Birdwatching Report - 29th March 2026
29th March, 2026
A still and clear morning, with a perfect thin veil of cloud cover allowing good viewing conditions both sides of the track, although a cold wind gained momentum towards the end of the two-hour trip.
Thankfully, the wind didn’t deter the birds, with a varied and extensive selection of species recorded. This included Sand Martins, a bird that migrates to the UK for the summer months, with around a dozen chasing a Sparrowhawk away from their nest site near Black Hole Marsh. Other raptors seen during the trip included two Kestrels and several distant Common Buzzards.
It is not often two species of woodpecker are recorded on these birdwatching specials. A drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard, whilst a Green Woodpecker afforded nice views on a track-side oak.
Several Wigeon and Teal were still present on the Estuary, along with a pair of Gadwall. On Black Hole Marsh ten Black-tailed Godwits included a couple in their red breeding plumage, indicating they will probably beheading off to Iceland soon to breed. A couple of Snipe were flighty as usual, giving only brief views, unlike the nesting pair of Coot on Seaton Marshes that showed well for all.
Small birds were well represented during the trip, with nice views of Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Meadow Pipitand Linnet.
We were also treated to good views of Red Fox and Roe Deer, with the Fox actively stalking feeding Pheasants.
In total 54 species of birds were recorded during the two-hour trip.
|
Species List - 29/03/2026 |
|
|
Mute Swan |
Collared Dove (heard) |
|
Canada Goose |
Magpie |
|
Shelduck |
Raven |
|
Gadwall |
Rook |
|
Wigeon |
Carrion Crow |
|
Teal |
Jackdaw |
|
Mallard |
Green Woodpecker |
|
Cormorant |
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
|
Pheasant |
Sand Martin |
|
Little Egret |
Blue Tit |
|
Grey Heron |
Great Tit |
|
Buzzard |
Long-tailed Tit |
|
Kestrel |
Blackcap (heard) |
|
Sparrowhawk |
Chiffchaff (heard) |
|
Coot |
Cetti's Warbler (heard) |
|
Moorhen |
Wren (heard) |
|
Oystercatcher |
Starling |
|
Black-tailed Godwit |
Blackbird |
|
Curlew |
Song Thrush (heard) |
|
Redshank |
Robin |
|
Snipe |
Stonechat |
|
Black-headed Gull |
Dunnock |
|
Common Gull |
House Sparrow |
|
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Meadow Pipit |
|
Herring Gull |
Goldfinch |
|
Great Black-backed Gull |
Linnet |
|
Woodpigeon |
Reed Bunting |