April 10th. A broken cloud day with a light westerly wind switching around to southerly later on.
Early news concerned 5 Ruff (Including a fine male) on Jackson's Marsh with the Black-tailed Godwits. Also in the West Dunes, a Woodlark was singing. A Whimbrel flew North and a male Redstart was in the East Dunes, also Five House Martins were around Aylmer Avenue. A Cetti's Warbler was singing around Mill Hill again and the 3 White-fronted Geese were on Field 10 again.
Also on the water bodies were 1 female Pintail, 1 long staying female Scaup, 8 Teal, 28 Avocet, 6 Redshank, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Reed Warbler (Tennyson's Sands) and a Cetti's Warbler there also. Twelve Swallow and 4 Sand Martins were hawking over Tennyson's Sands during the evening.
Also around today were 3 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 30 Linnet, 30 Goldfinch and 4 Siskin.
Butterflies around the dunes included 3 Green Hairstreaks (Southern base of Mill Hill on Cherry Blossoms), 2 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone and 6 Peacocks.
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Ruff on Jackson's Marsh, 10th April 2026
Photo - Richard Doan |
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Red-legged Partridge, 10th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor |
April 9th. A cloudy day with a few spots of rain late afternoon and a light south westerly breeze.
New in today were Whitethroats which arrived overnight en-masse with 9 birds recorded in the East Dunes, mainly at the North End. Also a Green Sandpiper went South. The female Scaup was remaining faithful to Tennyson's Sands and a Cetti's Warbler was again singing around Mill Hill.
The water bodies held 110 Brent Geese, 5 Mute Swan, 32 Shelduck, 41 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 13 Mallard, 28 Teal, 25 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 14 Little Grebe, 49 Avocet, 41 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
Also around the reserve were 11 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 2 Peregrine, 3 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 43 Dunnock, 3 Yellow Wagtail (South), a Wheatear (Back of Moat Pond), 16 Chaffinch, 12 Linnet, 18 Goldfinch, 6 Siskin, 2 Fieldfare (Plantation on road) and 1 Corn Bunting.
Moth trapping overnight at Syke's Farm resulted in 102 Moths of 16 species including a "Streamer", a "Brindled Pug" and a furry "Nut-tree Tussock", all apparently cracking moths! Butterfly's around today included 2 Peacock and a Green-veined White.
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Drake Tufted Duck, 9th April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker |
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One of Two Fieldfare straggling today near the Plantation, 9th April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker |
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Pied Wagtail, 9th April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker |
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Nut-tree Tussock Moth, 9th April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
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Brindled Pug Moth, 9th April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
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Streamer Moth, 9th April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
April 8th. As yesterday, starting cool with a very light southerly breeze then becoming very sunny and warm.
Highlights today were mainly around Tennyson's Sands including 2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls (Briefly10.50am - 11.35) and 4 Barnacle Geese flying over at 9am before dropping in on Tennyson's Sands and later on Jackson's Marsh. The long staying female Scaup was still present on Tennyson's Sands around North Hide. A Firecrest was around Mill Hill along with a singing Cetti's Warbler. A Little Ringed Plover flew over Sykes's Farm calling and the 3 White-fronted Geese were still on Field 10.
Offshore, there was a steady northerly passage of Common Gulls with 10 Sandwich Terns and an early Little Tern, whilst on the beach there were 2 Caspian Gulls in amongst 350 Herring Gulls.
Also on the water bodies were 45 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 1 drake Wigeon (Moat Pond), 12 Teal, 25 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 12 Avocet, 21 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
Other new migrants including 4 Wheatears (Rock Ridge environs) and the first Yellow Wagtail of the year was on the Freshwater Marsh. A light southerly passage involved the 2 more Yellow Wagtails, the first House Martin, several Sand Martins and 7 Swallows with a pair of Swallows back prospecting a nest site already. Flying south were 2 Brambling and 10 Siskin. A Merlin was around the Shorebird Sanctuary area.
Around the reserve were 4 Buzzards, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler (Harvey's Hide), 5 Blackcap, 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Yellowhammer.
The warm sunny weather saw a good number of butterflies on the wing, mostly Peacocks but also several Green Hairstreaks and Commas and a couple of Brimstones.
