Archive
Saturday, 13 March 2021
Sunny spells with showers with a continued strong westerly. Watches: 0635-1220.
Little moving over the sea with 2 Mallard, a Teal, 2 Eider, 19 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Diver, 49 Gannet, 4 Cormroant, 32 Black-headed Gull, 152 Herring Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 5 Guillemot, a Common Buzzard the only south bound overland migrant.
The Black Brant was on Kilnsea wetland with 2 Pale-bellied Brent among 514 Brents, with decent totals of 16 Shoveler and 8 Gadwall with 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye remaining. The Whooper Swan was still present nearby on Easington straight.
Ringing: 1 Chaffinch.
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Friday, 12 March 2021
Sunshine and showers with a blustery south westerly. Watches: 0640-1000, 1500-1630.
Seemingly decent conditions for movement saw a bit of both over sea and land, witht hte first small push of Chaffinch and a trickle of Duck over the sea with 2 White-fronted Geese, 3 Shelduck,6 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 2 Mallard, an Eider, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Goldeneye, 29 Red-throated Diver, 25 Gannet, 1 Dunlin, 99 Black-headed Gull, 161 Common Gull, 138 Herring Gull, 5 Guillemot, a Razorbilland 6 Auk sp. Overland movement was quiet with 2 Carrion Crow, a Rook, 3 Jackdaw, 3 Starling in/off, 31 Chaffinch, a Linnet and 1 Lapland Bunting.
In the Kilnsea wetlands area were the Whooper Swan, 10 Gadwall, 410 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 30 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, a Goldeneye, 1 Avocet, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank and 2 Mediterranean Gull.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 7 Chaffinch.
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Thursday, 11 March 2021
Sunny spells with rain and even hail with the gale force south westerlies continuing. Watches: 0640-1000, 1300-1600.
The highlight of the day were 5 White-fronted Geese on Kilnsea wetlands, appearing to be the same birds last seen on the 24th January, when there were six. There wasa fantastic count of 1400 Brent Geese, but just 1 Pale-bellied Goose was located on the flock along with a Whooper Swan. Counts from Kilnsea wetlands included 19 Shoveler, 400 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 250 Redshank, a Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Rock Pipit, one having a green colour ring with white lettering. Migrants were present in low numbers with 3 Woodcock, 10 Redwing and 3 Bullfinch.
Moving over the sea were a Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 4 Eider, 6 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Diver, 3 Fulmar, 21 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 8 Dunlin, a Kittiwake, 78 Common Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull in/off, 11 Guillemot and 8 Auk sp.
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White-fronted Geese. John Hewitt.
White-fronted Geese. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 10 March 2021
A horrible day of driving rain with a strong blustery westerly. Watches: 0700-0930.
It was a difficult day in the conditions, the best being 2 Whooper Swan and 2 Goldeneye in the Kilnsea wetlands area, among the usual species.
On the move were 5 Teal, 32 Common Scoter, 5 Gannet, 10 Curlew, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, a Kittiwake and 15 Guillemot.
Ringing: 2 Blackbird.
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Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Overcast giving way to sunny spells and a moderate westerly. Watches: 0630-0945.
The best of todays visible migration saw an early Little-ringed Plover fly south along with 16 Rook, 12 Jackdaw, 8 Skylark, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Alba Wagtail, 23 Starling, 11 Meadow Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 6 Linnet, 4 Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting. The sea was quieter with just a Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 13 Eider, 10 Common Scoter, 27 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Gannet and 2 Cormorant, while flying out east were 9 Curlew and 7 Bar-tailed Godwit.
The Black Brant remained and seen to be escorting a juvenile intergrade with the adult intergrade also present, while the flock of 500 Brents also held 6 Pale-bellied Brent. Neaby the adult Whooper Swan remained, while Kilnsea wetlands showed little change with 15 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck and 3 Goldeneye among all the usuals. There were few migrants recorded today, the best being 3 Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrush, a Bullfinchnand 1 Siskin.
Ringing: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 1 Starling, 1 House Sparrow, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Reed Bunting.
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Stonechat. John Hewitt.
Adult Black Brant with 2cy intergrade. Colin Bushell.
Adultt Black Brant with adult Intergrade (far left). Colin Bushell.
Monday, 08 March 2021
A grey wet miserable day with a moderate westerly. Watches: 0650-0930.
