Early January 2013

January 10th: Flying north-west were 170 Pink-footed Geese. In the Plantation/Orchard area Winter Aconites are now in flower.

January 9th: Bird noted included a single Waxwing, and the Cetti's Warbler again at Shovelers Pool.

January 8th: There were 2 Waxwings and a Coal Tit in the Plantation. A Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Jackson's Marsh at 1430hrs.
  In the Plantation Snowdrops are now in flower.

January 7th: Numbers of  Lapwings increased to 4500, and of Curlews to 500. Offshore were a Shag, 35 Eiders and 800 Common Scoters. Around were the Rough-legged Buzzard, a Common Buzzard and a Brambling.

January 6th: Foggy afternoon. The Rough-legged Buzzard was still present, as were a Peregrine and a Cetti's Warbler. Other notables were a Great Northern Diver offshore, 2 Snow Buntings on the beach, and 6 Gadwalls on Tennyson Sands. Pink-footed Geese on the move were 32 northwest and 94 west.
  Another ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was quite successful, the best of 54 captures being 2 Bramblings, a Goldcrest and a Kestrel.

January 5th: Around were a Rough-legged Buzzard, 3 Crossbills, 4 Woodcocks, 6 Bramblings, a Purple Sandpiper, a Merlin, 2800 Golden lovers, 2000 Lapwings, a Peregrine and 3 Song Thrushes. Heading northwest were 430 Pink-footed Geese.
  Ringing at Aylmer Avenue was very quiet, with 2 Bramblings and a Coal Tit being of note.

Female Brambling ringed on the 5th Jan 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs
January 4th: Flying south were a Waxwing, a Crossbill and 11 Whooper Swans. A Green Sandpiper was on Croftmarsh. The best other birds were a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Hen Harrier, a Water Pipit, 7 Bramblings, 8 Redwings, a Cetti's Warbler and a Woodcock.
 A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was productive, with 77 birds processed, mostly retraps. New birds included 2 Bramblings.

January 3rd: Fairly windy morning. Around were 3 Waxwings, a Water Pipit, 500 Curlews and 6200 Golden Plovers. The best raptors were a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Common Buzzard, a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier and a Marsh Harrier. North went a Great Northern Diver, south a Lapland Bunting, and northwest 75 Pink-footed Geese.

January 2nd: Rain most of day. Southward movers were 250 Pink-footed Geese and 23 Siskins, and northwest 120 more Pink-footed Geese. Landed birds included 3 waxwings, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Water Pipit and 2 Bramblings.
  A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was all too brief, being curtailed due to the arrival of persistent rain. Just a small number of Greenfinches and Goldfinches were the first birds ringed here in 2013.

January 1st: Happy New Year to everybody reading this blog! Thanks to all of you for reading this Blog throughout 2012 and hopefully we will be able to see out another year's ringing and recording, and will strive to keep you all entertained throughout the coming twelve months of 2013.
  Fairly windy. Around were a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Common Buzzard, 3 Bramblings, 5 Snow buntings, a Purple Sandpiper and 6 Waxwings. On Jackson's Marsh was a Pintail, and on the Mere a Goldeneye. South went 3 Whooper Swans.
 Following the recent heavy rain, the water bodies on the reserve are at their highest levels ever.

                                High water level at Jackson's Marsh (George Gregory)