30-01-16 Broadwater Gravel Pit

An afternoon visit provided the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant (4 occupied nests), Grey Heron (6 occupied nests), Mute Swan, Canada Goose (pair), Eurasian Wigeon (28), Gadwall, Common Teal (2), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (4), Red Kite (1), Northern Lapwing (13), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Kingfisher (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing, Cetti’s Warbler (2 singing male), Common Chiffchaff (10), Siberian Chiffchaff (1), Firecrest (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch (1), Common Treecreeper (2), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Bullfinch (2), Common Reed Bunting (3).

A single Firecrest was observed near the heronry viewing area feeding among the Ivy covered Alders. This was the first time I had seen this species at this site.

A Siberian Chiffchaff  fed along the bank of the Colne with several Common Chiffchaff, its dull grey plumage and pale breast most obvious.

RSPB Rainham Marshes

A late morning visit in sunny, cold conditions provided the following species:-
Great Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (2 immature flew in from Thames), Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Kestrel (2), Golden Plover (c60), Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew (1), Common Redshank (on bank of Thames), Dunlin (c200 on bank of Thames), Common Snipe (13), Black-tailed Godwit (41 on bank of Thames), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl (1 asleep in nest box), Short-eared Owl (1 viewed from the mound), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Stonechat (4), Common Skylark (4), Meadow Pipit (1), Cetti's Warbler (2), Dartford Warbler (1), Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet (5), Reed Bunting.

Below are a few record shots of the Short-eared Owl hunting over the marsh and viewed from the mound area.

 

Hengistbury Head, Dorset

A late morning visit in generally dry but windy conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (2), Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Brent Goose bernicla (19), Common Teal, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser (3), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher (2), Purple Sandpiper (1), Northern Lapwing, Feral Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Skylark (1), Common Stonechat (7), Common Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Raven (2), European Goldfinch, Common Starling, House Sparrow.

   Purple Sandpiper feeding on the rocky shoreline at Hengistbury Head near Muddeford Quay.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

Having spent most of the new year in bed with man flu it was welcome relief to finally feel well enough to venture out this afternoon. Despite the dreary wet weather my visit produced the following species:-
Little Grebe (3), Great Crested Grebe (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Great Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Greylag Goose (18 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (Lynsters Lake), Eurasian Wigeon (11 Lynsters Lake), Gadwall (Lynsters Lake), Common Teal (17), Mallard (31), Northern Shoveler (6), Common Pochard (3), Tufted Duck (20), Common Moorhen (19), Eurasian Coot (6), Common Buzzard (2 Lynsters Farm), Red Kite (1), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull (1), Herring Gull (1), Stock Dove (6 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon (c50), Collared Dove (2), Ring-necked Parakeet (5), Common Kingfisher (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (51 Lynsters Farm), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (15), Song Thrush (2), Common Chiffchaff (2), Goldcrest (2), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (80 Lynsters Farm), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (3), Eurasian Siskin (c100).