Saturday 24 March 2018

Saturday 24th March

Another grey overcast and occasionally wet day but the species tally of 78 was the highest of the year as a few migrants arrive whilst wintering species linger, albeit in dwindling numbers. The unexpected highlight was the Warren's eighth Great White Egret which flew past the seawall and eventually up the estuary mid afternoon; also moving overhead three Sand Martin, 124 Meadow Pipit and a single flock of 142 Wood Pigeon, the largest ever spring count. The previous record being 63 in early-Apr 2006. Other migrants included seven Chiffchaff, five Wheatear, a Firecrest and the year's first Coal Tit.

Offshore 19 Sandwich Tern were new arrivals, with two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, 29 Common Scoter, two Eider, two Shoveler and an adult Mediterranean Gull also present. Elsewhere two Little Ringed Plover were on the flooded Golf Course, counts from the estuary included 97 Dunlin, 85 Turnstone, 54 Knot, 54 Grey Plover, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Sanderling,11 Red-breasted Merganser and a third Eider; with at least 14 Siskin, 10 Redwing and a Fieldfare were in the Entrance Bushes.

Little Ringed Plover - Lee Collins

No comments:

Post a Comment