Gibraltar Point update

January 20th. A cold morning with temperatures above freezing.
Around were a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, 500 Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 40 Corn Bunting and a Woodcock. The Pink-footed Goose flock contained 3 adult ‘european’ White-fronted Goose.

January 19th. A hard overnight frost saw all water bodies at least 90% frozen and a day maximum temperature of 4 degrees.
Offshore were 5 Great-crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver. Around the reserve were 2 Water Pipit, a Treecreeper, a Bullfinch, a Merlin, 3 Water Rail and 150 Fieldfare.

January 18th. Freezing overnight with a day maximum of 5 degrees and a force 2/3 South/South-east wind.
Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Water Pipit, 34 Corn Bunting, 4 Goldeneye and 100 Fieldfare.

January 17th. Freezing overnight with a day maximum of 4 degrees and an increasing force 1 to 3 South/ South-east wind.
Around were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Stonechat and 14 Corn Bunting.January 16th. Freezing temperatures overnight.
Moving offshore were a Little Auk, 30 Red-throated Diver, a Great Skua, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 Auk spp and 4 Common Scoter. On the reserve were 42 Corn Bunting, 2 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Goldcrest, 400 Pink-footed Goose and 80 Fieldfare.

January 15th. Cold with overnight frost.
An early morning seawatch produced a Great Northern Diver, 15 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 346 Cormorant, 16 Eider and 2 Common Scoter. Around were a Bullfinch, a Water Rail, 5 Redwing, 150 Fieldfare and 5 Corn Bunting.

January 14th. Heavy rain showers.
On the water bodies were 2 Goldeneye, 10 Pochard, 266 Teal, 32 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, 15 Mallard, 62 Shoveler and 66 Wigeon. Around were 130 Fieldfare, a Coal Tit and 3 Song Thrush.
Snowdrops are now flowering in the Plantation.

January 13th. Sunny and bright.

 The morning high tide revealed 650 Grey Plover, 500 Sanderling, 150 Redshank and 1500 Oystercatcher. Around were a Common Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin, 400 Brent Goose, 800 Pink-footed Goose and a House Sparrow.

 

January 12th. Intermittent rain.

 A Raven was discovered late afternoon, perched up in a dead Elder, behind the Bird Observatory. It was mobbed by 3 Magpie and departed off north soon after. Around were 3 Woodcock, 800 Dunlin, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin and 8 Siskin. Offshore were 90 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shag, 2 Razorbill, a Great Northern Diver, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Little Gull, 3 Kittiwake, 30 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Auk spp. An adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose was with the Brent flock early morning. The evening gull roost produced 7110 Black-headed Gull and 2390 Common Gull.