Late January 2018

January 31st. A scrutiny of the goose flock on Croft Marsh revealed 750 Pink-footed Goose, a Barnacle Goose and 5 White-fronted Goose. Around were 2 Goldcrest, 10 Redwing, a Treecreeper, a Short-eared Owl (from Visitor Centre car park at 1715hrs), 2 Woodcock, 500 Golden Plover and 450 Lapwing.  

January 30th. About were 18 Redwing, a Woodcock, 2 Stonechat, a Common Buzzard, 2 Snow Bunting, a Pintail, 500 Lapwing, 2 Goldeneye, a Siskin and 15 Corn Bunting. A Rook (scarce here!) flew west over West Dunes and 5 Whooper Swan flew south. Offshore were 160 Red-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe. 

Blackcap, 30th January 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

House Sparrow, 30th January 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

Tree Sparrow, 30th January 2018
Photo - Kev Wilson

January 29th. No records received 

January 28th. Around the reserve today included 120 Golden Plover, 300 Lapwing and 5 Corn Bunting. A Barnacle Goose was seen in flight with 185 Pink-footed Goose. 2 Short-eared Owl were hunting over the Old Saltmarsh late on.

Tufted Duck, 28th January 2018.
Photo - Keith Hudson

Goldfinch, 28th January 2018.
Photo Keith Hudson

Weasel, 28th January 2018.
Photo - Keith Hudson

Goldeneye drake, 28th January 2018.
Photo - Keith Hudson

January 27th. Strong southerly wind with rain from mid-morning.

 Birds around included 2 Stonechat, 400 Lapwing, 4 Redwing, a Water Pipit, a Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Hen Harrier, a Snow Bunting, 2 Merlin and 750 Brent Goose (including 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Brant type hybrid). 

January 26th. Overnight frost warming up mid-morning

 Around the reserve were a male Marsh Harrier, 80 Pink-footed Goose, 400 Golden Plover, a Water Pipit, 30 Corn Bunting, 2 Water Rail and 8 Snow Bunting (Millennium Ridge). A group of 3 Shorelark were seen in flight heading towards Mill Hill. 

Jackdaw, 26th January 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 25th. Clear and bright with cold southerly wind.

 The highlight of the day was a group of 4 Waxwing seen along the roadside. Other birds about were 40 Corn Bunting, a Merlin, a male Hen Harrier, a Green Woodpecker and 200 Lapwing. 

Waxwing in fading light, 25th January 2018.
Photo - Christine Motley

Waxwings at dusk, 25th January 2018.
Photo - Christine Motley

Janaury 24th. Strong south-west wind mid-morning.

On Croft Marsh were 50 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Lapwing and 400 Golden Plover. On Jackson's marsh were 2 Pintail and 150 Wigeon. 

Ringing Controls...

Blackbird, ringed 11 November 2017 GPBO, controlled 31 November 2017 Whitwell, Derbyshire

Goldcrest, ringed 4 October 2017 GPBO, controlled 26 October 2017 Cayeux-sur-Mer, France

Long-tailed Tit, 24th January 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 23rd. 

Around were 2 Stonechat, 250 Lapwing and 150 Pink-footed Goose.

January 22nd.

Birds around the reserve in the morning were a male Hen Harrier, a Bullfinch, a Yellowhammer, a singing Mistle Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Offshore were 80 Common Scoter, 8 Red breasted Merganser and 97 Red-throated Diver (south).

A late afternoon visit to the Wash Viewpoint produced a count of 580 Brent Goose, a Merlin, male Hen Harrier (into roost) and 2 Grey Partridge.  

January 21st. Frosty start.
On the reserve were 3 Bullfinch, a Woodcock, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail), 3 Snow Bunting (Millennium Ridge), 2 House Sparrow, 21 Fieldfare, a Siskin, a Collared Dove, a Coal Tit and 2 Water Rail. Croft Marsh held 800 Golden Plover and 300 Lapwing. South offshore were 172 Red-throated Diver and 21 Red-breasted Merganser. On the water bodies were 4 Whooper Swan, a Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 140 Lapwing, 48 Gadwall and 2 Water Rail.

