March 6th

It was brighter and less windy than yesterday but still chilly as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. We saw 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Fieldfare, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chaffinches, 3 Tree Sparrows, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Shelduck, 12 Redshank, 75 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Oystercatchers, 32 Russian White-fronted Geese, 1 Canada Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, 10 Turnstone, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser flying E close inshore, 5 Mallard, 8 Meadow Pipits, 26 Corn Buntings, 3 Sanderling and 2 Snow Buntings.

Carrion Crow eating a Spotted Dogfish

Russian White-fronted Geese

 A walk from Brook to Coldharbour at about the same time produced 1 male Merlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Water Rail, 171 Red-throated Divers flying E, 10 Common Scoter E, 32 Russian White-fronted Geese,  1 Canada Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, 6 Grey Plover, 1 Stonechat, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 187 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 3 Grey Herons and 1 Little Egret.

Dave Smith was also out this morning and east of Shuart he found a pair of Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier and a displaying Kestrel. Later he saw a Short-eared Owl at The Oyster Farm and a ring tailed Hen Harrier further inland.

Amanda Lynch has heard a Tawny Owl calling regularly at Shuart over the last month (133rd).