On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill. Birds around included a Wheatear. Heading south were a Richard's Pipit, a Woodlark, 2 Jay, 766 Wood Pigeon, 860 Linnet, 690 Goldfinch, 119 Chaffinch, 87 Greenfinch, 2 Redpoll Sp, a Brambling, 485 Meadow Pipit, 19 Rock Pipit, 351 Reed Bunting, 253 Skylark, 62 Tree Sparrow, 12 House Sparrow, 21 Alba Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Wheatear, 18 Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Merlin, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit and 6 Rook; and north 140 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 14 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, and singles of Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Song Thrush and Jay; and 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Wren.
 |
| Jay, ringed 10 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| High tide over New Saltmarsh, 10 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| High tide near Bird Observatory, 10 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
The Spoonbill flew from Tennyson Sands to Jackson's Marsh. Remaining on Tennyson Sands were 7 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank. Around were 400 Brent Goose and a Kingfisher. Flying south were 9 Jay and 400 Goldfinch.
A final check of the owl boxes revealed an adult male Barn Owl in primary moult. No other ringing was possible.
 |
| Wing of adult male Barn Owl in primary moult, 8 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| High tide approaching Bird Observatory, 9 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| South Car Park cut off, 9 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill, 4 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 2 Pintail and a Water Rail. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the beach. Going south were 36 Pink-footed Goose, a Common Buzzard, a Grey Wagtail and 3 Swallow, and west another 38 Pink-footed Goose. At sea the only birds of any note were 2 Great Skua, a Little Gull, a Red-breasted Merganser and 9 Eider south.
A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, provided 5 new birds: 3 Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retrap Robin.
 |
| Sea defences strengthened by the Environment Agency, 8 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Sea defences strengthened by the Environment Agency, 8 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were 350 Goldfinch, a Cetti's Warbler, a Kingfisher, 5 Greenshank, 2 Brambling and a Black Redstart. On Tennyson Sands were 329 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Dunlin, 2 Pintail, a Ruff and a Spoonbill. Heading south were 5 Jay (which then U-turned), a Lapland Bunting, 7 Chaffinch, 13 Linnet, a Song Thrush, 3 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 3 Grey Wagtail, 15 Tree Sparrow and 7 Meadow Pipit. A sea-watch from 0715 to 1000hrs saw 1245 Wigeon, 698 Brent Goose, 228 Teal, 14 Shoveler, 23 Pintail, 36 Common Scoter, 4 Goldeneye, a Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Gull, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Guillemot, 3 Grey Heron, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Arctic Skua and a Marsh Harrier, all south. A Black-throated Diver and 7 Red-throated Diver, flew north, whilst on the sea were an Eider and 5 Red-throated Diver. Offshore were 14 Sandwich Tern, 5 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Tern and 5 Commic Tern.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, produced 12 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: singles of Goldcrest, Blackbird, Wren, Blackcap and Reed Bunting.
October 6th. Strong southerly wind. Rain from mid morning.
On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill. Around were a Jay, 3 Song Thrush, a Mediterranean Gull and 300 Brent Goose. Flying south offshore this evening were a Pomarine Skua, 6 Little Gull, 4 Arctic Tern, a Common Tern, an Arctic Skua, 4 Gannet, 2 Tufted Duck/Scaup, 50 Wigeon and 60 Brent Goose. On the sea was a Slavonian/Black-necked Grebe.
No ringing was possible.
October 5th. Birds around included 20 Pink-footed Goose, a Kingfisher, a Brambling and a Whinchat. On Tennyson Sands was a Spotted Redshank. Heading south were 9 Jay, a Grey Wagtail, 29 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 21 Stock Dove, 30 Chaffinch and 10 Tree Sparrow and west 3 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle and Georgina Scott, provided some variety. The 23 new birds were 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 4 Robin, a Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Yellowhammer, 2 Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk. The 9 retraps were 5 Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Goldcrest and a Long-tailed Tit.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 32 new birds and 17 retraps. The new birds were 18 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch and singles of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird and Coal Tit. The retraps were 5 Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch.
 |
| Yellowhammer, ringed 5 October 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Jay, 5 October 2014. Photo - Russell Hayes |
 |
| Spotted Redshank, 5 October 2014. Photo - Russell Hayes |
Around were a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff. On Tennyson Sands was a Ruff. Flying west were 187 Pink-footed Goose, and south 20 Swallow and 4 Little Gull.
No ringing was attempted.
October 3rd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
Around were 2 Chiffchaff. On Tennyson Sands were 443 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, 13 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank. Over the sea moving south this morning were 323 Wigeon, 161 Teal, 101 Brent Goose, 8 Pintail, 128 Common Scoter, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Red-throated Diver, 8 Arctic Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 84 Gannet. South over land went 62 Meadow Pipit, 64 Linnet, 4 Alba Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 12 Swallow, 19 Reed Bunting, 52 Skylark and a Mistle Thrush, and west 468+ Pink-footed Goose.
A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, produced 7 new birds: a Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Robin and 2 Blackcap; and a retrap Goldcrest.
October 2nd. At North End were a Jay and a Green Woodpecker. On Tennyson Sands were 4 Greenshank, and on the Mere a Water Rail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 11 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Chaffinch.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling and Anthony Bentley yielded better results. The 35 new birds were 3 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 14 Greenfinch, a House Sparrow and 2 Dunnock. The 34 retraps were 7 Greenfinch, 8 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 10 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Wren and 2 Goldfinch.
October 1st. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank. A Wheatear was on North End saltings. Visible migration was evident from first light. Heading south were 8 Pink-footed Goose (from Tennyson Sands), 8 Snipe, 340 Woodpigeon, a Collared Dove, 2 Stock Dove, 211 Skylark, 395 Meadow Pipit, 19 Rock Pipit, 133 Swallow, 54 House Martin, 47 Alba Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 4 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Great Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 8 Jay (of which 1 U-turned), 16 Jackdaw, 11 Rook, 153 Starling, 3 House Sparrow, 9 Tree Sparrow, 224 Chaffinch, 5 Brambling, 775 Linnet, 286 Goldfinch, 26 Greenfinch, 193 Reed Bunting and a Lapland Bunting. At sea a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Red-throated Diver and 7 Gannet went north. 4 Red-throated Diver were on the sea.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, provided 20 new birds: 14 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Robin, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Chaffinch.
