A rain-shortened morning ringing session on East Dunes provided a Goldcrest, the usual warblers, and the first Kingfisher ringed here for several years.
September19th: Still quite windy. Jackson's Marsh held 3 Spoonbills, 2 Pintails, 5 Wigeons and 2 Greenshanks, Croftmarsh the Osprey and a Buzzard, Tennyson Sands 11 Avocets, 34 Black-tailed Godwits and a Greenshank, and the Mere 4 Greenshanks and a Water Rail. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Sandpiper, 13 Chiffchaffs, 27 Goldcrests and a Coal Tit. Flying north offshore were a Manx Shearwater and 3 Arctic Skuas, and south a Great Crested Grebe. Offshore waders included 85000 Knots, 2500 Bar-tailed Godwits and 500 Dunlins. Birds heading south over land included 23 Siskins, 246 Meadow Pipits, 349 Swallows, 2787 House Martins, 16 Lesser Redpolls and 3 Buzzards.
A ringing session on East Dunes this morning was moderately successful, with a Goldcrest, several warblers and all three common hirundines trapped.
An Oak Bush-cricket, a first record for Gibraltar Point, was found in a moth trap recently.
September 18th: Increasing wind. Early morning on Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbills and a Ruff, and on Tennyson Sands a Greenshank, 29 Avocets and 26 Black-tailed Godwits. The Osprey and a Buzzard flew around over Croftmarsh. A female/first-year male Nightjar was flushed from the ground near Aylmer Avenue. Around were 18 Pink-footed Geese, a Water Rail on Old Saltmarsh, a Hobby, a Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Coal Tit. Going south were 1675 Swallows, 32 Yellow Wagtails, 274 Meadow Pipits, a Lesser Redpoll, 15 Siskins and a Crossbill. High tide wader movements were impressive.
Birds ringed on East Dunes this morning included a Garden Warbler, several Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, and 10 Swallows.
September 17th: On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Spoonbills, 6 Greenshanks and a Pintail, on Tennyson Sands 28 Avocets, 38 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff, and on Croftmarsh an Osprey. Three unusual birds were present: a Nuthatch (a Gibraltar Point rarity) in East Dunes, a Green Woodpecker near Aylmer Avenue, and a leucistic Swallow (or possibly a Swallow x Sand Martin hybrid), being harassed by wild-type Swallows, near Wash Viewpoint. Also around were 2 Spotted Redshanks, 60 Golden Plovers, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Grey Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, 2 Whinchats and a Goldcrest. Moving south were 1000 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 15 Sand Martins, 62 Yellow Wagtails, 300 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit and 5 Siskins. High tide wader movements included 110000 Knots
A morning ringing session on East Dunes revealed a continuing arrival of Dunnocks and Blackcaps, but few other landed migrants.
September 16th: Increasing wind. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbills, a Green Sandpiper and a Pintail, on Tennyson Sands 2 Spotted Redshanks, a Black-tailed Godwit and 26 Avocets, and on Croftmarsh an Osprey and another Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Hobby, a Greenshank, 4 Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaffs. Heading south were 150 Meadow Pipits, 250 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins.
Ringing at Aylmer Avenue and East Dunes this morning was quite productive, with the usual species involved.
September 15th: This morning on Tennyson Sands were 3 Spoonbills, 26 Avocets, 57 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff, and on the Mere 2 Water Rails. A Pomarine Skua was offshore. After the strong winds more landbirds appeared, and 8 Siskins and a moderate number of hirundines went south.
Simultaneous ringing sessions at East Dunes and Aylmer Avenue were productive, and indicated small but welcome arrivals of Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Dunnocks, Robins, Siskins and Lesser Redpolls, as well as the usual other species. A hirundine roost catch at the Mere was modestly successful.
September 14th: Windy, two rainy spells. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbills and a Black-tailed Godwit, and on Tennyson Sands 37 Avocets and a Garganey. The escaped Crimson Rosella was around. A few hirundines went south.
September 13th: Jackson's Marsh held 4 Spoonbills and a Ruff, and Tennyson Sands 64 Black-tailed Godwits and a Greenshank. Flying around were 23 Pink-footed Geese, a Marsh Harrier and a ringtail Hen Harrier. The escaped Crimson Rosella was at the Field Station.
The Barred Warbler that was ringed on East Dunes at 32.5g on September 9th was retrapped there at 35.9g this morning. Newly ringed birds included a Reed Warbler and several Blackcaps.
September 12th: Mostly rainy. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbills and a Common Sandpiper, on Tennyson Sands a Little Stint, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 28 Avocets and 2 Pintails, and on the Mere a Water Rail. The Osprey lingered on Croftmarsh. Around were 14 Pink-footed Geese, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier and 5 Chiffchaffs. Flying south were 3 Yellow Wagtails, 60 Meadow Pipits, 7 Reed Buntings, 32 Golden Plovers and 60 Lapwings.
September 11th: Increasing wind, some rain. On the water bodies were 6 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 8 Greenshanks and 78 Black-tailed Godwits. The Osprey reappeared on Croftmarsh. Heading south were a Buzzard, a Swift and a moderate number of hirundines. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, a Chiffchaff, a Wheatear, a Whinchat, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail, 2 Cuckoos and the escaped Crimson Rosella. Few birds were trapped in a morning ringing session on East Dunes but they included a Cuckoo, a Greenland Wheatear, a Reed Warbler and a Blackcap.
