31st March. A foggy start but clearing by mid-morning when some vis mig was apparent, mostly Siskins again with a few Chaffinch and 3 Brambling. A Waxwing went over high, calling and a flock of 45 Siskin were around the West Dunes. Three Merlins were seen including 2 hunting together over the outer ridges. 14 Redwings and a Fieldfare were new arrivals in the Orchard. Other birds around included Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Red Kite and 3 Blackcap.
30th March. A calmer morning with a light southerly wind, still cool, but becoming very pleasant and with an excellent variety of birds on the Reserve. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler is our earliest ever arrival by over a week, while the years first Willow Warbler singing briefly, was about on cue. The turnover of migrants n the East Dunes suggested an overnight departure of Robins but at least 4 new Goldcrests and a singing Firecrest was probably a new bird. Around the lagoons, a Little Gull, Little Ringed Plover and pair of Med Gulls were new, alongside 30 Black-tailed Godwits. Gull passage offshore involved mostly Common and Black-headed with another Med Gull south and highlights of single Goldeneye, Goosander, Fulmar, 110 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Red-throated Divers. Overland migration was slower than yesterday but still some numbers of Siskin, Chaffinch, other Finches and Meadow Pipits. Single Crossbill, Brambling and White Wagtail moved south and a flock of 250 Pink-footed Geese departed to the north-west. A movement of raptors from mid-morning involved 10 Buzzards, 2 Red Kites, 3 Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Marsh Harrier. Other birds around included a Water Pipit and a flock of over 200 Golden Plover.
29th March. Starting dull again with a strong southerly breeze and rain later. A productive morning session with interest over the sea provided by single Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Sandwich Tern, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and a flock of 35 Black-tailed Godwit heading south, whilst overland, Siskins totalled 306 in 2 hours with good numbers of Chaffinches and smaller flocks of Linnets, Goldfinch and Meadow Pipits.. New migrants at the south end of the East Dunes included 5 Robin, 2Song Thrush, 2 Redwing and a Goldcrest. Other birds around were a Sand Martin and 220 Golden Plover.
28th March. Rain was persistent from dawn and there was a string southerly wind, but when the rain cleared mid-morning, groups of Siskins and a few other finches were moving south again with 5 Crossbill and a Red Kite also moving. Whilst on Croftmarsh, waders included 2 Ruff and 43 Black-tailed Godwit.
Black-headed Gull, 28th March 2024. 27th March. A dry morning starting overcast and with a bitter southerly wind. certainly a difficult morning for getting views of crests but two were in the East Dunes of which one was identified as a Firecrest at Mill Hill - presumably yesterdays bird again. A slow trickle of new migrants included the first Wheatear and Swallow of the year. The singing Blackcap remained in the Plantation and the Spoonbill on Croftmarsh. A big movement of Siskin involved at least 400 in 2 hours up to 0900 with smaller numbers of Chaffinch, Rook, Jackdaw, 7 Crossbill, a Brambling and a Sand Martin. A pair of Garganey flew south offshore, having been tracked from two sites further north and 2 Bewick's Swans overflew the Reserve mid afternoon. The Firecrest was reported to be showing very well at Mill Hill late morning and a Ruff was a new arrival on Croftmarsh.
26th March. Initially overcast, becoming brighter with a cool and increasing easterly wind. After a surprising absence, two Blackcaps were the first of the year, including one bird in song. A Firecrest was in scrub at Mill Hill - possibly the recent bird from North Building Ridge. Offshore a flock of 120 Common Scoter flew south, whilst on the foreshore 1500 herring Gulls and a tight roosting flock of 700 Sanderling. A Spoonbill was a new arrival on Croftmarsh, seen from Harvey's Hide.
25th March. A dry and fairly overcast morning with a south-easterly breeze. Other than good numbers of Chiffchaff, there was no evidence of further spring migrants. Up to 8 Crossbills were in the North Car Park pines whilst offshore, a Shoveler and 4 Common Scoter flew south and 2 Fulmar went north in a brief watch.
24th March. The first Firecrest of the spring was seen along North Building Ridge. Visible migration and seawatching were both quiet in the north-westerly wind but 2 Barnacle Geese and a Red Kite flew south and there were good numbers of Sanderling and Turnstone feeding along the beach with 500 Herring Gulls. Other birds around included a Bullfinch, a Water Pipit, a Fieldfare, a Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin.
23rd March. A very good day for Egrets with 2 Cattle Egrets arriving on the Freshwater Marsh and later flying south, then a roost gathering of 61 Little Egrets.
22nd March. An excellent morning for birding on the Reserve with the migration watch producing good flocks of Chaffinch, Siskin and Starling again with a few Redwings, a flock of 170 Golden Plover, 2 Woodlarks, and a Red Kite., while a male Hen Harrier and Barn Owl hunted over the Old Saltmarsh. Continuing the incredible run of Waxwing records, 2 new birds arrived and settled in the East Dunes. One of the Great White Egrets remained.
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21st March. 6 Whooper Swans left their roost on Tennyson's Sands early morning, a Great White Egret was present there and there followed a visible migration of regular species, with a Grey Wagtail and 3 Bramblings passing overhead with the Chaffinches, Siskins and Starlings. A good number of Chiffchaffs were singing on site today and 3 Water Pipits were on the Fenland Lagoon.
