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.
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| Spoonbill, 17 August 2015. |
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.
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| Sparrowhawk, ringed 16 August 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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.
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| Spoonbill, 15 August 2015. |
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| Spoonbill, 15 August 2015. |
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| Muntjac, 15 August 2015. |
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| Juvenile Goldfinch, one of many finches in flocks here recently, 15 August 2015. |
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| Spotted Redshanks feeding, 15 August 2015. |
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| Spoonbills, 15 August 2015. |
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| Juvenile Dunlin, 15 August 2015. |
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.
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| Pied Flycatcher, ringed 14 August 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Sparrowhawk, ringed 14 August 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 14 August 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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.
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| Spoonbill, 12 August 2015. Photo - Steven Humphreys |
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| Spoonbill, 12 August 2015. Photo - Steven Humphreys |
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| Spoonbill, 12 August 2015. Photo - Steven Humphreys |
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| Spoonbill, 12 August 2015. Photo - Steven Humphreys |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 12 August 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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.
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| Robber Fly with prey. Photo - Sam Wilson |
