Early May 2017

May 10th. An Osprey came in off the sea. The Nightingale was singing near the Cycle Track. Around were 2 Light-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 30 Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare, 3 Redstart, a female Pied Flycatcher, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Tree Pipit and a Redpoll. On Fenland Lagoon was a Common Sandpiper. Flying north were 2 Dotterel calling after dusk; and south were a Goosander, a Grey Heron, 2 Arctic Tern, 11 Swift, 5 Sand Martin, 27 House Martin, 450 Swallow, 2 Tree Pipit and a Crossbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 13 new birds: 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a Sedge Warbler; and 2 retrap Willow Warblers.

Whitethroat,  10th May 2017.
Pied Flycatcher, 10th May 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Singing Grasshopper Warbler, early morning, 10th May 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound


May 9th. Northerly wind still decreasing.
 The Woodlark was still present around the south end of East Dunes. The Nightingale was singing well by Beach Car Park this evening. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Grey Heron, 4 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 2 Ruff, a Cuckoo, 8 Fieldfare, 4 Ring Ouzel, 3 Redstart (2 females East Dunes, 1 male Mill Pond Meadow), 2 Wheatear, a female Pied Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit and 2 Crossbill. On Tennyson's Sands was a Great Crested Grebe; and on the Mere a Yellow Wagtail. Going north were 14 Swallow, and south 2 Fieldfare.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 19 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Redstart, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Woodpigeon; and 6 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler and a Redstart.

Avocet, 9th May 2017.
Photo - Nicky Yeadon
Woodlark by the Shorebird Hut, 9th May 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Woodpigeon, ringed 9th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
May 8th. Quite strong northerly wind, gradually decreasing.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Wigeon, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 1000 Oystercatcher, 10 Whimbrel, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Little Tern, 2 Cuckoo, a Woodlark, a Ring Ouzel, a female Redstart, a Nightingale, a Garden Warbler and a Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Ringed Plover. Heading north were 2 Swift and 4 Swallow.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 12 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Brambling, a Sedge Warbler, a Redstart and a Chaffinch; 13 retraps: 2 Coal Tit, a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, a Blue Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and a control Long-tailed Tit.

Dryad's Saddle Fungus, Sykes Farm, 8th May 2017.
Photo - Jack Wilson
Brambling, ringed 8th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Redstart, ringed 8th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
May 7th. Increasing northerly wind.
 A Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered in East Dunes. Birds around, including those trapped, were 13 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Swift, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Ring Ouzel, 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redstart (2 males and 1 female in East Dunes), 7 Wheatear, a Whinchat, a male Pied Flycatcher, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Brambling and a Common Redpoll. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill; on Fenland Lagoon 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank; on Croftmarsh a Yellow Wagtail; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Ruff. Flying north were a Hooded Crow, a Common Buzzard and 50 Swallow.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 25 new birds: 14 Willow Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, a Redstart, a Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Redpoll; and 5 retraps: 2 Willow Warbler, a Redstart, a Chiffchaff and a Chaffinch.

Wood Warbler, ringed 7th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Common Redpoll, ringed 7th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
May 6th. Still fairly strong north-easterly wind.
 Going north was a Swift. Around, including birds trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo, a Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Hobby, a Snipe, 5 Fieldfare, a Whinchat, 3 Redstart (2 males East Dunes, 1 female West Dunes), 18 Swallow, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Wood Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 18 Willow Warbler.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, yielded 15 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Redstart and a Whitethroat; 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, a Reed Bunting and a Redstart; and a control Lesser Whitethroat.

Pale Prominent, 6th April 2017.
Photo - John Shaughnessy
Redstart, ringed 6th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
May 5th. Somewhat less strong north-easterly wind.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a male Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 4 Snipe, a Cuckoo, 18 Swallow, 2 Fieldfare, a Redwing, a male Redstart, a Wheatear, 2 Pied Flycatcher, a Yellow Wagtail and a Garden Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Tern. Heading north was a Red Kite.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 8 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Robin and Redstart; and a retrap Blue Tit.

Redstart, ringed 5th May, 2017.
Photo - George Gregory 
May 4th. Continuing fairly strong north-easterly wind.
 A male Pied Flycatcher was discovered in East Dunes mid-morning. Around were 4 Greenshank, a Cuckoo, 50 Swallow, a Black Redstart and a female Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Ruff and a Reed Warbler. Flying north were 4 Greenshank.

Pied Flycatcher, 4th May 2017.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
May 3rd. Fairly strong north-easterly wind.
 Birds around were a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Greenshank, 9 Whimbrel, a Snipe, 2 Common Tern, a Red-legged Partridge, 2 Cuckoo, 7 Swallow, a Ring Ouzel, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler and 2 House Sparrow. A Black Redstart appeared next to Jackson's Marsh hide. On Croftmarsh was a Grey Heron; and on Tennyson's Sands were 3 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper. Heading north were an Arctic Tern and a Hobby; and south 4 Ruff.

May 2nd. A Common Crane flew over, then off north in the morning. Around, including birds trapped, were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Gull, 2 Common Tern, 60 Little Tern, 6 Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 34 Swallow, 45 House Martin, a Sedge Warbler, a Fieldfare, a Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, a Tree Pipit and a Siskin. A Nightingale was heard singing briefly in the East Dunes.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 2 Blackbird and a Whitethroat.
 Offshore was a Harbour Porpoise.

Common Crane, 2nd May 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Little Terns at high tide, 2nd May 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2nd May 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
 May 1st. The Spoonbill flew off of Tennyson's Sands early morning, while the Spotted Redshank and a Common Tern remained there. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Fulmar, 15 Whimbrel, 4 Greenshank, 4 Cuckoo, 12 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and a Tree Pipit.
 The first session of CES was done this morning. The 9 new birds were a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Dunnock, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and the 15 retraps were 3 Blackbird, 5 Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Great Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, a Whitethroat and a Wren.