Ringing on 30th Sep 2011

George was again ringing at the Observatory on the last day of the month and with just 15 Birds processed including 11 New birds and 4 Retraps, the month finished in unspectacular fashion!

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (0/4) Dunnock, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (9/0) Goldcrest and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

  Hopefully October will be better than Spetember, one of the worst Autumn months ringing for many years!...

Ringing on 29th Sep 2011

A double effort day today with Mike Polling ringing at Aylmer Avenue and George ringing over at the Observatory. They processed 59 Birds between them including 38 New birds and 21 Retraps.

  The combined day catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Sparrowhawk, (1/0) Wren, (2/2) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (1/0) Song Thrush, (2/0) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (6/1) Goldcrest, (1/0) Coal Tit, (0/7) Blue Tit, (1/5) Great Tit, (0/1) Treecreeper, (2/0) Chaffinch, (15/3) Greenfinch, (0/2) Goldfinch and (4/0) Reed Bunting.

  A fairly low total with two sites being operated. 59 birds processed is well below average for the time of year but then this September has been incredible quiet!

Ringing on 28th Sep 2011

Ringing by George at the Observatory today resulted in 13 Bird processed including 12 New birds and just 1 Retrap.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (2/0) Wren, (1/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (1/0) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (3/0) Goldcrest, (2/0) Blue Tit and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

The miserable September looks like it will finish in the same style that it started - high winds and few birds to ring on the days when opening nets is possible. It has certainly been one of the worst Septembers that I can remember at Gib in the last two decades!...

Ringing on 27th Sep 2011

More ringing at the Observatory today with George processing 27 Birds including 26 New birds and just 1 Retrap.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (8/0) Meadow Pipit, (0/1) Robin, (3/0) Chiffchaff, (11/0) Goldcrest, (1/0) Great Tit, (1/0) Goldfinch and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

  Also reported from the 26th and 27th September 2011 were -

x3 Red Throated Diver
x1 Great Skua
x5 Artic Skua
x1 Common Buzzard
x3 Grey Partridge
x20 Brent Goose
x2 Pintail
x3 Grey Heron
x50 Sandwich Tern
x8 Ruff
x60,000 Knot
x250 Golden Plover
x1 Wheatear
x15 Siskin
x7 Crossbill

Ringing on 26th Sep 2011

George was ringing again today at the Observatory and processed 46 Birds, which included 43 New birds and just 3 Retraps.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Sparrowhawk, (24/0) Swallow, (1/0) House Martin, (1/0) Wren, (4/1) Dunnock, (0/1) Whitethroat, (2/0) Blackcap, (2/0) Chiffchaff, (2/0) Goldcrest, (3/0) Tree Sparrow, (0/1) Chaffinch, (1/0) Linnet and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

  A reasonable September days catch then, the year total is slowly creeping up but doesn't look like being anything spectacular at the moment.

Ringing on 25th Sep 2011

Again today was a double effort day with Mick Briggs training his trainee "The apprentice" Dave Vincent at Aylmer Avenue whilst George Gregory was continuing his prolonged ringing session at the Observatory. This resulted in 102 Birds processed, including 70 New birds and 32 Retraps.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/3) Wren, (5/3) Dunnock, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (0/2) Whitethroat, (19/1) Blackcap, (4/2) Chiffchaff, (1/0) Willow Warbler, (11/2) Goldcrest, (14/4) Long Tailed Tit, (1/3) Blue Tit, (2/4) Great Tit, (1/0) Chaffinch, (9/7) Greenfinch, (0/1) Goldfinch and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

  A long over due Long Tailed Tit flock was caught at Aylmer Avenue whilst another 19 New Blackcaps ringed was an incredible result after 14 New Blackcaps yesterday, that makes 33 different Blackcaps present over the weekend, just around the ringing sites which are tiny in comparison to the size of the reserve. There must literally be hundreds present across the reserve as a whole.

  Also reported on the 25th September 2011 were -

x3 Red Throated Diver
x20 Brent Goose (South)
x2 Pintail
x1 Common Pochard
x7 Teal
x11 Common Scoter (South)
x3 Grey Heron
x1 Mediterranean Gull (Adult winter plumage into roost with Black Headed Gulls)
x6 Gannet (South)
x3 Guillemot
x1 Great Skua
x2 Artic Skua
x2 Common Tern
x50+ Sandwich Tern
x250 Golden Plover
x1 Wheatear
x2 Yellow Wagtail

Ringing on 24th Sep 2011

A double effort day today with George ringing at the Osbervatory and Mick Briggs, on an increasingly rare day off work, ringing at Aylmer Avenue. The two sites produced 101 Birds processed including 74 New birds and 27 Retraps.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (0/1) Sparrowhawk, (0/2) Wren, (5/1) Dunnock, (4/1) Robin, (0/1) Blackbird, (14/0) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (26/2) Goldcrest, (0/1) Long Tailed Tit, (3/4) Blue Tit, (2/2) Great Tit, (11/7) Greenfinch, (5/5) Goldfinch and (3/0) Lesser Redpoll.

  The Lesser Redpolls were just the 5th to 7th of the year whilst the Retrap Sparrowhawk was the young male originally ringed on the 6th of August 2011 on the Storm Ridge and retrapped today for the second time at Aylmer Avenue, where it would seem to have taken up residence.
  Goldcrest numbers are now starting to really build up whilst the 14 Blackcaps ringed in a single day just go to show what a cracking couple of breeding years that this species has had, it would seem now that the Blackcap record year total will certainly be broken this year.

  Also reported on the 24th September 2011 were -

x14 Brent Goose
x18 Pink Footed Goose
x1 Spoonbill
x7 Snipe (In off the sea)
x1 Swift (South)
x1 Red Rumped Swallow (South) per Darren Mathews
x5 Goldcrest
x5 Chiffchaff
x3 Crossbill


Still small numbers of finches including Linnets, Redpolls and Siskins, along with House Martin and Swallows moving South.
1st Year Male Blackcap - 1 of 14 ringed on the 24th September 2011.
Note the sharp/pointy tail feathers indicative of a first year bird that has grown all the tail feathers at one time in the nest.
Photo - Mick Briggs
1st Year Male Blackcap - 1 of 14 ringed on the 24th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Ringing on 23rd Sep 2011

Ringing at the Observatory today by George Gregory provided the Obs totals with 20 Birds processed including 17 New birds and 3 Retraps.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (3/1) Wren, (3/0) Dunnock, (0/1) Whitethroat, (3/0) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (6/0) Goldcrest, (0/1) Blue Tit and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

  Also reported on the 23rd September 2011 were -

x1 Spoonbill
x1 Curlew Sandpiper
x1 Common Buzzard
x3 Marsh Harrier
x5-7 Wheatear
x1 Redstart
x1 Spotted Flycatcher
x1 Bullfinch

Several hundred House Martin South along with smaller numbers of Swallow also heading South. Mixed flocks of finches and good numbers of Linnet South whilst sea watching produced various SKuas and some divers.

Ringing on 22nd Sep 2011

Another quiet day at the Observatory for George today with just 11 Birds processed including 7 New birds and 4 Retraps.

  The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Sparrowhawk, (1/1) Wren, (0/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (0/1) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (1/1) Goldcrest, (1/0) Blue Tit and (1/0) Greenfinch.

  The Sparrowhawk was a young male and was the seventh of the year, still a long way short of the 15 that were ringed in 2010, but the years total is slowly creeping up as is the Grand Total for the year.

Also reported on the 22nd September 2011 were -
All records of birds "South" were from a Visible Migration Watch from 06.15am untill 08.15.

x1 Barn Owl
x1 Marsh Harrier
x1 Spotted Redshank
x1 Turtle Dove
x1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker per Richard Doan (flew over East Dunes at 7.33)
x870 House Martin (South)
x45 Swallow (South)
x1 Swift (South)
x5 Skylark (South)
x305 Meadow Pipit (South)
x4 Wheatear
x1 Redstart
x1 Chiffchaff
x36 Goldfinch (South)
x69 Siskin (South)
x12 Chaffinch (South)
x23 Greenfinch (South)
x23 Tree Sparrow (South)
x215 Linnet (South)
x25 Redpoll sp (South)
x2 Crossbill (South)

Ringing on 21st Sep 2011

A somewhat better result today for George, ringing at the Observatory resulted in 43 Birds processed including 30 New birds and 13 Retraps.

