Flock of 2000+ Barnacles viewed from Campfield Lonning looking NE, 29 1 15 (credit - U Reungsuwan)
Good numbers of wintering duck, geese and waders have been reported from the Reserve this month. The most spectacular sightings for us birdwatchers were on those days where the highest tides of that series flood the saltmarshes and cause those wildflowl and waders roosting there to move higher up the marsh or even relocate to unflooded pastures along the estuary or slightly inland. Campfield Marsh is such a place where these hightide roosts bring the birds nearer to the road for better viewing or even bring them inland to the wet meadows and pools of the reserve.
3rd January.
Wigeon and Teal sunning themselves in the late afternoon sunshine on Meadow Pool.
5th January.
A milder wet, cloudy day. 9m + tides had been running for the last few days. Shelduck and Oystercatchers out on the mudflats. Great Tit heard trying out Spring song.
Record from logbook in Wetlands Centre (DB - Campfield Reserve Manager): 65 linnets,1050 Lapwing on the farm, 5 Little Egret on the saltmarsh.
7th January.
A strong westerly gale brought about by the jetstream, enhanced the already high 9m + tide. There was plenty of activity along the flooded marsh with numerous flocks of Oystercatchers and some skeins of Barnacle flying west in search of better places to feed and roost, until the high tide receeded.
Oystercatchers heading west.
Barnacles struggling by heading into the gale.
8th January.
It had remained sunny all morning, with white horses on the river caused by the brisk southwesterly wind. High tide at about 2pm was still at 9.1m. Aerial displays of small waders lit up the estuary, as did the passage of Oystercatches, Lapwing, Barnacles, Dunlin and Grey Plover along the saltmarsh. Hedda, having spent the morning with the Thursday volunteers, walked to Saltmarsh Pool where she reported good roosts of Oystercatchers, with Dunlin, Gold and Grey Plover. A Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine were also active in the area.
Aerial display of waders.
Wader flock catching the light as it weaves and turns towards the viaduct.
Lapwing flying by.
Curlew flying by.
Golden Plover.
Mallard catching the light.
Grey Plover and Dunlin in flight.
Grey Plover landing.
Wigeon and Shoveler riding the waves.
Close up of Wigeon and Shoveler.
Wigeon and Shoveler coming up on to the marsh to graze.
Oystercatcher and Curlew roost.
Curlew feeding on the wet meadows of the farm.
9th January.
Still a strong westerly wind. Remained overcast most of the day. John Ireland reported seeing from the hide (taken from logbook in the centre): 800+ Barnacles, 1 Pink, 40 Pintails, 100 Lapwing, hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, several Mallard and Shoveler, 20 Curlew, 1 Little Egret.. Also seeing 20 Tree Sparrows.
10th January.
Gales continued overnight with intermittant snow and sleet on strong westerly winds all morning.
A visitor recorded in the logbook having seen 200+ Barnacles, Curlew and Lapwing from the hide.
14th January.
The wintery weather had continued over the last few days. Today had seemed substantially warmer but rain/sleet showers had continued most of the day.
Dave B. had recorded (from Logbook) in the region of 1000 Pinks at Rogersceugh - with 150 Barnacles, 1500 Lapwing, 1750 Teal, 370 Wigeon and 24 Pintail viewed from the hide.
16th January.
Dawned frosty with a dusting of snow. Joe Murphy and Urisa reported seeing a mixed flock of Barnacles and Pinkfeet in front of the hide at 1.30pm.
A record from the logbook indicated that there had been 2500 Barnacles and 2500 Pinkfeet at Rogersceugh, sometime during the day also.
Mixed flock of Barnacles and Pinks on wet meadows NE of hide. (credit U. Reungsuwan).
Wigeon grazing near Meadow Pools. (credit. U. Reungsuwan).
17th January.
From Logbook: 2 Stonechats and 8 Meadow Pipits - South West corner of Reserve (JGI)
18th January
Had snowed lightly overnight. Sunny and very cold all day with a piercing westerly wind. 11.30am a Grey Heron came along the field drain which runs through the hamlet. During the day 4 Long-tailed Tits and a Willow Tit were seen on the hamlet feeders. John noted that most of the water on the Reserve was frozen bar a small area on the 1st Meadow Pool which a good number of Teal and Wigeon had taken advantage of.
From the Logbook: 2 Buzzard and 24 Golden Plover NE of hide ( RDC).
Grey Heron along field drain.
Willow Tit and Blue Tit on hamlet feeders.
Long-tailed Tit in hamlet.
Three of the four seen during the day.
Four photographed on 20 1 15.
21st January.
Had a dusting of snow overnight. The morning was a lot warmer so it soon melted. Although there was little wind, the high tide flooded well up on to the marsh pushing Teal and Wigeon along its margins. Good flocks of Oystercatchers and grey waders were in evidence. This was yet another hightide series with today's tide forecast as 9.9m.
From the Noticeboard: 35 Linnets and 10 Reed Buntings in the arable fields( Dave B.)
Grey waders and Oystercatchers on the tide edge.
Flooded marsh at hightide.
Wigeon and Shoveler activity.
Shoveler sailing by.
Long-tailed Tit at the back of the marsh.
22nd January.
Dawned frosty and sunny with little wind. Today and tomorrow's tides are the highest of the month at 10.1m. It misted in at the height of the tide at about 1.15pm but the marsh was still alive with activity - much like yesterday- with flocks of duck, grey waders and Oystercatchers accumulating in the corner near the Viaduct. Barnacles were reported (U R) flying low over the marsh about this time. A Snipe was seen zigzagging away from the back of the gorse near the Lonning entrance.
A misty saltmarsh looking towards saltmarsh Pool. Flocks of Oystercatchers and Curlew were gathering as the tide came in.
A walk down the Lonning at 2.30pm elicited a Pied Wagtail picking about in the margins of the new pool in the Discovery field , which was mostly frozen. A flock of about 80 Pinkfeet flew over in formation, heading its way SE. A small flock of redwing landed momentarily in the Ash trees near the hide and two Buzzards were again visible on top of the dead tree at the far end of the new path near the hide. This seems to be a favourite roosting place of their's.
Appropriately named 'Snowdrops' at Lonning entrance.
Icy Pool - Discovery field.
Newly constructed bridge over feeder stream to the new pool. Won't need to get your feet wet when using the alternate route to tthe hide!
Redwing in ash tree.
Distant Buzzards along alternative path from the hide.
23rd January.
With strong westerly winds and still a 10.1 metre tide today, there was plenty of bird activity on the marsh and estuary. A number of Barnacle flocks flew over but they seemed disoriented by the weather conditions and would suddenly turn and fly back again. John noticed at dusk about 2000 of them sitting well out on the now uncovered mud.
Oystercatchers flying into the gale at high tide.
One of numerous skeins flying west as the high tides lifted them off their inner estuary roosts.
24th January.
A bright sunny cold day with a westerly drift to the wind.. Lots of wader movement on the marsh.
Oystercatcher roost at Biglands.
Oystercatchers and Wigeon.
25th January.
Drizzled most of the day. High tides at 9.6m still pushing waders well up onto the marsh. Counted 300 grey waders and in excess of 1000 Oystercatchers in the roost near Biglands.
Good grey wader and Oystercatcher roosts near Biglands.
More high tide activity.
26th January.
Record from the Logbook: Viewed from the Hide - 900 Lapwings, 45 Pintail, 8 Shoveler, 750 Teal, 275 Wigeon, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Male Hen Harrier(DB).
Sheep at sunset.