Monday 25th November

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood this evening with a possible adult Bonaparte's Gull.

Sunday 24th November

Counts from the estuary included 1510 Oystercatcher, 470 Dunlin, 420 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent, 131 Knot, 116 Bar-tailed Godwit, 113 Grey Plover, 53 Snipe, feeding out on the mud with other waders, 22 Turnstone and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver and a female Eider were offshore and a Firecrest remained in the Entrance Bushes with five Goldcrest and just a single Chiffchaff.

Saturday 23rd November

Counts from the estuary included 930 Dunlin, 829 Wigeon, 295 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent, 160 Bar-tailed Godwit, 121 Knot, 119 Grey Plover, 71 Shelduck, 21 Sanderling, two Pintail and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Firecrest was in Dead Dolphin Wood, a Great Northern Diver and female Eider were offshore and the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was on the seawall.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese - Alan Keatley

Around 15% of the flock this autumn are juveniles, a welcome sign of a good breeding season.  

Friday 22nd November

A Firecrest was along the Back Path early morning with 14 Long-tailed Tit, five Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff with a Shoveler on the Main Pond and a Red-throated Diver offshore. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 61 Great Black-backed Gull, 50 Snipe, 44 Shelduck and 21 Sanderling.

Wednesday 20th November

The Warren's sixth Caspian Gull, a first winter, was on Finger Point with an influx of 77 Great Black-backed Gull early afternoon before being flushed. Also in the estuary 348 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 145 Teal, 96 Knot, 89 Grey and 26 Ringed Plover, 15 Sanderling, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, a Golden Plover and the Slavonian Grebe. Very low numbers of Curlew, Wigeon and Bar-tailed Godwit were present due to constant illegal disturbance from a kite-surfer in Shutterton Creek.

The strong SE wind saw 300+ Kittiwake and auk sp head south offshore early morning with the first Fulmar for several months, 213 Gannet, 13 Great Northern and six Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere three Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were on site and the Shoveler remains on the Main Pond.

Monday 18th November

Seven Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore late afternoon with 400+ Wigeon, 18 Great-crested Grebe, 10 Common Scoter and an Eider but no other news was received.

Wildlife News: At least two Harbour Porpoise were off the seawall.

Sunday 17th November

The first Snow Bunting since October 2016 circled over the Entrance Bushes before seeming to land on the beach but unfortunately there was no further sign. An immature Black Redstart around the Go-Karts was another new arrival, with a Firecrest and the Cetti's Warbler by the Dune Pond.

Elsewhere 15 Great-crested Grebe, two Eider, two Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver were offshore and counts from the estuary included 276 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (44 juveniles), 102 Knot, 62 Bar-tailed Godwit and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: Seven Bottle-nosed Dolphin, only the second sighting since Sep 2017, and a Harbour Porpoise were off the seawall.

Saturday 16th November

A cold early winter day saw a good total of 75 species recorded through the day. Counts from the estuary included 1260 Dunlin, 510 Wigeon, 367 Dark and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 219 Redshank, 142 Bar-tailed Godwit, 116 Grey Plover, 94 Knot, 82 Teal, 77 Turnstone, eight Lapwing, five Greenshank, a Kingfisher and the Slavonian Grebe.

 Dunlin, Knot & Grey Plover - Dave Jewell

Dunlin - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere two Eider, three Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver were offshore. Six Goldcrest, five Cirl Bunting, two Chiffchaff and two Firecrest were on site and a Shoveler was at the Main Pond.

Cirl Bunting - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: At least four Common Darter remain at the Main Pond, including a pair ovipositing. Two Red Admiral were also still on the wing.

Thursday 14th November

The first frost of the autumn saw a Great Northern Diver, two female Eider and five Common Scoter offshore, with the Cetti's Warbler and a Shoveler at the Main Pond. Also on site four Cirl Bunting, 33 Goldfinch, 28 Greenfinch, four Goldcrest and two Chiffchaff.

Wednesday 13th November

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with a Little Grebe but no other news was received.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was on a Pontoon in the estuary.