Thursday 31st January 2013

In the estuary the Long-tailed Duck was again off Cockwood with 20+ Red-breasted Merganser and five Goldeneye. Offshore there were 74 Great-crested Grebe and four Red-throated Diver with 20 Turnstone on the seawall.

Wildlife news - The Common Seal was on Bull Hill, with Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus baleatus and the first queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee of the year on the wing.
 

 

 

Wednesday 30th January 2013

The Long-tailed Duck from the top end of the estuary was off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Monday 28th January 2013

A Black-necked, two Slavonian and 63 Great-crested Grebe were offshore with 17+ Red-throated Diver. Counts from the estuary included 184 Grey Plover, 136 Wigeon, 116 Curlew, 115 Teal, 102 Knot, 91 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Snipe, 48 Shelduck, 24 Ringed Plover, 13 Sanderling, two Goldeneye and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Fieldfare were also on site.

 

 

Sunday 27th January 2013

At least 50 Kittiwake were offshore with five Red-throated Diver, 38 Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Knot was still feeding in puddles in Greenland Lake and counts from the estuary included 340+ Brent Geese, 177 Wigeon, 132 Curlew, 72 Redshank, 48 Red-breasted Merganser, 47 Shelduck, 20 Lapwing, a second winter Mediterranean Gull, a Goldeneye and a Greenshank.

Wildlife news - The Common Seal was in the estuary.

Common Seal 27/01/13 © Steve Waite

Saturday 26th January 2013

A single Black-throated Diver flew south distantly offshore with 20+ Red-throated Diver on the sea. Also offshore 35+ Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere four Fieldfare and a Water Pipit were on the Golf Course, the Slavonian Grebe and 28 Sanderling were in the estuary and a Knot was feeding in puddles in Greenland Lake.

 

Knot 26/01/13 © Lee Collins

Thursday 24th January 2013

Offshore there were good counts of 54 Great-crested Grebe and 21 Red-throated Diver but little else with just single figures of Gannet, Shag and Cormorant. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and eight Redwing were around Dead Dolphin Wood.

 

 

Wednesday 23rd January 2013

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary off Cockwood with 55 Bar-tailed Godwit and 372 Dark-bellied Brent Geese also present. Of note there were only eight juveniles in with the Brents. Late news of a pair of Tufted Duck offshore and a pair of Gadwall on the Main Pond.

 

 

Monday 21st January 2013

The male Bearded Tit again showed well at the Main Pond with a Greenshank on the floods by the Visitor Centre, also on site a Woodcock, two Redwing and a Mistle Thrush. Elsewhere a female Shoveler, five Goldeneye, two Avocet, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary, with 32 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe and five Red-throated Diver offshore.

 

 

Sunday 20th January 2013

A Fieldfare on the Golf Course as the first of the year and like yesterday thrushes were the main evidence of the cold weather with a slight increase in Song Thrush on site, along with 34 Skylark, 12+ Water Rail and five Redwing. Elsewhere, after a two week absence, the Bearded Tit was again at the Main Pond, 25+ Great-crested Grebe and six Red-throated Diver were offshore with 377 Wigeon, 217 Brent Geese, 98 Knot, seven Goldeneye, seven Pintail and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

 

 

Saturday 19th January 2013

A Mistle Thrush on the Golf Course was the first of the year and along with an arrival of 19 Skylark, 15+ Song Thrush and 10+ Redwing was the only sign of the cold weather movement. Counts from the estuary included 300+ Brent Geese, 177 Grey Plover, 160+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, 91 Knot, 58 Shelduck, three Avocet and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Black-necked Grebe was at the Main Pond, a Chiffchaff was by the amusements and a Red-throated Diver was offshore.

Avocet 19/01/13 © Dave Jewell

 

 

Friday 18th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe is still on the Main Pond but no other news was received.

 

Thursday 17th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe was at the Main Pond with at least one Lesser Redpoll in the Entrance Bushes and 12 Sanderling in the Bight. Late news was received of three Shoveler (one male).

 

Monday 14th January 2013

Two Slavonian Grebe were offshore with the Black-necked Grebe was at the Main Pond. Counts from the estuary included 198 Grey Plover, 179 Curlew, 120 Brent Geese, 61 Teal, 60 Shelduck, 40 Knot, 16 Ringed Plover, 14 Red-breasted Merganser and a Pintail.

 

Sunday 13th January 2013

A Slavonian Grebe and two Red-throated Diver were offshore but it was generally very quiet despite the flat calm conditions. Elsewhere the Black-necked Grebe was at the Main Pond, two Lesser Redpoll were in the Entrance Bushes, three Pintail flew in off the sea and a Greenfinch was nesting building by the First Pond.

 

Saturday 12th January 2013

A Great Skua was offshore with 40+ Kittiwake, eight Fulmar and six Red-throated Diver in the strong southerly winds. Elsewhere the Black-necked Grebe was at the Main Pond, five Goldeneye, the Slavonian Grebe and at least four Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary.

Wildlife news - A Grey Seal was offshore.
 

 

Friday 11th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe remains on the Main Pond.

 

Thursday 10th January 2013

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary but no other news was received.

 

Wednesday 9th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe remains on the Main Pond with two Red-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe offshore.

 

Tuesday 8th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe was on the Main Pond but no other news was received.

 

Monday 7th January 2013

The Black-necked Grebe was on the Main Pond, a Water Pipit was in front of the hide, and 10 Goldeneye and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary.

 

 

Sunday 6th January 2013

The Bearded Tit and Black-necked Grebe remain at the Main Pond, although the former does also disappear over the Entrance Bushes on occasion. A redhead Goosander was in the estuary with 13 Goldeneye, the Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull with four Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank and a Kingfisher new for the year. Elsewhere two Water Pipit were in front of the hide, 140+ Great-crested Grebe were off Langstone Rock (most outside the recording area), with 12+ Red-throated Diver and a Black-necked Grebe also offshore. There was again no sign of the reported Bonaparte's Gull, the last confirmed sighting at the Warren was on November 18th.

 

 

Saturday 5th January 2013

The Bearded Tit, Black-necked Grebe and Coot were at the Main Pond, a second Black-necked Grebe was off the seawall, with 14 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, also offshore a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Water Pipit was in front of the hide, with four Goldeneye and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.
 

Water Pipit 05/01/13 © Luke Harman

Friday 4th January 2013

The Bearded Tit and Black-necked Grebe were at the Main Pond along with a single Coot, the first on site for nearly 12 months. Offshore there were three Red-throated Diver, 25 Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe, with 209 Grey Plover, 55 Knot, 11 Sanderling and two Goldeneye in the estuary. Elsewhere a male Yellowhammer was around Dead Dolphin Wood and the Wryneck Plain, the first since November 2011 and a Water Pipit was in front of the hide.

 

Brent Goose 04/01/13 © Simon Thurgood

Thursday 3rd January 2013

The reappearance of the Bearded Tit after three weeks was a surprise. It was briefly around the Main Pond before flying over the Entrance Bushes, the Black-necked Grebe was also still present. Elsewhere seven Red-throated Diver and two Slavonian Grebe were offshore, the resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with three Goldeneye and a Mediterranean Gull, a male Cirl Bunting sang briefly along the Back Path, 15+ Chaffinch, 13 Siskin and a Brambling were also on site.

 

Bearded Tit 03/01/13 © Laurie Allnatt

 

 

Wednesday 2nd January 2013

Counts from the estuary included 528 Wigeon, 207 Grey Plover, 130 Curlew, 125 Redshank, 62 Knot, 62 Shelduck, 48 Common Gull, 21 Ringed Plover and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere seven Red-throated Diver and 12 Common Scoter were offshore, the Black-necked Grebe was on the Main Pond with 37 Greenfinch, 18 Blackbird and five Stonechat on site.

 

Tuesday 1st January 2013

A total of 83 species were recorded on the first day of decent weather for a long while, and there was also an unexpected highlight to start 2013; a male Serin briefly in Dead Dolphin Wood with Greenfinch, the first site record since 1991 and only the seventh overall. Also around Greenland Lake a Short-eared Owl, three Chiffchaff and two Stonechat. Offshore there were four Red-throated Diver, three Common Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe with a regular northward passage of Black-headed and Common Gull. The resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 400+ Wigeon, 140+ Teal, 28 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 12 Ringed Plover, six Goldeneye, two Mediterranean Gull and two Avocet. Elsewhere four Lesser Redpoll, three Siskin and two Redwing were in the Entrance Bushes and the Black-necked Grebe was on the Main Pond with at least seven Water Rail in flooded areas.

Wildlife news - The Common Seal was in the estuary.