Late September 2016

September 30th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 55 Brent Goose, 7 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, 3 Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 9 Goldcrest, 15 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat, 3 Stonechat and 2 Whinchat. Going south were 700 Meadow Pipit, 890 Linnet, 510 Goldfinch, 385 Reed Bunting, 95 House Martin, 60 Swallow, 40 Chaffinch, 42 Siskin, 7 House Sparrow and 35 Tree Sparrow; and south-east 300 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 36 new birds: 4 Wren, 6 Goldcrest, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Robin and 6 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Robin, 3 Dunnock, a Wren and a Blackcap.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling yielded 15 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap, 5 Dunnock and a Kestrel; and 7 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit, 5 Dunnock and a Great Tit.

Adult Whitethroat, ringed 30th September 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

September 29th.  Moderately strong south-east wind, slowly decreasing; some brief, light early morning rain.
 Around were 45 Brent Goose, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff and 4 Greenshank. Heading south were 54 Red-throated Diver, 45 Sandwich Tern, 104 Gannet, 7 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Scaup, a Razorbill, a Guillemot, a Mediterranean Gull, 5900 Swallow, 18 Sand Martin, 2780 House Martin, 1390 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 11 Grey Wagtail, 38 Alba Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 850 Linnet, 200 Goldfinch and a Siskin.

September 28th. Birds around included 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Marsh Harrier, 17 Pintail, 5 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 173 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Snipe, 22 Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Water Rail, 38 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and a Wheatear. Flying south were a Great Northern Diver, 3 Swallow, 17 Sand Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Siskin and 4 Tree Sparrow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Robin.

September 27th. Fresh south-westerly wind.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 12 Pintail, 5 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, 6 Snipe, 149 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Water Rail, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff and 12 Goldcrest. Highlights going south were a Manx Shearwater, 10 Arctic Skua, a Great Skua, a Black-throated Diver and 23 Red-throated Diver. Otherwise there was routine passage overhead and offshore.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, a Robin and 2 Blackcap; and 5 retraps: singles of Robin, Wren, Blackcap, Goldcrest and Blackbird.

September 26th. Birds around included 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 45 Brent Goose, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine, a Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 13 Ruff, 11 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 155 Black-tailed Godwit, a Water Rail, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 7 Stonechat. Heading south were a Richard's Pipit, a Pomarine Skua, 16 Arctic Skua, a Grey Heron, 2 Goosander, a Red-breasted Merganser, 80 Reed Bunting, 800 Meadow Pipit, 350 House Martin, 120 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 200 Linnet and 20 Siskin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 54 new birds: 7 Wren, 19 Goldcrest, 12 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 4 Robin, 2 Reed Bunting, a Linnet, a Chaffinch, a Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: 3 Dunnock and 3 Long-tailed Tit.

Vestal, 26th September 2016.

Photo - Kevin Wilson

September 25th. Gradually decreasing south-westerly wind; some brief, light early morning rain.
 Around were 6 Spoonbill, 9 Spotted Redshank, 14 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 350 Golden Plover, 6 Snipe, 20 Pintail, 150 Wigeon, a Kingfisher, a singing Cetti's Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail. South at sea went a Grey Phalarope, 2 Black Tern and 20 Arctic Skua.
 A delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: a Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Dunnock.

Common Sandpiper, 25th September 2016.

Photo - Philip Millns

Spotted Redshanks, 25th September 2016.

Photo - Philip Millns

Migrant Hawker, 25th September 2016.
Photo - Rob Watson

September 24th.  Moderately strong south-south-westerly wind.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Spoonbill, 5+ Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 9 Ruff and a Kingfisher. Flying south were a juvenile Pomarine Skua, a Sooty Shearwater, 43 Arctic Skua, 105 Gannet, 198 Sandwich Tern, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Marsh Harrier, 5 Grey Wagtail, 65 Swallow and 40 Meadow Pipit.
 A brief, wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Kingfisher and Dunnock.

Synchronised preening, 24th September 2016.

Photo - Philip Millns

Kingfisher, retrapped 24th September 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

September 23rd. Around were 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, a Common Buzzard, a Pied Flycatcher, 20 Chiffchaff and 3 Whinchat. Going south were 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Tree Pipit, 260 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 11 Siskin, 2 House Martin and 45 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 16 new birds: 2 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, 4 Blackcap, 2 Robin and 4 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Robin, Whitethroat and Wren.

Whinchat, 23rd September 2016.

Photo - Philip Millns

Stonechat, 23rd September 2016.

Photo - Philip Millns

September 22nd. Birds around included 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Spoonbill, a Hobby, a Merlin, 40000 Knot, 2000 Grey Plover, 5500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 21 Ruff, a Snipe, 5 Whinchat and 4 Stonechat. Heading south were a Great Northern Diver, a Long-tailed Duck, a Great Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, a Whimbrel, 24 Brent Goose, 65 Sandwich Tern, 700 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 560 House Martin, 200 Swallow, a Sand Martin, 32 Linnet, 13 Siskin, 16 Alba Wagtail, 9 Grey Wagtail, 410 Wigeon and 9 Pintail; and north 17 Brent Goose
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 8 new birds: a Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Wren.

Curlew Sandpiper, 22nd September 2016.

Curlew Sandpiper, 22nd September 2016.

Snipe, 22nd September 2016.

September 21st. Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Spoonbill, a Peregrine, 2 Greenshank, 15 Ruff, 5 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat and a Lapland Bunting. Flying south were a Hawfinch, a Lapland Bunting and 7 Swallow; and north-west 29 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 18 new birds: 2 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, 6 Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and 8 retraps: 2 Wren, a Blackbird, a Dunnock, a Robin, a Blue Tit and 2 Great Tit.