Mid January 2026
January 20th. A Sunny day with occasional broken cloud rolling though on a moderate south south easterly.
Early news concerned a single Shorelark found feeding on the foreshore. On the sea were 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 450 Wigeon (Greenshanks Creek) and a Red-throated Diver whilst on the beach were 200 Oystercatcher, 51 Ringed Plover, 56 Redshank, 25 Turnstone and 556 Herring Gull.
On the water bodies were 4 White-fronted Geese (first thing on Field 10), 153 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall, 80 Teal and 16 Tufted Duck whilst on Croft Marsh, there were 500 Golden Plover, 1200 Lapwing and 6 Black-tailed Godwit.
Elsewhere around the reserve were 2 Woodcock, 1 Merlin, 1 Buzzard and 2 Stonechat (New Salt Marsh).
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| White-fronted Geese, 20th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Teal, 20th January 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| A Drake Shoveler coming in to land, 20th January 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Brent Geese, 20th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwit, 20th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Seals hauled out on the sand banks in the Wash, 20th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Poor visibility early morning negated any extensive sea-watching, but a large, intense feeding frenzy of large Gulls along the foreshore contained at least 2 Caspian Gulls. Some 900 Oystercatchers were dispersing from the roost and feeding with the Gulls along with good numbers of Redshank, Sanderling and Turnstone. 51 Ringed Plover was an unusually high count for the time of year. A few Meadow Pipits were heading south.
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| Skylark, 19th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Boisterous Skylarks, 19th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| A Skylark blending in, 19th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
Good numbers of Woodcock reported again today in the few locations recorded.
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| Doe and Stag Roe Deer, 19th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
A high count of 75 Woodcock was made during good coverage of the census area. Many of these birds probably arrived during the big freeze last week. A very high count of 91 Wren was also made - indicating very good survival of the harsh conditions. The majority of these birds were in the denser scrub of the West Dunes or under the canopy of the Plantation. A Treecreeper was with the Tit flock in the West Dunes.
Also around were 1 Whooper Swan and 3 Red-throated Diver (Both over the sea), 3 Water Pipit, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 19 Corn Buntings.
January 16th. Mostly cloudy, with light southerly wind.
Records from the sea were much the same as recent days and there was still a good spread of waders feeding along the foreshore including 45 Turnstone. A Peregrine scattered the waders at one point and a Goldeneye flew out to sea.
On the water bodies were 3 White-fronted Geese which were probably new arrivals along with 170 Pink-footed Geese, 109 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 509 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Snipe, 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Harvey's Hide). On Croft Marsh were 380 Golden Plover and 800 Lapwing.
Other birds around included 39 Woodcock, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, a Bullfinch and 9 Corn Bunting.
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| A distant Hen Harrier over Croft Marsh, 16th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Snowdrops now in flower, 16th January 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
A drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a singing Great Tit were early signs of spring. An hour sea-watch early morning recorded a Black-throated Diver again, with 35 Red-throated Divers, a small number of Common Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers and a passage of 660 Herring Gulls.
January 14th. Mostly cloudy, with light south-westerly to south-easterly wind.
A morning sea-watch produced (heading South) 6 Whooper Swan, 12 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 41 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver and 1 Grey Heron. On the sea were 120 Wigeon, 1 Eider and 1 Common Scoter. On the beach were 5 Turnstone and 62 Linnet.
Also around the reserve were 510 Pink-footed Geese (Including 270 in off), 98 Shoveler and 1 Goldeneye (Both on Tennyson's Sands), 120 Lapwing (Croft Marsh), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (New Saltmarsh), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Kingfisher (Both on Tennyson's Sands), 109 Fieldfare (All heading south along the East Dunes) and 1 Stonechat (Visitor Centre).
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| Bar-tailed Godwit, 14th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
A brief morning sea-watch in murky conditions revealed 230 Wigeon, 47 Eider (including 32 South), 7 Goldeneye, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 9 Red-throated Diver, all heading South. On the beach were 8 Turnstone, 8 Great Black-backed Gull and 600 Herring Gull.
Around the water bodies were 90 Shoveler, 350 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 11 Tufted Duck and 1 drake Goldeneye (Tennyson's Sands again). Also heard near the reserve entrance before dawn was a Tawny Owl and up to 10 Woodcock were around the West Dunes and Cycle Track/Plantation areas.
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| Drake Goldeneye, 12th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Drake Tufted Ducks, 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Female Tufted Ducks, 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Lapwings, 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Drake Mallards, 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Still plenty of activity along the shore this morning but there was a lot more happening at sea than yesterday with a Red-necked Grebe in from the north and landing and a Slavonian Grebe heading south amidst a movement of Great Crested Grebes, Red-throated Divers and Eider. A raft of over 500 Wigeon were close inshore with 7 Red-breasted Merganser.
On the water bodies (Which are now free of ice), were 94 Shoveler, 32 Gadwall, 420 Wigeon, 81 Mallard, 434 Teal, 13 Tufted Duck and 1 drake Goldeneye (Tennyson's Sands).
Around the reserve were 8 Woodcock, 1 Hen Harrier (A Ringtail South) and 31 Fieldfare.
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| Drake Goldeneye on Tennyson's Sands, 12th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Drake Goldeneye, Shoveler's, Teal and Mallards, 12th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Mallard's 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Curlew on the Golf Course, 12th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Difficult viewing conditions but the main feature of the morning was the spectacle of over 2000 feeding Waders and 2500 Gulls along the foreshore. A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting the outer ridges and a Blackcap was recorded near the Reserve entrance for its 3rd day.
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| Snowdrops are out, 12th January 2026 Photo - Nigel Lound |
Early January 2026
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| Shorelarks on the beach, 8th January 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Distant Little Stint (Left hand side) with Dunlin (Right hand side), 8th January 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Distant shot of White-fronted Geese, 8th January 2026 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Distant shot of male Red Breasted Merganser, 8th January 2026 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Turnstone, 8th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Linnet on the foreshore, 8th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Linnets on the foreshore, 8th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| The River Steeping - 5th January 2026 Photo - Rob Aspeslagh It has been several winters since ice has formed across the River Steeping. A few may remember the winter of 1963 which was much colder! see pic below. |
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| The River Steeping - January 1963 Photo - Barrie Wilkinson |
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| Not much to look at with most of the water bodies still frozen! 5th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Highlights today included a Great White Egret. On the River Steeping was the regular Great Crested Grebe, and a Kingfisher was on the boats. The Corn Bunting brigade (15 in total) was on the Sycamore by the Hump as usual. Also about were a Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Barn Owl.
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| Snow Bunting, 5th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Snow Bunting, 5th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Great Crested Grebe on the River Steeping, 6th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Wigeon heading south over the beach, 6th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Shelduck heading south over the beach, 6th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Curlews over the foreshore, 5th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Barn Owl, 6th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| 2nd year male Blackbird gobbling up Hawthorn berries, 6th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Cold enough for Snow on the beach, 6th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| The River Steeping, 5th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Highlights of the day were, again, the 2 Tundra Bean Geese which were on Field 10 all day on and off with 600 Pink-footed Geese also about. On the foreshore 2 Shorelarks were seen briefly feeding on the sea wrack along with a Snow Bunting and, also, at least 4 Stonechats (possibly 8 individuals) were around the foreshore.
On the sea there were 8 Common Scoter, 2 Eider, 2 Tufted Duck and a Great Crested Grebe, whilst heading South were 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Kittiwake and a Gannet. The high tide roost involved 525 Oystercatcher, 250 Curlew, 440 Grey Plover, 7 Turnstone, 320 Sanderling, 160 Redshank, a Caspian Gull, 45 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4000 Herring Gulls.
On Greenshanks Creek were 45 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, 350 Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 150 Teal, 140 Cormorant, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine.
On the Old Saltmarsh were 36 Shoveler. and 4 Whooper Swan went South with 2 more North over the river late afternoon. Also about were 250 Brent Geese, 2 Snipe, 24 Skylark, 60 Linnet, 14 Rock Pipit, 46 Reed Bunting, 4 Buzzard, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl. A Bullfinch and a Green Woodpecker were both in the East Dunes. There were 8 Woodcock recorded around the reserve with a a Merlin chasing a Redwing late afternoon into the Plantation.
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| Shorelarks on the foreshore, 5th January 2026 Photo - Richard Doan |
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| Shorelark, 5th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| x2 Shorelarks, 5th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Goldcrest, 5th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Goldcrest - Where's that invertebrate? 5th January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Curlew on the river bank, 5th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| The Mere nearly completely frozen up, 5th January 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Even the Salt rich water of Fenland Lagoon has finally frozen up after a third night below -3C 5th January 2026, Photo - David Nutt |
A brilliant winters day with a lovely sunrise, lying snow widespread and the foreshore covered in Gulls and Waders. The effects of the biting cold on hands and feet made it challenging to stay put, counting one location for long, but the following counts were made: 2800 Herring Gull, 320 Common Gull, a Caspian Gull, 250 Eider, 1100 Grey Plover, 590 Sanderling, 130 Redshank, 30 Turnstone 340 Wigeon, plus Merlin and Marsh Harrier. Along the north end foreshore were 30 Skylark, 45 Linnet, 7 Snow Buntings and 3 Stonechat.
On the Mere were 48 Mallard, 28 Tufted Duck,13 Gadwall and 2 Mute Swans. Two Water pipits were on Fenland Lagoon. In the plantation there was a Green Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff was calling whilst in Field 10 the 2 Tundra Bean Geese were again present along with 410 Pink-footed Geese and 5 White-fronted Geese later on.
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| Tundra Bean Geese, 4th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Great Crested Grebe on the River Steeping, 4th January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Glossy Ibis, 2nd January 2026 Photo - Paul Baines |
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| Marsh Harrier, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Marsh Harrier hunting Jackson's Marsh with male Reed Bunting fleeing above it! 3rd January 2026, Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Skylark on the foreshore, 4th January 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Muntjac Deer in the cold, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
An early sea-watch recorded the morning Eider flight into the Wash with Red-throated Divers more distantly, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Long-tailed Duck, before visibility was lost in a heavy snow shower. A Merlin was chasing a Song Thrush over the dunes and a Great Crested Grebe was on the river by the boats. Around the Hump were the resident winter flock of 16 Corn Buntings, whilst a Chiffchaff was at Sykes Farm and a couple of Water Pipits flew over.
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| Redwing, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Song Thrush, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| The Mere in the arctic conditions, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Richard Doan |
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| Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide in the arctic conditions, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Richard Doan |
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| The Cycle Track near the farm in the arctic conditions, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Richard Doan |
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| Mill Pond iced over and snowed on, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| A devoid of life Tennyson's Sands before dusk, 3rd January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
The day began with a male Hen Harrier hunting over Tennyson's Sands, then 2 Glossy Ibis arrived on Jackson's Marsh. 500 Eider were spotted flying into the Wash over the sea. Then 2 probable Shorelarks were spotted at distance on Greenshank's Creek before they flew North. At lunchtime, 5 White-fronted Geese were on Field 10 again.
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| Glossy Ibis, 2nd January 2026 Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Wigeon with a Bean Goose mixed in, 1st January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Bean Goose, 1st January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Curlew, 1st January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Redshank, 1st January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Little Grebe, 1st January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| "End of the day" 2nd January 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
The year started with a bang when 3 Tundra Bean Geese were spotted on Croftmarsh. Shortly afterwards they were flushed by a Marsh Harrier and headed south although the returned to Croft Marsh close to dusk and were heard calling in the twilight. Some 800 Pink-footed Geese had left the roost earlier but 1500 were recorded later on.
Offshore, a good range of the usual sea duck etc including 800 Eider, a southerly passage of Gulls, an increase of up to 45 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver. A Marsh Harrier flew high south, well offshore and 4 Whooper Swans flew south. On the beach were 80 Turnstone. On Tennyson's Sands there were 84 Shoveler, 80 Teal and 10 Black-tailed Godwit. Jackson's Marsh held 194 Wigeon, 32 Gadwall. On the Mere were 32 Tufted Duck.
Elsewhere, there were 3 Water Pipits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Marsh Harriers, a Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl, whilst a male Hen Harrier was hunting Croftmarsh.
Update for January 1st - the combined species list for New Years Day was 93.
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| End of the 1st day of the 2026, 1st January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Tundra Bean Goose, 1st January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Tundra Bean Goose, 1st January 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Shelduck, 1st January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Corn Bunting, 1st January 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |