Late January 2021

January 31st. Cold start, then sunny.

Around were 550 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 200 Wigeon, 510 Golden Plover, 3 Woodcock, 2 Sparrowhawk, 55 Stock Dove, a Peregrine, a Treecreeper and 2 Stonechat. On Croftmarsh were 550 Pink-footed Goose; and on or over Tennyson's Sands 7 Pink-footed Goose and a Marsh Harrier. Heading north were a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 169 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet; and south 6 Common Scoter and 312 Red-throated Diver.

January 30th. Quite strong easterly wind.

 Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker and a Stonechat. On Tennyson's Sands was a Dark-bellied Brent Goose; and on Croftmarsh 7 Pink-footed Goose.

Buzzard, 30 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Marsh Harrier, 30 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Catkins, 30 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

January 29th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.

 On Tennyson's Sands were 46 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Around were 25 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, a Merlin, 2 Stonechat, a Bullfinch and 9 Corn Bunting.

January 28th. Rain until mid morning.

 Birds around included 4 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl and 3 Stonechat. On Tennyson's Sands was a Water Rail.

January 27th. On Tennyson's Sands were 9 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Marsh Harrier and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Jackson's Marsh 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Water Rail. Around were 2 Buzzard, 565 Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Hen Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat, a Brambling and 2 Corn Bunting.

Roe Deer, 27 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Sunset, 27 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Snowdrops, 27 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

January 26th. Frozen start.

 On Croftmarsh were 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Offshore were 300 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver. Flying north-west were 1170 Pink-footed Goose.

Ringing Recovery: 

Sparrowhawk, ringed GPBO 30 September 2020, found dead (patio door strike) Seacroft, Lincolnshire 18 January 2021.

January 25th. Frozen start.

 Birds around included 891 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 850 Wigeon, a Woodcock, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 3 Stonechat, a House Sparrow, a Brambling and 5 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Cetti's Warbler.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 25 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Brambling, Chaffinches and Goldfinch, 25 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Sanderling, 25 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Frozen start, 25 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

January 24th. Frozen start.

 Around were 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

January 23rd. Birds around included 709 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Red Kite, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine and 4 Stonechat. On Jackson's Marsh was a Pink-footed Goose. Flying south were 4 Goosander and a Buzzard.

Pink-footed Goose, 23 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Stonechat, 23 January 2921.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 22nd. Decreasing south-westerly wind.

 Around were 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

January 21st. Strong south-westerly wind, gradually decreasing.

 Birds around included a Woodcock and 4 Water Pipit. On the sea were 5 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Red-throated Diver. Going south were 3 Velvet Scoter, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 22 Red-throated Diver; and north a Red-throated Diver.

Mid January 2021

January 20th. Strong south-westerly wind, with rain until mid morning.

 Around were 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Woodcock, a Buzzard, a Goldcrest and a Treecreeper. On Tennyson's Sands were 430 Wigeon. On the sea were 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Great Crested Grebe. Heading south were 55 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver.

January 19th. Rain until late morning.

 Birds around included a Hen Harrier, a Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest and 4 Stonechat. On Croftmarsh were a Grey Heron and a Merlin.

Ringing Control: 

Blackbird, ringed GPBO 28 October 2017, controlled Swindon, Wiltshire 15 January 2021.

January 18th. Around were 27 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Egyptian Goose, 2 Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 2 Woodcock, a Merlin, 2 Stonechat and 2 Corn Bunting. On Croftmarsh were 100+ Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

January 17th. Birds around included 230 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, an Avocet, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, 2 Stonechat and a Snow Bunting. Over Croftmarsh were 400 Lapwing, and on Tennyson's Sands 400 Wigeon. Flying south were 2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 16 Pink-footed Goose; and west 3 Rook.

Sightings of colour-ringed Sandwich Terns at Gibraltar Point NNR:

Below are summaries:

EFD ringed Ythan Estuary, Scotland 2010; then near Cape Town, South Africa 2013; de Schelhoek, Netherlands 2017; de Kelders, South Africa 2018; GPNNR 2020.

