Saturday 31st January

Offshore the first Black-throated Diver of the year was seen briefly from the seawall with the Black-necked Grebe and Bonaparte's Gull also making appearances. A Long-tailed Duck that eventually flew south was another new arrival with the long-staying female still present towards the estuary mouth. Also offshore three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. From the hide counts included 160 Bar-tailed Godwit, 57 Knot, 23+ Turnstone, 15 Sanderling and 14 Ringed Plover with the Water Pipit still present. Elsewhere six Shoveler and five Gadwall were on the Main Pond, four of the Shoveler were also seen on the First Pond - the first record from this location.

Friday 30th January

Records from the hide included 1560 Dunlin, 42 Grey Plover, 36 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Knot, 17 Ringed Plover, a pair of Pintail and the Water Pipit. Elsewhere the Black-necked Grebe was off the seawall. 

Pintail - Lee Collins

Wednesday 28th January

A 40 minute seawatch early morning saw 408 auks head south offshore with 200+ Razorbill & 23 Guillemot close enough to identify. Elsewhere 30 Great Black-backed Gull were seeking shelter in the Bight, five of which were ringed, two UK, two French and a Norwegian bird. 

Great Black-backed Gull 97P from Normandy, France - Lee Collins

Tuesday 27th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was offshore late morning, landing briefly on Groyne 4 before heading over the spit towards Shutterton Creek. No other news was received. 

Sunday 25th January

Sample half hour counts offshore suggested 5000+ auk flying south during the day with numbers dropping off early afternoon, all those close enough to identify were Razorbill. Also offshore 50+ Kittiwake, a Black-necked and 28 Great-crested Grebe, 21 Red-throated Diver and two Velvet Scoter. In the estuary counts included 1247 Dunlin, 875 Oystercatcher, 399 Brent Geese, 201 Curlew, 155 Grey Plover, 125 Teal, 58 Shelduck, 46 Knot, 32 Turnstone, five Snipe and two Greenshank. Elsewhere a silent tristis -type Chiffchaff was in bushes by the Main Pond, five Gadwall and three Shoveler were on the pond and four Raven were overhead.

Greenshank - Lee Collins

Saturday 24th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was offshore briefly late morning before flying over the Dune Ridge and showing well in front of the hide. Also offshore the female Long-tailed Duck was off John's Watch with eight Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were from the seawall. Counts from the estuary included c280 Brent Geese, 174 Curlew, 156 Grey Plover, 128 Redshank, 67 Knot, 65 Shelduck, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere five Gadwall and three Shoveler were on the Main Pond, a Treecreeper was behind the Crocus Compound and two Siskin flew east. 

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was off Groyne 6 with a Common Seal off the seawall. The winter sunshine had brought out at least three queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Friday 23rd January

The resident Slavonian Grebe remained off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Wednesday 21st January

The resident Slavonian Grebe remained off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Monday 19th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was offshore to the south of Langstone Rock mid afternoon and was later also seen off Exmouth. 

Wildlife News: A Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were offshore.

Sunday 18th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary mouth off Warren Point early afternoon. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck and Black-necked Grebe remain offshore.

Saturday 17th January

Offshore single Velvet Scoter and Black-necked Grebe were the first of the year, also present the Long-tailed Duck, 22 Great-crested Grebe, eight Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. In the estuary counts from the hide included 189 Brent Geese, 186 Wigeon, 137 Teal and 75 Shelduck with three Lapwing, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Water Pipit was in front of the hide, a Dartford Warbler was on Warren Point, an adult Mediterranean Gull was offshore and seven Gadwall and two Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Gadwall - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: At least two Harbour Porpoise were offshore. This species is becoming regular in the bayin recent months.

Friday 16th January

The first news since the weekend saw the continued presence of the Bonaparte's Gull around the Warren, showing in front of the hide on the rising tide also there the wintering Water Pipit.

Sunday 11th January

The female Long-tailed Duck was off John's Watch late morning with four Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver also offshore. Counts from the estuary included 898 Oystercatcher, 163 Brent Geese, 138 Curlew, 87 Grey Plover, 62 Shelduck, 51 Wigeon, 40 Knot, 18 Sanderling, a Greenshank, the Slavonian Grebe and the first Mediterranean Gull of the year. Elsewhere the Water Pipit was in front of the hide, six Gadwall and three Shoveler were on the Main Pond and a Kestrel was hunting over Warren Point. 

Saturday 10th January

Offshore five Red-throated Diver flew south early morning with c150 Gannet, 70+ Kittiwake and a couple of Fulmar. Elsewhere the Water Pipit was in front of the hide, a female Goldeneye was in the estuary with 94 Common Gull and 45 Knot.

Friday 9th January

There was no sign of the Snow Bunting today but the Bonaparte's Gull did make an appearance, roosting in the Railway Saltmarsh with other gulls. The only other news received was of the Water Pipit in front of the hide.

Thursday 8th January

A Snow Bunting in front of the hide was an unexpected highlight, only the second January record since 1985 and the first since 1997. Elsewhere the female Long-tailed Duck was off John's Watch.

Snow Bunting - Peter Woods

Herring Gull - Lee Collins

Ringing News: Details have been received a colour-ringed first winter Herring Gull seen on the Bight on 31/12/14. It had been ringed in the nest on 17/05/2014 at Kretuono ezeras in eastern Lithuania over 2000kms away.

Tuesday 6th January

The Water Pipit was still around the hide but no other news was received.
 

Monday 5th January

The Water Pipit remains in front of the hide with 31 Knot, 15 Sanderling and a Greenshank. Elsewhere five Gadwall were on the Main Pond and a Slavonian Grebe was offshore with six Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver.  

Sunday 4th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was feeding offshore to the south Langstone Rock during the morning with 16+ Red-throated Diver, three Pintail, a Slavonian Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck also offshore. Elsewhere the Water Pipit was in front of the hide, the resident Slavonian Grebe and a drake Gadwall were in the estuary and five Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Saturday 3rd January

The Bonaparte's Gull showed briefly a couple of times in the estuary during the morning but there was no sign later on. Also in the estuary 66 Shelduck, the Slavonian Grebe, a Kingfisher, five fem/imm Goldeneye and five Greenshank. Offshore there were five Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, but the choppy conditions meant a distant immature Surf Scoter will have to wait for better weather and visibility before it can be confirmed. Elsewhere a Tawny Owl was roosting in the Entrance Bushes, seven Gadwall and six Shoveler were on the Main Pond and the Water Pipit was in front of the hide.

Wildlife News: The Grey Seal was again close in of the seawall.

Friday 2nd January

In flat conditions 18+ Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore early afternoon with just a single Common Scoter and no sign of the Long-tailed Duck. Elsewhere four Gadwall and a Shoveler were on the Main Pond, the Water Pipit was in front of the hide and a drake Goldeneye was in the estaury with the Slavonian Grebe, eight Greenshank and seven Lapwing. Offsite the Hoopoe has survived the recent frosts and was again in private gardens.

Greenshank - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: Single Common and Grey Seal were in the estuary.

Thursday 1st January

A total of 76 species were recorded to start 2015 despite the grey, miserable conditions. Seawatching from first light saw 200+ Gannet and 30 Kittiwake head south in the first couple of hours along with a Pomarine Skua, 17 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Also offshore the female Long-tailed Duck and a single Arctic Skua also flew south late morning. In the estuary the Bonaparte's Gull showed briefly to a lucky few, counts included 1350 Oystercatcher, 1200+ Dunlin, 386 Brent Geese, 181 Curlew, 48+ Shelduck, 30+ Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course, six Gadwall and a Shoveler were on the Main Pond and the Water Pipit was in front of the hide.

Wildlife News: At least one Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were offshore with the Common Seal again in the estuary.  The BSBI New Year Plant Hunt recorded a total of 23 flowering plants one more species than recorded flowering back in November.