Late May 2014

May 31st. Around were a Marsh Harrier and 7 Turtle Dove. A Little Ringed Plover was on Tennyson Sands. Heading south were a Grey Heron, 20+ Swift and 4 House Martin. A Fulmar flew south at sea.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, was productive. The new birds were a Chiffchaff, 10 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, 8 Great Tit and 4 Dunnock. The retraps were 4 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting and a Chaffinch.

May 30th. The Golden Oriole was singing in the Plantation. A Honey Buzzard, a Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier flew north. A Stone Curlew was seen flying towards Croftmarsh. 2 adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 Whimbrel went south.
 The third CES session, with Jenni Godber and Sue Gosling, was done this morning. The new birds were 4 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Greenfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin, a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Dunnock. The retraps were 6 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, a Tawny Owl and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 30 May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Tawny Owl, retrapped 30 May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Honey Buzzard, 30 May 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

May 29th. Strong easterly wind, light rain in morning.
 A Golden Oriole was discovered singing near Shovelers Pool. Other birds around included a Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were 50 Swift.
 An afternoon nest-box check, with Mike Polling, yielded mixed results. Clearly the persistent rain over the last few days has affected the nesters. Several boxes contained cold eggs and dead pulli. However, the following live and healthy pulli were ringed: 3 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 2 Jackdaw and 2 Stock Dove.

May 28th. Quite strong north-easterly wind, rain most of day.
 Around was a Cuckoo.
 No ringing was attempted.

May 27th. Quite strong north-easterly wind, rain most of day.
 A Cuckoo, a Garden Warbler and a Whimbrel were around.
 No ringing was attempted.

May 26th. Birds around included an adult male Black Redstart, a Barn Owl, a Cuckoo and 2 Brent Goose. A pair of Garganey were on Jackson's Marsh along with 94 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 drake Pochard. Offshore were 14 Eider. Flying south were 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin and 11 Swallow. In off the sea came 4 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, produced 5 new birds: a Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 12 retraps: a Blue Tit, 4 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, a Reed Bunting, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wren and 2 Whitethroat.

May 25th. Strong south-westerly wind.
 In the evening 2 Nightjar were discovered in East Dunes. Heading south were 75 Swift and a House Martin.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, provided 6 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Great Tit.

May 24th. Rain from mid morning.
 Around were a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier. A Crossbill flew south.
 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell and Georgina Scott, resulted in 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 3 retraps: a Goldfinch, a Whitethroat and a Great Tit.

May 23rd. A Great Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes early morning. It was the first for Gibraltar Point. On Jackson's Marsh were the Pectoral Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper. In off the Wash came a Spoonbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, yielded 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Great Reed Warbler; and 5 retraps: a Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.

Great Reed Warbler, ringed 23rd May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

May 22nd. Rain early morning.
 The Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Ruff remained on Jackson's Marsh. Flying south were 7 Swift. On Tennyson's Sands was a Wood Sandpiper.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, provided 2 new Dunnock, and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Blue Tit.
 A nest-box check, with Mike Polling, resulted in 5 new Jackdaw pulli ringed.

Pectoral Sandpiper (with Redshank and Ruff), 22nd May 2014
Photo - Richard Doan

Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd May 2014
Photo - Phillip Milns

May 21st. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pectoral Sandpiper and 3 Ruff. South went 2 Swift and a House Martin.
 On a morning ringing session in East Dunes there were 7 news: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 3 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Wren.

Mid May 2014

May 20th. On Jackson's Marsh were a Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 retraps: a Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Sedge Warbler.

May 19th. Birds around included a Cuckoo and a Marsh Harrier. On Jackson's Marsh was a Curlew Sandpiper. South went 3 Swift, a Yellow Wagtail, 60 Kittiwake, a Grey Heron and 7 Little Egret.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Whitethroat, and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

May 18th. Around were 3 Mediterranean Gulls, a Cuckoo, a Red Kite and 2 Turtle Dove. Offshore were 8 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe and 17 Eider.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing, with just 3 Dunnock retrapped.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent, which included the second C.E.S session of the year, resulted in a total of 17 new birds and 20 retraps. Of the C.E.S nets the new birds were 4 Whitethroat, 2 Swallow, a Robin, a Reed Warbler, a Linnet and a Blackbird. The retraps were 4 Whitethroat, 4 Great Tit, a Robin, a Swallow, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler. Of the other nets the new birds were 4 Greenfinch, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and a Wren. The retraps were 4 Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, a Greenfinch, a Dunnock and a Chiffchaff.


Red Kite over Tennyson's Sands, 18th May 2014
Photo - Garry Wright

May 17th. Birds around included a Red Kite, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Peregrine, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Pink-footed Goose. A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch, 2 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit and Dunnock.

May 16th. A Nightingale was discovered singing around North Building at dawn. Other notables included 3 Cuckoo and 12 Turtle Dove. Heading north were 5 Common Scoter and a Common Buzzard, meanwhile 158 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 35 House Martin flew south. The Wood Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper remained on Jackson's Marsh.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The only new was a Blackbird, and a Blue Tit and a Dunnock were retrapped.

May 15th. Around were 2 Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Wheatear. Jackson's Marsh produced a Spoonbill, a Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 38 Dunlin and 5 Redshank. South went 200 Swallow, 3 Rook and 2 Yellow Wagtail. No sign of the Serin today.
 During a morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, there was just 1 new bird: a Sedge Warbler; but 5 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Great Tit and a Robin; and a control Chiffchaff.
 A check of the nest boxes, again with Mike Polling, resulted in 17 pulli ringed: 4 Jackdaw, 7 Blue Tit and 6 Great Tit; and 2 adult Stock Dove ringed.

