Late March 2015

March 31st. Very windy.
 Birds around included 3 Redwing and 3 Chiffchaff.

March 30th. Around were a Brambling, a Common Buzzard and 2 Yellowhammer.

March 29th. Flying south early morning were 473 Chaffinch. On the reserve were 50 Corn Bunting, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 5 Chiffchaff, a Fieldfare and 7 Redwing. 

March 28th. Around were a Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 10 Redwing and a Fieldfare. On Tennyson Sands were 39 Avocet and a drake Pintail. 

March 27th. A visit to The Wash Viewpoint at dusk produced a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine and a Grey Partridge. A Common Buzzard was mobbed by a Jackdaw.

March 26th. On the Mere was an adult summer Mediterranean Gull. Tennyson Sands held 14 Avocet and 2 drake Pintail. Around were 2 Redwing, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff and 50 Corn Bunting.

March 25th. Around were a Brambling, 3 Siskin, 10 Tree Sparrow and 15 Redwing. 

March 24th. The highlight of the day was 3 Bearded Tit flying south over the West Dunes. Around were 3 Jack Snipe and 6 Snipe. 

March 23rd. On the reserve were 2 Common Buzzard, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 70 Corn Bunting, 18 Redwing, 6 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch, 2 Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, a ringtail Hen Harrier and 3 Chiffchaff. Offshore were 10 Red-breasted Merganser, a first-winter Shag, 48 Wigeon and 6 Common Scoter. Flying south were 2442 Starling, a Red Kite, 27 Chaffinch, 6 Siskin, a Yellowhammer and a Grey Wagtail. The morning tide produced 20000 Knot, 800 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2000 Grey Plover.

March 22nd. Around were 2 Jack Snipe, a Bullfinch, 2 Siskin, 42 Avocet and 39 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 3500 Starling and 3 Rook. 

March 21st. On The Wash were 25000 Knot, 3000 Grey Plover and 1500 Bar-tailed Godwit. Around the reserve were 50 Corn Bunting, a Woodcock and a Siskin. 

Mid March 2015

March 20th. The high tide wader roost consisted of 20000 Knot, 2100 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1000 Oystercatcher and 300 Grey Plover. Around were 32 Redwing, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl. A Sand Martin was hawking insects over the Wash Viewpoint this evening.

March 19th. In the Plantation were 6 Siskin, a Bullfinch and a Lesser Redpoll. Tennyson Sands held 34 Avocet and 2 drake Pintail.

March 18th. On the reserve were 49 Avocet, a White Wagtail, 4 Siskin, a Merlin, 8 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch, 75 Corn Bunting and 20 Redwing.

March 17th. A COMMON CRANE flew south-east over Syke's Farm at 1430hrs. About were 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch, 72 Corn Bunting and 3 Redwing.

March 16th. The Firecrest was re-discovered in the Plantation this afternoon. Around were 3 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 2 Siskin and a Bullfinch.

March 15th. A Red Kite flew south over the reserve mid-morning. On the reserve were 3 Common Buzzard, a Crossbill, 2 Stonechat, 3 Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 25 Little Egret, 400 Golden Plover, 25 Avocet, 2 Siskin and 45 Corn Bunting.

March 14th. A Firecrest was discovered in the Plantation early afternoon. Offshore were 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Red-throated Diver.

March 13th. Around were 2 Common Buzzard and 50 Corn Bunting.

March 12th. Around were 3 Peregrine and 31 Avocet.

March 11th. On Tennyson Sands were 24 Avocet and 12 Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a Woodcock and Coal Tit

Early March 2015

March 10th. Flying south were 34 Chaffinch, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Tree Sparrow, a House Sparrow, 6 Rook and a Common Buzzard. A Woodlark flew over the East Dunes mid-morning.

March 9th. The Black Brant, 'hybrid' Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose remained with the Brent Goose flock. Flying south early morning were 158 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, a Brambling, 15 Siskin, 23 Rook and 85 Starling. Around were 9 Woodcock and a Peregrine.

Black Brant with Dark-bellied Brent Geese on Jackson's Marsh, 9th March.
Photo - Kev Wilson
March 8th. On Tennyson Sands were 10 Avocet and 2 drake Pintail. The 'hybrid' Black Brant was present with the Brent Goose flock.

March 7th. A scrutiny of the Brent Goose flock revealed the presence of a Black Brant, a 'hybrid' Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. On Tennyson Sands were 2 drake Pintail and 6 Avocet. Around were 3 Stonechat, a Bullfinch, 14 Redwing, 2 Common Buzzard, 25 Corn Bunting, 20 Ringed Plover, 3 Goldcrest and 1500 Golden Plover. A Woodlark was singing around the Wash Viewpoint early morning. Flying south were 35 Chaffinch, 13 Stock Dove and 4 Rook.

March 6th. The Brent Goose flock contained a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a 'hybrid' Black Brant. A Red Kite flew north early morning. Around were 50 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 2 Siskin, 2 Stonechat, a Woodcock, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Bullfinch and 2 Common Buzzard. Flying south offshore was a Great Northern Diver. 

March 5th. Flying south were 2 Siskin and 3 Rook. A skein of 80 Pink-footed Goose flew high north-west mid-morning. In the Plantation was a Bullfinch. On Tennyson Sands were 2000 Brent Goose, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Avocet and 2 drake Pintail.

March 4th. Around were a Grey Partridge, 3 Snipe, 1500 Brent Goose, 2 Barn Owl and a Woodcock.

March 3rd. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Pintail and 4 Avocet. A Kingfisher was on Fenland Lagoon this evening. Around the reserve were 25 Redwing, 29 Corn Bunting, 3 Barn Owl, a Woodcock and 19 Black-tailed Godwit. Offshore was a Slavonian/Black-necked Grebe.

March 2nd. Around were 1900 Brent Goose, a Jack Snipe, a Water Rail and a Water Pipit.

March 1st. The 4 Waxwing were again reported north of Aylmer Avenue, early evening. Around were 1500 Brent Goose and a Woodcock. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Avocet.

Avocets in flight over Tennyson Sands, 1st March.
Photo - Garry Wright