Mid July 2025

July 15th. A mostly clear start, quickly clouding over, in an increasing south-westerly wind which brought prolonged afternoon rain, heavy at times.

  On the water bodies around the reserve today were 114 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 35 Little Grebe, 230 Avocet, 455 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 216 Redshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin, 6 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 41 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret, 31 Spoonbill (including colour ringed bird ND9L), 332 Black-headed Gulls and a Kingfisher. During the evening a Hobby, a Red Kite and 200 Swift went south over Tennyson's Sands.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff and 2 Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Sanderlings flying along the beach on the mornings high tide, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sandwich Tern with food, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Colour Ringed Sanderling, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Skylark, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Seal in the sea, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Dunlin being harassed by Little Egrets, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Snipe, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Little Egrets from Harvey's Hide, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Darter Dragonfly, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 14th. Partially cloudy, with slowly increasing southerly to south-easterly wind.

  During the morning Tennyson's Sands held a Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, a Snipe, 3 Great White Egret and 27 Spoonbill whilst on Jackson's Marsh, there were 2 Green Sandpiper. At the Visitor Centre, there was a female/juvenile Black Redstart.

  In the late afternoon, a check of the Mere revealed 181 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper, all right in front of the hide - unfortunately nobody had a camera! Whilst watching these birds it became evident that a strong migration phase was underway with Sand Martins and Swifts pouring through, mainly along the east side of the reserve visible from the Mere hide. In just 30 to 40 minutes, 640 Sand Martin, 270 Swift, a Hobby and 3 Great White Egret went south into rapidly strengthening headwind so probably a locally related movement through a moving weather front.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Chiffchaff; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.

Spotted Redshank (Note the tiny Little Grebe chick with its parent in the background),
 14th July 2025. Photo - Tom Baker

Green Sandpiper, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Greenshanks, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Little Egrets and a couple of Spoonbills at sunrise on the Mere, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Barn Owl, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Sedge Warbler, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

July 13th. Mostly clear, with light to moderate north-easterly wind.

  Highlight of the morning was a Red Kite that drifted south over the Visitor Centre at 10.20am. At lunch time a Crossbill was heard over Sykes Farm, and then during the evening 3 Greenshanks flew over. Heading south were 4 Whimbrel whilst around the boats on the river and around the Freshwater Marsh were 150 Sand Martins and 250 Swallows. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from scrub on the Freshwater Marsh.

  On the water bodies were 1 Water Rail, 41 Little Grebe, 168 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 92 Redshank, 9 Greenshank, 1 male Ruff, 27 Spoonbill, 3 Great White Egret.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Wren; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

  A total of 26 new birds and 9 retraps were processed over in the West Dunes today with the Eighth Session of the CES ringing site being completed (Session Seven was unfortunately missed due to rain last Sunday before the time that the session would have finished). This resulted in 13 new birds: 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Robin, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap and 1 Great Tit; and 5 retraps: 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Dunnock.

  The West Dunes feeding station nets produced 13 new birds: 3 Chaffinch, 4 Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Greenfinch and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 4 retraps: 1 Chaffinch and 3 Great Tit.

An early start to the CES which started over an hour before the sun came up.
13th July 2025, Photo - Michael Briggs

Juvenile Coal Tit ringed, 13th July 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Great White Egret pouncing on Black-headed Gulls! 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwits, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Red Kite, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbill stretching, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbills arriving, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

A pair of Small Skippers, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

July 12th. Cloudy start, gradually clearing, with gradually increasing north-easterly wind.

 On the water bodies around the reserve were 32 Little Grebe, 298 Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 16 Lapwing, 448 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 24 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 29 Spoonbill, 44 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret and 1 Grey Heron.

  Around were 66 Curlew (on Seacroft Golf Course at first light), a juvenile Cuckoo and 8 Mistle Thrush.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

Little Egrets from Harvey's Hide on Tennyson's Sands, 12th July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Little Egrets and Grey Heron on Tennyson's Sands, 12th July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

July 11th. Clear and hot, with light then slowly increasing southerly to south-easterly wind.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Kingfisher; and 4 retraps: 2 Robin, a Wren and a Whitethroat.

Kingfisher, ringed 11 July 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Sandwich Tern with lunch! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Ringed Plover chick looking for mum and food! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Little Tern looking for breakfast! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Tern at dawn, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Sandwich Tern with more breakfast! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Early July 2025

July 10th. Clear blue skies becoming very hot with just a hint of a northerly breeze.

  The water bodies continue to provide most of the highlights with 178 Avocet, 26 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 273 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 67 Redshank, 9 Cormorants, 8 Little Egrets, 23 Spoonbills and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (x1 Adult and x1 2 CY).

  Elsewhere on the reserve there were 200 Herring Gulls, 150 Sandwich Terns, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Whitethroat. 

 A check of the Barn Owl boxes revealed an adult and 3 small chicks in one box, and an adult and 4 chicks (2 that were then ringed) in the other.

Sanderlings on the beach, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Ringed Plover, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Dunlin, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Little Tern at dawn, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Little Terns, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Beach Day for a Roe Deer fawn, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

July 9th. Partially cloudy, with a slight westerly breeze.

  On the water bodies during the late afternoon were 13 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 21 Spoonbill, 139 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 107 Avocet, 289 Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Lapwing, 47 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull and 1038 Black-headed Gull.

  About 45 Shelduck were flying around during the morning and a flock of 22 Spoonbill flew over the sanctuary area into the Wash at 4.30pm. There were 2 more Common Sandpipers around the boats on the river and a Barn Owl hunting over the picnic table area. Around was a Sparrowhawk.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Wren, a Linnet and a Robin; and 5 retraps: 2 Wren, a Great Tit and 2 Whitethroat.

x2 Common Sandpipers, 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

A Swallow dropping down for a drink! 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Adult Mediterranean Gull in the Black-headed Gull roost, 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Ringlet Butterfly, 9th July 2025
Photo - Caroline Sedgley

Gatekeeper Butterfly below a White Letter Hairstreak
9th July 2025, Photo - Caroline Sedgley

Comma Butterfly, 9th July 2025
Photo - Caroline Sedgley

White Letter Hairstreaks, 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Six Spotted Burnet Moth, 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Volucella pellucens - Pellucid Fly - a hoverfly species, 9th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Chrysotoxum bicinctum - Two Banded Wasp Hoverfly
9th July 2025, Photo - Caroline Sedgley

July 8th. Cloudy start, then clearing, with moderate north-westerly wind shifting to north-easterly.

  On the water bodies during the late afternoon were 172 Mallard, 22 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 43 Little Grebe, 7 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 21 Spoonbill, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 236 Avocet, 18 Lapwing, 22 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 354 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher and a roosting total of 747 Black-headed Gulls with a single adult Mediterranean Gull.

  On the beach were 2 Artic Terns in amongst the roosting 94 Sandwich Terns, on the estuary were 600 Herring Gulls whilst feeding offshore were 30 Gannets. Also heading North were 18 Gannet, 108 Common Scoter and a large Diver that remained unidentified. A total of 96 Curlew were recorded, mainly on the Golf Course. A pair of Barn Owls were around as was a Grasshopper Warbler on Mill Pond Road. Also, a Cuckoo was in East Dunes.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Wren and a Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Lapwing altercation! 8th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Green Sandpiper and alba Wagtail, 8th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwits in flight, 8th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Grasshopper Warbler in full song, 8th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Comma Butterfly, 8th June 2025
Photo - Bob Derry

July 7th. A mainly cloudy day with the odd shower and some sunny breaks later on in the moderately strong northerly wind.

  A morning sea watch produced 23 Common Scoter, 5 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot, 9 Auk Species, 16 Little Terns, an estimated 2500 Sandwich Terns, 312 Kittiwakes, 350 Gannets, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Arctic Skua and 2 Manx Shearwaters, all heading North.

  A check around the water bodies in the revealed 6 Little Egrets, 1 Great White Egret, 16 Spoonbills, 280 Black-tailed Godwits, 188 Avocet, 18 Lapwing, 39 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and 514 Black-headed Gulls roosting, and a Marsh Harrier over Croft Marsh.

  In other Moth news, it has been confirmed that a Moth trapped in late June at Syke's Farm was in fact a Wood Sage Plume, the 2nd reserve record and just a 5th for the County.

Common Sandpipers, 7th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Roosting Greenshank, 7th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 7th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

x4 of 14 Spoonbills flying off Tennyson's Sands - note the tracker on the back of ND9L
7th July 2025, Photo - Tom Baker

Little Egret somewhat unusually sitting down, 7th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 6th. Cloudy start, then heavy rain with more rain in the afternoon, the wind starting in the south-west then shifting around to a northerly.

  Birds on the move offshore prior to the rain were 600 Sandwich Terns, 5 Arctic Terns, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 40 Gannets, and over the beach and dunes a small numbers of Swallows, Sand Martins and Swifts, with 3 Yellow Wagtails. Two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling and a female Shoveler had a new brood of 10 chicks on Mill Pond. A Common Sandpiper was on the drive of a neighbouring property - presumably grounded by the rain.

  On Tennyson's Sands were a summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and 14 Spoonbills. Also around was a Barn Owl.

  An evening sea watch by Richard Doan from 8pm till 9pm at the north end resulted in 5 Auk species and a Puffin flying South whilst heading North were 468 Kittiwake, 6 Artic Skua, 1 adult Little Gull, 7 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 112 Gannets and 300+ Sandwich Tern.

Curlew Sandpiper in amongst Avocets, 6th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 6th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

A Shelduck youngster in the heavy rain, 6th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Spoonbills and Black-tailed Godwits roosting, 6th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Colour-ringed Spoonbill ND9L still present, 6th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 5th. Partially cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

  On Tennyson's Sands today were 52 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall,34 Little Grebe, 137 Avocet, 21 Curlew, 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 44 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plovers and 14 Spoonbills.

  Also recorded were a single Hummingbird Hawk Moth and a very rare for the reserve Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly which was on the path to Jackson's Hide.

Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers, 5th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Green Sandpiper, 5th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwit, 5th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Roe Deer Fawns, 5th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Roe Deer Fawn, 5th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Roe Deer with two Fawns, 5th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Silver-washed Fritillary, 5th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Dingy Footman Moth, 5th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 4th. A mostly clear day again, with occasional clouds moving through on a light westerly breeze.

 80 Sand Martins came out of roost at the Mere early on, and there followed a light southerly passage involving an increased number of Swallows. Also heading south were 60 Swifts, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Siskins and a Crossbill prior to 0830hrs. 

Swift passage picked up in the late afternoon/evening with over 4000 moving south, while Sand Martins built up steadily to around 500 hawking over Freshwater Marsh.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: 2 Wren, a Linnet and 2 Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: a Wren, 3 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Robin.

July 3rd. Clear start, becoming cloudier, with light generally westerly breeze.

  On the Mere was a Great White Egret and a flock of 15 Curlew flew over. On Tennyson's Sands were 14 Spoonbills. Birds around included a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Barn Owls.

  Also recorded during the day were a Water Vole, 5/6 White-letter Hairstreak Butterflies, 3 Hummingbird Hawk Moths and another Scarlet Tiger Moth. Moth trapping overnight revealed the reserves first Garden Tiger Moth since 2011.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 15 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Wren.

  Colour Ring Recovery Report: A colour ringed Avocet was on the Tennyson's Sands today - Red ring with a white zero on the left leg above knee, metal ring below knee and a Yellow ring over White with a black C  on right leg above knee. Info has been obtained by Nigel Lound that this bird is recently ringed and that it was breeding in Amstelmeer, the Netherlands but lost its chicks. More info will come in due course. This Avocet is the 17th colour ringed bird recorded at Gibraltar Point. Many thanks to Nigel Lound for getting the info so quickly.

Colour ringed Avocet, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Avocet, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwit, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Little Tern, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbill, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

15 Curlews flying over the Mere, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Reed Warbler, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

An early start is required when Moth trapping overnight, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Garden Tiger Moth, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Garden Tiger - closed wings, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Copulating White-letter Hairstreaks, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Four-spotted Chaser, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Emperor Dragonfly, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 3rd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 2nd. Cloudy, with occasional light rain, and slowly increasing northerly to north-easterly wind.

  A mornings sea watching produced an incredible 800 Sandwich Terns heading North nearly all at distance along with 6 Auk species, 20 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Little Gull. Heading South were 40 Gannets. Also recorded were 7 Little Tern, 1 Artic Skua, 300 Herring Gull, 25 Common Scoter and 12 Teal.

  On Jackson's Marsh at 8.15am were 12 Spoonbill, 19 Avocet, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, and 2 Shelduck whilst on Tennyson's Sands at 9.00am were 14 Spoonbill, 110 Avocet, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Redshank and 20 Shelduck. Later, on Tennyson's Sands, there were 5 Mediterranean Gulls including 3 adults and a Cuckoo. Two of the Mediterranean Gulls were still present at 5.30pm Other birds around included a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Barn Owl.

  Also recorded today were a Water Vole and 30+ Toadlets and 4 Hummingbird Hawk Moths at Sykes Farm.

Shelduck with nearly fully grown chick, 2nd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Oystercatcher vs Curlew, 2nd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Oystercatcher vs Curlew - the head to head! 2nd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-headed Gulls - beak to beak! 2nd July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

July 1st. Partially cloudy, with variable then north-easterly wind.

  The main interest during an hour sea-watch early morning was a Northerly movement of 32 Mediterranean Gulls. A feeding flock had developed offshore at low tide again featuring 200 Herring Gulls and 200 Sandwich Terns. The Wheatear was still present. Around were two Barn Owls and a Marsh Harrier. On Tennyson's Sands were 100+ Avocet, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 30 Redshank and 11 Spoonbill. 

  2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths were again around the buildings in Sykes Farm during the afternoon.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced new birds: 4 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Whitethroat; and retraps: 2 Wren, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Sedge Warbler, 1st July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

A Shelduck Family all lined up! 1st July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, 30th June 2025. 

Photos - Mike Watts

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, 30th June 2025. 

Photos - Mike Watts

Juvenile Wheatear, 1st July 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson