000 on the Haven but over the next two hours flocks were arriving continuously from the north, swelling the day total to 7240. Lapwing numbers remained high with 3100 commuting between local field and the Haven. The sea received little attention but a Black-throated Diver flew south. A singe Waxwing was in the East Dunes and a flock of 8 were along the Cycle Track. 2 Chiffchaffs remained in their regular locations.
We are grateful to the Gay Birders Club for the donation of £300 to the Bird Observatory following their recent visit. Thank you.
16th December. Calm, mild, dry and sunny this morning with even a hint of warmth late morning. It was surprising therefore to see marked increase in both Lapwing and Golden Plover arriving on the Haven, with over 3000 of each. Three Waxwings flew south early with a party of 20 late morning arriving from the north and flying the length of the East Dunes before settling in the Ringing Hollow. A group of 6 were showing well opposite the Yacht Club. Other birds on the move included small numbers of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit and Siskin. Again, difficult to work out the number of Waxwings involved in sightings today but a group of 25 had assembled in the West Dunes in the afternoon. The 4 Shorelarks were seen again along the beach to the north. Anyone wishing to see these birds is advised to walk in from Seacroft along the beach to avoid crossing Greenshank's Creek or disturbing the feeding waders in that area.
15th December. Conditions much as yesterday allowing for good coverage of the census area. Waxwings featured again today with another throughput of various flocks moving south and some stopping to feed on berries including 14 in the West Dunes early afternoon. There could have been over 40 birds involved in the movement. Other birds on the move included 4 Whooper Swan, small groups of Meadow Pipit and Siskin with 2 Brambling and a Yellowhammer. At least 4 Shorelarks were still on the beach at the north end, having not been seen since 8th December (in this remote part of the Reserve) and a single Snow Bunting was further south along the beach. Pink-footed Goose skeins were heading north from dawn and totalled at least 3600. Offshore, the regular Long-tailed Duck was joined by a second individual and 2 Velvet Scoter were still with the raft of 300 Common Scoter off the north end. Good numbers of the regular waders were feeding along the beach again including 300 Sanderling, 500 Grey Plover and 64 Turnstone.
Ringing Control: Goldcrest, ringed Fjaderagg, Sweden 8 September 2023, controlled GPBO 10 October 2023.
14th December. Dawn sunrise was stunning this morning and there was a return to south-westerly winds, with dry conditions. 9 Waxwings were around the West Dunes early, before departing. The Long-tailed Duck remained offshore and a Great Northern Diver flew out towards Norfolk.
13th December. Rain for much of day and a strong northerly wind.
Heading south were 24 Common Scoter, north a Fulmar, and north then south a Velvet Scoter. Offshore was a Long-tailed Duck, and around were 3 Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, a Goldcrest and 4 Fieldfare.
12th December. A dull day with intermittent rain and drizzle. A throughput of Waxwings was apparent with a single high south over the Wash early, then another single south through the East Dunes at mid day closely followed by a flock of 8. In the meantime, a single was showing well at the south end of the West Dunes and was joined by another single and then two more arrived to make it a flock of four. Also around were 2 Water Pipit, 10 Goldcrest, 19 Redwing, 95 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Whooper Swan. The highlights of a brief sea-watch were a Slavonian Grebe and 500 Common Scoter.
11th December. Following yesterday's Blackbird arrival, the most significant event today was an arrival of 230 Fieldfare. Offshore, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, a singe Long-tailed Duck and 2 Velvet Scoter were with the Common Scoter flock. 230 Lapwing were around Croftmarsh and around the dunes were 8 Stonechat and 3 Corn Bunting. 2 Pintail and 2 Whooper Swans were on the lagoons. A good day for birds of prey included a Barn Owl, 5 Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin.
