February 2006

Tuesday 28th:

There was a large movement of birds heading south offshore between 7:30am and 9am with c1500+ auk sp, c200 Gannet and large numbers of Herring Gull and Kittiwake. On the sea 20 Eider, 11 Slavonian and 10 Great-crested Grebe, a single Red-throated Diver and at least 30 Razorbill. Elsewhere a Skylark was singing over the Dune Ridge during a sunny spell, a Buzzard was over the golf course and several Jackdaw were heard over Golf course/Saltmarsh.
 

Monday 27th:

A much calmer sea this evening with the northerly wind and the area was jam packed with birds dispersed right across the bay and at some distance. 1200+ gulls, mostly Herring, made up the bulk along with 78 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Eider, 14 Slavonian and eight Great-crested Grebe, four Common Scoter, and a Red-throated Diver flying east. Elsewhere a Kestrel was along the Back Path.

Sunday 26th:

The Velvet Scoter was again offshore with at least six Slavonian Grebe, eight Eider and 16 Common Scoter, 15+ Gannet and a few Kittiwake were also feeding offshore. Counts from the estuary included 178 Curlew, 49 Wigeon, 30 Snipe, 21 Lapwing, 20 Shelduck, five Teal and two Greenshank. Also present were a pair of Goldeneye, a Slavonian Grebe, a first winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost and two Water Rail and a Whimbrel in the saltmarsh.

Dunlin 25/2/06 © Simon Mackie                                               Waders at High tide 25/2/06  © Simon Mackie  

Saturday 25th:

A high count of 550+ Brent Geese were in the Bight at high tide, also there 21 Sanderling in the mixed wader flocks and a Peregrine which caught a Dunlin in front of the hide. The choppy conditions offshore made viewing difficult with only two Slavonian Grebe, three Eider and 14 Common Scoter seen. The female Shoveler was again on the Main Pond with 27 Mallard, six Coot and three Little Grebe. A Kestrel, a Reed Bunting and two Chiffchaff were also by the pond.

Peregrine with Dunlin © Simon Mackie                             Waders at High Tide © Simon Mackie

Friday 24th:

No news was received for today.

Thursday 23rd:

A single Velvet Scoter was offshore with 10 Slavonian Grebe, 20+ Eider, at least six Red-throated and a single Great Northern Diver. A drake Goldeneye flew east close in, with two more in the estuary. On a low tide 70+ Brent Geese were in Shutterton Creek with 25+ Curlew, 14 Red-breasted Merganser, three Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 30+ Common and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Elsewhere two Raven settled on the Bight, this species rarely lands here, and on the Main Pond there were three Little Grebe, two Teal and a Snipe with a female Bullfinch by the First Pond.

 

Wednesday 22nd:

No news was received for today.

Tuesday 21st:

No news was received for today.

Monday 20th:

50+ Knot, including some birds moulting into summer plumage were with the Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit flocks, with at least 10 Sanderling with the Dunlin and offshore there were 30+ Common Scoter and 11 Eider.

Sunday 19th:

No news was received for today.

Saturday 18th:

More of the same today with the Velvet Scoter off the sea wall the highlight, also offshore there were 22 Eider and 12 Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 120 Brent Geese were on the Golf course, with some later on the rock pools at Langstone Rock, 56 Ringed Plover and 47 Turnstone were counted over high tide, the pair of Goldeneye were in Shutterton Creek with a Greenshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull in partial summer plumage.
 

Friday 17th:

Offshore there were 12 Eider, in two groups, six Slavonian and four Great-crested Grebe. Elsewhere over high tide 100+ Grey Plover were roosting on the beach with 15 Knot and six Turnstone and a Water Rail was heard at the Main Pond.
 

Thursday 16th:

Offshore there were 13 Slavonian and seven Great-crested Grebe, 11 Eider, six Red-throated Diver and six Common Scoter along with c30 Gannet, 20 Razorbill and 11 Kittiwake. Wader counts over the high tide included c3000 Dunlin, 120 Grey Plover and 41 Sanderling roosting on the beach, with c2500 Oystercatcher, 180 Bar-tailed Godwit, 92 Curlew, c50 Redshank, 21 Knot, 10 Turnstone and four Greenshank in the estuary. Wildfowl present included 210 Brent Geese, 108 Wigeon, 31 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Shelduck and a pair of Goldeneye. Elsewhere 12 Snipe and two Jack Snipe were in the saltmarsh with five Little Egret, four Little Grebe were on the Main Pond and three Lesser Black-backed Gull were on Finger Point, the first migrants?
 

Wednesday 15th:

No news was received for today.

Tuesday 14th:

No news was received for today.

Monday 13th:

Five Shoveler (four female) on the Main Pond was the only news received.

