January 2010

And so another year. What can I say? Renewed hope; a bumper year for species (176 the record); a crop of new birds - Smew in the cold weather, Pallas's Warbler in the autumn or, firmly in the realms of fantasy, a Coot. Let's go -

31st - sunny again, a hard frost again, but the absence of any wind meant more pleasant conditions and no kite surfers! Dog walkers, however, ... . A party of 17 Brent Geese, on the beach, included two Light-bellied individuals, presumably borrowed from Reculver. They flew off towards Hampton when disturbed by a dog walker. Fieldfares were on the move with several parties totalling 177 birds flying west low over the area. Our resident bird remained in the sea buckthorn along the east bank. 75 Wigeon flew west but no other ducks were seen. There were 460 Golden Plovers on the beach, a Redwing along the east bank and 12 Corn Buntings in the grassland/scrub. Greg Herne, looking for the Little Grebe, found a Water Rail instead. Another addition to the year list, it presumably was moved there by the hard frosts and is not the bird last seen six weeks ago further up the brook.

Redshank - Geoff Burton

30th - sunny, after a hard frost, but the fresh northerly wind made for an unpleasant experience not in any way ameliorated by some good birding. Two duck Common Scoters flew east, two Stock Doves flew west and a Fieldfare was along the east bank again. The arrival of two kite surfers, who set themselves up on the shingle ridge, was the last straw or the one that broke the camel's back. Anyway, this ship of the desert beat a hasty retreat!

29th - Cloudy, spitting with rain with a light to moderate northerly wind. Cold. There were 19 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, two Shelduck flew east and three west, and eight Wigeon flew west. The Little Grebe was seen again in the brook. A Sparrowhawk was displaying beyond the estate, there were nine Sanderling on the beach and two Jays in the wood that flew along the upper brook. An immature Rook was seen amongst the Carrrion Crows on the beach and, as a parting shot, an adult Gannet (our first of the year) flew east close inshore just before midday.

28th - cloudy with a light westerly wind. A Little Grebe was in the lower brook by the main scrub, a Velvet Scoter joined 11 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore an an adult drake Eider was on the beach in front of the caravan park and later swam westwards towards Tankerton. Other birds included 11 Sanderling on the beach, two Mistle Thrushes and five Redwings feeding on the grass inside the sewage works and a Fieldfare along the east bank feeding on sea buckthorn which appears to be the berry of last resort.

Eider - Philip Hurst

27th - cloudy with a light westerly wind and an overnight frost. 24 Red-breatsed Mergansers were visible offshore on the calm sea. c10 Red-throated Divers, mostly seen in flight, were also offshore. A single Shelduck flew west and an immature drake Wigeon was on the beach with 17 Brent Geese. Two Grey Plovers and nine Sanderling were amongst the waders on the beach but a check of the marsh, where the water was beginning to freeze, revealed only one Snipe. A female Sparrowhawk was seen in display flight in the skies south of the church, two Stock Doves flew west and the female Great Spotted Woodpecker was again in the sewage works trees. Single Fieldfare and Redwing were along the east bank and the 12 Corn Buntings were seen again. Finally, an inventory of Carrion Crows on the beach revealed 67 individuals.

26th - another two additions with a Red-necked Grebe flying west at 9.20 a.m. and a Short-eared Owl, rare everywhere this year, which arrived from the SE at 10.30 a.m., circled the area and headed off east. Wigeon were on the move with 71 west and a single Pintail and a Marsh Harrier also flew west.

25th - cloudy with a light NE wind. More activity today with eight Great Crested Grebes on the sea, seven Wigeon flew west and another four rested by the submerged tidal ponds, two Shelduck flew west and a Fulmar flying east was the first of the year. A Bar-tailed Godwit flying east was followed by two new waders for the year in a Black-tailed Godwit that circled the beach before flying off north whilst six Knot flew east followed by five heading back west. An adult Peregrine flew north over the area and out to sea. Away from the coast, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the sewage works trees, there were single Fieldfare and Redwing and a party of five Long-tailed Tits. Five Reed Buntings is a high number for the winter months.

23rd - cloudy, foggy at first with light rain, then a light northerly wind. 86 Brent Geese on the beach and mudflats. 20 Lapwings flew west. Birds of the day, however, were a male Blackcap that paused briefly in the trees by the scout hut before flying off to the gardens in the estate and a Yellowhammer that flew west over the area and the sewage works.

22nd - cloudy with rain at times. Light to moderate SE wind. Two Shelduck flew west, three Mallard flew south over the beach and there were eight Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. There were two Redwings along the east bank, two Jays were along the upper brook and 15 Linnets are still around; another quiet day.

21st - a pair of Tufted Ducks flew west at 8.10 a.m., a Rook (new for the year) flew west at 8.40 a.m. whilst a raft of 26 Wigeon lingered offshore for most of the morning.

20th - cloudy, light to moderate SE wind. A Peregrine flew south over the sewage works but more of a surprise were a male Hen Harrier low over the grassland, which headed off south at 9.40 a.m., only to return briefly five minutes later, followed by a ringtail which headed east over the shingle ridge and over the marsh; only the 11th and 12th records of this species in 20 years. 50 Brent Geese on the beach was the highest count for some time. Single Fieldfare and Redwing were present along the east bank and there was also 15 Linnets, three Reed Buntings and 12 Corn Buntings. Geoff Racher reported a Little Egret flying west; another addition to the year list.

18th - cloudy then sunny, light SW wind and milder. There were at least 12 Red-throated Divers, five Great Crested Grebes and four Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and three Shelduck and four Pochard flew west. There were 400 Golden Plovers on the beach whilst other birds on the move included 11 Lapwings and a Stock Dove (the first this year), two Skylarks and two Lesser Redpolls (another first for the year) heading west. Five more Skylarks were on the shingle ridge, two Redwings, a Long-tailed Tit, a Jay and 11 Linnets were also seen.

16th - Cloudy with a moderate southerly wind, light rain at times. A ringtail Hen Harrier which flew SW over the area at 8.20 a.m. was only the 10th record here in the last 20 years! There were flocks of ten Wigeon west and 12 and six east, an adult Little Gull flew west and a Woodcock along the beach or in off the sea at 10.20 a.m. and appeared to land in the grassland. There were three Fieldfares, about six Redwings and a Mistle Thrush around the churchyard/football pitch/ sewage works areas. 16 Linnets and 12 Corn Buntings were again in the area.

15th - cloudy, light southerly wind and milder. Another appearance of the duck Mallard which landed close inshore but 16 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore were a surprise given the low numbers recently. Two Gadwall came in from the east and landed offshore. A Great Skua circled over the beach eyeing up an immature Great Black-backed Gull with a broken wing before drifting east. 15 Skylarks flew between south and west with another three on the beach. There were four Fieldfares, five Redwings and a Mistle Thrush on the football pitch. Flocks of 16 Linnets and ten Corn Buntings were roaming around the beach and grassland areas.

14th - an early morning drizzle developed into more steady rain. A duck Mallard flew east over the beach; our first of the year! There were two Shelduck offshore and thrushes included eight Fieldfares, six Redwings and four Song Thrushes, mostly on the football pitch. There was a flock of c15 Goldfinches in the area and the party of eight Long-tailed Tits was seen again. Finally a single Sanderling was on the beach at high tide.

13th - cloudy and calm with poor visibility over the sea. A single red-throated Diver flew east close inshore whilst a group of eight Shelduck on lingering the sea appeared lost. There were up to five Fieldfares and Redwings seen in flight and on the football pitch and a Mistle Thrush joined them on the football pitch at one time. A Jay in the dead elms flew across to the churchyard and ten Greenfinches were feeding along the east bank.

12th - cloudy with a light SE wind. The sea was again quiet with two Red-throated Divers and a Red-breasted Merganser noted and a single juvenile Brent Goose on the beach. Waders at high tide included 30 Ringed Plovers and 45 Dunlin whilst a tight flock of c70 Turnstones flew up and down the beach. Bird of the day, however, was a Goldcrest which flew into the wood and immediately disappeared. None were seen here last autumn and this was our first since April last year. A single Fieldfare was along the east bank and seven Redwings were flying around the area. A flock of 40 Linnets was more than double what we have been seeing here recently and, finally, there were 80 Carrion Crows feeding on the beach.

11th - cloudy, gloomy but feeling milder in the calm conditions. Bird of the day was a female Snow Bunting on the shingle ridge with about eight Skylarks and ten Reed Buntings. The sea was quiet, a drake Teal and two Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and three Shelduck flew west, with another eight settling on the beach by the obs, and five Little Gulls and a first-winter Kittiwake also headed west. Away from the sea, single Fieldfare and Redwing were seen and a Jay was another tick for the year. For the second day running, there was no sign of either of the pair of Stonechats.

