New birds trapped in a morning ringing session in East Dunes were single juveniles each of Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat and Blue Tit. The retraps were 2 Whitethroats. This year in East Dunes 80 juveniles of various species have been trapped and ringed so far, showing that there has been a fair degree of successful breeding there.
All nets have now been taken down in East Dunes, to allow grazing by our Dexter cattle for a few weeks.
The 6th session of CES was done this morning, and was very productive. The 40 new birds were 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Long-tailed Tits, a Willow Warbler, 10 Great Tits, a Blackcap, a Robin, 6 Whitethroats, 8 Blue Tits, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Dunnocks, a Swallow and a Goldfinch. Most of these were juveniles, which is encouraging. The 16 retraps were a Robin, a Dunnock, 2 Great Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Wren, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Long-tailed Tits and a Whitethroat. The other nets at Aylmer Avenue provided a Yellowhammer, many Greenfinches and other finches, and a few others.
June 29th: A fairly quiet day. A Black Redstart was around the Field Station, a favourite haunt. Offshore were 60 Sandwich Terns. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands a Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Pintail, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls. South flew 50 Swifts, a Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Curlews and a Whimbrel.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was less productive than yesterday. The news were a juvenile Whitethroat and adult males each of Linnet and Blackcap, while there were 5 usual retraps.
June 28th: On the beach was a first-summer Yellow-legged Gull, and offshore were 60 Sandwich Terns. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Green Sandpipers, and on Tennyson Sands a Ruff and a Glaucous Gull x Herring Gull-type hybrid. Heading south were 750 Swifts, 6 Sand Martins, a House Martin, 5 Whimbrels, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Grey Herons.
More new juveniles were ringed in a morning ringing session in East Dunes, namely 3 Dunnocks, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting. An adult female Blackcap was also new, and there were 3 retrap Whitethroats.
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| Juvenile Reed Bunting ringed 28th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was quite productive for June. The 15 new birds were an adult female Reed Bunting, and the following juveniles: a Long-tailed Tit, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Dunnocks, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Blue Tit and a Robin. The retraps were 4 Long-tailed Tits, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock.
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| Juvenile Long-tailed Tit ringed 27th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
June 26th: Cloudy start, then warm. On Tennyson Sands were a Ruff and a Pintail, and on Jackson's Marsh a Green Sandpiper and a Snipe. Around were 2 Brent Geese and a Turnstone.
New juveniles trapped in a morning ringing session in East Dunes were a Reed Bunting, 3 Whitethroats, a Chaffinch, a Meadow Pipit and a Linnet, while new adults were a male Blackcap and a Whitethroat. There were 6 usual retraps.
The recent high tides have covered most of New Saltmarsh and part of South Marsh Road.
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| High tide over New Saltmarsh, 26th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| High tide starting to cover part of South Marsh Road, 26th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
June 25th: A Great White Egret was briefly on Roadside Pond, then on Jackson's Marsh, before flying off. Also on Jackson's Marsh was a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands were a Sandwich Tern and a Greenshank. Around were a Hobby, a Jay and a Crossbill.
More emerging juveniles were caught in a morning ringing session in East Dunes, namely a Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroats and a Dunnock. Also trapped was a new adult Meadow Pipit, and there were 7 usual retraps.
The Southerm Marsh Orchids are in full flower now.
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| Southern Marsh Orchids, 25th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
June 24th: Less strong southwesterly wind. Hundreds of Swifts moved south. A Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling near Aylmer Avenue. On Jackson's Marsh were a Ruff and a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands a Pintail and a Sandwich Tern. Around were a Hobby and a Redpoll.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: single adult females of Blackcap and Whitethroat with brood patches, and single juveniles of Dunnock and Lesser Whitethroat; the 4 retraps were an adult male Blackcap, and single juveniles of Chaffinch, Whitethroat and Dunnock. The Blackcaps appear to be a breeding pair; perhaps some juveniles will emerge soon.
The Pyramidal Orchids appear to be late this year, but are flowering well now.
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| Pyramidal Orchid, 24th June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
A weather-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded a new adult Whitethroat, a moulting adult male Sparrowhawk (primary moult score 8), and a retrap juvenile Lesser Whitethroat, which had just commenced post-juvenile moult.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was more productive, as usual recently, since the feeders attract in mostly juvenile finches and other species. There were 22 new birds including 2 Chiffchaffs, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Swift! (the first since 1981!), and 26 retraps - the usual finches, tits and others.
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| Adult Swift ringed on 23rd June 2013, the first for 32 years. Photo - Dave Vincent |
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| Adult male Sparrowhawk, ringed 23rd June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Second-summer Yellow-legged Gull, 23rd June 2013. Photo - Nigel Lound |
June 22nd: Quite strong southwesterly wind, rainy start. About 4000 Swifts and a Hobby flew south. On Tennyson Sands was a Pintail.
The weather prevented any ringing.
June 21st: The Summer Solstice, but not very summery. Damp start, cloudy, occasional spots of rain. A Green Sandpiper was on Jackson's Marsh. Around were 2 Jays. Heading south were 15 Swifts.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a Jay (the 43rd of the year) and a Dunnock as new birds, and 3 usual retraps.
A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, from mid morning, was more productive. The new birds were a juvenile Siskin (dispersed from where?), 10 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The retraps were 3 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch and a Greenfinch. Almost all of these birds were juveniles, showing that finches in particular are producing fair numbers of young.
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| Jay ringed 21st June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Juvenile Siskin ringed 21st June 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
