Late June 2016

June 30th. Soggy start, then afternoon rain.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bullfinch, a family of 4 House Sparrow, a family of 5 Goldcrest, 4 Cuckoo and a Barn Owl. On Tennyson's Sands was an adult Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were 5 Swift, 3 Sand Martin and 30 Curlew.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: singles of Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Whitethroat, Starling and Cuckoo; and a retrap Dunnock.

Bullfinch, ringed 30th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Cuckoo, ringed 30th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 29th. Soggy start, rain later.
 Around were an unseasonal Redwing (see entry for June 21st), a House Sparrow (scarce here), 4 Cuckoo and a Barn Owl. Flying south were 9 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 11 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, a Meadow Pipit, a Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Blackbird.

Redwing, 29th June 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Juvenile Goldcrest, ringed 29th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 28th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl and 3 Cuckoo. On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Gull. Going northwest were 3 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Dunnock and a Mistle Thrush; and a retrap Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 34 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Robin, a Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Greenfinch, 5 Dunnock and a Great Tit; and 28 retraps: 7 Chaffinch, 3 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Greenfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 5 Great Tit and a Willow Warbler.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 28th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Poplar Hawkmoth, 28th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 27th. Damp start.
 Around were a Whimbrel and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were 24 Swift and a Grey Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: a Blackcap, a Linnet, a Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch and a Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Wren, a Great Tit and a Robin.

It seems that the two recent Caspian Terns had first turned up in Somerset, where they were seen together at Portbury Wharf in mid May. 

June 26th. Brief early morning rain, then damp.
 Birds around included a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, 75 Little Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Little Gull, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Short-eared Owl and 4 Cuckoo. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were 16 Swift.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Wren.

Privet Hawkmoth, 26th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 25th. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill, which arrived in the afternoon, and a Green Sandpiper. Around were 4 Cuckoo, 70 Little Tern, 4 Common Tern, 27 Sandwich Tern, a Little Gull, 2 Peregrine, a Whimbrel, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 56 Curlew, 8 Mistle Thrush and a Barn Owl. On the move were 90 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Curlew, 7 Gannet, a Great Skua, a Fulmar and 40 Common Scoter.
 On the offshore sandbank were 218 Common Seal, including several pups.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Meadow Pipit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

June 24th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
 Birds around included 2 Barn Owl, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Tern, 70 Little Tern, 4 Mistle Thrush and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were 340 Swift and 2 Curlew. Offshore were 80 Common Scoter,
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, a Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Starling; and 7 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.

 Elephant Hawkmoth, 24th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 23rd. A Caspian Tern, considered to be the ringed previous bird, was on Tennyson's Sands from late morning. Other birds around included 4 Brent Goose, 2 Barn Owl, 4 Cuckoo, a Hobby, a Black-tailed Godwit, 85 Knot, a Grey Heron and 2 Turtle Dove. Offshore were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 65 Little Tern, 82 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, a Kittiwake, 20 Common Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Little Gull. Several small groups of Curlew arrived in from the north during the day; 101 birds in total.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the 6th session of CES, resulted in 26 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 8 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, 4 Dunnock and 2 Greenfinch; and 24 retraps: a Blackcap, a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Coal Tit, 9 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and a Whitethroat.

Curlew arriving from the north, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Caspian Tern on Tennyson's Sands, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Little Gull, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Little Gull, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

June 22nd. An Osprey flew over the Mere. Around were 60 Little Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, a Grey Partridge, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 500 Herring Gull, 4 Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove. Flying south were 102 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Robin, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Meadow Pipit and a Whitethroat.

June 21st. In from the east came a Spoonbill. An unseasonal adult Redwing, which had just started primary moult, was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. This is the third recent summer in which a moulting adult Redwing has been trapped and ringed in East Dunes here. Other birds around included 7 Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 3 Robin, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock and a Redwing; and 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Wren, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Moulting adult Redwing, ringed 21st June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory