14/02/2025

Black Redstart feeding behind the sea watch hide this morning

A bitterly cold morning despite the bright sunshine.  ESE 3-4    2º    Sunny

This mornings sea watch carried on in the same vein as the last few days.

07.25-10.00 from the hide with RW, CP, JY, OL    

Common Scoter: 5E  

Great-crested Grebe: 37 drifted E  

Oystercatcher: 29E  

Dunlin: 8E

Kittiwake: 16E

Black-headed Gull: 71 drifted E

Common Gull:  23E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 14E

Guillemot: 6E

Auk sp: 17E  

Red-throated Diver: 264E     7W 

Fulmar: 3E  1W

Gannet: 193E  

Cormorant:  46E      17W

Raven: 2E along shoreline

Black Redstart: 1 behind hide

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 2

 

Black Redstart

Black-necked Grebe at Denge Marsh

After a late breakfast and warm up I ventured out onto the reserve. 4 Cattle Egrets with 2 Little Egrets were in the Cockles Bridge triangle as I drove past, at Boulderwall Fields 2 Great White Egrets and the usual feral geese but no sign of the 19 Russian White-fronted Geese that were present yesterday. From Dennis's just 4 Goldeneye of any note. From Firth and adult Caspian Gull among c30 Great Black-backed Gulls. I went into the new Makepiece Hide and immediately realised one of the doors did not close properly with out physically lifting it into place, I feel sorry for any disabled person who may be on there own as I would imagine access and egress would be very difficult for some and near impossible for others, large handles on the inside and outside of both doors may help them. I was also surprised to notice that the screws holding the hinges in place were already starting to rust. I have to say there is plenty of room inside the hide for wheelchairs to move around easily, I assume wheelchair users would automatically gravitate towards the large viewing windows in order to view, these spots were nice and warm, but viewing straight into the sun I imagine would not be a very nice experience.

At Denge Marsh the female Smew was still present as was the Black-necked Grebe, a Dartford Warbler was singing near the viewing ramp and several Water Pipits were on the hay fields.

Late this afternoon a 2w Caspian Gull was viewable from Firth and a Barn Owl was flying around the ARC car park.