  The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Wren, (2/6) Dunnock, (0/1) Robin, (2/0) Wheatear, (3/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (1/2) Whitethroat, (6/3) Blackcap, (5/0) Chiffchaff, (1/0) Willow Warbler, (5/0) Goldcrest, (1/1) Blue Tit, (1/0) Magpie, (1/0) Linnet and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

  The two Wheatears were just the fifth and sixth ringed this year, it is surprising just how few Wheatears we ring when you consider that many hundreds must pass through the reserve during an average year. They just don't seem to often be found in areas where we have nets set up. So well done to George for these two today.

It was another good morning for overhead migration of pipits, finches and hirundines etc. Also offshore, good numbers of Gannets, Sandwich Terns, Artic Skuas and Gull were moving South - the highlight though was an Adult Sabines Gull moving slowly South.

Also reported on the 21st September 2011 were -

x1 Sabine's Gull
x1 Short Eared Owl
x5 Wheatear
x1 Stonechat
x2 Yellow Wagtail
x5 Chiffchaff
x5 Lesser Redpoll
x2 Crossbill

Ringing on 20th Sep 2011

A much quieter day, today for George with the wind speed again increasing! Just 15 Birds were processed including 14 New birds and just a single Retrap.

  The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (2/0) Wren, (1/0) Blackcap, (7/0) Chiffchaff and (4/1) Goldcrest.

  The Chiffchaff total for the year is now starting to build up slowly as is the Goldcrest total. Will it be another "classic" Goldcrest year? You would think not with the two severe winters that we have just experienced but at Gib, a large number of the Goldcrests that we catch during the Autumn are actually continental migrants and there is a "lot" of continent from which they can come from!

Also reported on the 20th September 2011 were -

x1 Spoonbill
x4 Ruff
x1 Curlew Sandpiper
x2 Artic Tern
x2 Black Tern
x1 Wheatear
x1 Stonechat
x40 House Martin (South)
x5 Siskin
x14 Tree Sparrow 
Will this be a "Classic" Goldcrest Year?
Only time will tell - fingers crossed...
Library Photo - Mick Briggs


Ringing on 19th Sep 2011

George was ringing at the Observatory today as usual and was rewarded with 59 Birds processed including 55 New and just 4 Retraps!

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (15/0) Meadow Pipit, (4/0) Wren, (1/2) Robin, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (3/0) Whitethroat, (4/1) Blackcap, (7/0) Chiffchaff, (10/0) Goldcrest, (4/1) Blue Tit, (1/0) Great Tit, (1/0) Chaffinch, (1/0) Goldfinch, (1/0) Siskin and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

  This was a much more typical September catch at the Observatory today and long overdue it is. These are the sort of numbers that we normally expect everyday through out September but this year the excessively prolonged westerly winds have dramatically reduced the numbers that George has been able to catch.
  Hopefully these sort of days will carry on now through to the end of the Autumn?

Also Reported on the 19th Sep 2011 were -

x1 Spoonbill
x1 Water Rail
x2 Marsh Harrier
x1 Merlin (Female)
x1 Short Eared Owl
x1 Barn Owl
x12+ Goldcrest
x4 Lesser Redpoll
x2 Brambling
x3 House Sparrow
x9 Carrion Crow
and a small nuimber of Swallow and House Martins passing through - today felt very Autumnal!

Ringing on 18th Sep 2011

The winds dropped overnight and this morning George was ringing at the Observatory whilst Mick Briggs was ringing at Aylmer Avenue with the ever ready young apprentice, David Vincent!.
  Over at the Observatory, George processed 27 Birds including 24 New birds and just 3 Retraps whilst Dave and Mick processed 122 Birds processed including 71 New birds and 51 Retraps, which made a combined day catch of 149 Birds processed including 95 New birds and 54 Retraps.

