Mid March 2013

20th: Very quiet, the only notables being 400 Golden Plovers on Croftmarsh.

19th: A pair of Common Buzzards were displaying over Croftmarsh. Avocet numbers built up to 25 birds. Around the reserve were 3 Siskin and a solitary Brambling.

18th: A Long-eared Owl was discovered in the East Dunes early morning. A slight thrush influx was encouraging with 10 Song Thrushes and 29 Blackbirds.
Ringing yielded 50 Chaffinches, with the majority of birds caught being adult males.

17th: Some light visible migration was evident this morning with the following going south: 50 Chaffinches, a Brambling, 26 Jackdaws, 950 Starlings, 5 Goldfinches, 12 Greenfinches, 8 Snipes and 12 Stock Doves. Grounded birds on the reserve were 4000 Golden Plovers and 7 Song Thrushes.

16th: The only bird of note was yesterday's Woodlark.

15th: The highlight of the day was undoubtedly a Woodlark flushed at Aylmer Avenue.

14th: Birds of prey were represented by a Peregine, a female Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a male Sparrowhawk, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls, and a Common Buzzard over Croftmarsh. A single redhead Goosander roosted on the Wash.

13th: Highlights were a Short-eared Owl at dusk and a female Marsh Harrier. 3 Rooks flew south early morning.

12th: About were 2 Hen Harriers, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Yellowhammer singing near Aylmer Avenue, and a drake Eider offshore.

11th: Croftmarsh held 500 Lapwings and 300 Starlings. High tide wader counts yielded 87 Ringed Plovers, 300 Oystercatchers, 3500 Bar-tailed Godwits, 484 Grey Plovers, 80 Turnstones and 400 Dunlins.