20th February. No sign of the Waxwing today. 300 Pink-footed Geese were on farmland over the River Steeping. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Avocet and a Water Pipit. Other birds around included 3 Snow Bunting (Greenshank's Creek), 3 Corn Bunting and a Barn Owl.
The first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year was noted in the Plantation.
19th February. Whilst so many Waxwings have only paused briefly to feed before moving on this winter, the current bird is enjoying its fourth day here , showing very well along the Cycletrack opposite North Car Park. New arrivals were 2 Red Kites, a Barnacle Goose with 80 Pink-footed Geese and a Lapland Bunting over the east Dunes.
18th February. Rain from first thing well into the morning. The Waxwing was still present and showing well at times and the regular Whooper Swans came in to roost in the evening.
17th February. The Waxwing was seen again late morning around North Car Park. 44 Whooper Swans left the roost on Tennyson's Sands where a Bittern was reported. Other birds around included Marsh harrier, male Hen Harrier, 9 Corn Bunting and a Merlin.
16th February. The 3 Shorelarks were seen again today on the north saltings. A Waxwing was along the Cycletrack and a ringtail Hen Harrier was hinting the Old Saltmarsh.
15th February. A fairly quiet day. Highlights were 2000 Lapwing on Croftmarsh, an Avocet and 70 Black-tailed Godwit on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Treecreeper in the Plantation and a Grey Wagtail.
14th February. A significant increase in the number of Knot at the high tide roost this morning with over 32000, possibly anticipating another big tide after the very big evening tide yesterday. Grey Plover had also increased to well over 3000. The sea was fairly quiet but the 2 Long-tailed Ducks showed well. A Waxwing flew over the east side. Several Woodcocks remain on the Reserve - see amazing trail cam footage below!
Woodcock - recent footage from trail cam by Sam Goddard
13th February. Similar numbers of waders at roost to yesterday morning and fairly similar numbers of Divers etc. at sea. A few birds on the move included a Rook and 2 Jackdaws arriving off the sea and a Grey Wagtail heading south - an unusual February record.
12th February. Another very good wader spectacle on the morning tide involving at least 13000 birds at the north roost alone. Offshore, 45 Red-throated Diver and 2 Long-tailed Ducks and highlights of Black-throated Diver and Goosander north and a Harbour Porpoise. A Caspian Gull was amongst the Herring Gulls on the beach and Black-tailed Godwits had increased to 76. In the evening, 44 Whooper Swans came in to roost.
11th February. Remaining overcast after more heavy rain overnight. Fortunately, this cleared just before the morning WeBS count commenced. Very good numbers of the regular waders came up to roost ( 22000 Knot, 6920 Oystercatcher, 2820 Grey Plover, 757 Sanderling, 7820 Dunlin and 1070 Bar-tailed Godwit and 47 Turnstone) and hundreds of large gulls came to feed on the beach on the dropping tide including over 1000 Herring Gulls but nothing unusual found amongst them. 30 Red-throated Divers were offshore with the 2 Long-tailed Ducks. 900 Lapwings were around Croftmarsh with another 400 arriving from the north. The regular Barn Owl showed well over the Freshwater Marsh and a Green Woodpecker was around the Plantation. 44 Whooper Swans came in to roost. Other birds around included single Hen Harrier and Jack Snipe and the 3 Shorelark were with a group of 20 Skylarks.
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