Mid March 2020

March 20th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
 On Jackson's March were 2 Black-tailed and 7 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands 19 Avocet and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 108 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pink-footed Goose, 24 Shelduck, 28 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 82 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 38 Tufted Duck, 16 Stock Dove, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 11 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2200 Starling, 24 Redwing, 3 Pied Wagtail, a Water Pipit, a Bullfinch, 15 Greenfinch, a Siskin, a Corn Bunting and 2 Yellowhammer.  
           
March 19th. A Great Egret flew south during the morning. On Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 10 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 12 Avocet. Birds around included 140 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 20 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Mute Swan, 33 Shelduck, 23 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 95 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 36 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 14 Little Grebe, 5 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 13 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 800 Starling, 39 Redwing, a Stonechat, 2 House Sparrow, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Water Pipit, a Brambling, a Bullfinch, 14 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin, 2 Corn Bunting and 3 Yellowhammer.

Great Egret, pursued by Black-headed Gull, 19th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

Nordic Jackdaw, 19th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
March 18th. Light rain for most of the day.
 A male Mandarin Duck flew north over the Bird Observatory in the morning and later was briefly on Princes Pond before flying north-west. Heading south were 3 Stock Dove, 244 Woodpigeon, 34 Jackdaw, 4 Carrion Crow, 912 Starling, 3 Alba Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 684 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet, 17 Goldfinch, 6 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting. Birds around included 140 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 31 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 118 Wigeon, 34 Tufted Duck, 70 Eider, 10 Stock Dove, 2 Water Rail, 14 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 13 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, a Kestrel, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 900 Starling, 2 Redwing, a Stonechat, a Water Pipit, 2 Brambling, 2 Siskin, a Corn Bunting and 2 Yellowhammer.  

March 17th. Heading south were 23 Stock Dove, 1089 Woodpigeon, 2 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Grey Heron, 2 Red Kite, 6 Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Peregrine, 458 Jackdaw, 10 Rook, 8 Carrion Crow, 4 Blue Tit, 4 Skylark, a Woodlark, 2 Sand Martin, 179 Starling, a Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, a Tree Sparrow, 9 Alba Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 553 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 3 Greenfinch, 56 Linnet, a Crossbill, 23 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting; and north 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 522 Golden Plover. Birds around included 2 Grey Partridge, 151 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 28 Pink-footed Goose, 41 Shelduck, 33 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 142 Wigeon, 33 Teal, 39 Tufted Duck, 6 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Water Rail, 15 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Avocet, 5 Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, 3 Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull, a Grey Heron, 12 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Tawny Owl, a Kingfisher, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 49 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest (1 along the cycle track and 1 at the north end of the West Dunes), 2 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 3000 Starling, a Stonechat, 21 Water Pipit (to roost on the Old Saltmarsh), a Brambling and 12 Corn Bunting.

Firecrest, 17th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

Brambling, 17th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

Migrant Buzzard, 17th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward
March 16th. A Hooded Crow flew south-west over the West Dunes in the morning. Heading south were 54 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 8 Carrion Crow, 2495 Starling, 7 Alba Wagtail, 188 Chaffinch, 7 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch and 9 Siskin. Birds around included 2 Grey Partridge, 57 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 78 Pink-footed Goose, 43 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 34 Gadwall, 21 Teal, 35 Tufted Duck, 11 Stock Dove, 1400 Woodpigeon, 16 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 90 Golden Plover, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Snipe, a Grey Heron, 8 Little Egret, 2 Sparowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 5000 Starling, a Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, a Stonechat (Visitor Centre car park), 4 Pied Wagtail, 7 Water Pipit, a Brambling, 15 Linnet, 26 Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer.

