Birds around were 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Firecrest, 3 Ring Ouzels, 40 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Redstarts, 2 Wheatears, 50 Robins and a Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 5 Swallows, 4 Bramblings and 2 Great Skuas. On the Mere were 9 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover.
Another wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded moderate results. The new birds were 6 Robins, 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 7 Song Thrushes; and the retraps a Robin, a Song Thrush, a Redstart and a Whitethroat.
September 29th: Strong easterly wind, sun and clouds.
Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Bramblings, 60 Brent Geese and a Redwing. South went 30 Meadow Pipits and 5 Siskins.
A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided just 4 new birds: singles of Robin, Whitethroat, Siskin and Song Thrush; and 2 retraps: singles of Song Thrush and Blue Tit.
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| Female Siskin, ringed 29th September 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, a Stonechat and a Kingfisher. Flying south were 5 Egyptian Geese, 60 Meadow Pipit, 9 Brambling, 80 Greenfinch, 40 Linnet, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 9 Song Thrush and 14 Redwing.
There was a moderate catch in a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The news were a Robin, a Redstart, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Great Tits, a Dunnock and 5 Song Thrushes; and the retraps a Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Song Thrush and a Dunnock.
At Aylmer Avenue a ringing session until lunchtime, at which point the wind had got just too strong, resulted in a great catch of 91 new birds and 29 retraps. The new birds were a Wren, 2 Robins, a Song Thrush, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Blue Tits, a Great Tit, 3 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches and a ridiculous 66 Greenfinches! There was a seemingly endless supply of new birds on every net round at the feeding station, whilst the large resident population seemed to have largely cleared off; possibly to the south? If the weather had been better for ringing, the total could undoubtedly of been a lot higher. Considering the conditions, 20 new birds would have been a good result.
September 27th: Light to moderate south-easterly wind, cloudy then mostly sunny.
A Cattle Egret was discovered on Freshwater Marsh; later it flew onto Croftmarsh, then south. Other birds around were 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 152 Brent Geese, 8 Redwings and a Marsh Harrier. On the Mere was a Water Rail. Going south were 50 Meadow Pipits, a Lapland Bunting, 5 Tree Sparrows, a Brambling, a Grey Wagtail and 20 Pink-footed Geese; north 4 Little Gulls and 2 Great Skuas; and west more 35 Pink-footed Geese.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 9 Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and a Song Thrush. Also there were a retrap Robin, and a British-ringed control Robin.
Trapped moths new for the year were a Satellite and a Green-brindled Crescent.
September 26th: Moderate north-easterly wind, sun and clouds.
Around were 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwings, a Redstart, a Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat. On the Mere were 31 Black-tailed Godwits. Flying south over land were a Snipe, 6 Bramblings, 25 Meadow Pipits and a Kingfisher. Offshore 47 Brent Geese, 63 Gannets, 47 Common Scoters and 6 Arctic Skuas went north, and 8 Brent Geese, 50 Gannets, 232 Common Scoters and a Pomarine Skua south.
Few birds were trapped on a morning ringing session in East Dunes, but there was more of a late autumn aspect to them. The new birds were 3 Meadow Pipits, a Brambling, a Redwing and 3 Song Thrushes; and the retraps 2 Wrens. The Brambling, Redwing and Song Thrushes were light, indicating that they were newly arrived.
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| Redwing, ringed 26th October 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Brambling, ringed 26th October 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
About 450 Pink-footed Geese flew south-west, and 7 Snipes, 100 Meadow Pipits, 18 Skylarks, a Swallow, 2 Siskins, 2 Redpolls, 12 Reed Buntings and a Stock Dove south. Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Woodlark, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and a Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and a Peregrine, and on the Mere 84 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Spotted Redshanks.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was moderately successful. The news were 19 Meadow Pipits, 8 Reed Buntings, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Greenfinch; and the retraps a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
Moths new for the year were a Red-Green Carpet and a Yellow-line Quaker.
