Another quite featureless day in the force 5-6 WNW wind.    On the realignment area were 69 Shelducks, 6 Avocets, 20 Redshanks, 5 Cormorants, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Pied Wagtails and 2 Redwings.   3 Lesser Black-backs flew over to the NW.

         Following a rainy morning, I decided to sample the south end in an awfully blustery afternoon.   On or over the fields were 3 Common Buzzards, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail and 17 Mute Swans.    On the flashes and marshes were 29 Tufted Ducks, 19 Mallard, 120 Teal, 9 Coots, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Little Egrets, 18 Redshanks and a Common Snipe.
         At the north end beyond the RAF tower, Chris Atkin added 2 Jack Snipe, 7 Common Snipe, 1,200 Wood Pigeons, 65 Linnets, 11 Twite and a Peregrine.

         A short visit to a windy Stonebridge between the regular morning showers.    On the southern section of the realignment area were 43 Shelducks, 30 Teal, 10 Mallard, 40 Redshanks, 2 Avocets, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Little Egrets, Common Buzzard, Redwing, 20 Goldfinches and 50 Twite.

                                                                               Pintail

         The realignment area produced 130 Redshanks, 16 Avocets, 30 Dunlin, one Ruff, 6 Mute Swans, 95 Shelducks, 27 Mallard, 90 Teal, 2 Pintail, 5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 4 Cormorants, 4 Common Buzzards, 55 Twite, 25 Goldfinches, 8 Pied Wagtails and 2 Long-tailed Tits.
         Out on the shore were 180 Oystercatchers, 38 Curlews, 2 Rock Pipits and 40 Brent Geese.

         Late news from yesterday concerned John Clarkson's observations between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall.   He saw a very early Whimbrel, plus 40 Twite, 5 Rock Pipits and 2 Pintail.

         Today, at the south end, one White Wagtail remained with 2 Pied Wagtails.   On the flashes and marshes were 180 Teal, 21 Mallard, 20 Tufted Ducks, 4 Shelducks, 16 Mute Swans, 4 Little Egrets, 12 Coots, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Common Snipe and 25 Redshanks.   32 Curlews and 30 Sanderlings on the mudflats and 3 Red-throated Divers north at sea.
         Also of interest were 2 Rock Pipits, Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Corn Bunting.

         Additional records by CA for yesterday included 12 Twite, Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier.

         A Marsh Harrier at the south end this morning was perhaps the same bird.   When last seen it was spiralling high and out to the SE over the shore. Other raptors were 2 Common Buzzards, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk.
         Two White Wagtails were the first of the spring and 3 other alba wagtails passed to the north.   On the flashes and marsh were 8 Little Egrets, 21 Mallard, 140 Teal, 25 Tufted Ducks, a Cormorant, 14 Coots, 7 Little Grebes, Common Snipe, 12 Redshanks, 21 Meadow Pipits and a Rock Pipit.
         Two Lesser Black-backs and a Common Scoter flew south at sea.   13 Mute Swans and 95 Curlews were on the coastal fields.   Also of note were 2 Grey Partridges, 8 Blackbirds and a Redwing.
         In the evening, 1,800 Starlings came in to roost in my garden.

         Six Whooper Swans and 69 Curlews on the shore  and 16 Mute Swans on the fields at the south end.   A good day for wheeling raptors, hence 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and 2 Peregrines.    On the marshes and flashes were 34 Mallard, 140 Teal, one Pintail, one Wigeon, 24 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 9 Redshanks, 6 Common Snipe, 11 Coots, 3 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Rock Pipits.   Also seen were 4 Grey Partridges, 2 Pied Wagtails, 25 Linnets, 3 Siskins, 3 Song Thrushes and 26 Meadow Pipits.

         Waders on the realignment area this morning were 20 Avocets, 220 Redshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 270 Dunlin, 220 Knot, 7 Curlews, 5 Oystercatchers and a Common Snipe.   Wildfowl were 90 Teal, 21 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, a Wigeon, 45 Shelducks, Mute Swan and a Greylag Goose.
         Other birds of note were 7 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 2 Cormorants, 4 Little Grebes, Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzards, Hen Harrier, Rock Pipit, 13 Meadow Pipits, 13 Reed Buntings, 3 Pied Wagtails, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Greenfinches, 13 Goldfinches, 9 Linnets and 50 Twite.

         Observations were hampered by the poor visibility.   Main birds were 28 Tufted Ducks, 150 Teal, 22 Mallard, Pintail, 2 Canada Geese, 5 Little Grebes, 9 Coots, 4 Little Egrets, Common Snipe, 2 Pied Wagtails, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

         Pretty quiet at the south end today.    The best birds were 30 Tufted Ducks, 28 Mallard, 170 Teal, 3 Little Grebes, 11 Coots, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Common Snipe, 42 Redshanks, Mistle Thrush, 22 Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk and 2 Common Buzzards.

         500 Oystercatchers and 20 Grey Plovers on the shore near Pye's Hall and 900 Brent Geese towards Grainthorpe Haven.    More waders on the realignment area included 150 Golden Plovers, 230 Redshanks, at least 17 Avocets, 11 Curlews, a Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 220 Dunlin, 250 Knot and a Spotted Redshank.    Wildfowl were 34 Shelducks, 28 Mallard, 60 Teal, 2 Gadwall, Tufted Duck and a Mute Swan.    Other waterbirds were 8 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 9 Cormorants, 2 Moorhens and 3 Little Grebes.
         15 Pied Wagtails were new and also of note were 30 Meadow Pipits, 4 Rock Pipits, 120 Twite, 25 Goldfinches, 14 Linnets, 8 Reed Buntings, 2 Goldcrests and a Stonechat.