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Four Barnacle Geese flying over Tennyson's Sands, 8th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor |
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Four Barnacle Geese on Tennyson's Sands at 9.10am, 8th April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
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Mediterranean Gulls, 8th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor |
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Wheatear on Rock ridge, 8th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
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Male Wheatear, 8th April 20226
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Two Male Wheatears around the boats near the river, 8th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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A Merlin in the Shorebird Sanctuary, 8th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
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A Dark-edged bee-fly (Bombylius major) enjoying the sun, 8th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
April 7th. A cold start, quickly warming up in the all day sunshine and a light to moderate south easterly wind.
Highlight of the day was a Little Ringed Plover on Moat Pond and later in the day, a Green Hairstreak Butterfly was near to the entrance to the reserve.
On the water bodies were 80 Brent Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 24 Shelduck, 56 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 18 Teal, 31 Tufted Duck, 1 female Scaup (The long staying individual), 1 Water Rail, 25 Avocet, 17 Curlew, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Around North Hide as usual).
Also about were 2 Red-legged Partridge (Field 10), 1 Buzzard, 10 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 2 Swallows (South at 2,10pm), 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Siskin and 2 Yellowhammer (Field 10).
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The long staying Shorelark on the foreshore saltings, 7th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor |
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The long staying Shorelark on the foreshore saltings, 7th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor |
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Avocets getting in the mood in the sunshine, 7th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Little Grebe nearly getting airborne, 7th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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Plenty of Chiffchaff's singing around the reserve now, 7th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt
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Male Blackcap, 7th March 2026
Photo - Tom Baker |
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Male Chaffinch having a bath in the sunshine, 7th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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A Peacock Butterfly enjoying the sunshine, 7th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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A honey bee enjoying the spring blossom, 7th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
April 6th. A cold start with a ground frost in some areas, but becoming sunny and progressively warmer getting up to a high of 17degrees Celsius by late afternoon in a very light southerly breeze.
Highlights of the day were the long staying 3 White-fronted Geese which were again on Field 10 and the long staying Shorelark was still on the foreshore saltings.
New migrants in the East Dunes early morning were a Grasshopper Warbler and a splendid male Ring Ouzel. In addition to a small number of passage Corvids and Finches, single Brambling, Snipe and Green Sandpiper passed south, with 5 Buzzards and 2 Mediterranean Gulls later and a Hen Harrier (North over the saltings). On the sea heading south, were 30 Common Scoter and hunting the beach area were 2 Merlin.
On Jackson's Marsh was a fine Great White Egret and on Tennyson's Sands, the female Scaup was still present and Avocets were observed copulating. Along the cycle track, a Willow Warbler was singing in-between Harvey's Hide and Fenella Hope Hide along with 6 Peacock Butterflies busily feeding. Also about the reserve were 2 Swallows (South), 2 Cetti's Warblers (Mill Hill and Tennyson's Sands), 11 Chiffchaff and 6 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler (Along Mill Pond Road), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Siskin (South) and 3 Yellowhammer.
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Ring Ouzel, 6th April 2026
Photo - Kev Wilson |
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Great White Egret - 6th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Robin on Rock Ridge with partially Leucistic feathers in the tail, 6th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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Meadow Pipit, 6th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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Male Chaffinch, 6th April 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
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Roe Deer Buck, 6th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
April 5th. Broken cloud and sunny intervals with heavy rain showers passing through on a moderate westerly.
Highlights of the day were another big wader roost on the morning tide, and 2 Jack Snipe, found at the back of the Fresh Water Marsh. Two Red Kites passed through heading south during the morning with another three later. On Tennyson's Sands, a pair of Pintail were feeding and the long staying female Scaup was again on show.
Also on Tennyson's Sands were 61 Brent Geese, 42 Avocet, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and a Cetti's Warbler. Also about the Reserve were a Tawny Owl, 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler and 10 Siskin.
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Mixed Waders at roost, 5th April 2026
Photo - Kev Wilson |
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A pair of Pintail on Tennyson's Sands, 5th April 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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A pair of Gadwall, 5th April 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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Lesser black-backed Gulls, 5th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Male Blackcap, 5th April 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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Male Siskin, 5th April 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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2 of 3 Roe Deer on the New Saltmarsh out from the Wash Viewpoint, 5th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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One of todays Cumulonimbus Clouds today that dropped amongst the heavy rain, a lot of Hail!
5th March 2026, Photo - Mike Watts |
April 4th. Another cloudy day throughout with a moderate southerly building as the day went on as Storm Dave arrives in the UK.
