January: Plenty of wader action for the first month of the year with 18 species recorded including up to four Ruff, Common Sandpiper, 18 Grey Plover, Avocet, ten Knot, Turnstone, Spotted Redshank and at least seven Jack Snipe. Very little in the way of gull action with probably no more than six Caspian Gulls, three Meds and a adult Iceland that headed up river on the 31st. The Ross’s Goose was seen until the 8th and a few Brent Geese were seen including 27 on the 14th. A Slavonian Grebe was seen on the 17th and 24th but the river was generally quiet. A drake Garganey was unseasonal on the 31st but several were seen in the country during that week. Pintail reached 18 and Wigeon climbed to about 800. Two ‘normal’ Chiffchaffs and one Siberian were seen on the trails but Bearded Tits were only heard on the 7th. The pair of Bullfinch remained but were typically elusive. Single Waxwings were heard in the last week before apples tempted up to 25 down on the 29th. Star bird was the Bittern; first seen on the 23rd and then again from the 31st. Rock Pipits reached a record 30 and four Water Pipits and five Corn Buntings made the foreshore interesting. Short-eared Owls were occasionally seen and the Barn owl did likewise. There were a couple of Merlin sightings and Marsh Harrier and Peregrines were daily fixtures.
Despite the harsher days, Water Voles were still occasionally seen and Ron Weasel was seen out in the snow. Mr Blobby the Common Seal attracted the attention of not one but two females and Bob the big Grey Seal was seen doing what he does best on several high tides.
My favourite duck... a drake Pintail right in front of the Purfleet Hide (Clive Watts)
9-2-13
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
...and mine Clive !