Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid September 2017

September 20th. A Red-backed Shrike was discovered in the north of the reserve, and a Yellow-browed Warbler was near Aylmer Avenue. Birds around, including those trapped, were 5 Spoonbill, 15 Pink-footed Goose, 13 Pintail, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, a Hobby, 6 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, an Arctic Skua, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, 25 Goldcrest and 5 Chiffchaff. Going south were 100 Starling, 2 Grey Wagtail, 350 Swallow and 100 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 28 new birds: 14 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Goldfinch, a Blackcap, a Stonechat and 3 Dunnock; and 10 retraps: 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, 3 Goldcrest, a Goldfinch and 3 Dunnnock.

Red-backed Shrike, 20th September 2017.
Photo - James Siddle

Stonechat, ringed 20th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Kestrel, 20th September 2017.
Photo - Justin Shand

September 19th. There were 3 Yellow-browed Warbler present (2 roadside near Aylmer Avenue, 1 West Dunes opposite Sykes Farm). Also around, including birds trapped, were 4 Brent Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier (briefly),4 Common Buzzard, a Merlin, 2 Water Rail, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 6 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 14 Snipe, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher, a Treecreeper, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and 12 Lesser Redpoll. Heading south were 2 Grey Wagtail and 4 House Martin; and south-east 2 Marsh Harrier.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 17 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Robin and 2 Dunnock.

Ruff, 19th September 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Goldcrest, 19th September 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

September 18th. Some brief mid morning rain.
Birds around, including those trapped, were a Spoonbill, 9 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a Merlin, a Ruff, 5 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler (2 trapped East Dunes, 1 Beach Car Park), 2 Pied Flycatcher (1 trapped East Dunes, 1 Beach Car Park), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Treecreeper and 6 Tree Sparrow. Offshore were 300 Common Scoter, a Black-throated Diver, a Long-tailed Skua and 100 Gannet. Flying south were a Sand Martin, 8 House Martin, 25 Swallow and 40 Meadow Pipit; north a Long-tailed Skua, 5 Great Skua, 2 Black Tern and 7 Puffin; and south-east 40 Pink-footed Goose. A Sooty Shearwater flew south then north.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Linnet, a Pied Flycatcher, a Meadow Pipit, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Robin, 2 Goldcrest, a Wren and a Blue Tit.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 18th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 18th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 17th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Kingfisher, 6 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill; on Croftmarsh 9 Pink-footed Goose; and on Jackson's Marsh a Greenshank. Going south were 104 Pink-footed Goose, 9 House Martin and 9 Tree Sparrow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, a Coal Tit and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Goldcrest, a Great Tit, a Robin and a Wren.

Coal Tit, ringed 17th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Parasol Mushrooms, 17th September 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

September 16th. Birds around included an Osprey, a Grey Heron, 8 Great Skua, 10 Arctic Skua, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Snipe, a Hobby, a Merlin, 2 Swift, 2 Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Redwing, a Treecreeper, 8 Sand Martin, 50 House Martin and a House Sparrow. On Jackson's Marsh was a Little Stint; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, 300 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail and 2 Rook; and north a Goldeneye.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 14 new birds: a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 2 Blackcap and 6 Dunnock; and 9 retraps: a Robin, 2 Blackcap, 5 Dunnock and a Wren.

September 15th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, 2 Garden Warbler and 2 Goldcrest. Flying north waere a Sabine's Gull, a Long-tailed Skua, a Sooty Shearwater and a Black Tern.; and south 80 House Martin, 30 Swallow and 32 Tree Sparrow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 33 new birds: 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 7 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinch, a Great Tit, 4 Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 4 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit and a Blackcap.

September 14th. Rain until early morning.
On Tennyson's Sands were 150 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included a Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. Going south were 6 Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater, 3 Pomarine Skua, a Long-tailed Skua, 26 Great Skua, 10 Arctic Skua, 6 Grey Wagtail, 6 Yellow Wagtail and 2500 Meadow Pipit. In off the sea came 16 Common Buzzard.

Arctic Skua, 14th September 2017.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Kestrel, 14th September 2017.
Photo - Jim Shaw

September 13th. Strong westerly wind, gradually decreasing.
Offshore were 30 Gannet, a Great Skua, a Manx Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skua, a Pintail, 18 Common Scoter, 500 Sandwich Tern, a Roseate Tern, a Great Northern Diver and 4 Red-throated Diver. On Tennyson's Sands were 180 Black-tailed Godwit and a Spotted Redshank; and on Fenland Lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a Hobby, 2 Whimbrel, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Chiffchaff. Heading south were 350 Meadow Pipit, 2100 House Martin, 500 Swallow, 300 Sand Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 18 Pink-footed Goose and a Marsh Harrier.

September 12th. Increasing westerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Spotted Redshank and a Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 10 Greenshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Hobby, 2 Greenshank, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Stonechat, a Whinchat, a Wheatear, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and 12 Willow Warbler. Flying south were 39 Pink-footed Goose, a Swift, 400 House Martin, 52 Sand Martin, 200 Swallow, 3000 Meadow Pipit, 3 Tree Pipit, 5 Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Siskin, 4 Redpoll Spp and 24 Tree Sparrow. Offshore were 10 Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater, 5 Gannet, a Great Skua, 26 Arctic Skua and 600 Sandwich Tern.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 26 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 6 Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, a Whitethroat, a Stonechat, a Garden Warbler and a Dunnock; 2 retraps: a Blackcap and a Robin; and a control Chiffchaff.

Merlin, 12th September 2017.

Merlin, 12th September 2017

Hobby, 12th September 2017.

Whitethroat moulting outer wing feathers while suspending some inner ones, ringed 12th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Stonechat, ringed 12th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 11th. Quite strong south-westerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Spoonbill, 250 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank; and on Fenland Lagoon 3 Greenshank. Around were a Merlin, 2200 Sanderling, a Ruff, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Whitethroat. Going south were a Great Northern Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater, a Long-tailed Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 2 Sparrowhawk, 7 Kestrel, a Whimbrel, 3 Black Tern, 2 Great Skua, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 45 House Martin and 150 Swallow.

Shaggy Ink-cap at Sykes Farm, 11th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory