For further information regarding the Reserve and its wildlife, please contact Kevin Wilson at:
kwilson@lincstrust.co.uk
Top 5 birds to see in April:
1) Cuckoo - present on the reserve from mid-month
2) Whitethroat - commonest warbler on the reserve by the end of the month
3) Spoonbill - scarce passage migrant, can be seen on Tennyson's Sands or Jackson's Marsh at any time
4) Sandwich Tern - can be seen offshore at any time during the month
5) Firecrest - scarce passage migrant, Plantation and North Car Park often reliable places to see them.
April 26th. Increasing westerly wind.
Around were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 9 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Cuckoo, 2 Ring Ouzel, 3 Wheatear, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. On Jackson's Marsh was a male Garganey. Heading south were a Tree Pipit and 4 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded just a retrap Wren.
April 25th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
The 2 Red-rumped Swallow remained feeding over Jackson's Marsh. Other birds around were 83 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 12 Avocet, a Whimbrel, a Little Ringed Plover, a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 3 Ring Ouzel, 8 Wheatear, a Redstart, a Tree Pipit and 2 House Sparrow. On Croftmarsh were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Pink-footed Goose, a Buzzard and a Greenshank. Flying south were 4 Collared Dove, 8 Rook, a House Martin and 2 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and a retrap Ring Ouzel.
The retrap Ring Ouzel, a second-year female, weighed 96.7g, an increase of 7.2g from the 89.5g it weighed when ringed on April 22nd.
April 24th. An Alpine Swift flew south into the Wash in the morning. The 2 Red-rumped Swallow remained around the Sykes Farm area. A Bittern was around the water bodies. Also present, including birds trapped, were 91 Brent Goose, 10 Whimbrel, a Cuckoo, 5 Ring Ouzel, 4 Wheatear, a Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 12 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler and 5 Lesser Whitethroat. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Garganey. Going south were 3 Marsh Harrier and 3 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Blue Tit; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Dunnock.
April 23rd. Increasing south-westerly wind.1) Cuckoo - present on the reserve from mid-month
2) Whitethroat - commonest warbler on the reserve by the end of the month
3) Spoonbill - scarce passage migrant, can be seen on Tennyson's Sands or Jackson's Marsh at any time
4) Sandwich Tern - can be seen offshore at any time during the month
5) Firecrest - scarce passage migrant, Plantation and North Car Park often reliable places to see them.
April 26th. Increasing westerly wind.
Around were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 9 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Cuckoo, 2 Ring Ouzel, 3 Wheatear, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. On Jackson's Marsh was a male Garganey. Heading south were a Tree Pipit and 4 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded just a retrap Wren.
April 25th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
The 2 Red-rumped Swallow remained feeding over Jackson's Marsh. Other birds around were 83 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 12 Avocet, a Whimbrel, a Little Ringed Plover, a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 3 Ring Ouzel, 8 Wheatear, a Redstart, a Tree Pipit and 2 House Sparrow. On Croftmarsh were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Pink-footed Goose, a Buzzard and a Greenshank. Flying south were 4 Collared Dove, 8 Rook, a House Martin and 2 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and a retrap Ring Ouzel.
The retrap Ring Ouzel, a second-year female, weighed 96.7g, an increase of 7.2g from the 89.5g it weighed when ringed on April 22nd.
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| Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 25th April 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 25th April 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Blue Tit; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Dunnock.
Grasshopper Warbler
Video - Stuart Ainsworth
Two Red-rumped Swallow were discovered hawking overhead the reserve for some time.
Around, including birds trapped, were 56 Brent Goose, a Garganey, 6 Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Red Kite, a Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo, a Swift, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear, a Brambling, 2 Siskin and 2 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a Mediterranean Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands a Common Sandpiper. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, a Swift, 18 Rook, 69 Swallow, 13 Sand Martin, 78 House Martin and a Grey Wagtail; and west a Hobby.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chaffinch and a Great Tit; and a retrap Dunnock.
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| First-winter Mediterranean Gull, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Red-rumped Swallow, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Red-rumped Swallow, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Red-rumped Swallow, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Phil Hyde |
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| Red-rumped Swallow, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Phil Hyde |
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| Gatganey, 23rd April 2018. Photo - Phil Hyde |
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| Blackcap with pollen around base of bill, ringed 23rd April 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars in their silk tent, 23rd April 2018. The hairs of these caterpillars can cause severe allergic reactions in humans, and they should be avoided. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 15 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Cetti's Warbler, a Blue Tit, a Linnet and 2 Ring Ouzel; 2 retrps: a Wren and a Chiffchaff; and a control Willow Warbler.
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 22nd April 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Ring Ouzel, with a tick behind the bill, ringed 22nd April 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Ring Ouzel, ringed 22nd April 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Ring Ouzel, ringed 22nd April 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 10 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Reed Warbler, 2 Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and a Wren.
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| Blackcap, 21st April 2018. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Brown Hare, 21st April 2018. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Whitethroat, 21st April 2018. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Yellowhammer, 21st April 2018. Photo - Paul Johnson |
