Saturday 28th March 2020

Another day with a bitter north east wind blowing, with little of note around. A single Firecrest and a Redwing were in the bushes, 2 Siskins and 2 Chaffinches passed overhead.

A Stonechat was at the northern end of the Reserve and 4 Turnstone were at the Jetty.

On the sea heading northbound were 5 Red-throated Divers, 3 Curlew, 2 Gannet and a Greylag Goose while an Oystercatcher headed south.

A Yellow-legged Gull was in the Port roost.

The early nesting Pair of Ringed Plover have failed and abandoned their eggs but with this sort of activity going on mid-day yesterday with this and another large kite occasionally directly over the nest it is not totally surprising. The miscreants were polity spoken with the PSPO & Bylaws explained but ignored a request to stop and carried on.

Friday 27th March 2020

A bitter north easterly this morning, with a good covering of mirk over the north sea. This briefly produced a little bit of vis-mig including 4 Siskins, 4 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Brambling, 3 Redwing and a Grey Wagtail but it quickly dried up. In the bushes a Cetti's Warbler sang briefly and  2 Goldcrests and a Firecrest were present.

Out on the Reserve,  a White Wagtail was among the Pieds and 4 Turnstone were on the Jetty.

The moth traps held a Clouded Drab, a variable species that we only get in small numbers and a March Moth.

Thursday 26th March 2020

A change in the weather this morning, with a light north-easterly first thing and a hint of frost. A Fieldfare and a Redwing were both on site first thing, with a Firecrest and Goldcrest present in the bushes. Two Grey Wagtails, a male Bullfinch headed south and 2 Siskin, a Reed Bunting and a Greenfinch headed north. A female Yellowhammer also finally found the nets.

On the reserve a single White Wagtail was amongst the Pied Wags and 4 Turnstone and a Purple Sandpiper were on the Jetty. The first Ringed Plover nest was also discovered, as an incomplete clutch containing two eggs. This is the earliest ever recorded clutch for the site.

On the sea 3 Brent went southbound and 2 Gannet went north.

Ringing: 2 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 1 Yellowhammer

Wednesday 25th March 2020

Very pleasant sunny but cool morning with a handful of new Blackbird and Robin on site plus 5 Black Red, 3 Siskin, 2 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, Brambling, Chaffinch, Continental Coal Tit, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Stock Dove & Yellowhammer. Overhead southbound 9 Carrion Crow (+13 local wanderers), 6 Jackdaw, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Greylag, Grey Wag & Rook. A Buzzard went south, bottled it, then back north again & another Buzzard went north early afternoon. 3 Turnstone & Purp were on the point. Little effort put into starring out to sea.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin, 1 Stonechat, 1 Redwing.

Tuesday 24th March 2020

Difficult to know why this Cattle Egret chose to wander around the jetty for a short while before departing inland high over Dovercourt into Essex. It is only our third site record.

Clear & sunny with an onshore breeze delivered the first 2 Black Redstart of the year with a supporting cast of 3 Chiffchaff Goldcrest, Firecrest, Mipit, continental Song Thrush, Stonechat & White Wagtail. Overhead southbound Goldfinch & Siskin. Offshore northbound 56 Brent, 12 Red-throated Diver & Common Gull with southbound Brent & Curlew plus an adult Little Gull that came out of the river mouth then straight out to sea. A Purple Sandpiper reappeared on the point.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Firecrest, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing.

Monday 23rd March 2020

A blustery cold south-easterly this morning. A single Redwing was in the bushes at first light, along with 8 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 3 Chiffchaffs, the Crests seem to have departed. At least 40 Linnets were feeding on the reserve and 8 Goldfinches headed south.

On the sea it was rather quiet, 8 Brents headed southbound, while 15 Common Gulls, 5 Shelduck and a Fulmar headed northbound.

A Small Tortoiseshell was sunning itself in a sheltered spot on the Reserve.


Ringing: 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit

Sunday 22nd March 2020

Bright n' breezy fairly strong easterly wind making birding hard work. Migrants on site were Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Stock Dove & Jackdaw over south then north. Offshore movements poor with southbound 3 Brent, 2 Red-throated Diver & Common Scoter with northbound 11 Brent, 7 Red-throated Diver, 5 Gannet & 2 Curlew.

Agonopterix alstomermiana is probably one of the easiest of its kind to identify. It can be encountered at any time of the year and lives on Hemlock.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff