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.