Late August 2016

August 31st. An Osprey flew west over Jackson's Marsh. Birds around, including those trapped, were 9 Spoonbill, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 198 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 387 Sandwich Tern, 36 Common Tern, a Common Buzzard, 2 Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 2 Wheatear. Heading south were 1500 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 36 House Martin; and north an Arctic Skua.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 27 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Linnet, 2 Robin, 4 Whitethroat, a Whinchat, a Sedge Warbler, a Meadow Pipit, a Swallow, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and 2 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 3 Wren, a Linnet, a Dunnock, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 31st August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 30th. Around were 9 Spoonbill, 6 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were a Swift, 6 House Martin and 45 Swallow.
 The 12th and final session of CES was done this morning. The 22 new birds were 6 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 3 Dunnock and a Yellowhammer. The 11 retraps were a Wren, 2 Blackbird, a Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit and a Blue Tit.

August 29th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 7 Spoonbill, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzard, a Merlin, a Mediterranean Gull, 4 Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank, 197 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a White Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, a Garden Warbler and a Treecreeper. Going south were a Swift and 1500 Swallow, and west a Common Buzzard and a  Marsh Harrier.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 13 new birds: a Garden Warbler, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 8 retraps: 2 Wren, 2 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Robin.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 10 new birds: 5 Dunnock and singles of Wren, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Linnet and Whitethroat; and 9 retraps: 4 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, a Wren, Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

August 28th. Around were 9 Spoonbill, a Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Black Tern, 1371 Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, 6 Snipe, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Grey Heron, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and 26 Mistle Thrush. Heading south were 70 Swallow, and north a Fulmar.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat; and 5 retraps: 3 Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Linnet.

August 27th. Birds around included 13 Spoonbill, a Caspian Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Spotted Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 156 Black-tailed Godwit, 63 Avocet, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 14 Greenshank, a Ruff, 5 Egyptian Goose, a Pintail, 7 Arctic Skua, a Merlin, Green Woodpecker, a Garden Warbler, a Grey Wagtail and a Wheatear. Flying south were 700 Swallow, 15 House Martin and 8 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 24 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 4 Linnet, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, 2 Yellowhammer and a Sparrowhawk; and 7 retraps: a Linnet, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Dunnock.
 The highlights of overnight moth-trapping were Hedge Rustic, Angle-barred Pug, Centre-barred Swallow, Purple Bar and Bulrush Wainscot.

Caspian Gull, 27th august 2016.
Photo - James Siddle

Caspian Gull, 27th August 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Spotted Redshanks, 27th August 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Vestal, 27th August 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

White-point, 27th August 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

Sparrowhawk, ringed 27th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 26th. Soggy start, then mostly sunny.
 Around were 7 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Green Woodpecker and a Treecreeper. Going south were 55 Swallow and 8 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 9 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, 3 Robin, a Blackcap and a Swallow; and 6 retraps: a Blackbird, 2 Wren, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.

August 25th. Rain until mid morning.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 6 Spoonbill, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4+ Common Buzzard, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, 2 Water Rail, 12 Wigeon, 185 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 19 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, a Little Stint, 25 Arctic Skua, a Guillemot, 4 Whinchat, a Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Wheatear. Heading south were a Great Skua, a Hobby and 250 Swallow; and north 3 Black Tern, 4 Kittiwake, 9 Arctic Tern and 9 Mistle Thrush.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 24 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Whinchat and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Wren.

Arctic Skuas, 25th August 2016.
Photo - James Siddle

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 25th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Whinchat, ringed 25th August 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

Pied Flycatcher, 24th August 2016.
Photo - James Siddle

Spotted Flycatcher, 24th August 2016.
Photo - James Siddle

August 24th. Around, including birds trapped, were 13 Spoonbill, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, a Kingfisher, 3 Redstart, 3 Pied Flycatcher and a retrapped Redwing. Flying south were 90 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 38 new birds: 6 Wren, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Blackcap, 3 Redstart, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Robin, 3 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 2 Blackcap, a Redwing, 3 Dunnock and a Chaffinch. The retrapped Redwing (moult score 46) was the bird ringed in East Dunes on June 21st, seen and photographed at Aylmer Avenue on June 29th, and retrapped in East Dunes on August 15th.

