We're going to start this week with our STOP PRESS bird from last week. The juvenile white-rumped sandpiper that was briefly seen twice on the Frampton scrapes on the 1st popped up to Gibraltar Point on the Saturday then returned to see us on the 4th. This is the 33rd wader species to be recorded feet down on managed wetland areas of the reserve in 2013 and if you include grey phalarope and woodcock, that have been seen in the reserve's recording area, takes us to 35 for the year, not too shabby :)
There was a distinct wintery feel to this week's birds with reports of parties of fieldfares, ring ouzel, lapland bunting, snow bunting and twite. While the buntings and ouzel were single birds, the twite numbered 40 and sat nicely in the dead elders around the sea bank car park. Hopefully they'll be a regular sight around the scrapes over the next few months. What we definitely won't see more of anytime soon is the swallow that zipped over the reserve entrance on Monday.
Twite - Ian Ellis
Birds of prey were firmly back on the birding agenda this week with regular reports of peregrine, kestrel, sparrowhawk, buzzard, marsh harrier and 2 super stunning male hen harriers. Hopefully the appearance of the 2 male harriers, following on from a sighting last week, means that there's a good chance they're in the area and will be visible from the sea wall and may even sneak onto the reserve like the one below did at the start of the year.
For the first time in 50 years no young hen harriers were raised in England, putting them in a precarious position that could see them go extinct as a breeding species in the foreseeable future :( The RSPB have set up a specific hen harrier project to look at how we can raise awareness of this fantastic bird and promote their conservation in what should be core breeding areas. They are also collecting and collating winter records so if are lucky enough to see one while you're out and about please let the team know by calling them on 0845 4600121 (local call rates) or e-mailing them at henharriers@rspb.org.uk and providing as much information as you can. If you want to keep up to speed with the project the you can also follow them on Twitter here.
Hen harrier - Paul McCaffery
With wigeon and teal numbers bordering on the uncountable when having a quick walk around due to their abundance and dispersion (aka there are loads and they are EVERYWHERE!) it's hard to know if their numbers are up or down but the increase in several species is notable with many more pintail, shoveler and gadwall around the scrapes and reedbed. We will be carrying out our monthly BTO WeBS count on the 9th so this time next week I'll be able to give you some very accurate counts of all waders and wildfowl.
Pintail -Neil Smith
Unfortunately the high tides are now dropping off but early birds took advantage of them earlier in the week and headed down to Cut End and were duly rewarded for their early wake up call. Highlights from Wednesday and Thursday were 3 black-throated divers, 6 red-breasted mergansers, 2 long-tailed ducks, scaup, red-necked grebe and a very late tern. Unfortunately it was pretty distant but Ian managed to get a photo of the bird. From the date I thought it would be an arctic tern but looking at the pictures the legs aren't short enough. The all dark and droopy bill point towards a roseate tern but the mantle seems too dark. Could it be a pale legged common tern? More photos and discussion here. Answers on a postcard please :)
Mystery tern - Ian Ellis
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder