January 2012

It is often the case that the New Year is eagerly anticipated as we've frankly had enough of the previous one. With only one addition to the 2011 list in the last 45 days (we should have done a Bockhill and put our bins in storage) this is certainly the case this year. In addition, we have long-staying individuals of three species (Water Rail, Purple Sandpiper and Shore Lark) that are scarce here and rarely if ever seen at the beginning of the year. They would make a significant contribution to a good start to 2012.

A total of 82 species for the month was well below par (average in recent years is 86) and twice we have breached the 90s with 91 in 2008 and 93 in 2010. However, we did retain the three long-staying "stars" throughout the month in Water Rail, Purple Sandpiper and Shore Lark whilst Great Northern Diver, White-fronted Goose, Jack Snipe and Great Skua were welcome. All to do then in February with a top score of 102 by the end of the month a distant prospect.

31st - cloudy, misty and calm. House Sparrows were calling from their roost in the bushes opposite the obs and 116 were counted flying out toweards the estate. There were five Red-throated Divers on the sea, a flock of 15 Shelduck and three Wigeon flew west, a drake Teal was on the shoreline and two duck Eiders were offshore. Amongst the waders on the beach were two Grey Plovers and eight Bar-tailed Godwits (another four flew west). A check of the marsh revealed five Snipe and a single Jack Snipe (the first of the year). Another first was three adult Little Gulls flying east and a first-winter Kittiwake also flew east over the beach. Other birds included a Kingfisher, the Skylark on the shingle ridge, the female Stonechat in the grassland, a Goldcrest in the scout wood, four Long-tailed Tits at the obs and nine Linnets.

30th -cloudy with a light NE wind. A Great Northern Diver was offshore, c40 Wigeon flew west and east, seven Gadwall and two Shoveler flew west, a Great Skua flew west and a juvenile Kittiwake flew west and two adults flew east. A Skylark and a Shore Lark were on the shingle ridge and two Little Grebes, a Little Egret and the Water Rail were in the brook. Five Long-tailed Tits were in the churchyard and later seven appeared at the obs., the female Stonechat was seen and 40 Collared Doves were in the sewage works.

28th - sunny with a light N-NE wind. A Shelduck, three Wigeon and three Gadwall flew west, a duck Eider and three Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and 220 Brent Geese gathered on the beach. Two White-fronted Geese came in from the SE and flew out over the sea at 11 am and six adult Kittiwakes flew west. There were c400 Golden Plovers on the beach at low tide. The Shore Lark was on the shingle ridge, flying west at one point in pursuit of a Meadow Pipit, and there were three Little Grebes, the Water Rail and the female Kingfisher in the brook. A Sparrowhawk was seen over the estate and the female Stonechat was in one of the bushes by the brook behind the shingle ridge.

Water Rail - Geoff Burton

25th - the sea was a millpond and good numbers of birds could be seen offshore; 12 Red-throated Divers, 42 Great Crested Grebes and 23 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted; the latter two the largest counts of the species this winter. In addition, there was a duck Eider on the sea and one Wigeon, 18 Teal and two drake Shovelers flew west. There were four Grey Plovers and a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach, the Water Rail was along the upper brook, the Chiffchaff was seen again and a Green Woodpecker in the sewage works was the first this year.

A Yellow-necked Field Mouse was spotted swimming across the brook.

23rd - cloudy with a moderate westerly wind. Flocks of 30 and 40 Common Scoters flew west, there were seven Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and 54 Brent Geese on the beach. Waders on the beach included 81 Ringed Plovers, two Grey Plovers, 12 Lapwings (later roosting in the marsh) five Sanderling, the Purple Sandpiper, 113 Dunlin and one Bar-tailed Godwit. A Great Skua flew leisurely west close inshore. There were four Little Grebes, one Little Egret and the female Kingfisher in the brook and a first Rock Pipit for the year in the brook behind the shingle ridge and in the marsh. A second addition to the year's list came with a Kestrel hovering over the fields beyond the caravan park. The Shore Lark was on the beach and flew up amongst a flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers. There were 25 Linnets between the groynes at the eastern end of the beach, a Grey Wagtail in the sewage works, the female Stonechat, and the pair of Reed Buntings commuting between the shingle ridge and the grassland bushes.

Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper - Geoff Burton

21st - cloudy with a moderate to fresh westerly wind. There were 40+ Red-throated Divers offshore and three Great Crested Grebes. One Shelduck and a duck Eider flew west. There were 77 Brent Geese on the beach and waders included 64 Ringed Plovers, 11 Sanderling, the Purple Sandpiper and 111 Dunlin. An adult Mediterranean Gull dropped into the mouth of the brook to bathe and other brookside residents included two Little Grebes, one Little Egret and the Water Rail. There were 12 Lapwings roosting in the marsh. The Shore Lark was found at the eastern end of the beach again where the flock of 25 Linnets was also present and the female Stonechat. The Chiffchaff was also present in the wood.

