COVID-19

COVID – 19    JANUARY UPDATE  

Members accessing the compound are asked to -

·      Follow government advice, rules & regulations as posted & updated on www.gov.uk. Relevant points are:

·      Maintain social distancing (individuals to keep a minimum of two metres apart)

·      Maintain a high-level of hygiene through handwashing

·      Only meet one person from a different household outdoors – following social distancing guidelines.

·      Do not gather in a group of more than two.

·      Wear a face covering over your nose & mouth in enclosed spaces if others are present.

An updated Risk Assessment is available on accessing the site. Measures are taken to help prevent the unintentional transmission of Covid-19 in line with government recommendations. Please stay well and as and when government changes restrictions then “normal” service will be resumed.

Wednesday 27th January 2021

Dull, murky morning. 2 Purps on the riverbank wall, 2 Sanderling on the beach plus 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit along the groynes on the Butts. 

Tuesday 26th January 2021

 A Jackdaw heading north & 2 Chaffinch by the observatory were both firsts of their kind for the year. Tad early in the year for Jackdaw migration to get going. Chaffinch has always been here in very low numbers in the winter but with numbers declining nationally in the past decade one can but hope that they don't end up going the same way as Greeny's. 1.5 hours watching gulls behind shipping also returned southbound 3 Shelduck & 2 Common Scoter plus northbound 5 Red-throated Diver which just confirms that very little is on the move offshore presently. Finally 2 Purps were on the groynes opposite the fishing club hut by Manor Terrace car park.

Monday 25th January 2021

Cold, frosty morning. 655 Cormorant headed out fishing at stupid o'clock as dawn gets earlier. No effort was put into starring out to sea into bright sunshine. A Sanderling was on the beach briefly & a walk around the reserve basically produced the usual birds in the usual places.

Sunday 24th January 2021

Pre dawn.

Dull cold morning. 5 Lapwing were shifted off the reserve by the first jogger of the day as was a Sanderling on the tideline. On site a Rock Pipit on the point, Turnstone on the beach & Purp on a groyne at the north end opposite the fishing club hut. Offshore southbound 30 Red-throated Diver, Guillemot & Shelduck with northbound 37 Red-throats & 4 Brent.

A Songie in the helli was one originally ringed last January & not recorded since is presumably one that just comes here for the winter which is a phenomena we have noted in the past.

Some nice photos of one of our Herring Gulls in Holland yesterday is on this Dutch website - 

https://oudeversie.waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/206303858

 

Saturday 23rd January 2021

Turkeytail is one of the better looking bracket fungi that is very common.

70 Red-throated Diver north plus seven south is the best count of the year so far in only a couple of hours observation. Also southbound 5 Shelduck, Common Scoter & Fulmar with northbound 2 Great-crested Grebe & Common Scoter. 12 Ringos & 3 Sanderling were on the beach, Rock Pipit was on the point & the first Purp of the year put in an appearance on a groyne along the Butts. On site single Redwing & Song Thrush worth a mention. 

Friday 22nd January 2021

755 Cormorant headed out first thing on a glorious sunny morning. Single Sanderling, Skylark & Turnstone headed south but I don't suppose the waders are heading far. Bright sunshine so almost nil time spent staring out with the bulk of the morning spent in a Landguard Partnership meeting so nowt else to report.