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.