Late January 2016

January 31st. No records received.

January 30th. No records received.

January 29th. No records received.

January 28th. 3 European White-fronted Geese were on Croftmarsh with around 700 Pink-footed Goose. Around the reserve were a Merlin, a Stonechat, 6 Corn Bunting and 7 Woodcock.


Stonechat, 28th January 2016
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 27th. A daytime maximum temperature of 13 degrees but feeling cooler in a force 5, occasionally force 7 south/south-west wind. A Great Northern Diver and 20 Red-breasted Merganser were offshore.

January 26th. Again mild with an increasing force 3 to 5 south/south-west wind. The only report today was of 3 adult European White-fronted Geese on Croftmarsh.

The Bird Observatory Council have published their excellent annual report which includes a summary of Gibraltar Point bird highlights in 2015. The report can be found at the following link: https://goo.gl/cPvDfi

January 25th. Mild again overnight with a day maximum of 13 degrees and an increasing force 2 to 4 south/south-west wind. 2 adult European White-fronted Geese were on Croftmarsh with 600 Pinkfeet. Around were a male Bullfinch, a Spotted Redshank, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Redwing and 2 Siskin

January 24th. Mild again overnight and a day maximum of 13 degrees with a force 2/3 south/south-west wind. The adult European White-fronted Goose was still on Croft Marsh with 650 Pink-footed Goose. Also around were 5 Woodcock, a Spotted Redshank, a male Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 190 Fieldfare, a drake Goldeneye and 45 Corn Bunting. A Water Rail was on Tennyson's Sands. A Goosander, a Little Gull and 4 Siskin flew south.

3 Sperm Whales were washed up on Skegness beach early this morning. Please note that there is NO ACCESS from Gibraltar Point. Anybody wishing to see the whales should use Skegness sea front car parks.

January 23rd. Mild with a day maximum of 8 degrees and a force 2/3 south/south-westerly breeze. An adult European White-fronted Goose was on Croft Marsh with 600 Pink-footed Goose, 550 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Offshore were 6 Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser and a Red-throated Diver. Around the reserve were 7 Woodcock, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Merlin, 14 Corn Bunting, 150 Fieldfare and 2 Goldeneye.

January 22nd. Moderate southerly wind.
 On Croft Marsh were 800 Pink-footed Goose and 500 Brent Goose.

January 21st. A foggy start to the day.
 An adult European White-fronted Goose remained with the Pink-footed Goose flock. Around were 15 Corn Bunting, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 800 Pink-footed Goose, a ring-tail Hen Harrier, 2 Goldcrest, 150 Fieldfare and 2 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh was a Pintail.

Mid January 2016

January 20th. A cold morning with temperatures above freezing.

 Around were a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, 500 Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 40 Corn Bunting and a Woodcock. The Pink-footed Goose flock contained 3 adult European White-fronted Goose.

January 19th. A hard overnight frost saw all water bodies at least 90% frozen and a day maximum temperature of 4 degrees.
 Offshore were 5 Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver. Around the reserve were 2 Water Pipit, a Treecreeper, a Bullfinch, a Merlin, 3 Water Rail and 150 Fieldfare.


Sunrise over the East Dunes
19th January 2016

Merlin
19th January 2016

Short-eared Owl
19th January 2016

January 18th. Freezing overnight with a day maximum of 5 degrees and a force 2/3 south/south-east wind.
 Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Water Pipit, 34 Corn Bunting, 4 Goldeneye and 100 Fieldfare.

January 17th. Freezing overnight with a day maximum of 4 degrees and an increasing force 1 to 3 south/south-east wind.
 Around were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Stonechat and 14 Corn Bunting.

January 16th. Freezing temperatures overnight.
 Moving offshore were a Little Auk, 30 Red-throated Diver, a Great Skua, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 auk spp and 4 Common Scoter. On the reserve were 42 Corn Bunting, 2 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Goldcrest, 400 Pink-footed Goose and 80 Fieldfare.

January 15th. Cold with overnight frost.
 An early morning seawatch produced a Great Northern Diver, 15 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 346 Cormorant, 16 Eider and 2 Common Scoter. Around were a Bullfinch, a Water Rail, 5 Redwing, 150 Fieldfare and 5 Corn Bunting.



Snowdrop in the Orchard, 15th January 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

January 14th. Heavy rain showers.
 On the water bodies were 2 Goldeneye, 10 Pochard, 266 Teal, 32 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, 15 Mallard, 62 Shoveler and 66 Wigeon. Around were 130 Fieldfare, a Coal Tit and 3 Song Thrush.
 Snowdrops are now flowering in the Plantation.

