Saturday 6th January

Counts from the high tide included c1200 Oystercatcher, 850 Dunlin, 214 Dark-belled Brent Geese, 183 Grey Plover, 155 Wigeon, 153 Curlew, 75 Teal, 73 Bar-tailed Godwit, 57 Knot, two Greenshank, a Kingfisher and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Offshore there were far fewer feeding birds but still a very high count of 130 Great-crested Grebe with three Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver also present. 

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler called again from the Main Pond, a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes, a Kestrel was on Langstone Rock and a Mistle Thrush was in Dead Dolphin Wood. The cold weather presumably lead to an increase in other thrushes with at least 18 Blackbird and eight Song Thrush on site.

 Dunlin S55 - Lee Collins

 

Ringing News: No less than three darvic ringed Dunlin were noted over the high tide, considering how difficult it can be to check Dunlin legs in the dense roosting flocks this is an exceptional return for a single tide. All three were from the  ; details are awaited on one but two have been seen here previously. S55; ringed in July 2011 and here in March 2016 and HCY; ringed in July 2013 and here in Dec 16 & Jan 17. The Warren has now had seven Dunlin from this scheme since the first in March 2015.

 

Dunlin HCY - Lee Collins