Collared Dove (rare here), 21st January 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Sunrise, 21st January 2018
Photo - Nige Lound

Snow Bunting (female) on Millennium Ridge, 21st January 2018
Photo - Nige Lound

Snow Bunting (male) on Millennium Ridge, 21st January 2018
Photo - Nige Lound

Mid January 2018

January 20th. Around were 5 Snow Bunting, male Hen Harrier and 2 Bullfinch. 

January 19th. Frost overnight.
 On Croft Marsh were 800 Golden Plover, 30 Pink-footed Goose and 100 Lapwing. Around the reserve were 5 Corn Bunting, a male Hen Harrier and a Bullfinch.

January 18th. Strong winds early morning, dropping by mid-morning, sunny and bright with intermittent showers.
 Birds around were 16 White-fronted Goose, a Water Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 10 Corn Bunting and 4 Bullfinch.

January 17th. Cold start after overnight snow, then sunny but windy.
 Around were 250 Lapwing, 1000 Golden Plover, 16 White-fronted Goose (including bird with neck collar), 2 Woodcock, 25 Corn Bunting, 2 Stonechat and a Siskin.

January 16th. Birds around included 20 Pink-footed Goose. On or over Croftmarsh were a Tundra Bean Goose (briefly) and a Common Buzzard.
 While cleaning out the nest boxes two interesting discoveries were made. In a small box were some hibernating insects, probably Drone Flies (a type of Hoverfly). In a big box were two long-dead full-grown Kestrels with non-GPBO rings.

Hibernating insects, probably Drone Flies, 16th January 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

January 15th. Rain on and off all day.
 On Croftmarsh were 16 White-fronted Goose (including one with a neck collar fitted in the Netherlands in 2013, the first British sighting from this scheme) and 100 Pink-footed Goose.

January 14th. Around were 450 Brent Goose, 300 Wigeon, a Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat, 2 Treecreeper, a Bullfinch, 2 House Sparrow and 20 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 372 Dark-bellied Brent Goose,  a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Pintail and 2 Goldeneye; on Tennyson's Sands a Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Snipe; on the Mere a Goldeneye and a Kingfisher; over Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard; and on Wainfleet Marsh 150 Pink-footed Goose. Flying south were 10 Golden Plover.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided a new Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Great Tit and a Goldfinch.

Kingfisher, 14th January 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 13th. Birds around included 60 Pink-footed Goose, 600 Brent Goose, 3 Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Redwing, a Stonechat, a Snow Bunting and 22 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and a Goldeneye; and on Wainfleet Marsh 4 Whooper Swan. Going south were 100 Pink-footed Goose and 1000 Lapwing (to roost)
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 3 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

January 12th. Around were 184 Pink-footed Goose, 450 Brent Goose, 5 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, 11 Fieldfare and a Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Pochard, 2 Water Rail and a Black-tailed Godwit; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Goldeneye; and over Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard. Heading west was a White-fronted Goose; and south a Bullfinch.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber and Richard Doan, produced just 2 new Great Tit.
 The Snowdrops have started flowering around the Plantation and Orchard.

Snowdrops, 12th January 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

January 11th. Soggy start,
 Heading south were a Waxwing and 14 Whooper Swan. A Bittern flew to the back of the Mere, where was a Water Rail. On Tennyson's Sands were 453 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a possible hybrid Dark-bellied Brent Goose x Black Brant. Birds around included 300 Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 4 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch and 20 Corn Bunting. Flying north were a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Common Scoter and 2 Snow Bunting. Observed sparring were 2 male Pheasant.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 5 new birds: a Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch; and 2 retrap Blue Tit.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose showing substantial Black Brant-type neck collar, 11th January 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 11th January 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan

Early January 2018

January 10th. Soggy start, then foggy, then rainy, then soggy, making recording difficult.

 Around were 2 Goldcrest.

