12/04/2021

2nd cy Iceland Gull over The Patch

A rather poor sea watch this morning considering the date, I thought I could blame the very cold temperature, but looking at the results of the this mornings watch at Cap-gris New it would appear temperature has nothing to do with it. 

06.00-0830 with CP &AJG

Brent Goose: 39E

Common Scoter: 90E      8W

Red-breasted Merganser: 2E

Red-throated Diver: 14E

Great-crested Grebe: 6 around

Fulmar: 2E   2W

Gannet: 522E

Cormorant: 42 around

Oystercatcher: 1E

Kittiwake: 20E

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Iceland Gull:1 (The regular bird at The Patch)

Sandwich Tern: 80E

Guillemot: 18E

Razorbill: 3E

Auk sp: 490E      14W

Wheatear 1 around

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 3

A Murder Of Crows

A single Crow was being literally hammered by the bills of 3 other Crows for approximately 20 minutes this morning, its bill was being gripped by the claws of 1 of the attackers while the others were doing their very best to kill it. After 20 minutes I thought it was dead, but incredibly it managed to escape when another Crow joined in distracting the original attackers, it flew off very shakily with chunks out of its wings and in generally very disheveled state. Amazing behaviour to watch albeit rather disturbing.

2nd cy Iceland Gull in the power station compound

Lesser Black-backed Gulls thinking about nesting on the power station

Herring Gulls already nesting on the power station

At least 1 drake Garganey on the hay fields today

Fairly quiet on the reserve today, Burrowes in particular was disappointing,  a few Hirundines over the ARC and New Diggings late morning. My first Whitethroat of the year at the ARC car park singing briefly, several Willow Warblers singing there and several more around Hookers and Christmas Dell, I have now seen more Willow Warblers this spring than I saw for the whole of last spring. White Wagtails and Yellow Wagtails were on the hay fields and Boulderwall Fields along with a single Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. The hoped for Cuckoo did not materialise but my first Reed Warbler of the year at the Corrale was compensation. At least 3 Bitterns are booming 2 on Dengemarsh and 1 on the ARC.