EAT ringed Ythan Estuary, Scotland 2010; then near Swakopmund, Namibia 2012; Walvis Bay, Namibia 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; Ythan Estuary, Scotland 2012; Caithness, Scotland 2016, 2017; Scolt Head, Norfolk 2019; GPNNR 2020.

EKT ringed Ythan Estuary 2010; then Heligoland, Germany 2012; Camperduin, Netherlands 2018, 2019, GPNNR 2020; Findhorn Bay, Scotland 2020.

January 16th. Quite strong south-westerly winds, gradually decreasing, with wintry showers until late morning.

January 15th. Soggy start.

 Birds around included a Water Rail and a Fieldfare.

Ringing Control: 

Robin, ringed Bloemendall, Netherlands 14 October 2020, controlled GPBO 4 November 2020.

January 14th. Rain all day.

 The morning wader roost involved 3900 Oystercatcher, 500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 400 Grey Plover, 500 Knot and 600 Dunlin.

January 13th. Rain from midday.

 Around were 330 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, 8 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 2 Stonechat and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Bearded Tit and a Cetti's Warbler.

Sunrise, 13 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Corn Bunting, 13 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Marsh Harrier, 13 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Stonechat, 13 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 12th. Birds around included 440 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Hen Harrier, 5 Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Coal Tit, 2 Stonechat and a Bullfinch.

Preening Marsh Harrier, 12 January 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Preening Marsh Harrier, 12 January 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Female Bullfinch, 12 January 2010.
Photo - Nige Lound

Male Bullfinch, 12 January 2010.
Photo - Nige Lound

Rock Pipits, 12 January 2010.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 11th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

 Around were 420 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Heading south offshore were 3 Great Northern Diver.

Early January 2021

January 10th. Frozen start, slowly thawing out.

 Birds around included 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

January 9th. Frozen.

 Around were 2 Marsh Harrier.

January 8th. Frozen start.

 Birds around included 15 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 600+ Pink-footed Goose, a Sparrowhawk and a Redwing.

Roadside Pond iced over, 8 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

January 7th. Around were 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Stonechat. On the beach was a probable Viking Gull (Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull hybrid).

Probable Viking Gull (Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull hybrid), 7 January 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

January 6th. Birds around included 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5000 Pink-footed Goose, a Hen Harrier and 3 Buzzard. On the sea was a Fulmar.

January 5th. Quite strong north-easterly wind.

 Around were 700 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2000 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Buzzard, 2 Woodcock, a Merlin, 2 Stonechat and a Water Pipit. On Tennyson's Sands were a Light-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying north were 7 Fulmar and a Gannet.

January 4th. Strong north-easterly wind.

 Birds around included 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 300 Lapwing. Going north were a Black-throated Diver, 8 Fulmar, 2 Gannet and 16 Kittiwake; and south 18 Kittiwake.

January 3rd. Some brief rainy spells; otherwise sunny or cloudy.

 Around were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Great Northern Diver, a Hen Harrier, 2 Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler. .

 A rain-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 2 Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 5 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Robin and a Wren.

January 2nd. Frozen start, gradually thawing out with sunny spells.

 Birds around included 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Hen Harrier, a Cetti's Warbler (Mere Dyke), 11 Redwing and 2 Bullfinch. Heading south were a Gannet, 18 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare; and north a Great Northern Diver.

Tennyson's Sands still iced over, 2 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

January 1st. Frozen start.

 Around, including birds trapped, were 350 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1650 Pink-footed Goose, a Woodcock, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Bullfinch and 2 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands was a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south were 2 Whooper Swan and a Great Northern Diver; north a Gannet; and west a Marsh Harrier.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 5 new birds: 2 Great Tit and 3 Blackbird; and 8 retraps: a Dunnock, a Goldfinch, a Robin, 4 Blue Tit and a Wren.

Frozen start, 1 January 2021.
Photo - George Gregory