January 31st. A very pleasant, dry morning with bright sunshine (for the first time in a few days!), although the cool south-easterly breeze continues.
Again, the foreshore was very busy with gulls and waders feeding on the ebbing tide including 240 Redshank, 520 Sanderling, 600 Oystercatcher, 60 Turnstone, 3200 Herring Gull and 500 Common Gull.
Two White-fronted Geese were mobile around the reserve and 4000 Lapwings and 900 Golden Plovers came off adjacent fields past Croft Marsh. A Red Kite flew south mid-morning and a Pochard was on the Mere, the first of the year. Several Woodcocks were still in the dunes and a Water Pipit was noted.
Birds feeling the first hints of Spring and singing, included Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Great Tit and several Skylarks.
 |
Male Shoveler, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Female Shoveler, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Male Tufted Ducks, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
January 30th. Remaining cold with a south-easterly breeze.
The only records today were the flock of at east 40 White-fronted Geese on Croftmarsh and the regular Treecreeper along the Cycle track.
 |
White-fronted Geese, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Canada Geese, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Jackdaws, 30th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
January 29th. Another cold day despite the full cloud cover all day which refused to budge in a light west south westerly.
Highlights of the day were 2 Bearded Tits around Fenella Hope Hide on Tennyson's Sands mid morning. A short time later 47 White-fronted Geese were located on Moat Pond at the south end of Tennyson's Sands, late afternoon they were on Croft Marsh opposite North Hide.
On the sea were 7 Eider and a Red-throated Diver. On the beach were 500 Oystercatcher, 75 Curlew, 40 Turnstone, 2000 Herring Gulls, 34 Great Black-backed Gulls and 26 Cormorant. On the water bodies were 78 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 700 Wigeon, 250 Teal and 16 Tufted Duck. 3000 Lapwings were on Croft Marsh and beyond. Elsewhere around the reserve were 2 Woodcock
January 28th. A warmer day with a gentle southerly wind, sunny at first but clouding over some what later.
Highlight of the day was near dusk when a Bittern was heard calling briefly from the direction of Tennyson's Sands north end.
On the sea were 2 Eider, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Red-throated Diver. On Tennyson's Sands, there were 146 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 131 Teal, 29 Tufted Duck, 31 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler.
Elsewhere across the mudflats and beach etc were 300 Brent Geese, 110 Pink-footed Geese, 600 Wigeon, 510 Oystercatcher, 420 Sanderling, 240 Curlew, 420 Sanderling, 131 Redshank and 2000 Herring Gulls.
Around the rest of the reserve there were 9 Woodcock, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare and 70 Linnets.
 |
Short -eared Owl at dusk on the old Saltmarsh, 28th January 2026
Photo - Rob Watson |
January 27th. A cold and wet day with rain for most of it, being driven along in a very strong south easterly wind as Storm Chandra arrive in the UK.
No records received - probably everybody staying dry!
January 26th. A cold day with full cloud cover though out and a moderate north easterly switching around to a south westerly by dark.
Sea watching produced 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Black-throated Diver. On the beach were 600 Oystercatcher, 54 Ringed plover, 21 Turnstone and 215 Sanderling.
Around the water bodies were 87 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall, 272 Teal, 40 Tufted Duck, 40 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Snipe. Also around the reserve were 900+ Wigeon (Croft Marsh), 6 Woodcock and a Marsh Harrier.
 |
Mute Swan, 21st January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Lapwings, 21st January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
.JPG) |
Bar-tailed Godwit, 21st January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
January 25th. Cold and dull again with a moderate easterly.
A morning sea watch revealed 2 Eider, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar and a Gannet. An adult Little Gull flew over Mill Hill towards Tennyson's Sands. On the foreshore, a single Shorelark remained. On Greenshanks Creek and Ridge were 16 Shelduck, 1200 Herring Gull, 16 Great Black-backed Gull and 54 Cormorant.
On the water bodies were 29 Brent Geese, 120 Greylag Geese, 100 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 400 Wigeon, 250 Teal, 26 Tufted Duck, 1 drake Goldeneye (Tennyson's Sands at first light), 1 Little Grebe, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Snipe and 1 Cetti's Warbler. Also around were 4 Woodcock (Cycle Track).
 |
The Lone Shorelark, 25th January 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
 |
Marsh Harrier, 24th January 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Black-tailed Godwits, 24th January 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
January 24th. A cool and increasing South-easterly breeze but remaining dry and bright.
A morning sea watch resulted in a northbound Sooty Shearwater which is a rare January record along with a Great Northern Diver and 30 Red-throated Divers going south. Also two Caspian Gulls were amongst 1200 Herring Gulls roosting on the beach where 16 Turnstone were also feeding.
On the water bodies were 121 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall, 57 Mallard, 297 Teal, 31 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 19 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler. On Croft Marsh and beyond, there were 1550 Lapwing, 1400 Golden Plover and 410 Wigeon. Also about was a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Merlin.
 |
Dawn on the 24th January
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Teal, 24th January 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
Shoveler's, 24th January 2026
Photo - Paul Neale |
January 23rd. Another cool day with the persistent south easterly remaining moderate with cloud throughout the day.
Following the recent freeze, high numbers of Shoveler's have returned to the lagoons - up to 180 is exceptional for the Reserve. A bout of intense feeding involved 80 birds on 23rd January, possibly taking advantage of an abundance of planktonic Crustacea (BWP Vol 1).
Shoveler's, 23rd January 2026.Video by Kev Wilson.
January 22nd. Still feeling cold in a moderate east south easterly with full cloud cover all day and occasional drizzle.
On the sea were 1 Great Crested Grebe (South) and 11 Red-throated Diver. On the beach were 1000 Herring Gull and 26 Turnstone on the beach.
The water bodies contained 127 Shoveler, 29 Gadwall, 750 Wigeon, 91 Mallard, 500 Teal, 23 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe and 6 Black-tailed Godwit whilst flying over Tennyson's Sands at first light were 5000 Lapwing. also on there were 1 drake Goldeneye, 1 Cetti's Warbler and a Marsh Harrier. Also around today were 1 Treecreeper, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard and 1 Tawny Owl.
 |
Brent Goose, 22nd January 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Marsh Harrier, 22nd January 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Marsh Harrier on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd January 2026
Photo - Nige Lound |
 |
Redwing, 22nd January 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Long-tailed Tit, 22nd January 20226
Photo - Mike Watts |
 |
Treecreeper, 22nd January 2026
Photo - Mike Watts |
January 21st. Feeling cold in a moderate south easterly wind despite the full cloud cover and rain for most of the morning.
On a morning sea watch there were 6 Eider, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 27 Red-throated Diver, 2 Black-throated Diver (South together) and 1 Great Northern Diver (South close in) whilst on the beach (Greenshanks Ridge) were 400 Grey Plover, 18 Turnstone, 120 Sanderling, 400 Dunlin, 400 Herring Gull and 140 Cormorant.
Elsewhere on the water bodies were 200 Pink-footed Geese, 146 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 400 Wigeon (Croft Marsh), 603 Teal, 25 Tufted Duck, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Water Pipit and 1 Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands) whilst on Croft Marsh were 1200 Lapwing.
Late on 3 Goosanders were at the North end of Tennyson's Sands, apparently roosting during the late afternoon (A drake and 2 Redheads). Also about were 2 Woodcock, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard and a Merlin.
.JPG) |
Brent Geese, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Brent Geese, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Lapwings and Golden Plovers, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Bar-tailed Godwit, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Wren, 20th January 2026
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
 |
Blue Tit, 20th January 2026
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
 |
Goldfinch, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
 |
Robin, 20th January 2026
Photo - David Nutt |
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
