April 18th. A sunny day through out getting warmer later on in a light westerly wind.
Most of the day was taken up with the events around the Field Station celebrating "50 years of the Shorebird Sanctuary" and how it has changed over the last 50 years.
April 17th. Cloudy just about all day with a moderate southerly wind continuing to blow.
Highlight of the day was a pair of Mediterranean Gulls on Tennyson's Sands briefly at 9.40am. A female Bearded Tit was then seen flying across from Tennyson's Sands before dropping into the reeds around Jackson's Marsh.
On the water bodies around the reserve were 35 Brent Geese, 3 White-fronted Geese and 2 Egyptian Geese (Field 10), 44 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 22 Tufted Duck, 16 Little Grebe, 23 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 66 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide on Tennyson's Sands and the Mere).
Also around was a smattering of the usual warblers - 7 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, 12 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 10 Blackcap and 8 Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill) along with 8 Wheatear and 2 Red-legged Partridge (Field 10).
During the early evening the "One Good Tern deserves a Shorebird Warden" presentation dinner and talk was held at the Field Station. A good meal was had by all and the paying guests were treated to speeches from four previous Tern Wardens, talking about the trials and tribulations of attempting to look after the nationally endangered Little Tern Colony at Gibraltar Point over the last 50 years. I am sure all that attended took an enormous amount of respect and understanding from the event, of the heroic efforts of 50 years of Tern Wardens on the reserve. Well done to all and long may it continue!
Trapped overnight during Moth trapping was a male "Brindled Beauty" and although nationally common, it was the first here for at least 15 years.
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull, 17th April 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Male Wheatear, 17th April 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| North Hide's elusive Cetti's Warbler, 17th April 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| A "Brindled Beauty" Moth, 17th April 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Previous and present Tern Wardens & a Volunteer at the "One Good Tern deserves a Shorebird Warden" event, 17th April 2026 Photo - Judith Briggs |
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| Old time Tern Wardens, mullets and all! Sometime in the late 1980's 17th April 2026, Photo - Michael Briggs |
A remarkable day for passage Red Kites with at least 8 heading south through the morning. Other highlights included the Firecrest near Mill Hill again and a vocal Hawfinch heading north up the west dunes. A Woodlark flew south along the East Dunes.
On the water bodies were 50 Brent Geese, 3 long staying White-fronted Geese (Field 10), 3 Egyptian Geese, 54 Shelduck, 41 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 1 drake Wigeon, 14 Teal, 18 Tufted Duck, the long staying female Scaup (Tennyson's Sands), 15 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 31 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover (Moat Pond), 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spoonbill (Jackson's Marsh), and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands, North Hide).
Elsewhere around the reserve there were 5 Whimbrel, 200 Oystercatchers, 16 Ringed Plover, 2 Artic Terns (South), 5 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 2 Red-legged Partridge (Field 10), 2 Sand Martin, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 5 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (Mill Pond Road), 7 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail (South), 1 Grey Wagtail (over Sykes Farm), 40 Goldfinch and 4 Siskin.
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| On of 8 Red Kites heading south, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| x3 Red Kites heading South together, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Ringed Plovers hanging out on the beach, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Dunlin, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Sanderling on the beach, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Oystercatchers, 16th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 16th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Little Egret, 16th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Comma Butterfly, 16th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Very quiet offshore early morning but a very distant bulky all white bird heading south raised thoughts of Glaucous Gull initially but then thoughts of Cattle Egret took over. Ten years ago, a Cattle Egret would have been a major rarity here, but the description of this mornings bird would not have passed the rarities committee standards.
Highlights of the day were the Firecrest, still around Mill Hill (Heard only), 2 Whimbrel (South), 1 Spoonbill Tennyson's Sands), 1 male Wheatear around the boats on the river and 1 Green Woodpecker (Near Field 10).
On the water bodies were 191 Brent Geese, 3 White-fronted Geese (Field 10), 23 Shelduck, 33 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 female Scaup (Tennyson's Sands), 2 Water Rail, 14 Little Grebe, 27 Avocet, 47 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
Also around were 12 Swallow, 10 House Martin, a Sand Martin, 3 Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 11 Sedge Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat and 4 Siskin.
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| Buzzard, 14th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Wheatear, 15th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Wheatear, 15th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Wren, 14th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Comma, 14th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Green Hairstreak, 14th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Doe Roe Deer, 14th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Early news concerned the Spoonbill still on Jackson's Marsh. Also 2 Mediterranean Gulls were over the Visitor Centre car park and the Firecrest was again seen intermittently around Mill Hill again.
On the water bodies were 180 Brent Geese, the long staying female Scaup, 37 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, 7 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 26 Avocet, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
Elsewhere around the reserve were a Whimbrel, 1 Tawny Owl (Plantation), 1 Short-eared Owl (Visitor Centre car park area), 4 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Wheatears and 3 Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Brambling (Plantation), a Redpoll and a Collared Dove (Increasingly scarce on the reserve).
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| Long staying Female Scaup, 14th April 2026 Photo - Ste Taylor |
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| Spoonbill, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Spoonbill, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tim Powell |
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| Spoonbill, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tim Powell |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tim Powell |
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| Avocet, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tim Powell |
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| Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Female Blackcap, 14th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Male singing Whitethroat, 14th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Whitethroat (With presumably, a previous years ring!), 14th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
A busy early morning included another arrival of warblers, a Firecrest in the cherry plums at Mill Hill, a Cattle Egret that arrived form the south-east and crossed paths with a southbound Great White Egret, a Raven that went north up the beach and then presumably the same bird heading south over the West Dunes an hour later and a moderate passage involving Goldfinches, Linnets, Chaffinches, Siskins, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Swallows, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Yellowhammer.
The Firecrest later showed well at times and the Cattle Egret was mobile between Croft Marsh and the Freshwater Marsh (attracted by the ponies).
Around the water bodies were the 3 White-fronted Geese, 3 Egyptian Geese, the long -staying female Scaup, a Water Rail, a Water Pipit, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was over Tennyson's Sands at 11am. Other birds around included a Red Kite (South), Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, a Merlin, 2 Wheatear, 5 House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Siskin and 1 Brambling (Visitor Centre feeders).
Butterflies around the reserve included 7 Green Hairstreaks, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Peacocks and 2 Comma's.
Great to get this message through form one of our regular contributors
"Just thought I'd let you know that we had the most amazing visit today - it was a day that just kept giving! First, a beautiful Wheatear, then Green Hairstreak butterflies, numerous Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs singing and to top it all off… a wonderful Sparrowhawk at the pond in the plantation !!!"(Caroline Sedgeley)
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| Cattle Egret over Croft Marsh, 13th April 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Firecrest around Mill Hill, 13th April 20226 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Short-eared Owl, 13th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Ringtail Hen harrier, 13th April 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Sparrowhawk, 13th April 2026 Photo - Caroline Sedgeley |
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| Water Rail, 13th April 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Sedge Warbler, 1th April 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Male Wheatear, 13th April 2026 Photo - Caroline Sedgeley |
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| Green Hairstreak Butterfly soaking up the sun, 13th April 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
Highlight of the day was the first Cuckoo of the year, seen flying West over Croft Marsh. Also the third Spoonbill of the year was on Jackson's Marsh and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were on Moat Pond.
Attention was focussed over the sea between 0800 and 0900 when 169 Sandwich Tern, 3 Little Tern, a Red-throated Diver and 3 Gannet flew south. An Eider was on the sea. A light southerly passage of Goldfinches and Linnets was underway and a few Swallows and Martins were arriving off the sea.
Around the water bodies were 128 Brent Geese, 28 Shelduck, 37 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 14 Teal, 41 Tufted Duck, the long staying female Scaup (Tennyson's Sands), 9 Little Grebe, 33 Avocet, 12 Curlew, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Redshank and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
Also around the reserve were 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker (North End), 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Siskin (South).
The first Large Red Damselflies of the year had emerged.
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| Spoonbill keeping its head down in the string winds, 12th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Spoonbill flying into a very strong wind, 12th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Long staying Female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 12th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Little Grebe battling the windy conditions, 12th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Curlew on Jackson's Marsh, 12th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Little Egret, 12th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Coots battling the choppy waters! 12th April 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Large Red Damselfly, 12th April 2026 Photo - Sam Wilson |
Highlights of the day were 3 Little Ringed Plover on Moat Pond and the female Scaup was still showing well on Tennyson's Sands. Two Egyptian Geese were on Jackson's Marsh.
On the water bodies were 200 Brent Geese, 19 Shelduck, 31 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 15 Tufted Duck, 8 Little Grebe, 32 Avocet, 7 Curlew, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Sand Martin (Jackson's Marsh), 30 Swallow, 3 House Martin and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
Also about the reserve were 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 3 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap and 8 Siskin.
New butterflies around included 1 Holly Blue and another Speckled Wood.
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| Male Swallow (Long tail streamers), 11th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Sand Martin, 11th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Curlew, 11th April 2026 Photo - Jack Hood |
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| Chiffchaff, 11th April 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
