Some of the first visible migration of the Spring was witnessed from 7am till 8.30am from the hump included 158 Chaffinch, 16 Rook and 24 Goldfinch and 10 Siskin, all heading south.
Also recorded today were 16 Avocet, 150 Golden Plover, 41 Curlew, 1 Peregrine (South), 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl and 20 Corn Buntings.
Video - Stuart Ainsworth
 |
Two of at least 6 Red Kites that went south over the reserve today, 10th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Red Kite, 10th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Brent Geese on the Old Saltmarsh, 10th March 206
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Male Hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal, 10th March 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
Colour ringed Avocet, 10th March 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
 |
Robin, 10th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
March 9th. A cloudy but dry day with early morning mist being dispersed in a cold southerly breeze.
No records received today but presumably similar numbers of birds about the reserve as previous days.
 |
Long-tailed Tit, 9th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Little Egret disturbed by a Stag Roe Deer, 9th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Stag Roe Deer with fresh velvet horns growing and loosing its Winter coat, 9th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
March 8th. Another cloudy with a hint of sunshine mid afternoon, the light wind switching around to a southerly.
The highlight today was the Shorelark which was found still over wintering on the saltings at the North End. Also the Hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal was again on Tennyson's Sands from North Hide.
The water bodies held 166 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 150 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 8 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands).
March 7th. A cold and cloudy day again with a light northerly wind.
Highlight of the day was the female type Scaup that remained on Tennyson's Sands.
The water bodies around the reserve held 6 Mute Swans, 21 Shelduck, 219 Shoveler, 33 Gadwall, 500 Wigeon, 29 Mallard, 92 Teal, 52 Tufted Duck, 21 Little Grebe,10 Avocet, 46 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Singing by Fenella Hope hide).
On the sea were 40 Shoveler (North), 4 Eider, 6 Common Scoter and 1 Great Crested Grebe (South). On the beach were 500 Oystercatcher, 2000 Grey Plover, 34 Turnstone, 5000 Knot, 150 Sanderling, 100 Dunlin and 69 Cormorant.
Elsewhere around the reserve were 1 Woodcock, 2 Grey Herons, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff, 60 Linnet and 11 Corn Buntings
 |
Grey Herons, 7th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Black-tailed Godwit, 7th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Common Seal pup in the river near Visitor Centre, 7th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Common Seal pup in the river by the Visitor Centre, 7th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
March 6th. A much colder day in a light northerly breeze despite thick cloud for most of it.
The only record received of note today was the first Sand Martin reported flying around the hump at 5pm, the first sub Saharan migrant back on the reserve this year. Also seen today was a drake Eider on the sea at low tide
 |
Drake Eider on the sea at low tide, 6th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Gadwall, 6th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Ringed Plover, 6th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Curlew with Avocets, 6th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
A starling with Lapwings, 6th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
March 5th. Another warm day reaching 14 degrees C during the afternoon in a light southerly breeze.
The 12 Barnacle Geese were still in Field 10 along with 35 White-fronted Geese. A Bearded Tit was calling on Tennyson's Sands around North Hide and the female type Scaup was still on there also viewable from Harvey's Hide.
On the water bodies were 41 Shelduck, 100 Teal, 400 Wigeon, 193 Shoveler, 66 Tufted Duck, 37 Gadwall, 13 Little Grebe, 19 Avocet, 21 Curlew, 41 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Cetti's Warbler (Fenella Hope hide). Elsewhere around the reserve were 260 Brent Geese, 2 Woodcock, 1 Marsh Harrier, a Chiffchaff, Corn Bunting (Around Wash Viewpoint) and a Chiffchaff.
Also recorded today was the first Comma Butterfly and the first Peacock Butterfly of the year along with plenty of bees and hoverfly's and even an early wasp. Just inland but off the reserve, Brimstones and Peacocks were out in double digit numbers.
.jpeg) |
Female type Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Coot, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Moorhen, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Marsh Harrier, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Courting Alba Wagtails, 5th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Singing Chiffchaff, 5th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
.jpeg) |
Wren, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
An overwintered Comma Butterfly, 5th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
An overwintered Peacock Butterfly, 5th March 2026
Photo - Rob Watson |
 |
A Spring Bumble Bee out on the wing in the warm weather, 5th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
March 4th. A warm day with lots of sunshine in a light easterly breeze.
No records received today but presumably the species recorded will have been similar to of late. There was a Barn Owl out and about at sunset and 400 Brent Geese were on the Old Saltmarsh during the day.
 |
Hunting Barn Owl, 4th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Barn Owl surveying its domain, 4th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Barn Owl, 4th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Barn Owl showing its a ringed bird, 4th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Black-tailed Godwits accompanying a pair of Avocets, 4th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Roe Deer with two fawns, 4th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
March 3rd. A warming sunny day with occasional cloud in a light easterly breeze.
On Tennyson's Sands, there were 196 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 female type Scaup, 7 Avocet, 16 Curlew, 24 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler, whilst on Jackson's Marsh, there was a Great White Egret.
Also about were 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Rook, 2 Chiffchaff (Cycle Track) and 2 Mistle Thrush.
 |
Dunnock, 3rd March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Blue Tit, 3rd March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Male Chaffinch, 3rd March 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
March 2nd. Another dry day getting up to 15deg C mid afternoon, in a light southerly wind dropping as the day went on.
Highlights today were the Scaup which was again on Tennyson's Sands. A Red Kite (South) distantly beyond Croft Marsh, there were 12 White-fronted Geese on farmland beyond the river, viewable from the hump. A Great White Egret was on Jackson's Marsh. Two Crossbills were perched up along the roadside near Sykes farm and a Grey Wagtail (South). On the sea, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers went south and a drake Eider was hauled out on the sandbanks.
On the water bodies were 112 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 15 Avocet and 30 Black-tailed Godwit.
Visible Migration during the morning over the west dunes in an hour and half included 71 Chaffinch, 48 Goldfinch, 6 Rook, 67 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, a Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron, all heading south. Also about were 2 Grey Partridge (Coastguards Station Garden), a Merlin (over the Visitor Centre), a Peregrine and 1 Water Pipit.
 |
Drake Tufted Duck, 2nd March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
|
Oystercatcher, 2nd March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Buzzard, 2nd March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
March 1st. Another dry day with broken sunshine in a moderate southerly wind.
Highlight of the day were a pair of Cranes that were feeding on fields beyond the river visible from the roof deck of the visitor centre. There were 22 White-fronted Geese still on Field 10.
On the water bodies were 175 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall, 473 Wigeon, 85 Teal, 35 Tufted Duck, the female type Scaup (Tennyson's Sands still), 10 Little Grebe and 32 Black-tailed Godwit.
Elsewhere around the reserve there were 2 Common Scoter (Sea), 35 Stock Dove, 1 Male Hen Harrier, 1 Red Kite (South), 3 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 600 Starling, 2 Mistle Thrush and 12 Corn Buntings.
.jpg) |
Distant Cranes seen from the Visitor Centre, 1st March 2026
Photo - Rob Watson |
 |
Distant Cranes seen from the Visitor Centre, 1st March 2026
Photo - Rob Watson |
 |
Stormy Skies during the week, Late February 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Stormy Skies during the week, Late February 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
