Mid August 2015

August 20th. At various sites on the reserve were 13 Spoonbill, a Short-eared Owl. Offshore and around the beach were 2 Pomarine Skua, 750 Sandwich Tern and a Whimbrel. On Jackson's Marsh was a Little Stint, and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank. Heading south were 120 Sandwich Tern, 14 Swift, 45 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Dunnock.

August 19th. Soggy start, then dried out.
 Around the reserve were 7 Spoonbill, a Redstart, 21 Willow Warbler, a Cuckoo, 2 Treecreeper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Whinchat, a Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Marsh Harrier. On the water bodies were a Little Stint, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were a Pomarine Skua, 8 Black Tern, 88 Knot, 62 Golden Plover, 16 Ringed Plover,  a Tree Pipit, 2 Siskin, 120 Swallow and a Swift, and north 53 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: a Garden Warbler and 4 Linnet; and 2 retraps: singles of Wren and Whitethroat.

August 18th. Rain all day.
 Around the reserve were 5 Spoonbill. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Stint, 5 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank, and on Jackson's Marsh a Little Ringed Plover.

August 17th. Around the reserve were 8 Spoonbill, 8 Buzzard (including 3 south), 2 Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Garden Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Cuckoo, 5 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. On the water bodies were a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, 168 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone and 2 Greenshank. Going south were 2 Whimbrel, a Ruff and 2 Swallow, and north an Arctic Skua.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Robin, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Spoonbill, 17 August 2015.
August 16th. Around the reserve were 12 Spoonbill, 3 Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo, a Kingfisher, a Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, a Wheatear, 4 Common Sandpiper and 3 Whimbrel. Offshore were 55000 Knot, 360 Sandwich Tern and 6 Arctic Skua. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover and a Ruff. Heading south were a Swift and 6 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 19 new birds: a Wren, 7 Willow Warbler, a Robin, 7 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Woodpigeon and a Sparrowhawk; and 6 retraps: 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock and a Blackcap.
  Meanwhile over at Aylmer Avenue, Mick Briggs had finally managed to get a free day when there wasn't any net ride maintenance to do and it wasn't raining, so a lengthy ringing session ensued which included the 11th C.E.S. of the year. His efforts were amply rewarded with the biggest catch of the year so far: 148 new birds and 38 retraps.
  The new birds were 50 Greenfinch, 17 Blackcap, 14 Chaffinch, 12 Willow Warbler, 10 Great Tit, 9 Blue Tit, 8 Whitethroat, 7 Dunnock, 5 Wren, 5 Robin, 3 Linnet, 2 Reed Warbler and singles of Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Goldfinch and Blackbird.
  The retraps were 8 Dunnock, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Wren, 3 Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Blackbird and a single Willow Warbler.


Sparrowhawk, ringed 16 August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
August 15th. Soggy start.
 A Black Stork was seen briefly about midday over the western side of Croftmarsh. At various sites on the reserve were 12 Spoonbill; they are most often seen from Wash Viewpoint, Jackson's Marsh Hide or Harvey's Hide. On the water bodies were 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Green Sandpiper. Around were a Mediterranean Gull, a Merlin, a Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove, a Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 Greenshank. Heading south was a Ruff. Wader movements offshore included 45000 Knot, 990 Grey Plover, 500 Oystercatcher, 7700 Sanderling, 9400 Dunlin and 2 Curlew Sandpiper.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, a Linnet and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, 15 August 2015.
Spoonbill, 15 August 2015.
Muntjac, 15 August 2015.
Juvenile Goldfinch, one of many finches in flocks here recently, 15 August 2015.
Spotted Redshanks feeding, 15 August 2015.
Spoonbills, 15 August 2015.
Juvenile Dunlin, 15 August 2015.
August 14th. Soggy start, then overcast and foggy.
 On the water bodies were 14 Spoonbill, 18 Common Tern, 180 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, 23 Greenshank and 3 Spotted Redshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were 3 Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Offshore or going to roost were a Roseate Tern, a Pomarine Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, a Black Tern, 1200 Sandwich Tern, 13 Arctic Tern, 320 Common Tern, 2 Little Term, 3 Mediterranean Gull and 7 Kittiwake.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Wren, a Pied Flycatcher, a Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 10 retraps: 3 Blackcap, 2 Wren, 3 Dunnock, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Robin.


Pied Flycatcher, ringed 14 August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
Sparrowhawk, ringed 14 August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 14 August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
August 13th. Fairly strong north-easterly wind.
 On the water bodies were 4 Spoonbill and 9 Greenshank. On Tennyson's Sands were 179 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover. Around were a Whinchat, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. Around the beach were 1150 Sandwich Tern and a Mediterranean Gull. Flying north at sea were a Long-tailed Skua, 2 Manx Shearwater, 560 Sandwich Tern, 34 Common Tern, 76 Gannet, 21 Arctic Skua, 6 Arctic Tern, 2 Fulmar, a Little Gull, 12 Kittiwake, a Yellow-legged Gull and 43 Common Scoter, and south 20 Gannet and 9 Arctic Skua. North over land flew a Hobby, and south a Marsh Harrier.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Wren and a Dunnock.

August 12th. Around the reserve were 10 Spoonbill, a Whimbrel, a Peregrine and a Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock and 3 Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, 12 August 2015.
Photo - Steven Humphreys
Spoonbill, 12 August 2015.
Photo - Steven Humphreys
Spoonbill, 12 August 2015.
Photo - Steven Humphreys
Spoonbill, 12 August 2015.
Photo - Steven Humphreys
Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 12 August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
August 11th. At various sites on the reserve were 16 Spoonbill. Also around were a Kingfisher, 3 Buzzard, a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier. On Tennyson's Sands were a Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit; and 2 retraps: singles of Whitethroat and Dunnock.

Robber Fly with prey.
 Photo - Sam Wilson