Ringing Controls.
 Sparrowhawk ringed 1/1/2010 GPBO, controlled West Tofts, Norfolk 22/12/2017.
 Blackbird ringed 13/10/2013 GPBO. controlled King's Lynn, Norfolk 2/1/2018.
 Blackbird ringed 14/2/2015 Fairburn Ings, North Yorkshire, controlled 26/11/2017 GPBO.
 Chaffinch ringed 16/10/2017 GPBO, controlled 17/11/2017 Warrington, Merseyside.

January 9th. Birds around included 50 Pink-footed Goose, 400 Brent Goose, a Snipe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Barn Owl, a Goldcrest and a Stonechat. Going west were 55 Fieldfare.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 3 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Robin and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, a Dunnock and 2 Great Tit.

January 8th. Cold start. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
 Around were a Barn Owl, 2 Goldcrest, 60 Fieldfare and 2 Stonechat. On Croftmarsh were 500 Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose.

January 7th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
 The Bittern flew onto the Mere again. Birds around included 300 Pink-footed Goose, 1500 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, a Merlin, 40 Fieldfare, a Snow Bunting and 15 Corn Bunting. Offshore were 5 Kittiwake, 50 Red-throated Diver, 40 Auk sp, a Fulmar and a Gannet.

Snow Bunting, 7th January 2018.
Photo - Rob Watson

Corn Buntings, 7th January 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 6th. Early morning rain with increasing wind.
 The Bittern flew to the back of the Mere. Flying north were an Iceland Gull, a Slavonian Grebe, a Gannet, a Goldeneye and a Razorbill. Around were 550 Pink-footed Goose, 2800 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, 8000 Knot, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin and 40 Fieldfare.

Ringing Recovery.
 Chaffinch, ringed 12 April 2016 GPBO; found dead Rhes-y-Cae, Flintshire, Wales 24 December 2017.

January 5th. Cloudy start with brief light rain, then sunny, then cloudy with rain.
 A Bittern was discovered on Tennyson's Sands. Birds around included 480 Pink-footed Goose, 2 male Hen Harrier and 40 Fieldfare. Offshore were 5 Slavonian Grebe. Going south were a Red-necked Grebe, 40 Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot, a Razorbill and a Gannet.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded a new Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: 3 Blue Tit and a Greenfinch.

January 4th. Rain until late morning, then sunny and windy in the afternoon.
 Around were an adult Caspian Gull (Greenshanks Creek), a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2500 Herring Gull, a Water Rail, a Barn Owl, a Goldcrest, 50 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing and a Stonechat. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Snipe. Heading south were 3 Turnstone.
 A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue from late morning, with Jenni Godber, provided 3 new birds: a Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch; and 8 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit and a Greenfinch.

January 3rd. Strong westerly wind, gradually decreasing.
 Birds around included 160 Pink-footed Goose, 160 Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, 1200 Oystercatcher, 24 Turnstone, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, 78 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing and a Water Pipit. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 male Pochard and a female Goldeneye. Offshore was a large Diver Spp. Flying south was a Long-tailed Duck.

January 2nd. Around were 350 Pink-footed Goose, 17 Red-throated Diver, 1100 Oystercatcher, 180 Golden Plover, 120 Sanderling, a Snipe, a Woodcock, 1000 Herring Gull, a Green Woodpecker, 81 Fieldfare and 2 Stonechat. On Jackson's Marsh were a Goldeneye, a Pintail and a Water Rail.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 2 new birds: a Blue Tit and a Blackbird; and a retrap Robin.

January 1st. Moderately strong but decreasing south-westerly wind.
 The Bittern reappeared on Jackson's Marsh mid morning. Other birds there were a Goldeneye, a Pochard, a Pintail, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Water Pipit. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Water Rail and 2 Snipe; and over Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard. Birds around included 200 Pink-footed Goose, 377 Brent Goose, 500 Golden Plover, 300 Lapwing, a Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Treecreeper, 50 Fieldfare, a Redwing, 2 Stonechat, 2 Water Pipit and a Bullfinch.

Bittern, 1st January 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Bittern, 1st January 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth