Offshore were 2 Great Skuas and a Great Northern Diver. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 2 Merlins, a Snow Bunting, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare and 85 Black-tailed Godwits. On the Mere were a Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Pintail. A flock of about 1000 Pink-footed Geese was disturbed from across the River Steeping, crossed briefly over the reserve, then flew off south-west. Flying south were 3 Siskins, 10 Fieldfares, 700 Woodpigeons, a Brambling and a Lapland Bunting.
During a morning ringing session in East Dunes new birds were a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 2 Redwings, and the retraps were singles of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Tit and Goldfinch.
A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 22 new birds and 52 retraps. The new birds were 12 Greenfinches, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches and singles of Blackbird, Brambling and Blackcap. The retraps were 27 Greenfinches, 5 Great Tits, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Robins, 3 Blue Tits, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks and singles of Blackbird and Brambling. The best bird of the day, though, was a control male Blackcap with an Arnhem-VT Holland ring on it!
November 9th: Light south-westerly wind, mostly cloudy but some sunny spells, damp, cold start.
Around was a Marsh Harrier. On the Mere was a Pintail, and over Tennyson Sands was a late house Martin. Across the River Steeping were 600 Pink-footed Geese and 10 Whooper Swans.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes again produced little. The new birds were 2 Song Thrushes and a Blackbird, and the retraps a Blackcap and a Dunnock.
Meanwhile, over at Aylmer Avenue, a longer session resulted in 83 new birds and around 30 retraps. The catch was made up of the usual selection of finches, although it did include two Bramblings.
November 8th: Moderate south-westerly wind, mostly clear.
Birds around included a Merlin. On the Mere was a Jack Snipe, on Tennyson Sands were 50 Black-tailed Godwits, a Pintail and a Pochard, on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 3 Turnstones and 10 Lapwings, and on Croftmarsh 1000 Golden Plovers. Across the River Steeping were 200 Pink-footed Geese. Heading south were 50 Redpolls, a Brambling, 10 Whooper Swans, 3 Redwings, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Goldfinches, 7 Rock Pipits and 3 Siskins. West in off the sea came 450 Starlings.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded just 3 new birds: singles of Blackcap, Song Thrush and Blackbird.
November 7th: Light south-westerly wind, soggy start, then mostly sunny.
Around were a Green Woodpecker, 2 Merlins, 2 Fieldfares and 19 Snow Buntings. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier, 8 Whooper Swans, 35 Pink-footed Geese, a Goosander and 2 Bramblings, and north 2 Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe. On Croftmarsh were 1000 Golden Plover, and on Jackson's Marsh a Goldeneye.
The catch on a morning ringing session in East Dunes reflected what was present there. The news were a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Blackbird, and a Robin was retrapped.
November 6th: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy, light rain in afternoon.
The late Willow Warbler remained in The Sycamore Plot. Other birds around included a Chiffchaff, a Woodcock, a Bullfinch, a Coal Tit and a Merlin. Offshore were an Arctic Skua, 1980 Grey Plover, 750 Sanderling and 4660 Dunlin. On the Mere were 460 Teal, a Pintail and 10 Black-tailed Godwits, on Tennyson Sands 42 Black-tailed Godwits, 540 Teal, 40 Shoveler, a Water Rail and 34 Pink-footed Geese, and on Croftmarsh 300 Lapwing and 3000 Golden Plover. Across the River Steeping were 300 Pink-footed Geese. Heading south were a Hawfinch, 495 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Whooper Swans, 35 Common Scoter, 2 Goosanders, 11 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, 4 Song Thrushes, 4 Linnets, 18 Chaffinches, 7 Reed Buntings, 5 Siskins, 6 Redpolls, 24 Goldfinches, 5 Greenfinches, 2 Yellowhammers, a Mediterranean Gull, 21 Skylarks, 4 Meadow Pipits and 29 Rock Pipits.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. The new birds were 2 Goldcrests, a Redwing and 11 Blackbirds; and the retraps a Robin and a Song Thrush.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 37 new birds and 28 retraps. The new birds were 14 Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches, 5 Blackbirds, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings and a Blue Tit. The retraps were 9 Great Tits, 8 Greenfinches, 3 Blue Tits, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Goldfinches, one of which was a British Control, and singles of Dunnock and Robin.
