Sightings

Main sighting: Red Grouse

After about 8 visits without seeing any, found 4 today (pair plus 2 singles) along path running east from Foxhunter Car Park. Nearly all Mipits have left the mountain. A number of piles of grouse droppings also.

Main sighting: Short-eared Owl

Owl appeared at 17.10 in near-darkness and perched on a gas pipeline pole, silhouetted above the western skyline, before dropping down to hunt. A Red Grouse called briefly. Earlier, Stonechat and Reed Bunting.

Main sighting: Spoonbill

flying west shortly after 5.oclock, good to have the company of Gavin Vella and Jody

Main sighting: barn owl

Barn owl briefly flying alongside A449. A previous sighting a couple of weeks ago on outskirts of Mitchel Troy. Blackcap singing in Mitchel Troy on 16th. Never heard one singing this early in the year before. At least three song thrush singing in village and single mistle thrush, dunnock, coal tit, etc. Lesser celandine in flower on road up to Mitchel Troy common.

Main sighting: Cattle Egret

Cattle egret still in field at St. Brides. Good views from roadside even though misty.

Main sighting: Reed Bunting

Very few birds were close enough to see today in the fog.6+Reed Buntings close to the snipe platform.Also at St.Brides the Cattle Egret was showing well close to the road.

Main sighting: Late afternoon roost

1 common snipe coming in, 32 lapwing, 11 shoveler, 46 wigeon, 1 buzzard fly-by and rooks close by.

Main sighting: Avocet

Fairly quiet afternoon but some highlights including: Hide one – 1 little egret, female kestrel, cettis calling from the hedge line. Redshank platform – 7 shoveler and 1 cormorant. Snipe platform – 2 mute swans, 2 gadwall, 2 herons, fem marsh harrier being harassed by 2 common buzzards – the buzzards gave up and were then harassed by 3 ravens. Seawall – pair of stonechats on the fence. On the saltings and mud – pair of avocet, 10 grey plovers, 1 gt black-backed gull, 51 curlew, 21 oystercatchers, shelduck, 70 wigeon and 33 black headed gulls. Hide three – 56 teal, 21 greylag geese mixed in with 109 Canada’s. En-route back around the barn owl gave great close views, unfortunately for some visitors, they had to put up with photographers on the marsh and snipe platforms climbing fences and walking along the bank for that all important selfish closer photo.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

St Mary’s churchyard, Marshfield: hawfinch; also nuthatch, mistle and song thrushes and redwings. Lots of yew trees, and many others for them all.

Main sighting: White fronted Goose.

22 Greater White-fronted Geese ( including 7 juveniles) feeding with Canadas behind first pool this morning. Spooked by malel Marsh Harrier then flew to pool in front of sea wall hide.

Main sighting: Bullfinch

A bullfinch visited our garden this morning along with the usual blue tits, house sparrows and wood pigeons.

It flew off east after being spooked by a squirrel.

Main sighting: Male and female Blackcaps

Male and Female Blackcaps along with
Long tailed tits on feeders at midday