10th - cloudy with a moderate but lessening NE wind and, surprisingly, thawing. A Great Skua flew west out at sea. There were two Grey Plovers and a group of 22 Sanderling on the beach, which is the highest count of the winter. A flock of 10+ Fieldfares dropped into the churchyard trees briefly and c8 Redwings were moving between the sewage works and the churchyard. A Sparrowhawk circled over Brook Road, a party of eight Long-tailed Tits passed through the churchyard and a Mistle Thrush, which appeared in the churchyard, was the first for the year. 25 Goldfinches were in the NE corner of the sewage works.

9th - cloudy with a fresh NE wind and frequent, heavy snow showers. Snow on the ground was the thickest I've seen here in 20 years but it was worth braving the Arctic conditions. Ducks were on the move although many slipped through unidentified; apart from Wigeon, there were five Gadwall west, five Pintail east, a Pochard west, a Tufted Duck flew off the beach, a Velvet Scoter east, a Common Scoter was offshore and a duck Teal was in the brook. The cold and snowy conditions encouraged Snipe to fly around and feed along the brook but this was spiced up by our first Woodcock of the winter and a Jack Snipe which showed well along the middle brook. Lapwings and Golden Plovers were hunkered down in the marsh where there were also Skylarks, Reed and Corn Buntings. A Peregrine flew along the beach and an adult Little Gull flew west and a first-winter Kittiwake flew east. A Fieldfare flew over the football pitch and the cock Stonechat was reduced to feeding along the edge of the brook and, alighting next to the Jack Snipe, it revealed its presence.

Jack Snipe - Andy Taylor

7th - six Wigeon flew west and there was a passage of 126 Skylarks also flying west. The pair of Stonechats, a species vulnerable to cold weather, continue to scratch a living against the odds. Fresh snow arrived at about 9.45 a.m. rendering continued observations difficult.

Skylarks - Andy Taylor

6th - cloudy and calm. There were three Great Crested Grebes on the flat calm sea but no duck and only a single Red-throated Diver flew east. The Grey Heron was again in the brook flying out to the tidal ponds when it was disturbed. The pair of Stonechats continue to brave the weather and were feeding in the vicinity of the Environment Agency's digger which was exposing the earth and presumably providing them with a meal. A Redwing was seen again in the sewage works, three Long-tailed Tits were near the entrance and 11 Corn Buntings were feeding along the shingle ridge.

5th - an adult female Marsh Harrier drifted west at about 9 a.m., a Grey Heron was in the brook, two drake Teal flew west along the shoreline and an immature male and a female Eider were offshore.

4th - sunny with a light NW wind and the ground was snow-covered for the first time this winter. A Fieldfare in the trees by the football pitch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying east over the sewage works were new for the year. There were 420 Golden Plovers roosting on the beach, 30 Oystercatchers appeared on the spit as the tide came in, 80 Lapwings flew west and a flock of 30 Turnstones flew around the beach. 12 Skylarks flew south over the church and another five were on the beach. Five Meadow Pipits were feeding on the leaf litter by the sluice.

3rd - another quiet morning. A Redwing in the sewage works and a party of eight Long-tailed Tits near the entrance were new for the year but a single Shelduck and two Red-breasted Mergansers flying west were the only other birds noted.

2nd - sunny with a light NW wind. Pleasanter but quieter conditions. Two Gadwall flying west were the only ducks but there were also five Red-throated Divers, a Great Crested Grebe and 15 Lapwings flying west as well. Four Sanderling were on the beach and 11 Corn Buntings in the grassland/scrub area. Numbers of Brent Geese on the caravan park fields had fallen to 65.

1st - cloudy with a fresh northerly wind and a bitter start to the year. However, the conditions did encourage some movement; six White-fronted Geese flew west over the football pitch and the sewage works at 8.23 a.m. Ducks were represented by five Shelduck, four Pintail and three Eider heading west and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers heading east. In addition, single Great Crested Grebe, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Great Skua flew west and a Little Gull flew east. A Peregrine was seen flying low over the sea and Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were also noted. 23 Redshank were roosting along the brook. Other additions to the year list included the expected Grey Wagtail and pair of Stonechats and, more surprisingly, four Reed Buntings. Philip Hurst reported 272 Brent Geese on the caravan park fields. A total of 56 species for the morning was a reasonable start to the year.