November 5th: Moderate westerly wind, drizzle/light rain most of day.
Around were a Richard's Pipit, a Cetti's Warbler and 11 Snow Buntings. Flying south were a Grey Wagtail, a Brambling and 2 Snow Buntings. Fieldfares and other thrushes came in off the sea. On the Mere were a Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe and a Water Rail, and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Dunlin and a Snipe.
No ringing was attempted.
November 4th: Moderate north-westerly wind, mostly clear.
Again the Pink-footed Goose flock, now numbering 280, headed from the estuary at dawn to the fields over the River Steeping. A late Willow Warbler was in the West Dunes Sycamore Plot.On the beach were 17 Snow Buntings. Southward passage featured 17 Whooper Swans, 74 Gannets, a Great Crested Grebe, 15 Wigeon, a Goldeneye, 16 Common Scoter, 6 Brent Geese, 5 Red-throated Divers, an Arctic Skua, 5 Mistle Thrushes, a Lapland Bunting and 3 Stock Doves; northward 111 Gannets, 40 Kittiwakes, 2 Long-tailed Duck and 7 Common Scoter; and eastward 191 Pink-footed Geese. In off the sea came 8 Fieldfares and a Woodcock.
Little was caught during a morning ringing session in East Dunes, due to clear conditions. The new birds were a Robin, 2 Reed Buntings and a Magpie, and the single retrap was a Robin.
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| Magpie, ringed 4th November 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
The 250-strong Pink-footed Goose flock flew, early morning, from the estuary to fields across the River Steeping, where were also 500 Golden Plovers and 250 Lapwings. Around were a Richard's Pipit, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, 9 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, a Short-eared Owl and a Woodcock. On the Mere were a Little Stint, a Spotted Redshank, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Snipe. Birds heading south included 4 Whooper Swans, 27 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Siskins, a Crossbill, 2 Stock Doves and 8 Skylarks.
A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing, the only new bird a Redwing, and the retraps a Wren, a Blue Tit and 2 Goldcrests.
November 2nd: South-westerly wind gradually increasing, mostly cloudy, rain mid afternoon.
A White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered on the Mere. It was seen later on Fenland Lagoon. Other birds around, including those trapped, included 12 Snow Buntings, 2 Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Swallow, a Short-eared Owl, a Ring Ouzel, a Jack Snipe and a Firecrest. The flock of 250 Pink-footed Geese remained across the River Steeping. South went a Lapland Bunting, a Woodlark, 35 Whooper Swans, 8 Fieldfares, 24 Skylarks, 13 Rock Pipits and 35 Whooper Swans.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes again yielded few birds. The news were 2 Wrens, a Goldcrest, 2 Reed Buntings and a Woodcock; and there was a retrap Wren.
Meanwhile over at Aylmer Avenue, a longer ringing session resulted in 47 new birds and a good number of retraps as well. The catch was made up mainly of the usual finches etc.
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| Woodcock, ringed 2nd November 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Woodcock, ringed 2nd November 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were a Hawfinch and 2 Lapland Buntings, while 770 Woodpigeons circled around. The flock of 250 Pink-footed Geese was still across the River Steeping, 7 came in off the sea, 19 headed south and 55 east. Flying south were a Woodlark, 11 Stock Doves, 9 Rooks, 13 Redpolls, 16 Tree Sparrows, 15 Reed Buntings, 34 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 65 Linnets, 82 Goldfinches, 25 Greenfinches, 10 Siskins, 98 Skylarks, an Alba Wagtail, 36 Rock Pipits, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Fieldfares, 22 Whooper Swans, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Great Crested Grebe and 17 Common Scoter.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 6 Goldcrests, a Firecrest, 2 Robins and a Fieldfare; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Robin.
Meanwhile a longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent, using only the feeding station nets, was reasonably productive, resulting in 67 new birds and 31 retraps. The new birds were 46 Greenfinches, 17 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches and singles of Robin and Tree Sparrow. The retraps were 12 Greenfinches, 7 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
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| Firecrest, ringed 1st November 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Fieldfare, ringed 1st November 2013. Photo - George Gregory |
