Monday 15th April 2013

A late Redwing was by the Main Pond with other migrants including the first two Whitethroat of the year, 45 Swallow, 25 Wheatear, three Willow Warbler, two Siskin and single Sand and House Martin. Two Little Tern were in the estuary with 12 Teal, eight Sandwich Tern, six Whimbrel, five Brent Geese, two Sanderling, a Grey Plover and a single fly over Dunlin. Elsewhere the Pintail and a Greylag Goose were on the Main Pond and four Tufted Duck (three males) were offshore.

Greylag Goose 15/04/13 © Lee Collins

Sunday 14th April 2013

Two Arctic Skua, the first of the year, flew distantly south early morning with the year's first Arctic Tern off the seawall later on, also offshore a Black-throated and two Red-throated Diver, 50+ Common Scoter and four Gadwall. Waders were also on the move with flocks of c70 Bar-tailed and nine Black-tailed Godwit moving through along with at least 10 Whimbrel, other counts from the estuary included 16 Knot, 15 Brent Geese, six Ringed Plover, two Dunlin, two Grey Plover. The Slavonian Grebe was again back off Cockwood now in summer plumage and 30+ Sandwich Tern were present along with single Common and  Little Tern. Elsewhere migrants included a male Redstart in Dead Dolphin Wood, 25+ Swallow, at least 20 Wheatear, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler.

Saturday 13th April 2013

The first Little Tern of the year was in front of the hide late morning with three Common and 24 Sandwich Tern, also in the estuary eight Whimbrel with 37 Turnstone, 16 Ringed Plover, 15 Knot, nine Brent Geese, four Dunlin, two Sanderling and a Grey Plover. Other migrants were thin on the ground with six Chiffchaff, five Wheatear, four Swallow, a White Wagtail and a single House Martin.

Friday 12th April 2013

Another small fall with 11+ Willow Warbler, 10 Swallow, five Chiffchaff, the first two House Martin of the year and a Wheatear on site. Counts from the estuary included 445 Oystercatcher, 22 Shelduck, 20 Grey Plover, 14 Knot, 11 Sanderling, 11 Brent Geese, two Whimbrel, two Ringed Plover and just one Dunlin. Elsewhere offshore there 15+ Sandwich and two Common Tern and the Pintail was on the Main Pond. Two colour ringed Shelduck were present - both from the Axe Estuary, east Devon. JB was originally rung on 08/01/12 and first seen on the Warren on 23/03/13, the first record for over a year. Details are still awaited for TP.

 

 Shelduck 12/04/13 © Lee Collins

 

Shelduck 12/04/13 © Dave Jewell

Thursday 11th April 2013

The first Firecrest of the year was the standout migrant with 12+ Chiffchaff , four Wheatear, three Swallow, at least three Willow Warbler and a Sand Martin also arriving. Elsewhere 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese,  41 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plover, 19 Knot, 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Sandwich Tern and four Whimbrel were in the estuary, a Slavonian Grebe was offshore, a Redpoll flew through and an Osprey flew south around 9.30am.

Wildlife News - A Stoat showed well in the Back Meadow unsuccessfully hunting Rabbit and Moorhen. Despite some signs of spring still no reports of the Sand Crocus or any more butterflies.

Wednesday 10th April 2013

Counts from the estuary included 70 Curlew, 62 Dunlin, 57 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 25 Redshank, 19 Grey Plover, 12 Sanderling, 10 Sandwich Tern, eight Knot, seven Ringed Plover, an increase to seven Whimbrel and five Teal. Elsewhere a Slavonian and five Great-crested Grebe were offshore, three Swallow and two Siskin were overhead and the drake Pintail remained on the Main Pond.

Tuesday 9th April 2013

The change in weather brought a change in the birds with a long anticipated fall. A smart male Redstart on the Golf Course provided some much needed colour with 20+ Chiffchaff, eight Goldcrest, at last two Willow Warbler, the first of the year, a Blackcap and a Wheatear. The first Jay of the year was in the Cuckoo's Nest but had probably not migrated so far to arrive on site. Offshore the first Common Tern of the year was present with 26+ Common Scoter, 15+ Sandwich Tern, 13 Shoveler and two Tufted Duck. Elsewhere at least two Whimbrel were in the estuary with a Pale-bellied and 30+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, whilst the drake Pintail remained on the Main Pond.

Monday 8th April 2013

Another virtually migrantless day with two Chiffchaff and a Wheatear surviving in the cold miserable conditions. Some species did arrive though with a Whimbrel and 56+ Sandwich Tern in the estuary, also there 94 Dunlin, 51 Brent Geese, 34 Knot, 21 Grey Plover, 10 Sanderling, seven Bar-tailed Godwit and four Ringed Plover. Elsewhere the drake Pintail and a Water Rail remain on the Main Pond.

Pintail 06/04/13 © Lee Collins

Sunday 7th April 2013

Counts from the estuary continue to dwindle with 120 Dunlin, 97 Curlew, 39 Brent Geese, 33 Knot, nine Ringed Plover, seven Bar-tailed Godwit, six Grey Plover, four Teal and two Wigeon over the high tide, also present 14 Sandwich Tern including one (White EDZ) that was ringed as an adult on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire in August 2010. Thanks to Ewan Weston of the Grampian Ringing Group for the prompt information.  Elsewhere the drake Pintail remains on the Main Pond, just four Chiffchaff and three Wheatear were on site and six Red-throated Diver headed south offshore with one on the sea.

Saturday 6th April 2013

A female Black Redstart was along the Back Path with at least four Wheatear and 10 Chiffchaff on site. Brent Geese were on the move with 120+ passing through during the day, in the estuary there were c40 Sandwich Tern, 31 Redshank, 14 Teal, seven Sanderling, two Wigeon, two Grey Plover and a Greenshank. Elsewhere 120+ Chaffinch flew NE early morning, a drake Pintail was only the second record from the Main Pond, an Osprey was over Shutterton Creek and a Stone Curlew in flight over the Golf Course around 5pm.