Gib 020318

Good number of Woodcock the highlight today with 66 recorded. All dunes very quiet with most passerine records from the Plantation, no doubt because of the feeders? Good count of Gadwall today too. Still no chance of a sea watch due to the eye watering, cold force 5+ easterly wind making viewing impossible

Mute Swan 2
Greylag Goose 46
Brent Goose 30
Wigeon c600
Teal 100
Shoveler 17
Tufted Duck 28
Cormorant 9
Little Grebe 8
Coot 7
Golden Plover 2
Lapwing 15
Redshank 4
Snipe 1
Woodpigeon 50
Kestrel 1
Jackdaw 50
Blue Tit 15
Long-tailed Tit 4
Starling 15
Fieldfare 7
Redwing 7
Dunnock 7
Greenfinch 2
Reed Bunting 1
Pink-footed Goose 30
Canada Goose 70
Shelduck 5
Gadwall 91
Mallard 130
Pochard 2
Goldeneye 1
Pheasant 5
Little Egret 1
Moorhen 5
Oystercatcher 100
Grey Plover 2
Curlew 30
Woodcock 66
Stock Dove 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Magpie 4
Carrion Crow 2
Great Tit 19
Wren 5
Blackbird 34
Song Thrush 2
Robin 8
Chaffinch 16
Goldfinch 6

Woodcock records as follows:

Ringing Hollow 5
Buckthorn 7
Willy’s Slack 6
Aylmer area 6
Cycle track 11
Barrie’s Plot 8
Plantation 23

There are probably many more on the reserve considering the areas I didn’t cover and the ones I missed of course. Good to see such numbers with some birds in sizeable groups (e.g. 6 in Buckthorn, 5 Barrie’s Plot and 8 Plantation). Interesting to note that the Plantation and west side of the NNR appeared to have more birds than the east side. Mind you it was very cold in the ED even for a Woodcock I guess!!

Regards

Nige