Mid November 2016

November 20th. Rain until mid morning, then some in afternoon.
 Birds around included 3 Tundra Bean Goose, 7 Barnacle Goose, 2000 Pink-footed Goose, a Merlin, 2 Woodcock, 83 Black-tailed Godwit, an Avocet, 3 Water Pipit, a Goldcrest and a Yellowhammer. Flying south were 7 Whooper Swan.

November 19th. Going south were a Great White Egret, 8+ Bewick's Swan, 43 Whooper Swan and 5 Siskin. Around were a Waxwing, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 6 Barnacle Goose, 370 Brent Goose, 8 Pintail, a male Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin, 7 Water Rail, 7 Water Pipit, a Woodcock, a Chiffchaff, 2 Tree Sparrow, a Snow Bunting and 30 Corn Bunting.

Great White Egret, 19th November 2016.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
November 18th. Birds around included 800 Pink-footed Goose, a Merlin and 2 Woodcock.

November 17th. Around were 800 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Woodcock, 13000 Knot and 3000 Grey Plover. Heading south were a Long-tailed Duck, 2 Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.

November 16th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 80 Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.
 The final morning ringing session of the year in East Dunes provided a new Wren; and 2 retrap Goldcrest.

November 15th. Some mid morning rain.
 Around were 800 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Goldeneye, a Merlin, 6 Snipe, 350 Lapwing, 10 Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 4 Water Pipit, a Treecreeper, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and 20 Corn Bunting.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Chaffinch and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Robin.

November 14th. Some early morning light rain, then soggy.
 Birds around included 350 Pink-footed Goose, 17 Pintail, a Common Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Ruff, 7 Water Rail and 22 Corn Bunting.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 2 new Redwing; 3 retraps: singles of Blackbird, Goldcrest and Wren; and a control Goldfinch.

November 13th. Around, including birds trapped, were 1000+ Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, a Water Rail, a Green Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat and 3 Snow Bunting.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 17 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, a Greenfinch, 7 Blackbird and a Water Rail; and 9 retraps: 3 Robin, 4 Blackbird, a Goldfinch and a Wren.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 35 new birds and 39 retraps. The new birds were 10 Goldfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit and singles of Blue Tit, Robin, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Tree Sparrow. The retraps were 11 Great Tit, 9 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 2 Wren and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Water Rail, ringed 13th November 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
November 12th. Rain until late morning, then again in afternoon.
 Birds around included 200 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Water Rail.

November 11th. Around were 2 Merlin, a Peregrine,  a Short-eared Owl, 2 Pintail, 450 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Snipe, 3 Siskin and a Brambling. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier and a Red-breasted Merganser; and north 2 Long-tailed Duck and a Purple Sandpiper. A Water Rail was squealing on the Old Saltmarsh at dusk.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and 12 Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 6 Blackbird, a Linnet, a Goldcrest and 3 Robin.
Tide line Turnstone, 11th November 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound