March 31st. Cool start, then clear, with light south-easterly wind.
In the Plantation were 2 Redwings. A Yellow Wagtail flew over Sykes Farm to Jackson's Marsh. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 adult summer plumage Mediterranean Gulls, 49 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 2 Water Rails, 26 Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Great White Egret. There were two House Sparrows feeding on the Visitor Centre feeders which are quite unusual now on the reserve. Four Fieldfares were also recorded during the morning. Late in the day a male Marsh Harrier went south over the Old Saltmarsh into the Wash.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 11 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and 4 Blue Tit; and 2 retraps: a Goldfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
 |
2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls, 31st March 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound |
March 30th. Mostly clear, then cloudier, with brisk north-westerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands was a now scarce for the reserve Goldeneye and 38 Shoveler, whilst later in the day a Green Sandpiper was again on Croftmarsh as were 5 White Wagtails. Presumably a new Black Redstart was briefly at Mill Hill before flying south along East Dunes, whilst the Visitor Centre Black Redstart was still showing well on the lawn. Two Bearded Tits were showing from Harvey's Hide during the late afternoon. During the early evening, there were 63 Tufted Duck visible from Fenella Hope Hide and a Water Rail called there briefly. Also seen during the day were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Green Woodpecker.
 |
female Goldeneye, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Female Goldeneye, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Drake Pintail, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Drake Shoveler, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Swimming Avocet, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Marsh Harrier, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton. |
 |
Marsh Harrier, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
 |
Black Redstart at the Visitor Centre, 30th March 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton |
March 29th. Frosty start, then mostly clear, with increasing south-westerly wind.
The Black Redstart was still around the Visitor Centre, as was a Swallow. Three Mediterranean Gulls were watched heading south, whilst other birds reported during the morning included a Bearded Tit, a Water Pipit and a Woodcock. A Cetti's Warbler, 33 Avocets and 43 Tufted Duck were on Tennyson's Sands whilst a Marsh Harrier was hunting over Jackson's Marsh. A few more Chiffchaffs seemed to be on site also. At the North End were 2 Stonechats.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 3 new birds: 2 Goldfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
 |
Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 29 March 2024.
Photo - George Gregory |
 |
Black Redstart, 29th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Marsh Harrier with chasing Avocet, 29th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Common Toad, 29th March 2025
Photo - Rob Watson |
March 28th. Broken cloud with fresh westerly wind.
Flying south were a Woodlark, a Yellow Wagtail and 3 White Wagtails. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Avocet, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 160 Brent Geese, 2 Gadwall, 2 Pintail and 15 Little Grebe, whilst the Bearded Tit was again in front of Harvey's Hide early morning. On Jackson's Marsh were 28 Shoveler, whilst at the Wash View Point a Red Kite passed through mid morning. The Black Redstart was again at the Visitor Centre in amongst the picnic tables in the garden of the old Coastguards late afternoon. The first Toads of the year were calling at the west end of the Borrow Pits during the late afternoon.
 |
Little Egret, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Oystercatcher, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Brent Geese and Avocets, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Buzzard, 28th March 3025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Small White, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Seal in the River Steeping during the high tide, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Seal in the River Steeping during the high tide, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Evening High Tide on the River Steeping, 28th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
More and more Blossom is on the Trees as you walk around, 28th March 2025
Photo - Mick Briggs. |
March 27th. Broken cloud, with increasing south-westerly wind.
There was a light passage of Corvids and Chaffinches early morning, with a few Redwing and Siskin mixed in, and also including 2 Bramblings and a Grey Wagtail. The Black Redstart was still by the Visitor Centre. Around the Plantation were a Woodcock and a Barn Owl. Jackson's Marsh held 13 Avocet and 23 Shoveler. Tennyson's Sands was home to 10 Avocet, 7 Brent Geese, 2 Pintail, 18 Shelduck and 5 Shoveler.
 |
Black Redstart, 27tH March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Black Redstart, 27th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Teal, 27th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
March 26th. Misty start, then cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.
On the Coastguards Tower and on the garden wall the Black Redstart was again present until 5.30pm at least, whilst 7 Corn Buntings were by the Hump in their usual tree, and a Barn Owl was hunting as usual. A Green Sandpiper was calling over Croftmarsh mid morning, whilst a Kingfisher flew through. Tennyson's Sands held 86 Brent Geese, 2 Pintail and a Water Rail. A Sand Martin was over North Carpark, and a Green Woodpecker was yaffling along the road side near the entrance to the reserve.
 |
Black Redstart, 26th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Black Redstart, 26th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
.jpeg) |
Water Rail, 26th March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Water Rail, 26th March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Water Rail, 26th March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
March 25th. Cloudy, with light westerly to north-easterly wind.
It would seem that Spring arrived en-masse today.
The first Swallow and first 2 Sand Martins were over Tennyson's Sands early on, with the first Black Redstart of the year was at the Coastguard Tower and 3 more Sand Martins south. Also, the first Wheatear of the year was around the Wash View Point. Twenty Redwings were around the Plantation, whilst a Barn Owl was out hunting. A Bearded Tit was calling in front of Fenella Hope Hide with 2 Pintail and 140 Brent Geese on Tennyson's Sands. Mid morning 2 Great White Egrets flew west over North Car Park and landed on Tennyson's Sands where there were 33 Avocet, 2 Water Rails and a male Hen Harrier hunting. Also, a Red Kite flew south over Jackson's Marsh mid morning, where there were also 6 Avocet and a Black-tailed Godwit. From the Wash View Point during the day there were 2 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier and 3 Buzzards. Seven Chiffchaffs were now singing around the reserve. Late news involved a Firecrest down Sykes Farm Track during the day.
 |
The 1st Swallow of the Year! 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
The 1st Sand Martin of the year! 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Red Kite, 25th March 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
A pair of Great White Egrets, 25th March 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
Great White Egrets, Little Egret and Grey Heron, 25th March 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
Great White Egrets with Grey Heron, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Black Redstart, 25th March 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
Redwing, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hen Harrier, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
A rare sight of a Hen Harrier on the deck at the back of Tennyson's Sands, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hen Harrier, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hen Harrier, 25th March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
March 24th. Mostly cloudy, with a light northerly breeze.
Around was a Barn Owl, whilst the first House Martin of the year was over Tennyson's Sands during the morning along with 24 Brent Geese. A Cetti's Warbler was showing occasionally in front of Harvey's Hide during the afternoon with 19 Avocet, 3 Redshank and 3 Pintail present also. From the Wash View Point there was a Short-eared Owl and 2 Stonechat.
More Pics from yesterday:
 |
Lapwing, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Oystercatchers, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Oystercatchers, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Hare in full gallop!, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Hare, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Bearded Tit, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Bearded Tit, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Paul Neale |
March 23rd. Soggy, misty start, then broken cloud, with light north-easterly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands was a Bearded Tit.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 15 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 6 Goldfinch and a Greenfinch; and 7 retraps: 2 Goldfinch, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Chaffinch.
 |
Brent Geese, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Tufted Ducks, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Our resident female Sparrowhawk with the gap in the Primaries, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hare, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hare, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Hares, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Caroline Sedgley |
 |
Hare, 23rd March 2025
Photo - Caroline Sedgley |
 |
Little Egret, 23rd March 3025
Photo - Caroline Sedgley |
March 22nd. Damp start, then mostly cloudy, with light easterly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands was a Water Rail.
March 21st. Broken cloud, with a light south-easterly wind.
In Measures West were 2 Woodcock and another was by North Hide. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 Redwings were in the Plantation, and 3 Chiffchaff were again singing. On Jackson's Marsh were a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Avocets whilst on Tennyson's Sands there were 17 Avocets, 28 Brent Geese, 3 Pintail and an Oystercatcher.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Jenni Godber produced 10 new birds: 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit and a Greenfinch; and 4 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
 |
Reed Bunting, 21st March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Brent Geese with Shelduck in flight, 21st March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Shelducks, 21st March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
 |
Mute Swans, 21st March 2025
Photo - Tom Baker |
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
