March 18th. A sunny day with a real sense of spring arriving, getting warm quickly in a very light southerly breeze.
Early news involved a Sand Martin over the Plantation before flying North. A Bearded Tit was calling around North Hide on Tennyson's Sands. A few Chaffinch were still moving South along with a few Siskins and a Yellowhammer.
March 17th. A cloudy start quickly dissipating to a blue sky day in a moderate southerly wind.
Highlights of the day were the first Wheatear of the year, just north of the Mill Hill track end along the dune edge. Also a Sandwich Tern was heard briefly over Greenshanks but could not be located. A Great White Egret was also seen today and the female Scaup was again on Tennyson's Sands.
A look at the sea revealed 10 Eider and 4 Red-breasted Merganser. Visible migration was down to a trickle of Chaffinch (22 south), although up the coast, big numbers of Chaffinches were again on the move.
On the water bodies, there were 111 Shoveler, 41 Tufted Duck, 3 Gadwall, 143 Brent Geese, 14 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
Elsewhere around the reserve, there were 500 Golden Plover (Croft Marsh), 500 Grey Plover and 300 Dunlin (Beach), 2 Buzzard, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Chiffchaff and 6 Corn Buntings.
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| Redshanks, 17th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Avocets, 17th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Oystercatchers getting frisky, 17th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Brent Geese arriving on Tennyson's Sands, 17th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Long-tailed Tit, 17th March 20226 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Goldfinch feeding around the new sycamore buds, 17th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Skylark, 17th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Meadow Pipit, 17th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Male Sparrowhawk, 17th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
March 16th. A bright start to the day quickly clouding over with some light rain late afternoon and a strong westerly dropping as the day went on.
Visible migration seemed to have petered out this morning but 42 Chaffinch did head south early on. Highlight of the day was the first Firecrest of the year, feeding next to the offices in the Farm late afternoon. Also on Tennyson's Sands was the female type Scaup and a new in drake Goldeneye.
On the water bodies around the reserve were 46 Shelduck, 150+ Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, 25 Teal, 27 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 18 Avocet, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
Also about today were 700 Golden Plover (High South), 1 Snipe, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Merlin (Croft Marsh), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Siskin.
March 15th. A cloudy day which after a calm start to the day, became increasingly violent strong south westerly wind calming down around teatime with some heavy rain showers.
A brief watch from the hump during the morning revealed that some visible migration was still underway with 5 Great Tit!, 218 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin and 250 Starling heading South.
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| A dancing Long-tailed Tit, 14th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Just hanging about, Long-ailed Tit, 14th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
Highlights today were the female type Scaup which continues to delight on Tennyson's Sands and 2 Red Kites (South). There were 10 Tufted Duck on the Mere, 4 Gadwall on Fenland Lagoon, 122 Shoveler and 28 Avocet on Tennyson's Sands and 8 Tufted Duck, 13 Teal and 13 Shoveler on Jackson's Marsh.
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| Long staying Female type Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 14th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Long staying Female type Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 14th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Red Kite perched up, 14th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| A 2nd Red Kite, 14th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Red Kite face on, 14th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Staff cut backs! - Pied Wagtail on security detail, 14th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Male Reed Bunting nearly in full breeding plumage, 14th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
Highlights today included a Red Kite south over Jackson's Marsh followed a few minutes later by a Bean Goose flying over. Then at mid day the 2 Cranes were seen again flying distantly over farmland beyond Croft Marsh, probably the same pair seen over Rimac earlier in the morning.
The water bodies held 26 Shelduck, 174 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 197 Wigeon, 18 Mallard, 14 Teal, 48 Tufted Duck, 41 Coot, 12 Little Grebe, 31 Avocet, 25 Curlew and 30 Black-tailed Godwit.
Elsewhere around the reserve there were 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and a small number of Finches still heading south including 4 Siskin.
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| Two Cranes seen distantly over Farmland beyond Croft Marsh, 13th March 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Bean Goose flying over Jackson's Marsh, 13th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Bean Goose flying over Jackson's Marsh, 13th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Shoveler's over Jackson's Marsh, 13th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Shoveler's on Tennyson's Sands, 13th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Little Grebe, 13th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Coots squabbling! 13th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Avocets sheltering into the wind with Cormorants for company, 13th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Avocets braving the windy conditions, 13th March 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Meadow Pipit, 13th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
Most bird today were keeping their heads down in the violent gusting conditions. Highlight of the day was the female type Scaup which was still on Tennyson's Sands. A look at the sea revealed 9 Common Scoter and a Guillemot (South). Visible migration along the East Dunes was still much in evidence despite the strong head winds with 350 Chaffinch (South) and 5 Redwing (South).
The water bodies held 170 Brent Geese, 145 Wigeon, 207 Shoveler, 62 Tufted Duck, 13 Mallard, 25 Teal, 25 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 8 Little Grebe, 63 Golden Plover (Croft Marsh), 16 Avocet and 23 Black-tailed Godwits. Also around during the day were 1500 Starlings (Jackson's Marsh) and a Barn Owl.
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| Long staying female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 12th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Long staying female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 12th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Long staying female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 12th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Male Tufted Duck, 12th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Golden Plovers struggling in the gusting conditions, 12th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Avocets keeping their heads down in the blustery conditions, 13th March 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
A male Stonechat was around the Visitor Centre. Visible migration was evident again during the morning with 226 Chaffinch, 18 Siskin and a Red Kite south over the hump between 7am and 8.30am. Also south during the day were another Red Kite and a Peregrine with 2 more Peregrine on Farmland over the river.
On the water bodies were 26 Avocet, 60 Golden Plover (Croft March), 24 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler. Also reported today by visiting birders were 3 Red-throated Divers, a Kittiwake, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, a Merlin, 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Corn Buntings.
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| Curlew, 11th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Shoveler's on the wing, 11th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Gadwall's on the wing, 11th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Breeding season is almost here and the seven male Gadwalls are squabbling over one female! 11th March 2026. Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Breeding season is almost here and the seven male Gadwalls are squabbling over one female! 11th March 2026. Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Little Egrets, 11th March 2026 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Male Stonechat, 11th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Male Stonechat, 11th March 2026 Photo - Paul Neale |
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