Mid October 2017

October 20th. A total of 11 Hawfinch were in the Plantation; 9 then flew south, and 2 south-west. Birds around, including those trapped, were 60 Brent Goose, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 1000 Redwing, 30 Song Thrush and 25 Blackbird. Heading south were 200 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Swallow and 30 Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 53 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Reed Bunting, 26 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird; and a retrap Blackbird.

October 19th. A fall of migrants was evident at first light. A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. Around were 836 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare, 50 Song Thrush, 10 House Martin, 4 Swallow, 5 Brambling, 5 Chiffchaff, a Bullfinch, a Garden Warbler and a Firecrest (North Car Park). Flying south were 5 Wigeon, 3 Swallow and 3 Brambling; and north 185 Pink-footed Goose and 7 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 52 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 13 Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Robin, 25 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 9 retraps: 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, a Dunnock and a Robin.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided new 8 birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Robin and 2 Blackbird; and7 retraps: a Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 2 Robin and a Dunnock.

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 19th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 18th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 60 Brent Goose, 25 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 6 House Martin, 7 Stonechat, a Whinchat, a Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and 2 Grey Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 60 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Fenland Lagoon a Green Sandpiper. Going south were 35 Whooper Swan, 30 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Pintail, a Grey Heron, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 32 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Bullfinch, a Yellowhammer, a Snow Bunting, 173 Tree Sparrow, 1567 Redpoll spp (a new reserve record!), 3637 Goldfinch, 203 Chaffinch, 156 Siskin and 2 Grey Wagtail.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 26 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 6 Reed Bunting, 11 Goldfinch, a Meadow Pipit, a Robin, a Greenfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

Brambling at the feeding station, 18th October 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 17th. Gradually decreasing south-westerly wind.
 Around were 171 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Swallow and 4 House Martin. On Tennyson's Sands were 18 Avocet, a Greenshank and 7 Snipe; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Pintail; and on Croftmarsh 70 Pink-footed Goose.

Sunset, 17th October 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 16th. Increasing south-westerly wind in afternoon.
 On the sea were a Great Northern Diver and 30 Red-throated Diver. Birds around, including those trapped, were 35 Brent Goose, 10 Gannet, a Mediterranean Gull, 12 Goldcrest, 18 Redwing, 20 Song Thrush, a Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaff. Heading south were 9 Eider, a Woodlark, a Swallow, 400 Goldfinch and a Yellow Wagtail; north a Kittiwake; and north-west 180 Pink-footed Goose. In off the sea came 250 Starling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 41 new birds: 11 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Chaffinch, a Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Dunnock, a Greenfinch, 3 Redwing and 13 Blackbird; and 6 retraps; a Wren, a Goldcrest, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.

Red Sun caused by Storm Ophelia, 16th October 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 15th. Around, including birds trapped, were 12 Brent Goose, a Common Buzzard, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 154 Black-tailed Godwit, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 43 Swallow, 50 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 10 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Treecreeper, a Chiffchaff, 13 Stonechat, a Water Pipit and 20 Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and 10 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Water Rail, 2 Spotted Redshank and a Cetti's Warbler. Going south were 12 Whooper Swan, 500 Pink-footed Goose, 15 Redwing, 8 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Lapland Bunting; and north 300 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 42 new birds: 8 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Chiffchaff, 15 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 3 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Redpoll, a Robin, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 3 Redwing and 5 Song Thrush; and 7 retraps: a Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Wren.

Palpita vitrealis trapped overnight, 15th October 2017.
Photo - Nigel Lound
Lapwing, 15th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Snipe, 15th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Kingfisher, 15th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Little Egret, 15th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Firecrest, ringed 15th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 14th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Plantation. On Jackson's Marsh was a Water Pipit; and on Tennyson's Sands an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Cetti's Warbler and a Water Pipit. Birds around, including those trapped, were 150 Brent Goose, a Common Buzzard, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Greenshank, a Treecreeper, 17 Redwing, a Pied Flycatcher, 17 Stonechat, 5 Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail. Flying south were 90 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Swallow, 30 Tree Sparrow, 2 Hawfinch, 1014 Goldfinch, 14 Redpoll, 26 Siskin and a Yellowhammer; west a Bean Goose and 3 Pink-footed Goose; and north 280 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 19 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, a Blackcap, 6 Great Tit, a Song Thrush, 2 Redwing and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Blackbird, 2 Wren, a Robin, a Goldcrest and a Blue Tit.
 A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen in the afternoon.

Clouded Yellow, 14th October 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 13th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 Around were 7 Spotted Redshank, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Stonechat and 4 Redwing. On Jackson's Marsh was a Little Stint; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler. Going north were 100 Pink-footed Goose and a Velvet Scoter; and south a Great Northern Diver.

October 12th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in East Dunes. Birds around, including those trapped, were 50 Brent Goose, 2 Merlin, 9 Greenshank, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Jay, 8 Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Whinchat, 12 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 16 Redpoll and a Lapland Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were a Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint, 2 Snipe and a Kingfisher; on Tennyson's Sands 2 Ruff, 6 Spotted Redshank, 9 Snipe and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Wainfleet Marsh 2000 Golden Plover. Heading north were 28 Pink-footed Goose and a Peregrine; and south 2 Wigeon, a Common Buzzard, 2 House Martin, 2 Redpoll, 3 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 24 new birds: 4 Wren, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Great Tit, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 7 retraps: 3 Robin, 3 Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

Sparrowhawk, ringed 12th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Wheatear, 12th October 2017.
Photo - Ben Ward
October 11th. Moderately strong south-easterly wind.
 A Yellow-browed Warbler was near North Building. Around were 3 Merlin, a Whinchat and 2 Lesser Redpoll. Flying north-west were 120 Pink-footed Goose; and south a Velvet Scoter and a Hobby. On Jackson's Marsh was a Curlew Sandpiper.