         Two Common Cranes NW along the dunes at 0920 kept turning into the NE wind and across the shore as though contemplating a crossing to the Yorkshire coast.   They remained on the Lincolnshire side though, and were still slowly making their way upriver way beyond Stonebridge ten minutes later.
         Not many other birds seen.   On the southern fields were 24 Curlews, 76 Golden Plovers, Mistle Thrush and a Common Buzzard.    The flashes and Scrape produced 4 Mute Swans, 27 Mallard, 130 Teal, 24 Tufted Ducks, 7 Redshanks, 2 Common Snipe, 7 Coots, 2 Little Grebes and 5 Little Egrets.   One Chiffchaff was seen and Mark Johnson recorded a Hen Harrier on the realignment area.

         On the flashes and Scrape were 25 Mallard, 240 Teal, 22 Tufted Ducks, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Little Grebes, 11 Coots, 21 Redshanks, 5 Common Snipe, Water Rail and at least one Kingfisher.   Also of note were 68 Curlews, 40 Sanderlings, 2 Sparrowhawks, Pied Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrests and 23 Linnets.   300 Starlings and 7 Blackbirds came in from the sea.

                                                                   A welcome return.

         A walk around the realignment area saw the return of 12 Avocets.   Other waders here and on the shore were 250 Oystercatchers, 220 Redshanks, a Greenshank, 5 Curlews, 120 Golden Plovers, 122 Dunlin, 60 Sanderlings and 150 Knot.    Wildfowl were 5 Mute Swans, 90 Brent Geese, one Barnacle Goose, 20 Mallard, 95 Teal, 5 Tufted Ducks and 57 Shelducks.    Other waterbirds were 3 Cormorants, a Grey Heron, 5 Little Egrets and 2 Little Grebes.
         Also of note were a Merlin, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 12 Meadow Pipits, 4 Rock Pipits, one Water Pipit, 92 Twite, 13 Linnets and a Goldcrest.

         I was unable to find the Firecrest near Stonebridge this morning.    Birds seen included 70 Twite, 50 Redshanks, 50 Teal, 32 Shelducks, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons and a Common Buzzard.

                                                                          Stonechat.

         There were no Whooper Swans at the south end today, and only 2 Mutes were recorded.   Other wildfowl were 28 Mallard, 160 Teal, 2 Wigeon and 22 Tufted Ducks.   Six Common Buzzards were spiralling together over the fields before descending back into the Warren.   Singles of Peregrine, Kestrel, Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk were noted.   Three singing Corn Buntings were new and a party of 3 Stonechats comprised 2 males and a female.   Also of note were 5 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Coots, Common Snipe, 10 Redshanks, 79 Curlews, 200 Golden Plovers, 2 Grey Partridges, 120 Skylarks, 12 Twite, 2 Rock Pipits and a Song Thrush.
         The Firecrest was still present near Stonebridge.

      The Firecrest was still present near Stonebridge.   Other birds seen between here and Pye's Hall included 96 Teal. 53 Mallard, one Tufted Duck, 26 Shelducks, Little Grebe, 60 Redshanks, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail and 40 Twite.

      The main waterbirds on the WeBS count between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were 75 Redshanks, 420 Oystercatchers, 400 Knot, 6 Curlews, 335 Brent Geese, one Pink-footed Goose, 35 Teal, 33 Shelducks, 2 Cormorants, 3 Little Egrets and one Grey Heron.   Other birds of note included a Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Water Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 90 Skylarks, 70 Twite, 18 Linnets, 4 Stonechats and a Firecrest.

      On the fields at the south end were 25 Whooper Swans, 50 Curlews, a Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels and a Barn Owl.   Birds on the flashes included 22 Mallard, 115 Teal, 16 Tufted Ducks, Little Egret, Grey Heron, 7 Coots and 3 Little Grebes.   Ca. 20 Twite on the outmarsh with 2 Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtail, 9 Golden Plovers and 24 Redshanks.   150 Skylarks were recorded.

                                                          Pale-bellied Brent  Goose

      WeBS count for the realignment area this morning in quite blustery conditions resulted in only moderate counts for most species.   Waders were 80 Redshanks, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlews, 120 Lapwings, 360 Golden Plovers and 21 Dunlin.   Brent Geese were just 14 dark-bellieds and one pale-bellied bird, while ducks were 45 Shelducks, 3 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 74 Teal, 28 Mallard and 2 Wigeon.   Other waterbirds included 8 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 6 Moorhens, 3 Little Grebes and 4 Cormorants.   Also of note were 23 Meadow Pipits, 7 Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtail, 50 Skylarks,  5 Twite, 2 Kestrels and a Common Buzzard.
      A further 50 Redshanks and 200 Knot were on the shore outside the count section.

      Whooper Swans were down to 24 and only 6 Mute Swans were seen today.   Also on the fields were 100 Skylarks, 2 Mistle Thrushes, a Fieldfare and a Common Buzzard.   Along the flashes were 25 Mallard, 95 Teal, 16 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Grebes, 8 Coots and a Little Egret and on the dunes were 27 Yellowhammers, 7 Reed Buntings, 9 Linnets and a Song Thrush which fell victim to a Sparrowhawk.
      17 Cormorants and 12 Kittiwakes flew north at sea and a Gannet headed south.   On the shore and outmarsh were 50 Curlews, 30 Golden Plovers, 20 Lapwings, 22 Redshanks, 6 Rock Pipits and a Peregrine.