An unseasonably warm start to the year, a stark contrast to the frozen conditions a year ago. A total of 77 species were recorded during the day the full breakdown can be found here.
The highlight was an adult Spoonbill that flew north late afternoon, with the juvenile Spoonbill roosting on Finger Point. Also in the estuary the two Black-necked Grebe with counts including 1,600 Dunlin, 710 Oystercatcher, 420 Dark-bellied and a Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 216 Wigeon, 146 Teal, 134 Grey and eight Ringed Plover, 122 Common and two Mediterranean Gull, 117 Turnstone, 107 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 104 Knot, 11 Sanderling, seven Greenshank, two Goldeneye and a Pintail.
Elsewhere a Siberian Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond with 10 Cirl Bunting, three Chiffchaff, three Goldcrest and a Tawny Owl in the bushes and four Great Northern and four Red-throated Diver offshore.
Wildlife News: The mild weather and lack of frosts aided the annual New Year Plant Hunt with a record 46 species in flower including Thrift, Butcher's Broom, Spear Thistle, Scarlet Pimpernel, Rock Samphire, Hogweed, Common Stork's-bill and Early Meadow Grass.
The lack of sunshine reduced potential insect activity with a Buff-tailed Bumblebee by the seawall and single Marmalade and Spotted Meliscaeva Hoverfly on the wing.
No comments:
Post a Comment