Birds around included 2 Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove and a Goldcrest. Going south were 120 Starling.
A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Robin, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Starling; and 7 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Wren and a Linnet.
June 9th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
The Common Crane reappeared briefly over the reserve in the morning. On Croftmarsh was a Pink-footed Goose; and on Jackson's Marsh a Little Gull. Around were 4 Teal, 350 Oystercatcher, a Whimbrel, 30 Lapwing, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Cuckoo and a Hobby. Heading south were 9 Swift and 60 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 28 new birds: a Linnet, a Robin, 2 Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, 8 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 13 Starling; and 10 retraps: a Linnet, a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Wren and 5 Blue Tit.
A nest box check revealed 2 adult Barn Owls, of which 1 was ringed, and a clutch of 6 warm eggs.
 |
| Adult Barn Owl, ringed 9th June 2017. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Pink-footed Goose, 9th June 2016. Photo - Nige Lound |
 |
| Barn Owl, 9th June 2017. |
 |
| Barn Owl, 9th June 2017. |
 |
| Hobby, 9th June 2017. |
 |
| Mute Swan with cygnets on the Mere, 9th June 2017. |
 |
| Oystercatcher with chick on Fenland Lagoon, 9th June 2017. |
Birds around included a Hobby. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill (which later flew off north-west) and 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were a male Pochard, 4 adult Kittiwake and 300 Swift.
Dragonflies included 4 Red-veined Darter.
June 7th. Still very windy, but slowly decreasing in afternoon.
The Spoonbill moved to Jackson's Marsh. Around were a Hobby and 11 Crossbill. Going south were 120 Swift. Sea-watching produced a Manx Shearwater, 40 Gannet, 5 Sandwich Tern and 25 Little Tern.
June 6th. Wind decreasing then increasing, with intermittent rain.
The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson's Sands. Birds around included a Hobby. Heading south were 2 Whimbrel and 650 Swift.
June 5th. Increasing south-westerly wind, with rain developing in afternoon.
The Common Crane reappeared briefly over the reserve in the morning. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill. Around was a Cuckoo. Flying south were 286 Swift and 2 House Martin.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and a Linnet.
June 4th. A Common Crane flew briefly over Croftmarsh at 0925hrs. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon was a Greenshank. Birds around included a Red Kite, 2 Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo. Going south were 11 Common Scoter and 75 Swift.
The fourth session of CES was done this morning. The 6 new birds were a Long-tailed Tit, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Robin and a Blackcap. The 15 retraps were 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Long-tailed Tit, a Willow Warbler and 2 Blackbird.
 |
| Common Crane, 4th June 2017. Photo - James Siddle |
 |
| Common Crane, 4th June 2017. Photo - James Siddle |
 |
| Common Crane, 4th June 2017. Photo - Paul Neale |
 |
| Common Crane, 4th June 2017. Photo - Paul Neale |
A Common Crane was on a field near Croftmarsh. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Cuckoo, a Kingfisher and 2 Spotted Flycatcher. Heading south was a Merlin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Linnet, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Chaffinch and a Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.
Butterflies included 4 Painted Lady.
 |
| Common Crane, 3rd June 2017. Photo - David Hitchin |
 |
| Kingfisher, 3rd June 2017. Photo - Tony Keefe |
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 3rd June 2017. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.
 |
| Southern Marsh Orchid, 2nd June 2017. Photo - Nicky Yeadon |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Mistle Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
A check of nest boxes resulted in 6 Blue Tit pulli and 6 Great Tit pulli ringed; a sitting adult Great Tit; and several broods the wrong size for ringing. However, a number of dead chicks and wet, abandoned nests were presumably the result of recent heavy rains.
