Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog

Early March 2026

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 30 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 100 Teal, 142 Shoveler, 66 Tufted Duck, 21 Gadwall, 18 Avocets, 21 Curlew, 21 Black-tailed Godwits and a Cetti's Warbler (Fenella Hope hide). Elsewhere around the reserve were a Chiffchaff, Corn Bunting (Around Wash Viewpoint) and a Chiffchaff.

Also recorded today was the first Comma 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.

Female type Scaup on Tennyson's Sands, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale

Coot, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale

Moorhen, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale

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

Wren, 5th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale

An overwintered Comma Butterfly, 5th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

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.

Distant Cranes seen from the Visitor Centre, 1st March 2026
Photo - Rob Watson

Stormy Skies during the week, Late February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Late February 2026

An Art Exhibition at the Old Coastguards next to the Visitor Centre continues where three volunteers on the reserve have photo's on display and copies are available for sale (Pre-order prints). Any profits and proceeds are being donated to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

"See the Reserve through the eyes and lenses of our volunteers". Please pop in and have a look, there just might be a photo you would like to see at home! The exhibition is on daily 11am to 3pm until Sunday March 1st.

February 28th. Cloudy but staying dry nearly all day with a couple of light showers in a light northerly breeze.

Highlights today included 2 Egyptian Geese over Sykes Farm. Two Short-eared Owls were hunting around the Visitor Centre early morning and 3 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers together in the plantation was unusual.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 28th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Male Chaffinch, 28th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Buck Muntjac Deer, 28th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

February 27th. Another mild morning with a southerly breeze, mostly overcast but with good visibility prior to a blanket of mist and drizzle rain from late morning.

Pretty similar numbers and range of birds, but a southerly passage of flocks of woodpigeons was unusual and not accompanied by any other migrants.

Mute Swans, 27th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Avocets arriving back, 27th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Touchdown of the Avocets, 27th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Shoveler under heavy fire form an angry Avocet, 27th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

February 26th. A sunny start, quickly clouding over and rain from late afternoon in a continuing moderate southerly wind.

The same birds were about today as of late, the highlight being the female type Scaup, which is still on Tennyson's Sands.

The dunes edge is still getting eroded on the foreshore, 24th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

A soon to be gone dune on the foreshore, 24th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

February 25th. The warmest day of the year so far, with the temperature well into double figures. Occasional sunny spells and a moderate southerly wind.

Much the same today with 12 Barnacle Geese and 33 White-fronted Geese still on Field 10. The female type Scaup was again on Tennyson's Sands showing well, Avocets numbers have built up to 19 there also. The hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal was still present on Tennyson's Sands also and the first Spoonbill of the year flew over. An un-confirmed report came to light of 2 Cranes flying south at mid-day.

On the water bodies, there were 4 Mute Swan, 21 Shelduck, 175 Shoveler, 37 Gadwall, 660 Wigeon, 18 Mallard, 152 Teal, 44 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 23 Curlew, 18 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

Elsewhere around the reserve, there were 1 Red-legged Partridge, 150 Golden Plover (Croft Marsh), 18 Ringed Plover, 1 Red-throated Diver (South), 1 Buzzard, 250 Starling, 1 Stonechat and 1 Rock Pipit.

Overnight Moth trapping revealed 22 Moths of 10 species including 2 Shoulder Stripe Moths which were missed out on entirely last year.

The first Spoonbill of the year, 25th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Cormorant, 25th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Black-tailed Godwits, 25th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Kestrel, 25th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Seals hauled out on the River Bank, 25th February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

1 of 2 Shoulder Stripe Moth, 25th February 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

February 24th. An incredible warm day with spells of broken sunshine and a southerly breeze.

Early news involved the female type Scaup was still on Tennyson's Sands showing well and on Field 10, there were still 31 White-fronted Geese and 12 Barnacle Geese. A Crossbill was over the Reserve Entrance during the morning.

Also, a very interesting bird which were captured on camera briefly on Tennyson's Sands. The bird with its head out looks suspiciously like a Blue-winged Teal. Unfortunately when the bird was re-located, it became clear that it was just a male Shoveler, hybrid type (Probably a Hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal) paired up with a female Shoveler. It would seem that these two closely related birds occasionally hybridise in the wild s of North America and often in ornamental collections in the UK.

Also around today were a Short-eared Owl (Around the river near the Visitor Centre) and a Barn Owl.

Male Shoveler doing a great impression of a Blue-winged Teal, 24th February 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

It turned out to be a Hybrid male Shoveler (Probably Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal).
24th February 2026, Photo - Nige Lound

Hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal, 24th February 2026

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Female type Scaup, 24th February 2026

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

A Hunting Barn Owl, 24th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Barn Owl, 24th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Barn Owl with ring clearly visible, 24th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

February 23rd. A warmer day than of late with a light west south westerly bringing several spells of rain during the afternoon.

Early news involves more Chaffinches, Starlings and Corvids moving with single Raven and Woodlark (South over the decoy at 7.35am. Offshore Black-headed Gulls were passing south in small flocks.

Other highlights today were again the 12 Barnacle Geese and 31 White-fronted Geese in Field 10 with 2 Red-legged Partridge and 44 Curlew on there as well. Another 24 White-fronted Geese in two flocks went North during the day.

A look at the sea revealed 4 Pintail (South), 1 Red-breasted Merganser on the sea, 1 Great-crested Grebe (South) and 2 Red-throated Diver. On the beach there were 400 Oystercatcher, 137 Redshank, 25 Sanderling and 42 Cormorant.

The water bodies around the reserve were home to 173 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 600 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 200 Teal, 40 Tufted Duck, 1 female type Scaup again on Tennyson's Sands, 12 Little Grebe, 2 Avocet and 30 Black-tailed Godwit.

Also recorded today were 29 Stock Dove (South), 2 Woodcock, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Rook (South), 400 Starling, 3 Siskin (South) and 21 Corn Buntings (By the hump).

Barnacle Geese on Field 10, 23rd February 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Courting Gadwall's, 23rd February 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Mute Swan trio fly by, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Gadwall's, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Little Grebe on the Mere, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Stock Dove, 23rd February 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

February 22nd. Continuing mild with a south-westerly breeze. An overcast morning but generally good visibility, becoming sunny in the afternoon.

The day started with a Song Thrush singing before dawn. Visible Migration continued this morning with another 2 Woodlark and a Snow Bunting moving south with low numbers of Finches, Corvids and Starlings but it was Red Kites that were the highlight, with 18 passing through. Offshore, a Heron went south with 2 Goosander, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Red-throated Diver, 6 Pintail and a Goldeneye.

Flocks totalling 800 Pink-footed Geese headed north west over the Wash with another 400 remaining local. 29 White-fronted Geese were on Field 10 again along with a Red-legged Partridge. On the water bodies were 150 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 500 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 17 Tufted Dick and 39 Black-tailed Godwit. Also about was a Marsh Harrier (Not the usual bird - "Dangle foot"). A Peacock Butterfly was out in the weak sun during the afternoon.

White-fronted Geese on Field 10, 22nd February 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Teal, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Wigeon, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Black-tailed Godwits on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Red Kite resting, 22nd February 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Red Kite heading South, 22nd February 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Robin in full song, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Starlings over Croft Marsh, 22nd February 2026
Photo - David Nutt

February 21st. A switch to a south-westerly wind brought milder conditions and then morning became dry after early drizzle.

The monthly WeBS Count, despite being a fairly low spring tide, produced a brilliant wader roost with over 2500 Oystercatchers, 6200 Dunlin, 420 Sanderling, 15000 Knot, 800 Bar-tailed Godwit and an exceptional 8000 Grey Plover. A Goosander passed through the Haven and 15 Red-throated Divers headed south offshore.

Although still very early in the years, there was just a hint of visible migration with several Chaffinch, a Siskin and an alba wagtail moving south. Something was also happening with Woodlarks; two were present on the south saltings from early on, then another bird arrived form the north heading south, then inland and later, a group of three arrived from the north and headed south along the Outer Ridge, probably then heading out over the Wash. Also heading south, a Red Kite and a Raven. Remarkably, another Woodlark went through at mid day and the lone Shorelark remained on the north saltings.

Shorelark, 21st February 2026
Photo - Rob Watson

Curlew, 20th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Goldcrest, 20th February -226
Photo - Mike Watts

Goldcrest, 20th February 2026
Photo - Mike Watts