17th February

A count of of all the wildfowl and waders on all suitable habitat as part of the 'WeBs' survey was undertaken today. Among the totals on the wildfowl front were 3 Whooper Swans, 961 Greylag Geese (plus the usual hybrid), 2 Shelducks, 167 Wigeons, 86 Teal, 69 Mallards, 2 Pintails, 2 Shovelers, 6 Tufted Ducks and 6 Goldeneyes. Notable wader numbers recorded were 110 Oystercatchers, 146 Lapwings, 80 Purple Sandpipers and 49 Bar-tailed Godwits. On a glorious sunny day there were a few signs of spring with 15 Skylarks seen, including 8 which came in off the sea at the observatory and headed north. A Snow Bunting flew out south to sea there, while a Water Rail caught in one of the Heligoland Traps was presumably the assumed over-wintering bird seen a couple of times before new year.

Water Rail