Robin, 16th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter

Yellowhammer, 16th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter
March 15th. Heading south were 24 Jackdaw, 37 Starling, an Alba Wagtail, 461 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Linnet and 11 Goldfinch. On Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands were a Great Crested Grebe and 13 Avocet. Birds around included 187 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 27 Canada Goose, 7 Greylag Goose, 300 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 33 Shelduck, 28 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 56 Wigeon, 76 Mallard, 32 Teal, 41 Tufted Duck, 8 Stock Dove, 13 Little Grebe, 11 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, 4 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 3500 Starling, 31 Redwing, a Stonechat, a Pied Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 57 Water Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, a Brambling, 12 Greenfinch, 20 Corn Bunting and 9 Reed Bunting.
Barn Owl, 15th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter

Short-eared Owl, 15th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter

Starling, murmurating at dusk, 15th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter 

Sunset, 15th March 2020.
Photo - Sarah Hunter
March 14th. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Avocet and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Birds around included 450 Pink-footed Goose, 22 Shelduck, 36 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 94 Wigeon, 53 Teal, 44 Tufted Duck, 8 Stock Dove, 14 Little Grebe, 6 Lapwing, 52 Curlew, a Snipe, 7 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 550 Starling, 22 Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 14 Robin, a Stonechat, a Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, a Yellowhammer and 6 Reed Bunting.

March 13th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included 220 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 450 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Mute Swan, 35 Shelduck, 20 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 95 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 49 Tufted Duck, 7 Goosander, 14 Stock Dove, 14 Little Grebe, 3 Lapwing, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 16 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 14 Skylark, 6 long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 650 Starling, 26 Blackbird, 14 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 18 Robin, 2 Stonechat (Old Saltmarsh), 2 Pied Wagtail, 13 Meadow Pipit, 64 Water Pipit (to roost on Old Saltmarsh), 6 Rock Pipit, 12 Greenfinch, 16 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 25 Corn Bunting (from Visitor Centre car park) and 10 Reed Bunting. Heading south were 94 Starling, 19 Redwing and an Alba Wagtail.  

March 12th. Strong south-westerly wind.
 A Bearded Tit flew over the north end of the west side of the reserve in the afternoon. On Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, a Jack Snipe, 8 Snipe and 3 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Great Crested Grebe and 20 Avocet. Birds around included 280 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 550 Pink-footed Goose, 46 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 72 Wigeon, 34 Teal, 24 Tufted Duck, 23 Stock Dove, 16 Lapwing, 64 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 23 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 7 Rook, 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 950 Starling, 27 Blackbird, 14 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat (West Dunes), 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipit, a Water Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 35 Chaffinch, 14 Greenfinch, 15 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 9 Corn Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 7 Reed Bunting. Heading south were a Grey Heron, 424 Starling, 2 Alba Wagtail, 52 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 4 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin.

March 11th.
 An impressive 83 Water Pipit were counted into roost on the Old Saltmarsh in the early evening. Heading south were 4 Stock Dove, a Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Red Kite, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 54 Jackdaw, 6 Carrion Crow, 223 Starling, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Alba Wagtail, 243 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 8 Goldfinch and 3 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Heron and 19 Little Egret. Birds around included 198 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 650 Pink-footed Goose, 47 Shelduck, 39 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 88 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 33 Tufted Duck, 14 Eider, 16 Stock Dove, 13 Little Grebe, 802 Oystercatcher, 32 Lapwing, 270 Golden Plover, 5250 Grey Plover, 39 Ringed Plover, 99 Curlew, 650 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Turnstone, 24000 Knot, 452 Sanderling, 4200 Dunlin, 4 Woodcock, a Jack Snipe (East Dunes), 7 Snipe, 144 Redshank, a Sparrowhawk, 2 male Hen Harrier (over Old Saltmarsh), a Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Woodlark (East Dunes), 24 Skylark, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 270 Starling, 44 Blackbird, 17 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 28 Robin, 2 Stonechat (West Dunes), 16 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 9 Corn Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 12 Reed Bunting.

Great Crested Grebe, 11th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

Red Kite, 11th March 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward