February 17th. A sunnier day and staying dry in a moderate to light north westerly wind.
Highlight of the day was a sea watch that produced an unexpected Sooty Shearwater heading south at 7.50am, seen by two observers. Also seen on the sea watch was 4 Pintail, 17 Eider, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Red-throated Divers. On the beach, there were 1500 Herring Gull and 67 Cormorants.
On the Field 10 there were again, 12 Barnacle Geese, 34 White-fronted Geese, 36 Curlew, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Red-legged Partridges. On Croft Marsh were 120 Golden Plover, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Curlew and 1200 Lapwing. The water bodies held 450 Wigeon and 40 Teal.
Also of note today were 1 Woodcock, 1 Adult male Marsh Harrier, 1 3rd CY male Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Red Kite (South at 11,30am), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Rook (South), 1 Male Stonechat (Compartment 26) and 21 Corn Buntings (Usual tree by the hump).
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| 3 Barnacle Geese, 4 White-fronted Geese and 2 Pink-footed Geese, 17th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Brent Geese, 17th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Tufted Ducks, 17th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Drake Shoveler, 15th February 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Cormorant heading up the coast, 14th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Sparrowhawk with a ring on, 15th February 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
Field 10 was again home to the 12 Barnacle Geese and 23 White-fronted Geese. Elsewhere on the water bodies around the reserve and Croft Marsh, there were 75 Pink-footed Geese, 191 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, 500 Wigeon, 52 Mallard, 280 teal, 35 Tufted Duck, 23 Coot, 7 Little Grebe, 150 Golden Plover, 1200 Lapwing, 59 Curlew and 31 Black-tailed Godwit.
Other birds around included, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Red Kites (All south over Croft Marsh - a single and a pair), 3 Buzzard and 120 Jackdaw.
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| 12 Barnacle Geese & 12 White-fronted Geese 16th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Red Kite, 16th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Male Stonechat, 14th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Female Stonechat, 14th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Corn Bunting, 14th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Skylark, 14th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
Highlight of the day was at Field 10 which was again home to 21 White-fronted Geese during the afternoon.
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| Male Tufted Duck, 14th February 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Female Tufted Duck, 14th February 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| A Pair of Mallards, 14th February 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Lapwings on Tennyson's Sands, 14th February 2026 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
Highlights of the day were again, all around the Geese on Field 10 where there were 12 Barnacle Geese, 23 White-fronted Geese, 5 Bean Geese and 1 Egyptian Goose.
On the beach were 480 Oystercatcher, 63 Curlew, 170 Sanderling, 130 Redshank and 3000 Herring Gulls. Flying south over the sea was a Red-throated Diver.
The water bodies around the reserve held 174 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 450 Wigeon, 130 Teal, 39 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 21 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti's Warbler. On Croft Marsh and beyond were 2000 Lapwing and 350 Golden Plover. Elsewhere around the reserve were 450 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Woodcock, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Buzzard, 28 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Stonechats (Storm Ridge) and 19 Corn Buntings.
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| White-fronted Geese, 14th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Barnacle Geese and single Egyptian Geese, 14th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Shoveler's, 14th February 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Lapwings, 14th February 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Curlews, 14th February 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Teak on the river bank, 14th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Ringed Plover on the estuary, 14th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Redshank on the estuary, 14th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
On Tennyson's Sands was a fine female Goosander. Also about were 200 Brent Geese, 46 Shelduck, 2 Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier and 21 Corn Buntings.
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| Female Goosander, 13th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Female Goosander, 13th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Shoveler's, 13th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Canada Goose fly over, 13th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Double Buzzard, 13th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
On the water bodies were 160 Shoveler, 200 wigeon, 100 Teal, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 34 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
Also on Croft Marsh and beyond were 3000 Lapwing and also around were 2 Marsh Harrier.
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| Wigeon on Croft Marsh, 12th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Shoveler's, 12th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Gadwall, 12th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Curlews, 12th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Lapwing, 12th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
The large numbers of Shoveler's on the water bodies meant that today, a co-ordinated count was done of all three hides on Tennyson's Sands, the Mere and Jacksons Marsh. This resulted in a new reserve record count of 233 Shoveler!
Also on the water bodies around the reserve early morning, were 120 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Gadwall, 700 Wigeon, 2 Pintail (Pair again on Moat Pond), 80 Teal, 21 Tufted Duck, 1 female Scaup (Tennyson's at first, later on Jacksons), 9 Little Grebe, 5000 Lapwing (Croft Marsh), 27 Curlew, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Jackson's Marsh).
Mid morning, 2 Egyptian Geese were on Tennyson's Sands. Then early afternoon 19 White-fronted Geese and 10 Barnacle Geese flew over Tennyson's Sands.
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