There were increases in grounded 'exoding' migrants in the area, with Blackbird in particular being noticeable, (while we wait for the first arrivals of Firecrest, Black Redstart and Wheatear). Today saw 2 Jack Snipe, 8 Snipe, 4 Woodcock, 2 Short-eared Owl, 55 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush, a Fieldfare and a Bullfinch recorded.
There was not unsuprisngly much moving due to the weather, but a Red Kite braved the conditions, heading out towards Lincolnshire, while the sea faired little better with the best being just 8 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 4 Common Scoter and a Shag
The Kilnsea wetlands area had as usual the adult Black Brant, 3 Pale-bellied Brent, the adult Whooper Swan, 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye.
Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Bullfinch.
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Red Kite. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 07 March 2021
Cloudy start soon gave way to blue skies and sun with a light north westerly. Watches: 0645-1200.
There was a great count of 1069 Dark-bellied Brent around Kilnsea wetlands, the flock containing a Black Brant and 3 Pale-bellied Brent and the Whooper Swan remained nearby. Kilnsea wetlands also held 14 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 399 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 3 Goldeneye and 2 Greenshank.
There was an improved showing of overland migration with a Red Kite that headed back north west along with 2 Snipe, a Stock Dove, 4 Magpie, 28 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 8 Jackdaw, 8 Skylark, 44 Starling, an Alba Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, a Greenfinch, a Lapland Bunting and 3 Reed Bunting, with the best of the sea being 3 Wigeon, 4 Teal and a Shag.
Other noteworthy bits included 6 Common Buzzard over Easington, 2 Grey Partridge in Kilnsea, 2 Woodcock recorded and 17 Meadow Pipit.
Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch.
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Pale-bellied Brent with Brent Geese. Lawrence Middleton.
Black Brant. Colin Bushell.
Leucistic Dark-bellied Brent. John Swallow.
Teal. John Swallow.
Saturday, 06 March 2021
A chilly overcast day with light winds. Watches:0645-1015.
Highlights from the day included a 2cy Glaucous Gull at Kilnsea wetlands that eventually flew south past the seawatch hide, a Long-eared Owl and 60 Pintail at Sammies, the Whooper Swan along with a Black Brant and 3 Pale-bellied Brent among 300 Brent Geese on Easington straight.
Typically quiet over the sea with just 3 Eider, 14 Common Scoter, 48 Red-throated Diver, 8 Cormorant, a Shag, 1 Curlew out east, 2 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 4 Auk sp. Overland the first signs of southerly movement of Finches albeit in very small numbers, 5 Carrion Crow, 2 Rook, 3 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, a Bullfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Greenfinch.
Other sightings included 6 Avocet on Easington lagoon, 1330 Oystercatcher on the Humber and a Short-eared Owl at Sammies.
Ringing: 1 Robin, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet.
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Glaucous Gull. Johnathan Fisk.
Reed Bunting. Jonathan Fisk.
Friday, 05 March 2021
A chilly wet morning sunny spells from late morning with the contiued modarate north easterly. Watches: 0700-1000.
The Black Brant made a re-appearance on Kilnsea wetlands, the flock of 536 Dark-bellied Brents also holding 2 Pale-bellied Brent and an adult Black Brant x Brent intergrade. A Jack Snipe was nearby on Beacon ponds, with the immediate area decent numbers of Wildfowl with the Whooper Swan, 13 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 447 Wigeon, a Pintail, 16 Mallard and 4 Goldeneye.
There was a nice total of 16 Stonechat, a typcally early spring migarnt throught the area, but few other signs of spring. Other sightings from the area were a Short-eared Owl at Sammies and 2400 Knot on the Humber.
The best of movement over the sea were 5 Eider, 4 Common Scoter, a Fulmar and 6 Kittiwake.
Ringing: 3 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch.
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Stonechat. Jonathan Fisk.
Jack Snipe. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 04 March 2021
Overcast with sunny spells with the continued cold modarate north easterly. Watches: 0655-1000.
With the cold north easterly set in place, the arrival of spring on the coast last week is a distant memory and with it, little change in the birds present. The Whooper Swan was again on Easington straight and the best of the KIlnsea wetlands area were 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 360 Redshank, a Greenshank and 11 Black-tailed Godwit. Nearby 295 Curlew were on Long bank, while a Woodcock hung on at the Point.
Moving over the sea were 5 Wigeon, 6 Eider, 6 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 50 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 19 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 12 Auk sp.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 2 Goldfinch.
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Brent Geese. Lawrence Middleton.
Oystercatcher. John Hewitt.