March 2010

This is the month when, weather permitting, we should get our first summer migrants. Most likely are Chiffchaff, Swallow and Sand Martin and Wheatear with Sandwich Tern, Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler most likely if the month ends with warm and southerly weather. There is always the possibility of a surprise such as the Iceland Gull in 1998 and the Bluethroat in the marsh in 2001! This is the time of the year when we have the largest number of Red-throated Divers passing through and we will lose all our Brent Geese. Warm days might also produce a few butterflies.

30th - Philip's obsession with counting Turnstones finally paid off when, amongst the roosting flock of c320 birds, he found a small, poorly-marked plover which, it soon became apparent, was a female Kentish Plover and, presumably, the one that turned up amongst the nipples on Shellness three days later. This is a new species for the site; the 231st in 20 years watching. Incidentally, Andy and I were enjoying our first day at Kaziranga, amongst the Rhinos and Elephants, and adding the likes of Spot-billed Pelican and Grey-headed Fish Eagle to our life lists.

29th - Philip's visit two hours before high tide found 300+ roosting Turnstones. There were also two Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin.

26th - another mid-morning visit by Philip coincided with high tide. Turnstone numbers, roosting between the groynes at the eastern end, had increased to 342 and there were also two Ringed Plovers, two Sanderling and seven Dunlin. Two Brent Geese were also seen.

22nd - Philip visited mid-morning at low tide. There were 18 Brent Geese on the beach, two Goldfinches flying west were the only evidence of vis.mig but a singing Chiffchaff was our first of the year.

21st - Greg Herne reported our first Swallow hawking over the Brook Road caravan park for at least an hour during the morning. There were also 40 Brent Geese on the beach and a Little Egret in the brook adjacent to the caravan park.

19th - Philip Hurst visited at the mid-afternoon high tide. There were 24 Oystercatchers roosting on the point and other waders included six Ringed Plovers, three Sanderling, 52 Dunlin in one flock and 107 Turnstones. There were also four Great Crested Grebes on the sea.

16th - despite these green shoots of recovery, Andy and I are off to India (top right hand corner); Guwahati Rubbish Dump here we come!

15th - sunny with a light NW wind. More feel of spring today. A Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 7.24 a.m., three Mallard circled over the beach and a pair of Wigeon were close inshore. There were seven Brent Geese and 200 Golden Plovers on the beach. The first signs of vis.mig with 21 Stock Doves, 90 Woodpigeons, four Pied Wagtails, two Rooks, a Greenfinch, two Goldfinches five Linnets and a Yellowhammer flying west. Three Jackdaws flew north out over the sea and a single Grey Wagtail was still present.

10th - cloudy with a moderate NE wind. Bitterly cold! Two Red-throated Divers and a Gannet flew east. A high number of 26 Sanderling were on the beach along with ten Redshanks and a check of the marsh revealed seven Snipe. A Stock Dove flew east over the churchyard.

8th - sunny at first, then cloudy with light to moderate easterly winds. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew east over the area and the caravan park and a Grey Heron flew over the grassland pursued by gulls. Two Red-throated Divers were offshore, four Common Scoters flew east and there were 18 Brent Geese and 12 Sanderling on the beach. Spring seems a long long way away?

6th - cloudy with a fresh, thoroughly unpleasant, NE wind. Two Red-throated Divers were seen in flight offshore, a Gannet and three Common Scoters flew east and there were two Grey Plovers and six Sanderling on the beach. A Redwing was quietly "chucking" in the corner of the sewage works behind the obs.

5th - sunny with a light NW wind. Two Greylag Geese flew high west well out to sea, apparently heading for Sheppey. These were our first of the year, and our 100th species, but between now and May, pairs and small parties of this species, and sometimes Canada Geese, are often seen flying by, presumably prospecting for a nest site. There were 32 Brent Geese on the beach and 162 Golden Plovers whilst a party of four Grey Plovers flew west. Single Stock Dove and Rook flew west, at least one Grey Wagtail is still present and our first singing Linnet was in the scrub .

3rd - cloudy with a freshening SE wind. Cooler again! Bird of the day was a Common Buzzard which circled quite low over the obs and drifted north out to sea at 10 a.m. This species has proved quite rare here, probably less than ten records, and those have tended to be either distantly out over the sea or circling well inland. So, nice to see one so well. A party of 15 Pintail flew east and landed on the sea and there were four Red-breasted Mergansers also on the sea. There were 234 Golden Plovers roosting on the beach, a Mistle Thrush flew east over the area and six Corn Buntings flew from the grass near the play area; there's been little sign of them recently.

1st - sunny, a touch of frost and light NW winds. A pleasant day to start the month. A little movement on the sea for a change included three Shoveler, a first for the year, eight Wigeon, a Gannet and a Great Skua heading west. There were 240 Golden Plovers, 70 Dunlin and 81 Carrion Crows on the beach. A total of 48 species to begin the proceedings.