Sat 4th Jan 20

Not so much moving offshore today but a good day around the site in general with 3 birds added to the year list in the form of Sparrowhawk, Bearded Tit & LBB Gull.
A great start for those in the hide when Matt Lonsdale picked up a pair of Bearded Tits feeding on the front of the island, after not being seen for several weeks it's good to know they are still around and they were still there when I arrived.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c400 Brent (on arable between Gt. Holland & Frinton), c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada Hybrids, c200 Teal, c50 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, c300 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Blkwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1+ Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine. Noted along the back hedge were Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylark. S&PC/IM/PL/ML/MR

A Purple Sandpiper and a Turnstone were around the sluice when I walked back.


Ian Minton

12:41 Great Spotted Woodpecker on telegraph pole by raised platform.
15:43 Barn Owl at back of scrape plus 16 White-fronted Geese still on marsh to right of hide.
15:50 Rock Pipit on sea wall to right of sluice.