January 13th. Sunny and bright.

 The morning high tide revealed 650 Grey Plover, 500 Sanderling, 150 Redshank and 1500 Oystercatcher. Around were a Common Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin, 400 Brent Goose, 800 Pink-footed Goose and a House Sparrow.

January 12th. Intermittent rain.

 A Raven was discovered late afternoon, perched up in a dead Elder, behind the Bird Observatory. It was mobbed by 3 Magpie and departed off north soon after. Around were 3 Woodcock, 800 Dunlin, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin and 8 Siskin. Offshore were 90 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shag, 2 Razorbill, a Great Northern Diver, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Little Gull, 3 Kittiwake, 30 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Auk spp. An adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose was with the Brent flock early morning. The evening gull roost produced 7110 Black-headed Gull and 2390 Common Gull. 

Great Northern Diver, 13th January 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

January 11th. Birds around included a male Hen Harrier, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Woodcock, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 500 Golden Plover, 1000 Lapwing and 10 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh was a Goldeneye. Offshore was a Velvet Scoter.

Early January 2016

January 10th. Around were a Marsh Harrier and a Stonechat. Offshore were 53 Eider, 19 Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Red-throated Diver. Going south were a Great Northern Diver and a Little Gull.

January 9th. Birds around included a Bullfinch, a Treecreeper, 224 Cormorant, a Water Rail, 305 Sanderling, 190 Fieldfare, 290 Starling and 250 Golden Plover. Flying south were 2 Bewick's Swan, 2 Pintail, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, a Goosander, a Goldeneye, a blue Fulmar and 63 Red-throated Diver. Offshore were a Long-tailed Duck and a Great Skua.

January 8th. Around were 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 350 Brent Goose, a Hen Harrier, 10 Woodcock, 23 Turnstone, 190 Sanderling, 70 Carrion Crow, 50 Fieldfare, a Coal Tit and a Merlin.

January 7th. Rain most of day.
 Birds around included 400 Pink-footed Goose, a Spotted Redshank, a Merlin, 75 Fieldfare and a Green Woodpecker.

January 6th. Around were 40 Pink-footed Goose, 9 Woodcock, a male Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit, a Bullfinch, 3 Siskin, a Goldcrest, 40 Corn Bunting, 26 Snipe, 22 Redwing and 200 Fieldfare. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Goldeneye and a drake Pintail. Flying south were 14 Little Gull and 2 Great Skua,

January 5th. Birds around included 500 Pink-footed Goose, 59 Shoveler, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Water Rail, 7 Corn Bunting, a Goldcrest, 40 Corn Bunting, 150 Fieldfare, a Jack Snipe, 4 Woodcock and 950 Lapwing. Roosting were 140 Alba Wagtail. Heading south were 900 Lapwing, 6 Little Gull and a Grey Heron, and east a Marsh Harrier.

January 4th. Offshore were a Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Great Skua, a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Little Gull. Around were a White-fronted Goose, 550 Pink-footed Geese, 1500 Golden Plover, 800 Lapwing, 150 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Corn Bunting and a ringtail Hen Harrier. A Water Rail was heard on Tennyson Sands. South went 25 Siskin, 2 Gannet, 2000 Lapwing, 270 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Great Skua, a Pomarine Skua, 15 Little Gull, 135 Teal, 7 Pintail and 145 Wigeon, and south-west a Fulmar.

January 3rd. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 550 Pink-footed Goose, 550 Brent Goose (including just 1 juvenile), 8 Corn Bunting, 1400 Golden Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 780 Lapwing. Going south were 82 Wigeon, 480 Teal and 3 Pintail.

January 2nd. Around were a Chiffchaff, a Siskin, 2 Water Pipit, 40 Corn Bunting, a Little Gull, a Peregrine, 415 Redshank and 18 Stock Dove.

January 1st. Birds around included 600 Pink-footed Goose, 60 Shoveler, a Kingfisher, a Short-eared Owl, a Marsh Harrier, a Coal Tit, a Treecreeper, a Stonechat, a Siskin, 5 Song Thrush and 35 Corn Bunting. The 2 wintering Avocet remained on Tennyson's Sands, and 2 Whooper Swan arrived on Jackson's Marsh. A Merlin flew east and a Marsh Harrier south.

Goldeneye, 1st January 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Spotted Redshank and Shoveler, 1st January 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Pintail, 1st January 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth