Early February 2025

 

February 4th. A chilly morning but then becoming mild with an increasing southerly breeze. A regular selection of birds were recorded on the lagoons and offshore with a new Grey Wagtail moving south and a Buzzard flew south over the beach.

February 3rd. A good seawatching session early morning produced 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black-throated Diver along with a flock of 10 Pintail south. 10 Water Pipits were flushed off the Freshwater Marsh and flew towards the Old Saltmarsh. 4 Pintail remained on Tennyson's Sands and the regular ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting the outer dunes.

February 2nd. A very pleasant and sunny day after overnight frost. Still good numbers of Grey Plover on the morning high tide roost, with 325 sanderling feeding along the beach during the ebb tide. Fairly routine offshore except for a Great Northern Diver heading south and on the lagoons, 4 Pintail and at least 2 Water Pipits.

Pintail, 2nd February 2025, 

Photo - Paul Neale

Pintail, 2nd February 2025, 

Photo - Paul Neale

Marsh Harrier, 2nd February 2025, 

Photo - Paul Neale

February 1st. Much improved weather which was a relief for the morning WeBS counters. In fact conditions were so clear, that flocks of Pink-footed Geese and waders could be seen over the Norfolk coast! Here, good numbers of Knot, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwits were at roost over the morning tide and several skeins of Pinkfeet arrived over the wash and headed inland. There were 30 Red-throated Divers offshore. In the evening a Grey Partridge was calling at the south end and a Hen Harrier came in to roost.

Late January 2025

January 31st. A very grim morning with constant drizzle and poor visibility. Roosting waders included at least 2200 Oystercatcher, 1330 Grey Plover and 5000 Knot.

January 30th. Another very pleasant and sunny morning with a light westerly breeze after overnight frost. A Great Northern Diver and 4 |Pintail flew south offshore and a Brambling was a new arrival at the Plantation. Other birds around included Short-eared Owl, Peregrine, Merlin, 4 Woodcock, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Water Pipits and 2 Cetti's Warbler.

A total of 16 Roe Deer were seen - a record count for the Reserve.

Brent Geese, 30th January 2025.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Black-headed Gull, 30th January 2025.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Curlew, 30th January 2025.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Blue Tit, 30th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy EyeonsChaffinch, 30th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

January 29th. A bright, sunny morning, almost early spring like except for the chill in the south-west breeze. 5 Whooper Swans roosted overnight on Jackson's Marsh and 4 Pintail were on Tennyson's Sands, where a Cetti's Warbler showed at times in front of Harvey's Hide. Other birds around included Barn Owl and Stonechat.

Barn Owl, 29th January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Pintail, 29th January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Shoveler, 29th January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Robin, 29th January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

January 28th. A dull, overcast and damp day with regular rain or drizzle. An afternoon watch over the haven saw 18000 Knot come up o the incoming tide with 500 Grey Plover. 900 Golden Plover and 720 Lapwing. A Jack Snipe was on the New Saltmarsh and a Hen Harrier came in to roost.

January 27th. Four Whooper Swans had roosted overnight on Tennyson's Sands, 54 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver went south offshore and there were 18 Redwings in the West Dunes, with single Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush also around the west side. Three water Pipits were mobile.

Whooper Swans and Pochard, 27th January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound

January 26th. Six adult Whooper Swans had roosted overnight on Tennyson's sands and later in the morning, a family party of 5 went south. An increase of Brent Geese saw 357 grazing Jackson's Marsh - all adult birds, indicating a poor breeding season last year. Other birds around included single Pochard and Mistle Thrush.

January 25th. A fairly quiet day although 51 Red-throated Divers represented a slight increase and a Gannet was also seen at sea. It was good to see a flock of 140 Brent Geese grazing Jackson's Marsh meadow. Elsewhere, a Red Kite and 6 Fieldfares were new arrivals.

January 24th. Increasing south-westerly wind during the morning as Storm Eowyn advances, but dry after overnight rain and fair visibility at sea mostly. The highlight of a morning seawatch was a Grey Phalarope moving slowly south. A Fulmar also moving south was the first of the year and a Velvet Scoter moving north was probably the regular individual. The wintering Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were wit a Long-tailed Tit flock at Sykes Farm with 15 Redwings nearby, the regular ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting, 250 Lapwings and 2 Peregrines were around Croftmarsh and 8 Whooper Swans came in to roost.

Merlin plucking prey on the beach, 24th January 2025.

 Video - Nige Lound

January 23rd. An hour watch from Mill Hill early morning detected a hint of southerly migration overland into the south-westerly wind and a fairly typical spread of birds at sea. Moving south were 68 Woodpigeon, a Stock Dove, 2 Redwing, 2 Skylark, 2 Chaffinch, 15 Lapwing and 60 Golden Plover.

At sea; 26 Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser. Other birds around included Hen Harrier, Merlin, Stonechat and Water Pipit. 

January 22nd. Thick fog for most of the day. A Coal Tit was with a flock of 10 Long-tailed Tits around the North Car Park. 

January 21st. Another murky morning with recording limited to the afternoon when it brightened up.

Several Water Pipits flew in to a pre-roost site late afternoon but did not stop, presumably because of a perched Sparrowhawk in the area. Three White-fronted Geese arrived from the north shortly before dusk and flew south down the East Dunes, calling. The Corn Buntings were in their regular tree near the Visitor Centre Car Park and a Barn Owl was hunting nearby.

Corn Buntings, 21st January 2025. 

Photo - Zara Brown

Mid January 2025

January 20th. Today's seawatching highlight was a Velvet Scoter settled offshore with 300 Common Scoter, 5 Eider, 4 red-breasted Merganser, 41 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver. Also new arrivals were 2 Ravens. Other birds around included Merlin, Hen Harrier, 22 Corn Bunting, 4 Stonechat and a Yellowhammer.

January 19th. Slightly less murky and misty than yesterday but still extremely dull with very low cloud all day and a continued chilly breeze keeping temperatures little above freezing. Highlights of the morning seawatch were a Great Northern Diver and 25 Red-throated Divers. The evening Harrier roost was attended by 3 Hen Harriers and 3 Marsh Harriers.

January 18th. A return to misty and murky conditions with a chilly breeze and poor visibility at sea.

Nonetheless, there was a good variety of species recorded, although nothing in any great numbers.

January 17th. A welcome relief from the fog today, but remaining dull and overcast with a chilly south-westerly breeze. Various flocks of Pink-footed Geese were on the move from first thing, mostly south or south-east. Two Tundra Bean Geese flew south, loosely following a pair of Greylags, but the Beans possible returned high north-west later. A good variety of birds were seen at sea including 20 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 150 Eider. Small groups of Wigeon were moving south with 3 Pintail, but a Pochard heading south over the sea was unusual.

Other birds around included: Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine,  4 Stonechat, Water Pipit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Woodcock.

Marsh Harrier, 17th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Herring Gull, 17th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Redshank, 17th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Curlew, 17th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Roe Deer, 17th January 2025. 

Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

January 16th. Fog persisting all day again, resulting in little coverage of the Reserve. However, 6 Woodcocks were flying around the west side just after dawn, 18 Corn Bunting were around the Visitor  Centre Car Park, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the Plantation with a Goldcrest and 2 singing Robins nearby at Sykes Farm.

Woodcock - photo enlarged for those who weren't able to spot it in the photo below.

January 15th. A damp and foggy day with poor visibility limiting birding opportunities. A total of 1400 Pink-footed Geese today, representing an increase on yesterday. 27 Redwing in West Dunes were probably birds that arrived a couple of days ago whilst 10 Fieldfare to the north were probably new in. Single Bullfinch and Collared Dove were also new in. Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were found persisting in their usual locations and 3 Woodcock were seen.

Collared Dove in fog, 15th January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound

Woodcock, 15th January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound

January 14th. Dull, overcast but no frost and the day becoming progressively milder with waterbodies thawing out. Some 900 Pink-footed Geese were around Croftmarsh during the day, including 200 that arrived from the north in various groups. A brief seawatch resulted in 18 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red--breasted Mergansers and 25 Common Scoter. Overland movement was limited to a few Skylarks heading south. Other birds around included 5 Water Pipits, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Stonechats.

January 13th. Another cold start with a strong south-westerly wind but an indication that the thaw has commenced. Counts of waterbirds remain generally low after many left during the freeze.

Shovelers floating on ice, 13th January 2025.

 Video Kev Wilson

January 12th. A very cold, frosty and foggy morning with sub-zero temperatures again overnight and all waterbodies still mostly iced over. The fog cleared in the afternoon when 6 Woodcock and 2 Stonechat were seen on a quick circuit.

Frozen, foggy then cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

January 11th. Frozen, partially cloudy, with light westerly wind.

 The sun broke through strongly which scuppered any sea-watching effort early on and much of the wetland was still iced over. However, 11 Water Rails were around Tennyson's Sands with 2 Cetti's Warblers there and another 3 along Freshwater Marsh. 2 Bearded Tits were mobile around the reedbeds. Birds of prey seen were 2 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier and a Barn Owl.

Early January 2025

January 10th. Frozen, mostly clear, with light westerly wind.

 An arrival of Thrushes brought 80 Redwings and 20 Fieldfare to the Plantation area. A Green Woodpecker was the first of the year.

January 9th. Frozen, generally clear, with light north-westerly wind.

 The day started with a family of 5 Whooper Swans whooping from Tennyson's Sands. The regular Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff and 3 Stonechats were all still present.

