Mid November 2014

November 20th. Birds around included a Cetti's Warbler, 1350 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Water Rail, a Merlin, a Hen Harrier, a Brambling and a Chiffchaff. On Jackson's Marsh was a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands were 104 Shoveler (a reserve record). On the sea was a Great Northern Diver.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 16 new birds: a Wren, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 23 retraps: 7 Blue Tit, 3 Robin, 6 Great Tit, 2 Blackbird, a Goldcrest, a Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit, a Greenfinch and a Coal Tit.

November 19th. Around were 2 Ring Ouzel, 2 Chiffchaff, a Bullfinch, a Stonechat, a Jack Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 16 Corn Bunting, a Swallow and 22 Goldcrest. Heading north were 5 Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 9 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Wren, 4 Robin, a Siskin and 2 Greenfinch; and 14 retraps: 3 Robin, 6 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Wren and a Coal Tit.

Ring Ouzel, 19 November 2014.
Photo - Chris Greene
Siskin, ringed 19 November 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
November 18th. Rain early morning.
 Birds around included 2 Merlin, a Hen Harrier, a Chiffchaff, a Stonechat, a Brambling and 4 Snow Bunting. Sea-watching produced 2 Great Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua north, a Little Auk south2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Eider south and 2 Little Gull. Also flying south were 7 Whooper Swan.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Anthony Bentley, produced just 4 new birds: a Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Tree Sparrow; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Greenfinch and a Great Tit.
Snow Bunting, 18th November 2014
Photo - Nige Lound
November 17th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Snow Bunting, a Ring Ouzel, a Chiffchaff, 700 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 4 Woodcock, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, 25+ Redwing and 50 Fieldfare. At sea 2 Pomarine Skua, 4 Great Skua, 9 Little Gull and 7 Whooper Swan went south, and a Pomarine Skua, 2 Kittiwake and 2 Great Skua north; and over land 120 Fieldfare and a Rook south. Later, north-east out of the Wash came 79 Little Gull.
 The final ringing session for the year in East Dunes was done this morning. The 6 new birds were singles of Goldcrest, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare and Woodcock; and there were no retraps.

Fieldfare, ringed 17 November 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
November 16th. Birds around included 2000 Pink-footed Goose, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Fieldfare and 2 Bullfinch. On Tennyson Sands were a Water Rail and a Goldeneye. Flying south were 350 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Whooper Swan, 8 Eider and a Crossbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Blackbird, a Robin and 2 Greenfinch.
 A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 33 new birds and 52 retraps. The new birds were 10 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 7 Blackbird, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch and singles of Dunnock, Blackcap and Woodcock. The retraps were 17 Great Tit, 11 Blue Tit, 6 Goldcrest, 5 Dunnock, 5 Robin, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Wren, a Greenfinch and a Blackbird.

November 15th. On Tennyson Sands were a Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail. Around were 3 Snow Bunting, 3 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, 800 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Merlin. At Aylmer Avenue there were a Tawny Owl calling at first light and a Jay moving south mid morning.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Georgina Scott, provided just 2 new birds: a Dunnock and a Redwing; and 3 retraps: singles of Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Robin.
  Meanwhile at Aylmer Avenue a longer session resulted in 61 new birds ringed. Although the ringing conditions were good, the long hoped for easterlies on a weekend didn't really materialise a fall - rather a slow drizzle of newly arriving thrushes. The new birds were 21 Greenfinch, 15 Blackbird, 10 Goldfinch, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Robin, 2 Redwing, 2 Chaffinch and singles of Wren, Brambling and Great Tit. The 24 retraps were 5 Blackbird, 5 Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch and singles of Goldcrest, Robin and Dunnock.

November 14th. Strong but decreasing southerly wind, rainy morning.
 Birds around included 3 Water Pipit, a Swallow, 6 Goldcrest and a Stonechat.
 No ringing was attempted.

November 13th. Increasing south-easterly wind.
 On Tennyson Sands were a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Water Rail and 103 Shoveler (a new reserve record), and on Jackson's Marsh a Goldeneye. Around were 2000 Pink-footed Goose, a Merlin and 2 Stonechat. Offshore were 3 Little Gull, a Red-breasted Merganser, 15 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gannet and 10 Red-throated Diver.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, produced 16 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin, 3 Song Thrush and 9 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 3 Blackbird and 2 Robin.

November 12th. Fairly strong southerly wind.
 Birds around included a Hen Harrier, a Stonechat and a Brambling.
 No ringing was attempted.

November 11th. Quite strong south-easterly wind.
 Around were a Cetti's Warbler, 2000 Pink-footed Goose, 6000 Golden Plover, a Mediterranran Gull, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Stonechat, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Siskin and 2 Brambling. On Tennyson Sands was a Greenshank. Offshore was a Great Skua.
No ringing was attempted.