Review of 2020: A fantastic year for the patch despite Coronavirus

robbirder3
Dec 31, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Sep 1, 2021

The year 2020 will always be remembered for the disastrous pandemic which has seen thousands of deaths and the most dramatic changes to the way we live, travel and work. Despite this the advent of multiple 'lockdowns' saw us walking and covering the patch like never before. In the first lockdown in the spring, we walked over 300 miles as part of our exercise routine!!

And what an incredible year it has been with 154 Species recorded by the 31st December 2020. Highlights included: White-fronted and Pink-Footed Geese, 13 Duck species including Goosander, Goldeneye, and Velvet Scoters, 17 Wader species including record numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel (295 on the 25th August) and Grey Plover (390 on 25th August), all 4 skua species with good views of Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas, 9 Gull Species, Great Northern and Black-throated Divers on the sea, good numbers of Shag, 5 heron species including Great White Egret, Cattle Egret and Spoonbill, Honey Buzzard over the garden, an amazing 41 Red Kites with one over the back garden, Marsh Harrier and Hobbys in off the sea, Tawny Owls in the back garden and 2 Short-eared Owls on the beach, Continental Coal Tits, Woodlark, phenomenal numbers of hirundines ahead of storms, and a UK MEGA - an EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN on the undercliff for 12 days, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 14 Firecrests, 5 Ring Ouzels, 10 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 7 Common Redstart, 11 Black Redstart, 5 Greenland Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, Tree Sparrow, breeding White Wagtails, Tree Pipit, Brambling, record numbers of Lesser Redpoll (more than 1300), Crossbill (66) Siskin (more than 2100), Goldfinch ( 8500 on 16th October alone!) and a Snow Bunting!

We also recorded, European Badger in our back garden, Red Fox, Common Seals, European Rabbits, Harbour Porpoise, Brown Rat, Grey Squirrel and Stoat. Butterflies were in good numbers and we managed to add Essex Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Blue and Long-tailed Blues although only one Painted Lady this year.