Having stayed at Gibraltar Point last year (see 2010 Gibraltar Point report), we decided that we simply had to go back again. Russ Payne organised another visit for us and 18 members of the South East Essex RSPB Group set off for a long weekend.
The majority of the group decided to meet at one of our newer reserves, RSPB Frampton Marsh. This reserve is really stunning and we were able to spend a very pleasant few hours or so enjoying the views from the hides.
We left with the following species list:
RSPB Frampton Marsh
- Common Pheasant
- Mute Swan
- Greylag Goose
- Canada Goose
- Brent Goose
- Common Shelduck
- Gadwall
- Mallard
- Shoveler
- Wigeon
- Pintail
- Common Teal
- Little Grebe
- Grey Heron
- Little Egret
- Cormorant
- Kestrel
- Marsh Harrier
- Kingfisher
- Moorhen
- Coot
- Oystercatcher
- Pied Avocet
- Lapwing
- Little Stint
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Curlew
- Common Redshank
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Dunlin
- Ruff (over 100!)
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Woodpigeon
- Collared Dove
- Swift
- Green Woodpecker
- Magpie
- Jackdaw
- Carrion Crow
- Swallow
- House Martin
- Starling
- Tree Sparrow
- Whinchat
- Meadow Pipit
- Chaffinch
- Greenfinch
- Goldfinch
- Linnet
A welcome surprise - Tree Sparrows
Juvenile/1st winter Starling at RSPB Frampton Marsh
Salt marsh as far as the eye can see at Frampton!
None shall pass!
We arrived at Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve Friday afternoon to be met with the usual friendly welcome and, as last year, a superb evening meal (thanks to Barbara and her team for putting on the sort of meals that you would expect from a five star hotel). Our Friday evening walk saw three Spoonbills passing over our heads at dusk going to roost so we knew we were in for another great stay!
We stayed at Gibraltar point until Sunday lunch time and walked quite a number of miles in the the time that we had. We left on Sunday having seen the following species:
Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve
- Mute Swan
- Greylag Goose
- Canada Goose
- Barnacle Goose (x2)
- Common Shelduck
- Mallard
- Gadwall
- Shoveler
- Wigeon
- Common Teal
- Eider
- Common Scoter
- Red-legged Partridge
- Common Pheasant
- Red-throated Diver
- Little Grebe
- Manx Shearwater
- Leach's Storm Petrel
- Gannet
- Cormorant
- Little Egret
- Grey Heron
- Spoonbill (5 adults, 1 juvenile)
- Kestrel
- Sparrowhawk
- Buzzard
- Marsh Harrier
- Hobby
- Moorhen
- Coot
- Oystercatcher
- Pied Avocet
- Ringed Plover
- Grey Plover
- Lapwing
- Knot
- Sanderling
- Turnstone
- Dunlin
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Little Stint
- Green Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper
- Redshank
- Spotted Redshank
- Greenshank
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Curlew
- Whimbrel
- Ruff
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Great Skua
- Arctic Skua
- Black-headed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Sandwich Tern
- Common Tern
- Black Tern
- Razorbill
- Stock Dove
- Woodpigeon
- Collared Dove
- Swift
- Swallow
- House Martin
- Sand Martin
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Meadow Pipit
- Dunnock
- Robin
- Wheatear
- Whinchat
- Mistle Thrush
- Blackbird
- Blackcap
- Common Whitethroat
- Reed Warbler
- Chiffchaff
- Great Tit
- Blue Tit
- Long-tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Jackdaw
- Carrion Crow
- Starling
- House Sparrow
- Willow Warbler
- Chaffinch
- Linnet
- Goldfinch
- Greenfinch
- Siskin
Other species seen: Common Seal, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Stoat.
Bird of the trip - Pectoral Sandpiper (right) with Dunlin.
Pectoral Sandpiper (right) and Dunlin (left)
Wheatear in the garden at Gibraltar Point - this bird stayed with us all weekend
Some of the large numbers of Red Admirals that could be seen in the wooded area.
Little Egrets and Spoonbills
A very happy RSPB Group after a wonderful weekend
Thanks must go to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at Gibraltar Point for making us most welcome and for letting us have the entire centre to ourselves. A special thanks to Russ Payne for all of the organisation - great places, great birds, great weather, great food and great company!
Skua!!
