Late January 2014

January 31st; Moderate south-easterly wind, cloudy.
 Around were a Woodcock, 15 Fieldfares and 2 Redwings. Heading south were 2 Little Gulls, 59 Red-throated Divers, 18 Red-breasted Mergansers, 30 Common Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pintail, a Waxwing and a Bullfinch. On the sea were 6 Red-throated Divers, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and 5 Eider. Over Croftmarsh were 500 Lapwings, and on Tennyson Sands 2 Goldeneye..

January 30th: Moderate easterly wind, light rain for most of day.
 A Peregrine flew north. On Croftmarsh was a Common Buzzard, and on Tennyson Sands 17 Black-tailed Godwits and the usual other birds. Around were 2 Woodcock, a Yellowhammer, 45 Fieldfares and 2 Redwings.

January 29th: Strong easterly wind, cloudy.
 Birds around included 60 Fieldfares and a singing Song Thrush. On Tennyson Sands were 12 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 20 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and a Pintail. At sea 104 Red-throated Divers, 18 Eider, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Pintail, a Gannet and a Lesser Black-backed Gull went south, and a Red-breasted Merganser north, while 12 Common Scoter and 3 Red-breasted Merganser were offshore.
 The Snowdrops are now flowering.

Snowdrops, 29 January 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
January 28th: Moderate south-easterly wind, cloudy.
 Notables included a Hen Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, 35 Fieldfares and a Woodcock.

January 27th: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy, occasional light rain.
 Around were 45 Fieldfares and 2 Song Thrushes. On Tennyson Sands were 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Pochard and a Pintail, and on Croftmarsh 750 Golden Plovers, 150 Lapwings and 50 Wigeon. A Slavonian Grebe, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Crested Grebe, 30 Common Scoters and a Shag were offshore. South went 64 Red-throated Divers, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Eider, 29 Wigeon, a Goldeneye and a Little Gull.

January 26th: Strong south-westerly wind, cloudy, rain most of day.
 Birds around included a Woodcock, a Waxwing, a Kingfisher, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owls and 62 Fieldfares. On the water bodies were a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Goldeneye, and offshore 3 Goosander, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a Guillemot. Heading south were 3 Pintail, 26 Red-throated Divers and 18 Pink-footed Geese.

January 25th:  Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy, damp start.
 Present were a Waxwing, a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine and 2 Corn Buntings. On or over Croftmarsh were 650 Lapwings, on the estuary 1000 Wigeon, and offshore 100 Red-throated Divers and a Harbour Porpoise. Flying south were a Red Kite and 24 Pintail.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was quite productive. The 18 new birds were 5 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches and 11 Greenfinches. The 25 retraps were 3 Goldfinches, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Greenfinches, 9 Blue Tits, a Robin, a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.

Red Kite flying south over the Visitor Centre, 25 January 2014.
Photo - Garry Wright
Red Kite flying south over the Visitor Centre, 25 January 2014.
Photo - Garry Wright 
January 24th: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy, cold start.
 Flying around were a Hen Harrier, a Merlin and 5 Rooks. At sea heading south were 214 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, a Great Skua, 48 Common Scoter and a Guillemot, and north 3 Red-throated Divers, 6 Common Scoter, 7 Eider and a Harbour Porpoise, while offshore were 3 Great Crested Grebes and an Eider.

January 23rd: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy and rainy morning, then cleared.
 Around were 2 Yellowhammers. On Tennyson Sands were 55 Gadwall, a Pochard, 16 Wigeon and 5 Black-tailed Godwits, and on or over Croftmarsh 660 Lapwings, 50 Golden Plovers and a Hen Harrier. Flying north at sea were an Eider, 4 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers, and south 17 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Eider, 59 Common Scoter, a Pintail, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 70 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Kittiwakes, while on the sea were 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe.

January 22nd: Moderate southerly wind, cloudy, rainy morning.
 Coverage was limited. Birds around included 20 Fieldfares and 650 Lapwings.

January 21st: Light then increasing southerly wind, wet fog, slowly clearing.
 On Tennyson Sands were 3 Pochard, a Pintail and 8 Wigeon. Other birds recorded included 8 Fieldfares.

Mid January 2014

January 20th: Light south-westerly wind, partly cloudy, frosty start.
 Notables included a Green Woodpecker, 40 Fieldfares, a Merlin and 16 Corn Buntings. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Snipe, 57 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, a Pintail, 6 Wigeon, 290 Lapwings and 51 Curlews.

January 19th: Moderate south-easterly then south-westerly wind, cloudy, mostly rainy morning.
 Birds around included 1500 Lapwings, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, 40 Corn Buntings and 55 Fieldfares. On Tennyson Sands were 4 Pochard and a Black-tailed Godwit.

January 18th: Fairly strong south-easterly wind, cloudy, occasional rain.
 On or over Croftmarsh were 2000 Lapwings, and on Tennyson Sands 28 Black-tailed Godwits. Also around were 60 Fieldfares. South at sea went 48 Red-throated Divers, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Eiders, 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Goldeneye.

January 17th: Fairly strong south-westerly wind, partly cloudy.
 Notables included 1500 Lapwings, a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Redwing, 120 Fieldfares and a Woodcock. Heading north were 580 Pink-footed Geese, and south a Peregrine. Offshore were 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, while flying south over the sea were 162 Red-throated Divers, 21 Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 24 Guillemots, 17 Wigeon, 2 Eiders, 5 Kittiwakes and a Little Gull.

January 16th: Moderate south-westerly wind, decreasing cloud.
 Birds around included 120 Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff, 2500 Lapwings and 400 Golden Plovers. Flying around were 440 Pink-footed Geese. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Pochard, 2 Turnstones and 3 Black-tailed Godwits.

January 15th: Moderate south-westerly wind, rainy start.
 A Chiffchaff and 3000 Lapwings were around.

January 14th: Light south-westerly wind, mostly sunny start then clouding over.
 Around were 6 Fieldfares. On or over Croftmarsh were 750 Lapwings and 2000 Golden Plovers.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling was moderately successful. The new birds were 2 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch and a Blackbird; and the retraps 5 Greenfinches, 3 Dunnocks, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Blue Tits and 2 Great Tits.

January 13th: Light south-westerly wind, damp but clear start.
 A Little Owl, a scarcity here, was just north of Beach Car Park first thing. Other notables present were 25 Fieldfares, a Yellowhammer and a Woodcock. Over Croftmarsh were 750 Lapwings and 300 Golden Plovers, and on Tennyson Sands were 4 Pochard, 8 Wigeon and 45 Black-tailed Godwits. Sea-watching produced 9 Eiders, 171 Common Scoters, a Goldeneye, 81 Red-throated Divers, 15 Brent Geese and a Shag south, and 270 Pink-footed Geese north.

January 12th: Increasing south-westerly wind, partly cloudy.
 Birds around included a Coal Tit, 2 Siskins, a Goldcrest and 60 Fieldfares. Tennyson Sands held 570 Brent Geese, a Pintail, 3 Pochard, 51 Black-tailed Godwits, 300 Lapwings and 5000 Golden Plovers. On the sea were 7 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Goldeneye. Flying south were 10 Red-throated Divers, a Red-breasted Merganser, 170 Common Scoters and 2 Eiders, and north 2 Red-throated Divers.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in just 2 new birds: a Greenfinch and a Goldfinch; and 23 retraps: 7 Greenfinches, 6 Blue Tits, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Dunnocks and singles of Blackbird, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit.

January 11th: Moderate south-westerly wind, partly cloudy.
 Around were a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 80 Fieldfares and 2 Yellowhammers. On Tennyson Sands were 48 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Pochard, 14 Wigeon and a Scaup, and on Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard. Flying south were a Grey Heron, 2 Rooks, a Redpoll, 11 Skylarks, 250 Lapwings and 200 Golden Plovers. At sea were 2 Red-throated Divers, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe. Heading south were 35 Red-throated Divers, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 535 Common Scoters, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Wigeon, 2 Pintail and an Eider, and north 140 Pink-footed Geese.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 11 new birds: 2 Chaffinches, 2 Siskins and 7 Greenfinches; and 8 retraps: 2 Blue Tits, 2 Goldfinches and 4 Greenfinches.

Male Siskin, ringed 11 January 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Early January 2014

January 10th: Moderate south-westerly wind, damp start, partly cloudy.
 Birds around included 7000 Golden Plovers, 1000 Lapwings and 25 Fieldfares.
 Gibraltar Road near the Yacht Club, and the footpath around the Plantation, have re-flooded, not by sea-water, but as a result of the recent heavy and persistent rain.

Gibraltar Road re-flooded near Yacht Club, 10 January 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
Footpath around Plantation closed, 10 January 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
January 9th: Fairly strong westerly wind, cloudy, rainy start.
 Around were a Merlin, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 50 Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes and a Yellowhammer. On the sea were 6 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, an Eider and 2 Red-throated Divers. Heading north were 4 Common Scoters, and south 4 Red-throated Divers.

January 8th: Moderate south-westerly wind, partly cloudy.
 Notables were a Chiffchaff, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Yellowhammer, 90 Fieldfares, a Redwing and a Goldcrest. On the sea were a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Eider and a Guillemot. Flying south were 35 Red-throated Divers, 18 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 19 Eider, 13 Common Scoter, 4 Guillemots, a Razorbill, 16 Cormorants, 12 Brent Geese, 13 Pink-footed Geese and 8 Kittiwakes.

January 7th: Moderate south-westerly wind, mostly cloudy then clear, occasional rain.
 Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Song Thrushes. On the water bodies were 62 Gadwall, a Goldeneye and 13 Snipe. Heading north-west were 250 Pink-footed Geese.

January 6th: Moderate south-westerly wind, mostly clear.
 On Croftmarsh were 7900 Golden Plovers, 1200 Lapwings, a Merlin and 20 Skylarks, and on Tennyson Sands a Scaup, 4 Pochard, 52 Gadwall and 48 Black-tailed Godwits. Also around were a Siskin and a Chiffchaff. Flying north offshore were a juvenile Pomarine Skua, and south a Red-necked Grebe, 56 Red-throated Divers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Eiders, 44 Common Scoter, a Kittiwake, a Little Gull, 7 Guillemots, 2 Pintail and 7 Wigeon. Heading to Norfolk were 52 Pink-footed Geese.

January 5th: Moderate south-westerly wind, clear then clouding over.
 The 6 Shorelarks were still on Millenium Ridge. Other birds around included 8 Woodcocks, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Redwings, 70 Fieldfares, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Snow Bunting. Heading south were 36 Pink-footed Geese and 9 Whooper Swans. A Mistle Thrush sang near the Decoy. Offshore were a Great Northern Diver, a Velvet Scoter and an Eider, while south went 91 Red-throated Divers, 9 Great Crested Grebes, a Guillemot, 2 Razorbills, 45 Common Scoters and 3 Velvet Scoters, and north 15 Red-throated Divers, a Guillemot and 10 Common Scoters. A Harbour Porpoise swam north.
 The first ringing session of the year at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent and Jenni Godber resulted in 9 new birds and 12 retraps. The new birds were 5 Goldfinches and 4 Greenfinches. The retraps were 6 Greenfinches, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Great Tits, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit. 

January 4th: Fairly strong south-easterly wind, rain most of day.
 Around were 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Fieldfares and 3 Redwings.

January 3rd: 6 Shorelarks remained on Millennium Ridge. An Eider was offshore, and 120 Common Scoters went south.

January 2nd: Light south-westerly wind, mostly clear.
 On Millennium Ridge were 8 Shorelarks. Other birds around included a Chiffchaff, 35 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, a Green Woodpecker, a Yellowhammer and a Siskin. A Marsh Harrier flew south. At sea 8 Common Scoters and 4 Red-throated Divers flew south, and 2 Red-throated Divers north, while on the sea were a Red-breasted Merganser, a Common Scoter and 4 Red-throated Divers. On Croftmarsh were 5000 Golden Plovers and 400 Lapwings.

January 1st: Strong southerly wind, mostly cloudy, rainy afternoon.
 Flying south offshore were a Slavonian Grebe, a Goldeneye, 2 Razorbills, a Gannet, a Pintail, 2 Scaup, a Kittiwake and 5 Guillemots, and north a Little Gull, while offshore were 4 Eiders, 20 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Around were a Snow Bunting, a Chiffchaff, 12 Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Water Rail, 4000 Golden Plovers and 500 Lapwings. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Pochard. Across the River Steeping were 26 Whooper Swans and 3 Bewick's Swans.