Highlights of the day were the 3 White-fronted Geese again in Field 10 and the female Scaup still on Tennyson's Sands. The Shorelark was again on the foreshore saltings and 3 Red Kite drifted south over the reserve through the early afternoon. Visible migration was few and far between but a Lapland Bunting did fly over heading south. The first Sedge Warbler of the year was singing on Tennyson's Sands (North Hide) and the first Willow Warbler of the year was singing in the East Dunes.
The water bodies held 49 Shelduck, 55 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 21 Mallard, 20 Teal, 24 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail (Singing from near Fenella Hope hide on Tennyson's Sands), 15 Little Grebe, 28 Avocet, 10 Redshank, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).
The high tide pushed up 1100 Oystercatcher, 1500 Grey plover, 20,000 Knot and 2000 Dunlin and on the foreshore and beach were 18 Ringed Plover, 18 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling.
Also about today were 1 Eider (On the sea), 20 Skylark, 16 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill area), 2 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 46 Siskin (Including 36 south) and 1 Yellowhammer.
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Female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 4th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Little Grebes carrying nest materials, 4th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
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Muntjac stag, 4th April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
April 3rd. Cloudy for much of the day with sunny breaks late on in a moderate southerly wind.
Early news involved 2 freshly arrived Firecrest around Mill Hill. Then a Crane was located circling over the entrance to the reserve before drifting off. The 3 White-fronted Geese were still present on Moat Pond and the long staying female Scaup was still on Tennyson's Sands. A Brambling was on Sykes Farm track around the feeding station.
On the water bodies were 2 Pink-footed Geese, 37 Shelduck, 32 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 22 Tufted Duck, 12 Little Grebe, 23 Avocet, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 27 Redshank, 1 Dunlin and 1 Spoonbill (Jackson's Marsh).
Also about today were 1 Red Kite (South over Tennyson's Sands at 11.45am), 3 Buzzard, 8 Chiffchaff and 8 Siskin.
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Long staying female Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 3rd April 2026
Photo - Jack Hood |
April 2nd. Another cloudy day throughout, staying cool well into the day in a light northerly wind.
Highlight of the day was the long staying Shorelark which was still on the foreshore saltings. A Raven went inland over Mill Hill at 8.14am, with another 2 circling high over the visitor centre later on in the morning. A Red Kite went south mid morning.
A brief look at the sea revealed a drake Eider (On the sea) and a Common Scoter (North) and 1 Sandwich Tern (South) whilst on the beach were 546 Herring Gulls, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls a Peregrine (Greenshank's Creek) and a Merlin.
On Tennyson's Sands were 28 Avocet and 15 Black-tailed Godwits. Also about were 5 Buzzards (High over Croft Marsh), 2 Redwing and 4 Siskin.
Long staying Shorelark on the foreshore saltings, 2nd April 2026
Video - Nige Lound
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Merlin on the beach, 2nd April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
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Displaying Ringed Plover on the beach, 2nd April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
April 1st. Cloudy and dull start to the day, but remaining dry with a light westerly breeze.
Conditions provided excellent visibility over the sea and shore. The morning flight of Common Scoter involved 270 moving into the Wash but otherwise, just 4 Red-throated Divers, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Great crested Grebes.
There was virtually no visible migration other than a Sand Martin, a Brambling, 4 Snipe and a Sparrowhawk, so a good opportunity to scan through the large gulls along the beach. 2 Caspian Gulls were identified but only 6 Greater Black-backed Gulls compared to 600 Herring Gulls, also on the beach were 14 Turnstone. A Black Redstart was a new arrival on the East Dunes and may well turn up at the Visitor Centre later. A Spoonbill went south.
On the water bodies were 64 Brent Geese, 54 Shelduck, 67 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 5 Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 24 Teal, 34 Tufted Duck, 1 female Scaup (Long staying bird on Tennyson's Sands), 1 Water Rail (Fenella Hope Hide), 14 Little Grebe, 19 Avocet, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Spoonbill and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
Also about today were 2 Buzzard, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin, a male Blackcap, 2 Redwing (North) and a Peregrine. Of interest, locally the second Swallow of the year was seen today just down the road in Burgh le Marsh at an exceptionally early one reported on the 21st March at the Visitor Centre.
Over night Moth trapping in Sykes Farm resulted in 210 Moths of 19 Species. The reserves 3rd ever Dotted Chestnut (After 2 in April 2024) and a Lead-coloured Drab (About annual) were both eclipsed by a stunning, fresh Blossom Underwing, a first for the reserve!.
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Blossom Underwing Moth, 1st April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
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Dotted Chestnut Moth, 1st April 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
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