Sunday 12th:
 

A good count of 33 Great-crested Grebe were offshore with 29 Eider, 11 Slavonian Grebe, four Red-throated Diver and the Velvet Scoter. Also offshore good numbers of Razorbill still present with 10 Common Scoter and a diver sp. flying south. In the estuary there were 273 Brent Geese, 218 Wigeon, 176 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50+ Teal, 43 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, four Lapwing and a Greenshank. Elsewhere the female Sparrowhawk was again around the Bight, Skylark were singing on Warren Point, a Kestrel was behind the Visitor Centre and around the Main Pond there were eight Canada Geese, two Water Rail, a Chiffchaff and the Chiloe Wigeon.

Slavonian Grebe © Dave Stone

Saturday 11th:
 

The Velvet Scoter remains offshore with at least 23 Eider, 20+ Razorbill, 15 Great-crested and six Slavonian Grebe, c30 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. Counts over the evening hide tide included 148 Brent Geese, 67 Bar-tailed Godwit, 59 Ringed Plover, 18 Sanderling and a Greenshank around the Bight with 49 Lapwing and 18 Black-tailed Godwit in Shutterton Creek. Also on site today 70+ Red-breasted Merganser roosted offshore, a female Sparrowhawk, 11 Long-tailed Tit and on the Main Pond a female Shoveler. Also on the pond an unringed drake Chiloe Wigeon, only the second recording area record.

Friday 10th:
 

Nine Eider, six Great-crested and four Slavonian Grebe off the sea wall was the only news received for today.

Thursday 9th:
 

A brief look off the sea wall revealed 15+ Red-breasted Merganser, 15+ Great-crested Grebe, 12 Eider, six Slavonian Grebe, four Red-throated Diver, four Kittiwake and a male Common Scoter.

 

Wednesday 8th:
 

The only news received today was of five Raven heading west, the first records of the year.

Tuesday 7th:
 

The Velvet Scoter was offshore again today being seen with the Eider flock, also off the seawall around half a dozen Red-throated Diver and similar numbers of  Slavonian Grebe.

Monday 6th:
 

The majority of interest was again offshore in flat calm conditions, the highlight being the first Red-necked Grebe of the year seen off the seawall. Also recorded 17 Slavonian Grebe, c20 Eider, nine Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter, a few Red-throated Diver and good numbers of Razorbill. The first winter Little Gull was also seen again, presumably the bird first seen on 31st January. Elsewhere seven Turnstone were on the beach and 350 Brent Geese in the estuary was a good count.

Sunday 5th:
 

The Velvet Scoter was again offshore seen distantly from Langstone Rock, also seen from there at least 16 Red-throated and a single Great Northern Diver, 19 Eider, 14 Common Scoter, 12+ Great-crested and 10+ Slavonian Grebe. Also feeding offshore were 80+ auks, of those identified at least 30 Razorbill with only one Guillemot. Elsewhere 20 Turnstone and a Little Egret were at Langstone Rock, a Sparrowhawk was over the car park, a Reed Bunting and 18 Meadow Pipit were on the Buffer zone and the drake Shoveler was again on the Main Pond. Just outside the recording area there were 25 Great-crested and 17 Slavonian Grebe roosting offshore from Rockstone.

Saturday 4th:
 

A first winter Little Gull was feeding off the seawall mid morning with a single Kittiwake, also offshore today single Great Northern and six Red-throated Diver, 13 Slavonian and seven Great-crested Grebe, 34 Eider and four Razorbill. Over the high tide there were 75 Knot, 55 Ringed Plover and 12 Sanderling roosting on the beach with Dunlin and Grey Plover with a high count of 54 Turnstone feeding along the tideline. Elsewhere three Pintail (inc. two drakes) were with 134 Brent Geese and 74 Wigeon in the estuary, a Teal was on the First Pond and two Black-tailed Godwit were in Shutterton Creek.
 

Friday 3rd:

A single Great Northern Diver was offshore with three Slavonian Grebe, six Eider and six Gannet. Roosting on the beach over high tide were 1000+ Dunlin, 100+ Grey Plover and 20+ Turnstone with smaller numbers of Ringed Plover and Sanderling, Also present on the beach 20+ Carrion Crow with similar numbers of Brent Geese in the Bight.

 

Thursday 2nd:

At least eight Slavonian Grebe offshore this morning and a pair of Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Wednesday 1st:

Good numbers of Slavonian Grebe were again offshore with 12 noted along with 12 Eider, at least nine Red-throated Diver, five Great-crested Grebe, three Guillemot and a female Goldeneye just off Warren Point. Counts in the estuary included only the second midwinter record of Whimbrel for the recording area as well as two Jack Snipe and a Greenshank. Elsewhere a Sparrowhawk was hunting near the hide and two female Shoveler were on the Main Pond.
 
 

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