Whooper Swans, 9th January 2025. 

Photo - Richard Doan

Ringing Control: Willow Warbler, ringed GPBO 29 August 2024, controlled Plaisance, Charente-Maritime, France 12 September 2024.

January 8th. Freezing, becoming cloudy, with light variable wind.

 Some movement today involved small parties of Redwings and Fieldfares moving south over Sykes Farm, with a Siskin and 360 Pink-footed Geese heading north-west. The Corn Bunting flock continues its slow increase, with 22 today. From the hides were 2 Cetti's Warblers, 130 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 5 Water Rail, 150 Golden Plover and 300 Lapwing. A Peregrine was around the beach.

Mute Swan, 8th January 2025. 

Photo - Rikki Clark

Peregrine, 8th January 2025. 

Photo - Kev Wilson

January 7th. Partially cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind.

 Today's highlights included a Short-eared Owl and a Yellowhammer.

Brent Geese, 7th January 20215. 

Photo - Rob Watson

Stonechat, 7th January 20215. 

Photo - Rob Watson

January 6th. Quite strong westerly wind, with rain for most of morning.

 Just a few reports today, including a Marsh Harrier, a Pochard, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and a Rook.

Tufted Duck, January 2025. 

Photo - Rikki Clark

Wigeon, January 2025. 

Photo - Rikki Clark

Curlew, January 2025. 

Photo - Rikki Clark

January 5th. Rain for most of day, with mostly southerly wind.

 Just 2 Woodcocks were reported at the north end of West Dunes.

Leucistic Blackbird, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Bob Derry

January 4th. Frozen start, mostly cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

 Six Whooper Swans roosted on Tennyson's Sands before heading off south. Bearded Tits were heard again at the Mere and a Goosander was on Greenshank's Creek before flying inland. There was little movement over the sea except for 20 Red-throated Divers and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, whilst 65 Eider were on the Haven and up to 6 Snow Buntings along the foreshore. There was an increase of Shoveler to 152 on Tennyson's Sands, but otherwise little evidence of cold-weather movement. Overland 3 Siskins headed south. Other birds around included a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Short-eared Owl.

Goosander, 4th January 2025. 

Photo - Kev Wilson

Roosting Oystercatchers, 4th January 2025. 

Photo - Rob Watson

January 3rd. Frozen start, partially cloudy, with light westerly wind. Conditions as yesterday, becoming sunny.

 The morning wader roost held 2800 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6000 Knot, 1200 Grey Plover and 1800 Oystercatcher. A Lapland Bunting was over the New Saltmarsh with many Rock Pipits, Skylarks and Reed Buntings there. Two southbound Rooks were an unusual January record. Two Bearded Tits were at the Mere and 3 Whooper Swans were on Tennyson's Sands before flying south, followed by two more. A Red Kite and two Merlins were also around.

Whooper Swans, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Whooper Swans, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Pochard, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Merlin, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Kev Wilson

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

Greenfinch, 3rd January 2025. 

Photo - Paul Neale

January 2nd. Frosty start, clear, with light north-westerly wind, become sunny in the afternoon. A really good (albeit cold) winter's day with good coverage of the Reserve and a good variety of birds to be seen.

 Offshore highlights were 9 Kittiwakes, 2 Gannets, a Great Crested Grebe and 17 Eider heading south with 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Red-throated Diver on the sea. Around the beach feeding waders included 32 Turnstone and 160 Sanderling, with a Merlin around the saltmarshes. 300 Brent Geese, 2 Hen Harriers, another Merlin, a Water Pipit, 8 Snipe and good numbers of Skylark, Rock Pipit, Linnet and Reed Bunting. Waterbirds around the lagoons included 600 Pink-footed Geese, 320 Wigeon, 10 Pintail and 14 Black-tailed Godwits. A few Redwing and Fieldfare were seen on the west side, with a Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper in the Plantation.

Fieldfare, 2nd January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound.

Redwing, 2nd January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound.

Sparrowhawk, 2nd January 2025. 

Photo - Nige Lound.

Ice on Mill Pond Road, 2nd January 2025. 

Photos - Kev Wilson

Sunset over Tennyson's Sands, 2nd January 2025. 

Photo - Kev Wilson

Wishing all of our followers a very Happy New Year. 

January 1st. Strong but decreasing south-westerly wind, with morning rain.

 Activity by birds and birders was generally reduced by the poor weather during the morning, but rewards were had at sea: a Slavonian Grebe passed south close inshore and 6 Velvet Scoters flew into the Wash with 250 Common Scoters. Also offshore were 6 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Red-throated Divers and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. A raft of 500 Eider was an impressive sight on the sandbanks. Other birds around included a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Barn Owl, 3 Water Pipits and a Chiffchaff.