Mid January 2019

January 20th. 43 Whooper Swan and 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) roosted on The Wash overnight. On Jackson's Marsh were 112 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye. Also around the reserve were 381 Pink-footed Goose, 230 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 19 Ringed Plover, 17 Turnstone, a Woodcock, a Merlin, 3 Hooded Crow, 2 Coal Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush, 18 Fieldfare, a Rock Pipit and 24 Corn Bunting. on the sea were 11 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Red-throated Diver and 2 Guillemot. Going south were 4 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Red-throated Diver.

Winter wildfowl including Brent Geese and Wigeon, 20th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Bar-tailed Godwit, 20th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

The Moon, 20th January 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

January 19th. 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach out from Mill Hill. On the Mere were a drake Goldeneye and a Water Rail; and on Jackson's Marsh were 130 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a Black-tailed Godwit. Highlights from the rest of the reserve include 5 Bewick's Swan, 2 Red-legged Partridge, an immature male Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, a Merlin, a Barn Owl and a Water Pipit. A Goosander flew south.

Bewick's Swans, 19th January 2019.
Photo - David Hitchin

January 18th. 5 Bewick's Swan went into roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harveys Hide at 16:30. Also on Tennyson's Sands were 220 Brent Goose, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh were 120 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye. There was another large movement of Herring Gull in the morning with 500 going south during an hour sea watch. Also around the reserve were 3 Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 2 Hooded Crow, a Stonechat, 15 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing and 40 Corn Bunting. A Peregrine flew south and a Woodcock flew in off the sea.

January 17th. 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding on fields to the west of the Steeping River and went into roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide at 16:25. A Jack Snipe was flushed in the west dunes. On Tennyson's Sands were 250 Brent Goose, a female Goosander and a Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh were 110 Wigeon, a drake Pintail and a Grey Heron. Highlights from a 40 minute morning seawatch included a juvenile Glaucous Gull (which flew in from the north before heading west) and 780 Herring Gull south. Also around the reserve were 41 Whooper Swan, a Sparrowhawk, 45 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 2 Hooded Crow, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Fieldfare, a Redwing, a Mistle Thrush and 2 Rock Pipit. 3 Goosander  and a Lesser Redpoll flew south.

Bewick's Swans on Tennyson Sands, 17th January 2019

Video - Stuart Ainsworth 

Black-tailed Godwit, 17th January 2019
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

January 16th. 5 Bewick's Swan went into roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harveys Hide at 16:30. Also on Tennyson's Sands were 65 Wigeon, a Pintail, a Grey Heron, a Water Rail, 152 Lapwing and 3 Snipe. 39 Whooper Swan were feeding on the fields to the west of the Steeping River. Other highlights from around the reserve include 350 Brent Goose, 200 Golden Plover, a Merlin, a Hooded Crow, a Coal Tit, a Treecreeper, a Rock Pipit, a Brambling and 35 Corn Bunting.

Merlin, 16th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Male Chaffinch, 16th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Female Chaffinch, 16th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

January 15th. 42 Whooper Swan and the 5 Bewick's Swan were feeding distantly on fields to the west of the Steeping River again. Also around the reserve were 150 Brent Goose, a drake Goldeneye, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Snipe, 3 Hooded Crow, a Treecreeper, 9 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Stonechat and 3 Corn Bunting. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew in off the sea and then flew west. Going south were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and 3 Mistle Thrush.

Fieldfare, 15th January 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Hooded Crow, 15th January 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Hooded Crow and Carrion Crows, 15th January 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 14th. Highlights from around the reserve today included 54 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults), 350 Brent Goose, a Goldeneye, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Woodcock, 14 Snipe, a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer and 60 Corn Bunting. Out from The Wash viewpoint in the evening were a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin. Offshore were 27 Eider, a Common Scoter, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe. 3 Goosander flew west in the morning.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Kingfisher, 14th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Blackbird, 14th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Blue Tit, 14th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

January 13th. A Long-eared Owl was seen on Gibraltar Road at 19:15. 42 Whooper Swan and 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) were feeding on fields to the west of the Visitor Centre. The Bewick's Swans roosted on Tennyson's Sands again from 16:35. Also around the reserve were a Sparrowhawk, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, a Coal Tit, a Treecreeper, 11 Fieldfare and 2 Rock Pipit. 2 Hooded Crow were on the beach out from Mill Hill; 77 Eider were offshore; and a Lapland Bunting flew south mid morning.

January 12th. The family group of 5 Bewick's Swan (which included 2 adults) went to roost on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide at 16:22. 55 Wigeon, a drake Goldeneye and a Black-tailed Godwit were on Jackson's Marsh; and 3 Snipe were on Tennyson's Sands. A Hooded Crow was on the beach and 20 Eider were offshore. Also around the reserve were 14 Fieldfare, a Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit and 20 Corn Bunting.

January 11th. The Black Redstart was seen briefly near the Visitor Centre in the morning and 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) roosted on Tennyson's Sands again in the evening. Also on Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, 12 Snipe and a Kingfisher; a drake Pintail and a drake Goldeneye were on Jackson's Marsh; and 3 Hooded Crow were on the beach. Other highlights from around the reserve included 30 Whooper Swan, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Water Rail, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 16 Fieldfare, 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin and 60 Corn Bunting. Offshore were 16 Eider, a Common Scoter, 2 Goldeneye and 3 Great Crested Grebe. A Marsh Harrier flew west and a Lapland Bunting went south.

Redshank, 11th January 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont