10th January. Cold northerly winds continuing. Seawatching in the northerlies has been rather disappointing so far but today saw an improvement. A Sooty Shearwater flew north early morning - a rare winter record. Also, 4 Great Northern and a 2 Black-throated Diver flew south with 140 Red-throated Divers also heading into the Wash and 3 Fulmar and 3 Goosander heading north. The morning flight of Common Scoter and Eider involved 1900 and 500 respectively and 3 Little Gull headed north amongst a good movement of gulls coming out of the Wash. A superb male Hen Harrier was hunting the Old saltmarsh.
9th January. Cold northerly wind still. A Jack Snipe and 9 Woodcock were possibly new arrivals in the cold weather. 4 Shorelark and 9 Snow Bunting were along the beach and north saltings. There were good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler on the lagoons with many Lapwing on the grazing marsh beyond. 17 Whooper Swans came in to roost. Other birds around were 30 Redwing, a Water Pipit and a Stonechat.
8th January. Feeling much more wintery today with a cold northerly wind and a brief light hail shower. Despite the northerly wind, there was little of note at sea, but a count of over 1200 Common Gulls leaving the roost on the Wash was significant. Also leaving their roost, were at least 30 Whooper Swans heading south off Tennyson's Sands. A Goldeneye was a new arrival on the Mere. Other birds around were 2 Corn Buntings.
7th January. 3 Long-tailed Ducks again close inshore and a Peregrine was over the beach. Evidence of Water Rails being squeezed out of regular reedbed haunts by very high water levels - with 4 around the dunes and periphery of the Freshwater Marsh today.
6th January 2024. Good visibility and light wind for the first hour or so after dawn and then drizzle or rain on and off for much of the day. 4 Waxwing and 4 Shorelark were seen again with an increase of Snow Buntings - up to 9. Just 1 Long-tailed Duck on the sea this morning but 25 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver flew south. Other birds around included 3 Water Pipit, 12 Siskin, 6 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing.
5th January. Overcast but mostly dry after more overnight rain and an increasing north-westerly breeze. A total of 8 Waxwings today starting with a lone bird mobile around the west side before joining the regular three along the approach road, This was probably yesterday's lone bird from the East Dunes. 3 Long-tailed Ducks were offshore again and the morning flight of Common Scoter involved c800 birds.
4th January. A bright start and a very pleasant morning, sunny and mild. Some 4000 Pink-footed Geese left the roost on the haven and flew inland to Croftmarsh soon after dawn. The 3 Waxwings showed well again along the approach road, the 4 Shorelarks and Great White Egret were still present, 4 Water Pipits were mobile between the Freshwater Marsh and Jackson's Marsh and an Egyptian Goose came off the Freshwater Marsh. Some light passage involved 11 Chaffinch, 12 Skylark, 12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Brambling, 16 Siskin and a Rook. A Red Kite was over the Plantation and a Merlin was along the foreshore. Four Long-tailed Ducks were close inshore. Other birds around included Stonechat, 3 Marsh Harrier, 15 Snipe and 4 Woodcock. The latter typically leaving the dunes at dusk and flying over to Croftmarsh to feed. A new Waxwing was at Mill Hill in the afternoon.
3rd January. 3 Waxwings showed well along the Gibraltar Road, 2 Great Northern Divers flew north at sea, the 4 Shorelarks were on the beach and a Great White Egret was a new arrival on Jackson's Marsh. 8 Snipe were on Greenshank's Creek.
Ringing Control: Lesser Redpoll, ringed GPBO 29 October 2023, controlled Coneygeer Bottom, Hampshire 26 December 2023.
2nd January. Overcast initially then rain pretty much continuously from mid morning until the evening. The 4 Shorelarks were still present with 2 Snow Buntings and the 3 Long-tailed Ducks were offshore with a Velvet Scoter south. 58 Snipe around a saltmarsh pool was an exceptional record and a Ruff on Croftmarsh was the first of the winter.
1st January. A very pleasant and mild day with a light westerly breeze. A Waxwing was around the West Dunes and Plantation early morning and the 4 Shorelarks were still present. Offshore, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Great Northern Divers, 25 Red-throated Divers, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers with a few small parties of Eider and Scoter were pretty routine but a southbound Red-necked Grebe was the highlight. Also moving south, several parties of Wigeon and Teal that included 5 Shoveler and 6 Pintail. Small groups of Kittiwakes were moving distantly into the Wash - at least 45, but many other probables too distant to identify. Also a party of 6 Little Gulls were feeding and moving slowly south.
Mid afternoon a group of 10 Waxwings were seen along the roadside north of Aylmer before they flew south. At least one remaining along the Cycle Track north of North Car Park.
Very good coverage of the Reserve today with around 104 species recorded.
Long-tailed Tit, 1st January 2024.