Mid March 2021

March 20th. Around were 9 White-fronted Goose, 220 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 5 Buzzard, a Caspian Gull, 9500 Starling, a Chiffchaff, a Firecrest (North Building Ridge), 2 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch and 10 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 33 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south was a Red Kite.

Leucistic Redshank, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Snow Bunting, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Red Kite, 20 March 2021.
Photo Dean Nicholson

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Firecrest, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Caspian Gull, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Bullfinch, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

March 19th. Birds around included 100 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 550 Wigeon, 2 Eider, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, a Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 21 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Croftmarsh 2 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Pintail. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier.

Eider, 19 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 18th. Around were 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest (North Building Ridge). On Croftmarsh were 60 Wigeon. Going north were 125 Pink-footed Goose; and on Tennyson's Sands 11 White-fronted Goose and 3 Avocet.

Clouded Drab, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Common Quaker, 18 March 2921.
Photo - Nige Lound

Satellite, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Small Quaker, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 17th. Birds around included 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 105 Wigeon, a Long-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and 12 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pink-footed Goose, 24 White-fronted Goose, 2 Pintail, a Water Rail, 9 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 2 Eider, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Siskin; and north a Gannet, a Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver.

Sweet Violets in flower, 17 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Treecreeper, 17 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 16th. Soggy start.

 Around were 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Rook, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper. On Croftmarsh were 80 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Great Crested Grebe. Flying south were 16 Kittiwake, 2 Red Kite and 135 Redwing; and north 2 Great Skua, a Guillemot and a Gannet. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier and a Short-eared Owl. 

Great Skua, 16 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Ringing Recovery: Black-headed Gull ringed GPBO 29 August 2008, ring read in field GPBO 12 March 2021. This bird has hung around the Visitor Centre Car Park for many years.

March 15th. Birds around included 137 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Woodcock, 3 Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl and a Green Woodpecker. On Tennyson's Sands were 30 White-fronted Goose, 9 Avocet, an adult summer Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Jackson's Marsh 45 Wigeon and a Cetti's Warbler. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier.

White-fronted Geese, 15 March 2021.
Photo - Barbara Meyer

White-fronted Goose, 15 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

March 14th. Moderately strong westerly wind.

 On Croftmarsh were 40 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 15 Avocet. Around were 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

March 13th. Quite strong south-westerly wind; some morning light rain.

 On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh 12 Wigeon. Birds around included 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Red Kite. Flying south were 38 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Red-throated Diver and a Mediterranean Gull.

March 12th. Fairly strong south-westerly wind; some morning light rain.

 On Croftmarsh were 250 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 150 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 17 Avocet. Around were 130 Redshank, 400 Sanderling, 2050 Oystercatcher, 2840 Grey Plover, 13350 Knot, 3300 Dunlin, 1400 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Redwing and a Goldcrest. Heading south were 47 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet and 90 Chaffinch. 

Scarlet Elfcup, 12 March 2021.
Photo - Jack Wilson

Scarlet Elfcup, 12 March 2021.
Photo - Jack Wilson

March 11th. Strong south-westerly wind, gradually decreasing; some light morning and afternoon rain.

 Birds around included 113 Eider, 111 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe and 16 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 30 White-fronted Goose and 200 Wigeon. Going north were 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose; and south 8 Great Crested Grebe, a Common Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull, a Fulmar and 5 Gannet.