GANNET GAZING

Returned to the cliff-top vantage point on Monday 14th to see if there was anything of interest flying about offshore. There was no main gathering of birds but there was a steady stream of around 100 terns which were most likely common terns heading east.

On the horizon there seemed to be a steady flow of distant gulls flying north-east past Colne Point. The distinctive profiles of at least 3 gannets could be seen amongst the gulls. Later an immature gannet, similar to the bird seen yesterday was seen in the same area, circling round and diving into the sea. Through the telescope the views were distant but clear and for once the bird was staying to feed in the same area rather than flying away.
Andy Field and Martin Cock were also looking out to sea a mile to the west at Coopers Beach and we were able to relay sightings to each other as we scanned the sea from different points.

The main highlight whilst scanning offshore to the south was watching a peregrine fly low over the sea as it headed into the river Colne. Ten minutes later the turnstones in front of me panicked at something and when I looked to see what had spooked them, a peregrine flew past before turning round and then flying right overhead as it headed back inland.

Also out at sea were 3 eider in the river Colne with a further 3 off Coopers Beach where six common scoter were also seen by Martin and Andy. A group of 12 wigeon arrived from offshore, new arrivals from the continent for the winter.

Noted on the mud were 4 sanderling, 80 turnstones perched on the tops of the posts, 70 ringed plover, 50 golden plover as well as lots of redshank, dunlin, oystercatcher, curlew and grey plover. When the tide came back in at the end of the afternoon, 15 little egrets were noted.

Some of the sea buckthorn bushes along the cliff-top are laden with orange berries, ready for any hungry migrant birds to eat. Elsewhere around the park are lots of bright red rowan berries, which are also waiting for birds to eat them.

Small birds of interest in the park centred around a mixed tit flock of mainly long-tailed tits. Blackcap, lesser whitethroat and chiffchaff were the only migrant warblers noted in the bushes by the car park.


It seemed a bit surprising to find this clump of sea aster flourishing on the sandy beach in front of the cliff, instead of its more preferred place in the saltmarshes.