Thurs 7th March 24
Not quite spring out there today with a very chilly breeze coming in off the sea.
From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 2 Pintail (ducks), 15 Curlew, 10 Lapwing, 8 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 80+ Blk. H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Peregrine (on arable), 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting. RJ/MR.
Tues 5th Mar 24
Just one R T Diver headed north offshore as I walked to French point this morning, no sign of the Purple sands but it was low water. Two Cetti's Warblers were interacting in the reedbed below the point, lots of wing and tail flicking and calling by one bird, not sure if this was courtship or just "get off my patch" but something I had not seen before.
From the hide: 12 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 50+ Shoveler, 16 Pintail, 9 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 30+ Curlew, 18 Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 5 Blkwits, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Jack Snipe, 70+ Blk. H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls, 2 more Cetti's Warblers.
On the walk back 7 Turnstone were on the beach north of the sluice.
Mon 4th Mar 24
A little bit of sun brought out my first Adder of the year on the mounds, a Cetti's Warbler was singing in the same area and a single Purple Sand was on the Boating Club rocks.
From the hide: 2 Canada Geese (checking out the island), 100+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 70 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 6 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 35 Curlew, 18 Lapwing, 4 Blk. T Godwit, 1 Green Sand, 1 Dunlin, 1 Jack Snipe, 64 Blk H Gulls, 2 Com Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Skylarks, 3 Linnet, 1 Kestrel. plus 1 Chinese Water deer.
Sun 3rd Mar 24
A much nicer day today and the walk to French point showed 12 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher and a single Purple Sandpiper on the point just after low water, Purple sand numbers were higher as the tide pushed in. plus 2 R T Divers offshore first thing (RJ).
From the hide: 3 Canada Geese, c200 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 86 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 35+ Curlew, 25 Lapwing, 10 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Blk T Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 37 Blk. H Gulls, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, lots of corvids & Starling. RJ/MR et.al.
Reports from today:
Gloria
15:19 5 Purple Sandpiper, 13 Turnstone, 27 Curlew GC and Marsh Harrier. Thanks to the nice 2 gentleman who helped us find Purple Sands.
"Your Welcome"
Richard Jeffree
18:03 Finally Barn Owl this evening (site year tick for me).
Sat 2nd Mar 24
A Kittiwake on the scrape made the wet and windy walk to the hide worthwhile this morning, otherwise much the same as of late. Offshore was no better with just two R T Divers for Richard before I arrived.
From the hide: 13 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 40+ Shoveler, 10+ Pintail, 6 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 10 Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Blkwits, c60 Blk. H Gulls, 3 Med Gulls, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR
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Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
10:19 Kittiwake on island on scrape.
16:54 9 each of Purple Sands + Turnstone south of French Pt and 20+ Curlew GC