  The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/1) Great Spotted Woodpecker, (3/0) Swallow, (2/2) Wren, (8/6) Dunnock, (8/0) Robin, (1/0) Whitethroat, (1/0) Garden Warbler, (11/1) Blackcap, (6/3) Chiffchaff, (7/0) Willow Warbler, (12/1) Goldcrest, (1/0) Spotted Flycatcher, (0/2) Long Tailed Tit, (5/10) Blue Tit, (4/3) Great Tit, (0/1) Treecreeper, (4/5) Chaffinch, (12/15) Greenfinch, (7/4) Goldfinch and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

Not a bad day then after the miserable run of high winds we seem to be having through most of September so far, especially seen as they seem to be from a largely westerly orientation, which is clearly not great for bringing any scarce migrants or impressive numbers of common migrants ariving on the coast.
  September's ringing totals are looking to be some of the lowest in the last decade at the present rate of knots!

  Also reported on the 18th September 2011 were -

x1 Redstart
x1 Barred Warbler (East Dunes)
x1 Stonechat
x2 Spotted Redshank
x1 Manx Shearwater
and a scattering of Goldcrests.
Spotted Flycatcher ringed at Aylmer Avenue on the 18th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs
Spotted Flycatcher ringed at Aylmer Avenue on the 18th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs
Two Great Spotted Woodpecker's 1 New & 1 Retrap caught on the 18th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Reported 17th Sep 2011

Still the high wind speed stops any nets from being opened but the following were reported on the 17th Sep 2011 -

x4 Pied Flyctacher (Mainly around the plantation)
x1 Spotted Flyctacher
x1 Honey Buzzard
x1 Common Buzzard
x2 Whooper Swan
x3 Spoonbill
x7 Chiffchaff
x1 Short Eared Owl
x7 Marsh Harrier
x1 Whinchat

also a "smattering" of Crossbill, Siskin and House Martin were also noted.

Reported 16th Sep 2011

No ringing today due to the high winds which are back with avengence! however -
  Not strictly on the reserve but just to the North of the reserve by Nigel Lound on the beach at Skegness today (16th September 2011) sea watching produced the following between 0645 and 1200 -

x2 Red Throated Diver (North + x2 South)
x1 Black Throated Diver (Back and forth close in, seen on 7 occasions, last seen heading North)
x14 Manx Shearwater (North + 2 South)
x7 Sooty Shearwater (North)
x1 Balearic Shearwater (North)
x1 Cory's Shearwater (Probable went North at 11.30 though not enough on it for positive ID)
x5 Fulmar (North)
x490 Gannet (North + x135 South)
x220 Sandwich Tern (North)
x12 Common Tern (South)
x8 Commic' Tern (South)
x1 Kittiwake (Juvenile North)
x16 Great Skua (North + x3 South)
x14 Artic Skua (North + x5 South)
x2 Long Tailed Skua (North)
x5 Skua sp. (North + x1 South)
x254 Teal (South)
x110 Wigeon (South)
x4 Common Scoter (North + x9 South)
x7 Pink Footed Goose (East)
x3 Brent Goose (South)
x2 Guillemot (North)
x5 Auk sp. (North)

Ringing on 15th Sep 2011

An amazing ringing result was the order of the day today! with Tim Bagworth ringing at the Observatory on a "very rare day off" whilst George had a day off from ringing, and Mike Polling had a day ringing over at Aylmer Avenue. The combined result was an impressive 284 Birds processed including 220 New birds and 64 Retraps.
  Tim processed 140 Birds at the Observatory including 125 New birds and 15 Retraps whilst Mike over at Aylmer Avenue processed 144 Birds including 95 New birds and 49 retraps.

  The days impressive catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (48/0) Meadow Pipit, (2/0) Wren, (13/4) Dunnock, (11/1) Robin, (3/0) Redstart, (0/1) Blackbird, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (2/0) Reed Warbler, (8/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (12/1) Whitethroat, (1/0) Garden Warbler, (24/3) Blackcap, (31/1) Chiffchaff, (22/3) Goldcrest, (0/1) Coal Tit, (5/12) Blue Tit, (1/6) Great Tit, (0/2) Treecreeper, (1/0) Tree Sparrow, (5/5) Chaffinch, (23/19) Greenfinch, (4/5) Goldfinch, (1/0) Linnet, (1/0) Lesser Redpoll and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

  Good birds were caught at both sites and one of the best days ringing this year. Well done to both Tim and Mike for a cracking days catch!

  Also Reported on the 15th September 2011 were -

x1 Puffin
x2 Fulmar
x16 Manx Shearwater
x1 Balearic Shearwater
x200 Gannet
x20 Pink Footed Goose
x60-80000 Knot
x2 Redstart
x40 Goldcrest
x1 Barred Warbler
x2 House Sparrow
x4 Crossbill

Ringing on 14th Sep 2011

With the wind easeing, George was back in action over at the Observatory today with a healthy 38 Birds processed, including 34 New birds and 4 Retraps.

  The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Swallow, (0/1) Wren, (3/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (1/0) Reed Warbler, (0/1) Barred Warbler, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (10/1) Whitethroat, (4/0) Blackcap, (7/0) Chiffchaff, (1/0) Willow Warbler, (1/0) Blue Tit and (4/0) Great Tit).

  The retrap Barred Warbler was the one from last week, seemingly still hanging around, not surprising really after four days off near gale force winds!

  Also reported on the 14th Sep 2011 were -

x4 Spoonbill
x1 CORNCRAKE!
x8 Pink Footed Goose
x2 Spotted Redshank
x5000+ Knot
x1 Ruff
x1 Whimbrel
x1 Turtle Dove
x5 Swift
x1000+ House Martin
x11 Whinchat
x17 Yellow Wagtail
x4 Tree Pipit
x7 Chiffchaff
x1 Lesser Whitethroat
x38 Tree Sparrow
x20 Redpoll
x5 Crossbill

  This evening Mick Briggs travelled to Boston to a book signing at Waterstones by Mr David Lindo. The book signing was preceded by a talk about Mr Lindo's life and how he became a birder and a writer. It was all very fascinating and a good time was had by all that attended.
Mr David Lindo at his book signing at Waterstones in Boston on the 14th Sep 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

 Katherine Birkett having a book signed by David Lindo at Waterstones in Boston on the 14th Sep 2011.
Katherine is well known to Lincs Bird Club Members for her many posts on the L.B.C. Forum web pages.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Reported 13th Sep 2011

The winds started to ease this afternoon but too late for any ringing to be done.

Reported on the 13th September 2011 were -

x5 Spoonbill
x1 Water Rail
x1 Manx Shearwater
x92 Sandwich Tern
x19 Turnstone
x6 Ruff
x22 Greenshank
x3 Spotted Redshank
x2 Hobby
x8 Marsh Harrier
x2000+ Meadow Pipit
x4 Tree Pipit
x15 Yellow Wagtail
x20 Alba Wagtail
x1 Grey Wagtail
x1 Whinchat
x2 Wheatear
x95 Siskin
x19 Tree Sparrow

Reported 12th Sep 2011

Still too windy for any ringing today (Gale force at times) but still a few birders out gathering sightings -

Reported on the 12th Spetember 2011 were -

x44 Teal
x7 Spoonbill
x2 Whimbrel
x1 Curlew
x1 Kestrel
x1 Peregrine
x2 Swift
x22 Sand Martin
x19 House Martin
x1 Wheatear
x53 Siskin

Reported 11th Sep 2011

No ringing today with a major high wind event in progress!

Reported on the 11th September 2011 were -

x69 Teal
x20 Wigeon
x5 Spoonbill
x1 Ruff
x1 Pectoral Sandpiper (on the Mere)
x7 Greenshank
x5 Spotted Redshank
x166 Black Tailed Godwit
x8 Swift
x2000 Swallow
x40+ Sand Martin
x1 Wheatear
x1 Green Woodpecker
x1 Whinchat
x60 Goldfinch
x30 Siskin