Moulting adult Redwing, retrapped 24th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Redstart, ringed 24th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 23rd. Birds around, including those trapped, were 17 Spoonbill, a Red Kite, a Peregrine, a Merlin, 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stint, 4 Spotted Redshank, a Wood Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 15 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, 203 Black-tailed Godwit, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 9 Swift, 8 Pied Flycatcher, 11 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Garden Warbler, 250 Willow Warbler, 27 Blackcap, 135 Whitethroat, 65 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Whinchat, 20 Wheatear, 16 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 80 Yellow Wagtail, 15 Tree Pipit and a Corn Bunting. The first-summer (portlandica) Common Tern was again on Tennyson's Sands; it first appeared 2 weeks ago. Going south were a Ruff, 1000 Swallow, 350 House Martin and 50 Sand Martin.
 The 11th session of CES was done this morning, with Keith Collett. The 46 new birds were 3 Wren, 20 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 8 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 12 retraps: a Robin, a Song Thrush, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Chiffchaff, 2 Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Blackcap.

August 22nd. Rain early morning.
 Around were 13 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Little Tern, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Little Ringed Plover, a Kingfisher, 1+ Green Woodpecker, 3 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear and a Treecreeper. The high tide wader roost consisted of 38000 Knot, 2500 Grey Plover, 3000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4000 Oystercatcher, 339 Curlew, 24 Turnstone, 2000 Sanderling, 4000 Dunlin, a Purple Sandpiper, 5 Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper. Heading south were 4 Swift, 150 Swallow, 15 Sand Martin and 8 House Martin.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 20 new birds: 11 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Meadow Pipit and 2 Sedge Warbler; and 5 retraps: singles of Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Whitethroat and Dunnock.
 A check of nest boxes revealed a retrap moulting adult female Barn Owl, a pullus large enough to ring and a pullus too small to ring.

Pullus Barn Owl, ringed 22nd August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 21st. Birds around, including those trapped, were 15 Spoonbill, a Wryneck, 4 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, 5 Whinchat, 6 Yellow Wagtail, a Treecreeper, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Ruff, 2 Little Stint, 4 Spotted Redshank, 6 Curlew Sandpiper, a Purple Sandpiper, 15 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel. Flying south were 10 Swift and 7 Swallow. One observer recorded 101 species here on this day.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 17 new birds: 10 Willow Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and a retrap Dunnock.
 

     

Wryneck, 21st August 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 21st August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Wheatear, ringed 21st August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Mid August 2016

August 20th. South-westerly wind increasingly strong until mid afternoon then decreasing slowly.
 Birds around included 18 Spoonbill, 9 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Little Stint, 11 Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 2 Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. Going south were 8 Swift.

August 19th. A Corncrake was flushed by the path to Jackson's Hide. Around were 9 Spoonbill, 156 Cormorant, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a juvenile Peregrine, an adult Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Little Stint, 4 Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a juvenile Cuckoo, 28 Mistle Thrush, 3 Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Willow Warbler. Heading south were a Great Skua, a Swift, 40 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin and 240 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Reed Warbler and 3 Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.

August 18th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 4 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, 163 Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Stint, a Little Ringed Plover, 1+ Green Woodpecker, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 3 Willow Warbler. Flying south were 65 Swallow, 40 House Martin and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Whinchat; and 2 retrap Dunnock.

Whinchat, ringed 18th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 17th. Around were 8 Spoonbill, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 6 Snipe, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Stint, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Common Buzzard and a Green Woodpecker. Going south were 7 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 3 Linnet and a Woodpigeon; and 4 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

August 16th. A Greenish Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes; later it flew off towards the west end of Sleeper Track, near Bean's Hole. Birds around, including those trapped, were 8 Spoonbill, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 19 Greenshank, 165 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 16 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Arctic Skua. On Jackson's Marsh were a Garganey, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Little Stint, and on the Mere a Water Rail and 12 Sedge Warbler. Heading north was a Marsh Harrier, and south 3 Common Buzzard65 Swallow and 13 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, resulted in 15 new birds: a Greenish Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Swallow, a Linnet and a Yellowhammer; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Linnet.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 14 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinch and singles of Wren, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Great Tit, Dunnock and Song Thrush; and 10 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 3 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit and a Chaffinch.
 Moths trapped overnight included Hedge Rustic, Purple Bar, Pebble Hook-tip, Sharp-angled Leacock, Drinker, Tawny-speckled Pug, Saltmarsh Plume and Platypes alpinella. Also, 2 Lime Hawkmoth caterpillars were discovered.

Greenish Warbler, ringed 16th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Greenish Warbler, ringed 16th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Whinchat, ringed 16th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

White-letter Hairstreak, 16th August 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

August 15th. A distant marsh tern offshore was probably a White-winged Black Tern. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill, a Little Stint, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 42 Dunlin, and on Tennyson's Sands 100+ Black-tailed Godwit. Around, including birds trapped, were a Whimbrel, 2500 Sandwich Tern, 200 Common Tern, 4 Arctic Skua, a Redwing, 2 Whinchat, a Wheatear and a Grasshopper Warbler. Flying south were 130 Swallow and 8 Sand Martin, and north 80 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 15 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Reed Warbler, 2 Swallow and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Robin, a Blackcap, a Redwing, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock. The retrapped Redwing (moult score 40) was the adult bird ringed in East Dunes on June 21st (moult score 1) and seen and photographed at Aylmer Avenue on June 29th. Presumably it summered in the local area while undergoing moult.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 30 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Wren, 3 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, a Robin, a Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Song Thrush; and 14 retraps: 6 Blue Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Blackcap and a Long-tailed Tit.

Moulting adult Redwing, retrapped 15th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 14th. The wind shifted to the east mid afternoon.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 8 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 2 Arctic Skua, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Wheatear, a Redstart, 4 Whinchat, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Yellow Wagtail and 40 Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Little Stint and 4 Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands 2 Ruff, 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and 100+ Black-tailed Godwit; and on the Mere a juvenile Water Rail, a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Wigeon. Going south were 6 Swift, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 123 Swallow, 15 House Martin and 24 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 34 new birds: 18 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 3 Robin, a Blackcap, 6 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Kingfisher; and 5 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Wren.

Kingfisher, ringed 14th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 13th. Increasing then decreasing south-westerly wind.
 On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill, a Little Stint, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 96 Black-tailed Godwit; on Tennyson's Sands an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank, 108 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Snipe; and on Croftmarsh 3 Snipe and 14 Golden Plover. Around, including birds trapped, were a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail and 15 Willow Warbler. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, 28 Swift, 550 Swallow, 20 House Martin and 70 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 13 new birds: 9 Willow Warbler, a Tree Pipit, a Linnet and 2 Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: singles of Wren, Dunnock and Great Tit.

Tree Pipit, ringed 13th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 12th. Increasing then decreasing south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included a Peregrine, a Common Buzzard, a Whimbrel, 11 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron and 3 Yellow Wagtail. On Jackson's Marsh were a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 15 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Greenshank and 34 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier, 62 Swift, 180 Sand Martin and 1300 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Robin and a Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: singles of Great Tit, Dunnock and Linnet.

August 11th. Drizzle early and late morning.
  On Jackson's Marsh were a Spoonbill, a Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and 4 Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands a Little Ringed Plover, 6 Greenshank and 3 Snipe; on the Mere 12 Shoveler, 36 Gadwall and 2 Wigeon; and on Croftmarsh a Snipe. Birds around, including those trapped, were 6 Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua, a Cuckoo, 4 Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Peregrine, a Green Woodpecker and 17 Willow Warbler. Going south were 3 Arctic Skua and 65 Swallow.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 21 new birds: a Wren, 11 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler and 2 Whitethroat; and 7 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 2 Linnet. a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap.

Early August 2016

August 10th. Around, including birds trapped, were 9 Spoonbill, a Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Redstart, a Wheatear, 18 Mistle Thrush and 12 Willow Warbler. Heading south were a Tree Pipit, 7 Swallow and a Common Buzzard.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Robin, a Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; 8 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Wren, a Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Linnet and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and a control Willow Warbler.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 10th August 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

August 9th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Curlew Sandpiper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, a Wheatear, 17 Willow Warbler, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 200 Ringed Plover, 2000 Sandwich Tern and a Merlin. On the water bodies were a Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, 15 Greenshank and 133 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 2 Gannet, 9 Arctic Skua, 346 Common Tern, 31 Arctic Tern, a Swift and 14 Swallow.
 Butterflies included 15 Painted Lady.
 The 10th session of CES was done this morning. The 14 new birds were a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and 4 Dunnock; and 5 retraps: singles of Blackbird, Wren, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Dunnock.

August 8th. Moderately strong westerly wind.
 Around were a juvenile Peregrine, a Merlin, a Wheatear, a Whimbrel, 5 Marsh Harrier, 6 Kestrel, a Cuckoo and 35 Willow Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 465 Redshank, 132 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff and 3 Snipe. Going south were a Red Kite, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, a Grey Heron, 294 Common Tern, 34 Arctic Tern, 148 Commic Tern, 150 Swallow, 14 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin and 7 Swift.
 Butterflies included 7 Painted Lady.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 12 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Cormorant; and no retraps. The Cormorant was roosting on the Heligoland Trap.

