A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 4 Linnet, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 3 Wren, 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Goldfinch.
April 9th. In the East Dunes were a Long-eared Owl and a Woodlark. Around were 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Common Buzzard and 4 Sparrowhawk. A Mediterranean Gull, a Whimbrel, 2 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin went south. 17 Corn Bunting were around the Visitor Centre
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Firecrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting and 2 Linnet; and 5 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Wren and a Linnet.
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| Firecrest, ringed 9 April 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
Moving south were 2 Red Kite, 3 Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Sandwich Tern (1st for the year), a Yellow Wagtail and 3 Swallow. Around the reserve were 4 Wheatear, 50 Avocet, 200 Redshank, 80 Brent Geese, 4 Brambling, 2 Blackcap and 5 Chiffchaff.
April 7th. A fairly strong westerly wind. Showers on and off all day, heavy at times.
Around were 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 500+ Redshank, 150 Redwing, 2 Brambling, a Woodcock, a Pintail, 38 Avocet, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 12 Corn Bunting and 3 Jack Snipe.
April 6th. A fairly strong wind all day. Sunny intervals.
Around were 4 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Blackcap, a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 6 Corn Bunting, a Brambling, a Crossbill, a Redpoll Sp and there was a Little Ringed Plover on Jackson's Marsh (1st for the year).
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was moderately successful. The news were a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Reed Bunting, 2 Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and the retraps 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Blackbird.
April 5th. A brisk south-south-westerly wind. Mostly sunny.
Around were a Crossbill, a Bullfinch, a Mealy Redpoll, a Sand Martin, 109 Linnet, 67 Goldfinch, 13 Magpie, 10 Brambling, a Woodcock, 26 Rook, a Yellowhammer, 6 Corn Bunting, a Sparrowhawk and 60+ Avocet.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 3 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock.
April 4th. A breezy westerly wind. Mostly cloudy.
Visible migration was evident from mid-morning with the following flying south: 6 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, a House Martin (1st of the year), 124 Linnet, 11 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 11 Siskin, a Redpoll Spp, 6 Rook and 2 Grey Heron flew north-west.
On the reserve were: 11 Yellowhammer, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Chiffchaff, 25 Avocet, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Red-legged Partridge, a Tawny Owl, a Corn Bunting, 124 Meadow Pipit, 64 Skylark and 20 Golden Plover.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced just a single new bird, a Goldfinch, while the retraps were 2 Goldfinch, a Robin, a Dunnock and a Great Tit.
April 3rd. A brisk north easterly wind with thick fog and mist again.
Again rather quiet first thing. Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing and a Goldcrest. 37 Avocet were on Tennyson Sands.
April 2nd. A brisk north easterly wind with thick fog and mist.
Very little about first thing. A Coal Tit, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff were among the few birds singing around North Car Park. 23 Redwing flew north over Aylmer clearing and a further flock of 60 Redwing were around the north of the reserve late afternoon.
April 1st. A slight easterly wind. Sunny intervals.
Around the reserve were 16 Little Egret, a Twite, a Willow Warbler, 6 Corn Bunting, 2 Brambling, a Woodcock, a Blackcap, a Pintail and a Goosander.
Wader counts from the Estuary this evening were 2964 Grey Plover, 250 Redshank, 65 Sanderling, 2390 Dunlin, 16376 Knot, 14 Avocet and 4 Black-tailed Godwit.