20th - cloudy with a moderate westerly wind and a little rain. The bushes opposite the obs were full of the chirruping of House Sparrows as I arrived and so I waited for them to leave their roost and counted 79 birds flying out towards the estate (and presumably a date with some garden birdtables). The tide was in and there 22 Sanderling feeding around the mouth of the brook and the Purple Sandpiper was roosting with Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at the other end of the beach. There were about six Red-throated Divers, a single Great Crested Grebe and ten Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a Great Northern Diver gave great views as it fished close inshore off the obs. Unfortunately, when Mike Gould arrived the diver had disappeared but I sent him off to look for the Purple Sandpiper. He found the Shore Lark at the eastern end as well as the sandpiper and managed to photograph both. Other birds noted included two Little Grebes and a Kingfisher in the brook, 15 Goldfinches and 25 Linnets. The latter now seem to favour the beach between the groynes rather than the shingle ridge.

Purple Sandpiper and Shore Lark - Mike Gould

19th - Mike Gould took himself down to Long Rock for another attempt at the Shore Lark. Although he saw the bird, the wind and poor light conditions prevented him from getting any pictures. It is two months to the day since this bird was originally found. The previous longest staying bird was present for only three days in November 2009.

18th - cloudy with a moderate SW wind. Nothing new about the weather and nothing new about the birds. There were 60 Brent Geese on the beach, eight Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a pair of Mallard flew over the area. The Purple Sandpiper was the lead wader with eight Sanderling, two Grey Plovers, a Snipe and a Bar-tailed Godwit amongst the supporting cast. A Little Egret was in the brook where there was an unexpected six Moorhens as well. Other bit parts were played by our second Sparrowhawk sighting of the year and the resident cast of Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Chiffchaff.

17th - Murray Wright popped down in the afternoon and managed to get the first pictures (that I've seen anyway) of the Shore Lark this year. No other birds of note but he did see a Weasel cross the path by the obs.

Shore Lark - Murray Wright

16th - sunny and calm after a hard frost. The lower brook was frozen down to the mouth and so it was no surprise that the only Little Grebe seen was on the sea diving in the shallows just offshore. Higher up the brook, however, there was a pair of Mallard, the Water Rail and the female Kingfisher. A Goldcrest showed well along the upper brook (new for the year) and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker was tapping on the trees by the sewage works entrance and the Grey Wagtail was in the works. There were 11 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore whilst four Gadwall flying west over the sea was a second year tick for the day and an immature Peregrine flew west over the beach. The Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds and a Bar-tailed Godwit was on the beach.

15th - Mike Gould paid a visit this morning in an unsuccessful search for the Shore Lark. However, he did see the female Stonechat and snapped at a Meadow Pipit.

Stonechat - Mike Gould

Meadow Pipit - Mike Gould

14th - sunny after a hard frost and calm. There were five Great Crested Grebes, a group of seven Wigeon and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea and c80 Brent Geese on the beach. Ten Shelduck flew west and two Gannets flew west and then back east. The Grey Heron appears to have become a low tide resident on the tidal ponds and the Shore Lark showed well on the shingle ridge. Denizens of the not yet frozen brook included at least four Little Grebes and the female Kingfisher but there was no sign of any Little Egrets. A single Skylark was heard, the Grey Wagtail was in the sewage works and a Long-tailed Tit at the obs but pride of place goes to a Great Spotted Woodpecker, found by Greg Herne, clinging to the pole in the marsh and which flew off east over the caravan park.

13th - sunny with a light to moderate northerly wind and, unsurprisingly, colder. There were 72 Brent Geese on the beach which included a pair of colour-ringed birds which I will endeavour to trace. A quiet morning overall, there were three Sanderling on the beach, the Grey Heron was again on the tidal ponds and there were 12 Lapwings in the marsh. One Little Grebe, two Little Egrets and a Kingfisher in the brook and a Grey Wagtail in the sewage works. Yes, it was quiet!

12th - sunny at times, light westerly wind. One Red-throated Diver flew east, seven Shelduck flew west and there were three Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. There were 80 Brent Geese on the beach, a winter high of c930 Golden Plovers present at low tide and also four Grey Plovers, two Sanderling, the Purple Sandpiper and a Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach. The Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds, a Little Egret on the beach, and also in the brook, where the Water Rail was opposite the sewage works entrance and a female Kingfisher was also seen. After numerous false alarms, a swirl of Starling betrayed the presence of a female Sparrowhawk, the first this year. The Shore Lark and the flock of 25 Linnets were on the shingle ridge, the female Stonechat on the groynes at the eastern end of the beach, one Long-tailed Tit was seen at the obs, the Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails were in the sewage works where two Jays, another year tick, flew into the wood and promptly disappeared. Another late entrant, came in the form of a Great Northern Diver flying west at 11.45 am.

10th - cloudy but mild and fairly calm. There were c12 Red-throated Divers, a Great Crested Grebe and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a flock of 54 Red-throated Divers flew east at 10.40 am. A single Shelduck and four Common Scoters were also noted and a Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds. The single Purple Sandpiper and a Bar-tailed Godwit were on the beach and the Shore Lark was having a good day on the shingle ridge. Also the Water Rail was in the brook, the Stonechat was still present, there were two Long-tailed Tits at the sewage works entrance and two Reed Buntings were seen. Finally, the best was save until last when a flock of 39 White-fronted Geese flew west high over the sea at 11.20 am.

9th - cloudy with a light westerly wind. 30 Red-throated Divers flew east, a pair of Common Scoters flew west and there were two Great Crested Grebes and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. An adult Peregrine flew west clutching a small item of prey (hopefully not one with a black and yellow face). There were c700 Golden Plovers and six Grey Plovers on the beach at low tide and, as the tide advanced, 52 Oystercatchers gathered on the shingle ridge, there were 12 Sanderling, the Purple Sandpiper and a Bar-tailed Godwit. There were 17 Lapwings in the marsh. There were two Little Grebes, two Little Egrets, the Water Rail and a Kingfisher in the brook. There was a Grey Wagtail in the sewage works, the female Stonechat in the grassland and on the shingle ridge and 25 Linnets also on the shingle ridge.

Little Egret - Geoff Burton

8th - there was a report of the Shore Lark from Birdguides.

7th - sunny with a light to moderate NW wind. There were c40 Red-throated Divers offshore and a Great Northern Diver flew west, eight Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, three Shelduck and seven Teal flew west and two drake Eiders flew east. A Peregrine was over the sea, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew east along the beach and an adult and a juvenile Kittiwake settled on the sea close inshore and another adult flew east. Waders on the beach included 80 Ringed Plovers, 13 Sanderling, one Purple Sandpiper and 120 Dunlin whilst there were 17 Lapwings and 14 Redshank in the marsh. In the brook, there were two Little Grebes, two Little Egrets, the Water Rail, Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail, the female Stonechat was on the shingle ridge, a Chiffchaff at the obs and two Long-tailed Tits near the sewage works entrance.

5th - sunny with a strong NW wind; just the right conditions for an autumn seawatch but, in January, six adult Kittiwakes flying west was the only reaction. There was an immature male Eider offshore and another flew west. In the brook, two Little Grebes, three Little Egrets and a Kingfisher. The Shore Lark was present again on the shingle ridge, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the football pitch, the Grey Wagtail was in the sewage works and the Chifffchaff was seen along the east bank.

Common Gull - Andy Taylor

4th - cloudy with a moderate westerly wind. A Great Northern Diver landed offshore, three Pintail flew west and a Razorbill flew east. A female Peregrine came in over the sea and then flew west along the beach. There were three Little Grebes together in the brook just below the sluice, two Little Egrets, a pair of Mallard were in the brook by the sewage works entrance and the Water Rail was in the upper brook. There were seven Sanderling and the Purple Sandpiper on the beach and 16 Lapwings and two Snipe in the marsh. The Skylark was on the shingle ridge and a Grey Wagtail flew up from the brook to perch on branches in the wood.

2nd - sunny with a light SW wind. It seemed a nicer day but the birding was not so good and no species were added to the year list. There were, however, 25 Red-throated Divers offshore, two Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea and five Shelduck flew west. There were only 45 Brent Geese on the beach, also five Grey Plovers, three Sanderling and two Bar-tailed Godwits, whilst the resistant flock of Lapwings, 14 today, were in the marsh at high tide (when they were not flying around being disturbed). There were three Little Grebes and three Little Egrets in the brook, the Water Rail was seen again and a Kingfisher, and there was one Grey Wagtail in the sewage works.

1st - the year began cloudy with a moderate westerly wind. No different, in fact, to most of December. The first of our target long-stayers to appear was the Purple Sandpiper feeding at the eastern end of the beach as the tide went down. The Water Rail took a little longer to find, with several visits to its favoured stretch of the brook, before it revealed itself whilst the Shore Lark made a late appearance, being observed distantly from the obs, on the crown of the shingle ridge. Other birds included one Red-throated Diver flying east, a single Great Crested Grebe on the sea, a Gannet flying east whilst ducks were six Shelduck west, a drake Wigeon and an immature drake Eider close inshore, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a brief visit from four Common Scoters which landed, joining the Eider, before flying off east. There were 153 Brent Geese on the beach, the most for sometime, and waders included three Grey Plovers, three Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit. An adult Mediterranean Gull was found on the beach, amongst a flock of Black-headed Gulls, whilst a Great Skua flying west at 1.05 pm was a nice surprise. Other regulars noted included single Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail, the female Stonechat, two Long-tailed Tits and two Reed Buntings. Finally, we had a rare visit from local birder, Peter Curd, who found a Chiffchaff along the east bank. A total of 59 species was a reasonable start to the year.