Sightings

Main sighting: Firecrest

Our first self found firecrest yesterday! Can’t say where here, have informed county recorder. Also many migrants – chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps

Main sighting: White Wagtail

I have checked my pictures against the books and had a credible friend / birder check the images, but of the 5 pieds along the seawall, as thought, 2 were white wagtails. Amendment to yesterday’s post also, should read ‘no sign of the garganey today’ (not gadwall as listed).

Main sighting: Red kite

Kite flew over garden today n/e – I see there was a Brent goose at Golcliffe, there was one at Sudbrook on Thursday 1/2. Also approx 9 Sand martins n/e yesterday

Main sighting: Ruff

In relation to Stewart Hovey’s sighting yesterday, the Brent Goose was today feeding on the saltings from the seawall and did appear very dark, also wondering dark-bellied race? Also of note dawn to mid-morning: Blackcap singing and chiffchaffs singing, cettis heard calling.
Several pheasants about. Redshank Platform – 19 shelduck, 2 lt egrets, 12 avocet, 29 dunlin, 18 common redshanks, 1 lt ringed plover, skylark singing and 1 willow warbler singing from the hedge line. Snipe Platform – 19 mute swans (adults and last year’s cygnets), 18 tufted ducks, shoveler, teal, pair of little grebes, 12 gadwall, 2 grey herons, 2 cormorants and the white-fronted goose showing well (no sign of either the bean goose or gadwall today). Hide 3 – fem marsh harrier, 1 buzzard circling, female merlin made an appearance close to the hide, 51 avocet including the ringed bird, good count of 324 black-tailed godwits, pair of lt ringed plovers on the island, single ruff feeding on the bank, 21 ringed plovers, 2 oystercatchers, pair of pintail roosting on the far bank and a male reed bunting feeding. Seawall – brent goose, wheatear along the seawall, 4 pied wagtails may have had a white mixed in (tbc from photos).

Main sighting: Brent Goose

Brent Goose flew over the sea wall and landed to the left of the Sea Wall hide. In flight it appeared totally black. In the water there was a very little contrast between the head, neck and the flank. However, it did have a quite thin white neck stripe. I didn’t see it out of the water. I watched it in the lagoon for about 10 mins. I concluded that it was a juvenile Dark-Bellied Brent Goose. I’m happy to be corrected. It was exciting as I have only ever previously seen Brent Geese in Norfolk. Sorry, I didn’t have a camera with me, I really hope other birders saw it!! But I then went off to see the 3 Garganey, Bean and White fronted geese. A great morning! It pays to be early!

Main sighting: Swallow

Single swallow hawking for insects above the Linnetts

Main sighting: Migrants

One swallow, at least three willow warblers and a wheatear just below the summit

Main sighting: Garganey, Geese and Waders

Lots of birds this morning. Dawn Visit. 200 + Shelduck, throughout the reserve. Monks of note – 20 x Dunlin, 2 x Little Ringed Plover, 1 x Ruff. 10 x Redshank and 6 + Lapwing. Priors Lagoon – 3 x Garganey (2 M = 1F), 1 x Bean Goose, 1 x White Fronted Goose. First light 80 x Avocet ( moved to Becs). 1 x Buzzard. Becs – 2 x Wheatear, Reed Bunting, 300 + Black Tailed Godwits, 2 x Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Redshanks. Swallow x 2 , Sand Martin x 2
There was a report of a Brent Goose in with the Canada’s. Did not see it to confirm.

Main sighting: Garganey

Two male and a female Garganey seen from Snipe platform. Bean and White-fronted Geese still present.

Main sighting: Little Egrets

With J Marsh Superb view of 5 Little Egret at roost preening and moving around the trees
fantastic photo shoot.Also seen Grey lag ,Canada. Mallard ,Coot Moorhen Blackcap and Greenwoodpecker.

Main sighting: Swallow

Swallow seen over Pen y Fan Green near The Narth; many Black Caps + Chiffchaff singing.

Main sighting: Spotted redshank

Early(ish) morning visit to Goldcliff lagoons. Highlights were 5+ swallow, c.10 sand martin, 3 willow warber, chiffchaff, 6 LRP (first hide), spotted redshank (first hide, just in front), 17 grey plover and 2 knot together, from first hide. Also 4 species of geese from furthest platform (Tundra bean, white-front, Canada and greylag) lined up like a picture in a field guide. Lots of black-tailed godwits (150+), 50+ avocet and 3 bar-tailed godwit flying over, calling. Lovely seeing lapwing and redshank displaying too.