Wheatear, 8th August 2016
Photo - Nige Lound

August 7th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
Birds around included a Little Stint (at Greenshanks Creek), a Whimbrel, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, a Merlin, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Cuckoo, a Redstart and 25+ Willow Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 6 Snipe and 50 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 300 Swift, 1500 Swallow, 120 House Martin and 250 Sand Martin.
 In East Dunes were 3 Painted Lady.
 A brief, wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded a new Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Linnet.

August 6th. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Spoonbill, 400 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper. Around, including birds trapped, were a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Whimbrel, 7000 Sanderling, 9200 Dunlin, 20000 Knot, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 42 Willow Warbler, 43 Whitethroat, 16 Sedge Warbler and a Garden Warbler. Flying south were 1200 Swallow and 80 Sand Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 18 new birds: 8 Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Garden Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Goldfinch and a Reed Warbler; and 4 retraps: singles of Robin, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Dunnock.

Spoonbills, 6th August 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

August 5th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 7000 Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Green Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, a Crossbill, a Tree Sparrow, 15 Willow Warbler and a Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were an adult  Mediterranean Gull, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe and 8 Black-tailed Godwit. Going south were a Tree Pipit and 60 Swallow.
 Butterflies included a Painted Lady.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 19 new birds: 3 Wren, 6 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat and a Robin; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 2 Wren and a Blackcap.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 36 new birds: 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, a Redstart, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 15 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Long-tailed Tit and a Goldcrest.

August 4th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 Around were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 7 Little Ringed Plover, the leucistic Sanderling, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and 12 Mistle Thrush. On Jackson's Marsh were 7 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands an immature Mediterranean Gull, a Green Sandpiper, 260 Redshank and 12 Greenshank. Heading south were 2 Grey Heron, a Ruff, 22 Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, 860 Swift, 28 Swallow, 12 House Martin and 32 Sand Martin.
 In East Dunes were 2 Painted Lady.
 A brief, wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in a new Sedge Warbler; and 4 retraps: singles of Linnet, Dunnock, Whitethroat and Wren.

Merlin and Kestrel, 4th August 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound

Leucistic Sanderling, 4th August 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound

Swift flying south offshore, 4th August 2016.
Photo - Alex Scott

Waders flying offshore, 4th August 2016.
Photo - Alex Scott

August 3rd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, with brief light rain in the morning.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Snipe, 2 Dunlin, an Oystercatcher and 17 Greenshank, and on Jackson's Marsh 48 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Common Sandpiper. Birds around included a Cuckoo, a Marsh Harrier and a Greenshank. Flying south were an Arctic Skua, 740 Swift, 30 House Martin and 75 Swallow, and north an Arctic Skua. Roosting on Jackson's Marsh hedge were 96 Little Egret, the highest ever count here.
 A wind- and rain-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap, a Linnet and a Wren.

August 2nd.  On Jackson's Marsh were a Spoonbill, 56 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper, whilst on Tennyson's Sands were another 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Greenshank, a juvenile Shoveler, a Great Crested Grebe, 3 Snipe, a Ruff and 3 Little Ringed Plover. Around, including birds trapped, were a Garden Warbler, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Grey Partridge, 500 Sandwich Tern, 2500 Knot, 8000 Dunlin, 5000 Sanderling (including a leucistic individual) and a Whimbrel. Going south were an Arctic Skua, a Common Scoter and 2 Swallow, and north 3 Gadwall.
 A Painted Lady was in East Dunes.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Linnet and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Linnet, a Blue Tit, a Wren, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.

Leucistic Sanderling, 2nd August 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound

August 1st. On Jackson's Marsh were 9 Spoonbill, a Common Sandpiper, a Ruff and 45 Black-tailed Godwit, and on Tennyson's Sands a Mediterranean Gull, 4 Greenshank and 6 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4400 Sanderling, 5000 Dunlin, a Green Woodpecker, a Cuckoo, a Greenshank, 4 Sand Martin, a Garden Warbler, a Yellowhammer and a Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 2 Arctic Skua and 85 Swallow.
 Butterflies included 2 Painted Lady.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 12 new birds: 4 Wren, 6 Willow Warbler, a Robin and a Meadow Pipit; and 3 retraps: singles of Linnet, Wren and Dunnock.

Recently fledged Little Terns, 1st August 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound