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