September 24th: Light wind, cloudy.
A Woodlark flew southwest; a Kingfisher, 6 Reed Buntings, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Brent Geese and 30 Meadow Pipits south; and 270 Common Scoters north. Birds around were a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Goldcrests, a Green Woodpecker, a Redpoll, a Kingfisher, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Chiffchaffs. Offshore were 46 Sandwich Terns. On the water bodies were 16 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 8 Spotted Redshanks, 108 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Pintails and a Water Rail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 22 new birds: 2 Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 11 Meadow Pipits, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Buntings; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit and 2 Blackcaps.
September 23rd: Light wind, mostly clear and bright.
Around were 5 Pink-footed Geese, a Green Woodpecker, a Whimbrel, a Wheatear, 3 Whinchats, a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat. Offshore were 57000 Knots. Other waders around were a Common Sandpiper, 9 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover. South went 45 Meadow Pipits, a Rook, a Marsh Harrier, 30 House Martins and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced moderate results. The news were a Wren, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 4 Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler, 15 Meadow Pipits, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Linnets, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lesser Whitethroat. The retraps were a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Robins, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush.
September 22nd: Mostly misty until mid morning, then cleared; light south-westerly wind.
Around were a Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Whinchats and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 18 Pink-footed Geese, 600 Meadow Pipits, 30 Sand Martins, 50 House Martins, and 420 Swallows. On the water bodies were a Water Rail, 42 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets and 15 Snipe.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided variety rather than numbers. New birds were a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 3 Robins, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Meadow Pipits, a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Kingfisher, and the retraps singles of Robin, Wren and Dunnock.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs, David Vincent and Liv Vincent resulted in 20 new birds and 37 retraps. The new birds were 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Blackcaps and singles of Dunnock, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon and Grasshopper Warbler. The retraps were made up of mostly tits and Finches.
The Grasshopper Warbler was the 8th ringed at Gibraltar Point this year , which equals the 1979 record!
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| The 8th Grasshopper Warbler of 2013 ringed on the 22nd of September. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Meadow Pipit ringed on 22nd of September 2013. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Kingfisher, ringed 22nd September 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
On the move were 2800 Meadow Pipits, 9 Snipes, 2 Rock Pipits, a Hobby, 900 Pink-footed Geese, 160 Wigeons, 23 Pintails, a Lapland Bunting, 3 Grey Wagtails, 15 Brent Geese, 12 Sand Martins, 240 Swallows, 40 House Martins, 30 Linnets and 7 Yellow Wagtails. Around Aylmer Avenue were 10 Siskins, 3 Bramblings, 2 Crossbills, a Green Woodpecker, a Tawny Owl (early doors!) and two Sparrowhawks. Around elsewhere were 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Whinchats and 6 Chiffchaffs. A Wood Sandpiper was over Millenium Ridge. On Jackson's Marsh were a Kingfisher, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 8 Greenshanks, and on the Mere 7 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 66 Black-tailed Godwits and a Water Rail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 48 new birds: a Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Robins, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 22 Meadow Pipits, a Swallow, a Great Tit, a Whinchat and a Song Thrush. The retraps were 2 Robins, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Wren.
Meanwhile, a much longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs and new Trainee, Jenny Godber, resulted in 66 new birds and 64 retraps. The new birds were 9 Meadow Pipits, a Wren, 3 Robins, a Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 7 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits, 3 Chaffinches, 14 Greenfinches and 7 Goldfinches. The retraps were mainly made up of the usual suspects of Blue and Great Tits, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Goldfinches at the feeding station nets.
Interestingly it was noticed today that on Friday, George Gregory pushed the new Meadow Pipit total up to a year record total of 236 newly ringed, overturning the previous record year total of 233 from 2002. Another 31 were ringed today pushing the new record total even further. There are a lot more to come through so hopefully the new total at the end of the year will be significantly larger than the previous record total.
A Feathered Ranunculus in a moth trap was new for the year.