May 14th. The Serin remained at the bird feeding station. Birds around included 3 Jay, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear and a Mediterranean Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 9 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, 3 Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Chaffinch and 2 Whitethroat.

May 13th. Brief light rain mid morning, soggy.
 The Serin was still in the Plantation. Also around were 2 Garganey, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Woodpecker and a Cuckoo.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Meadow Pipit and a Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting.

May 12th. Occasional rain.
 The Serin remained in the Plantation. Other birds around included 3 Turtle Dove, 4 Whimbrel and a Cuckoo. Another Whimbrel flew north. On Jackson's Marsh were 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting; and 5 retraps: a Great Tit, a Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Black-tailed Godwit over Jackson's Marsh scrape
Photo - Richard Doan

May 11th. Intermittent rain, windy, again.
 The Serin was still in the Plantation. Also around were a Cuckoo and 2 Turtle Doves.

Early May 2014

May 10th. Intermittent rain, windy.
 The Serin remained in the Plantation. Other birds around included a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whimbrel, a Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove.

Spotted Flycatcher in the Plantation, 10th May 2014
Photo - Garry Wright

May 9th. Occasional rain early morning, then increasing wind.
 The Serin was again at the feeding station in the Plantation, and the pair of Garganey remained on Jackson's Marsh. A Firecrest was around Mill Hill. Other birds around included 3 Wheatear, a Common Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank. Offshore was a Black Tern. A Great White Egret flew inland late afternoon. South went a Pink-footed Goose and 40 Swift.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Robin; and 5 retraps: 4 Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting.

Garganey pair on Jackson's Marsh 9th May 2014
Photo - Richard Doan

May 8th. Quite windy.
The pair of Garganey were again on Jackson's Marsh, a Serin was at the feeding station in the Plantation, and on Fenland Lagoon was a 2CY Mediterranean Gull. Around were a Hobby, a Turtle Dove, 2 Wheatear, 28 Little Tern and 4 Whimbrel.
A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Chaffinch; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.


Serin at Feeding Station, 8th May 2014
Photo - Russell Hayes

May 7th. Flying south were 2 Red-rumped Swallow, with many Swallow, and fewer Swift and House Martin. The pair of Garganey remained on Jackson's Marsh. Around were 2 Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Wheatear, 2 Common Sandpiper, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Avocet, a Grey Heron and 2 Bullfinch.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, produced 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Whitethroat; and a retrap Whitethroat.
 A check on the nest-boxes, with Mike Polling, resulted in 9 Great Tit pulli ringed, and several other boxes with various species of sitting females, small pulli or eggs.

May 6th. Rainy early morning, then damp. The pair of Garganey were still on Jackson's Marsh early morning. Around the reserve were 7 Greenshank, 62 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 3 Turtle Dove, 15 Little Tern, a drake Pochard, a Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier and a Cuckoo. Over 100 Swallow flew south as did 9 Swift. A drake Eider and a Great Crested Grebe were on the sea.
 A delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a Chaffinch; and 2 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat.

May 5th. A ringtail Montagu's Harrier flew north across the reserve early morning. A pair of Garganey were on Jackson's Marsh. Around were a Hen Harrier, a Mediterranean Gull, a male Redstart, a Coal Tit, a Turtle Dove, 2 Wheatear and a Cuckoo.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The news were a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat; and the retraps 2 Lesser Whitethroat.

May 4th. A Great White Egret was discovered on Jackson's Marsh. On Tennyson Sands were 30 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper. Around were a Wheatear and a Cuckoo. Flying south were 7 Swallows.
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and a Goldfinch; and a retrap Wren.
  A simultaneous ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent, which included the first C.E.S session of the year, resulted in a total of 15 new birds and 16 retraps. Of the C.E.S nets the new birds were 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Blackbird and a Robin. The retraps were 3 Chaffinch, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (one of which was ringed in 2009), 2 Great Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Wren. Of the other nets the new birds were 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Willow Warbler. The retraps were a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch.


Great White Egret on Tennyson's Sands, 4th May 2014
Photo - Richard Doan



Great White Egret, 4th May 2014.
Photo - James Siddle

May 3rd. Birds around included a Cuckoo, a Spotted Redshank and a Buzzard. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Greenshank.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, a Meadow Pipit and a Pied Flycatcher; and 4 retraps: a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Goldfinch.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 3rd May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

May 2nd. A mobile Quail was in various locations around the reserve. Around were a male Wheatear, a Common Tern, a Great Crested Grebe, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Cuckoo. A Whimbrel, 130 Little Terns and 110 Barnacle Geese flew north.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Tree Pipit and a Song Thrush; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Dunnock.

Redstart, ringed 2nd May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

May 1st. Rain overnight, wet and misty most of day.
 A mobile Spoonbill arrived from the south, flew around the reserve, then ended up on Jackson's Marsh, together with a drake Goosander, 2 Greenshank, 92 Black-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Barnacle Geese. Birds around included a Wood Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzel, a Jay, a Tree Pipit, 2 Turtle Dove, a Fieldfare, 3 Brambling, 7 Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Whimbrel and a Cuckoo.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The only new bird was a Linnet; while the retraps were a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Wood Warbler in East Dunes, 1st May 2014.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Tree Pipit in East Dunes, 1st May 2014.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Adult Spoonbill on Jackson's Marsh, 1st May 2014.
Photo - Nigel Lound