Around were a Wood Warbler (in Plantation), a Little Stint, a Green Woodpecker, a Cuckoo, 2 Swift, a Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and 8 Swallow. On Fenland Lagoon were 35 Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Ringed Plover.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and Sam Prettyman, yielded a new Goldfinch; and 7 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.
May 30th. Thunder, lightning and rain until mid morning.
Birds around, including those trapped were a Little Stint, a Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 7 Swift, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby, 8 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, a Stonechat, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Garganey, 2 Pintail, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Sandpiper; on Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, 46 Black-tailed Godwit and a Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were 20 Black-tailed Godwit and a Sand Martin.
A ringing session from late morning to mid afternoon provided 8 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Whinchat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: a Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.
May 29th. Fog/mist until mid morning; slowly increasing north-easterly wind.
Around were 2 Grey Partridge, a Redstart, a Wood Sandpiper, a Garganey, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, a Wheatear, 9 Turnstone, 8 Little Tern, 2 Swallow and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and 9 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying north were 58 Swift, 18 Swallow and 35 House Martin.
The third session of CES was done this morning. The 8 new birds were 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap; and 10 retraps: 3 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat.
May 28th. A Hoopoe was discovered on North Building Ridge mid morning. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 87 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Greenshank, 6 Turnstone, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, a Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Little Tern, 5 Cuckoo, a Hobby, a Marsh Harrier, a Siskin, 25 House Martin and 10 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Garganey, 2 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Black-tailed Godwit; on Fenland Lagoon a Garganey, 2 Little Ringed Plover; on Croftmarsh 4 Grey Plover; and on the beach a Little Stint. Going north was a Fulmar.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 8 retraps: 5 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
May 27th. Increasing north-easterly wind.
A Bee-eater was briefly in East Dunes before flying south-west. Around, including birds trapped, were 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, 2 Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Siskin, a Tree Sparrow, a Marsh Harrier and 30 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 2 Garganey; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Pintail. Heading north were an Osprey and 9 Swift; and south a Spoonbill and 10 Crossbill.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Garden Warbler; and a retrap Chaffinch.
May 26th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a male Red-backed Shrike in East Dunes, a Common Rosefinch singing east of Mill Hill, 2 Whimbrel, a Jay, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 9 Swift, a Garden Warbler, 50 Swallow, 8 House Martin, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were a Garganey, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff; and over Croftmarsh a Buzzard.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell and Sam Prettyman, provided 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroat and a Red-backed Shrike; and 3 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Linnet.
An odd-looking Acrocephalus Sp was caught in the Heligoland Trap. It showed a mixture of features of Blyth's Reed Warbler, Caspian Reed Warbler and European Reed Warbler: a bold supercilium extending behind the eye, a greyish cast to upper body contrasting with a quite rufousy rump, a slight emargination on p4 on left wing only, moderately pale underbody, and wing formula/biometrics that indicated European Reed Warbler/Caspian Reed Warbler. It could possibly have been a hybrid or intergrade. The bird was not definitely identified and so was released unringed.
May 25th. Rain in the morning.
Around, including birds trapped were; a singing Marsh Warbler in the East Dunes, a singing Wood Warbler in the Plantation, a male Red-backed Shrike on Storm Ridge, 2 Common Rosefinch singing along Sykes Farm track, a Hawfinch, 3 Whimbrel, a Black Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 12 Swift, 40 Swallow, 4 House Martin and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Garganey, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and a Common Sandpiper.
An afternoon ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher; and 3 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.
May 24th. Fairly strong north-easterly wind.
A Glossy Ibis arrived from the north, circled around, then flew off south, mid morning. Birds around included a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier, 600 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 60 Sanderling, 150 Dunlin, 5 Turnstone, a Cuckoo, 14 Swift, a Hobby, a Jay, 2 Wheatear and 45 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover, which then flew off north. Going north were 4 Swift.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 6 new birds: 2 Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.
May 23rd. Fairly strong northerly wind.
Around were 43 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Partridge, 13 Little Tern, 14 Swift, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, 8 Sand Martin, 65 Swallow, 12 House Martin and a Wheatear. On Croftmarsh was a Garganey; on Tennyson's Sands 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Fenland Lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit. Heading north were 2 Swift.
Ringing Control.
Willow Warbler, ringed GPBO 8 August 2016, controlled Catterick, Yorkshire, 6 May 2018.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and Sam Prettyman, yielded a new Goldfinch; and 7 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.
Wood Warbler, 31st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Wheatear, 31st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
May 30th. Thunder, lightning and rain until mid morning.
Birds around, including those trapped were a Little Stint, a Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 7 Swift, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby, 8 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, a Stonechat, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Garganey, 2 Pintail, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Sandpiper; on Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, 46 Black-tailed Godwit and a Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were 20 Black-tailed Godwit and a Sand Martin.
A ringing session from late morning to mid afternoon provided 8 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Whinchat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: a Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.
Mediterranean Gulls, 30th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
Little Stint, 30th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
Spoonbill, 30th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
Video - Ben Ward
Barn Owl, 30th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
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| Whinchat, ringed 30th May 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were 2 Grey Partridge, a Redstart, a Wood Sandpiper, a Garganey, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, a Wheatear, 9 Turnstone, 8 Little Tern, 2 Swallow and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and 9 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying north were 58 Swift, 18 Swallow and 35 House Martin.
The third session of CES was done this morning. The 8 new birds were 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap; and 10 retraps: 3 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat.
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| Hobby in the mist, 29th May 2018. Photo - Nige Lound  Photo - Ben Ward 
Colour-flagged Ringed Plover, 29th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 8 retraps: 5 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
Garganey, 28th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Muntjac, 28th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Muntjac, 28th May 2018. Photo - Nige Lound |
A Bee-eater was briefly in East Dunes before flying south-west. Around, including birds trapped, were 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, 2 Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Siskin, a Tree Sparrow, a Marsh Harrier and 30 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 2 Garganey; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Pintail. Heading north were an Osprey and 9 Swift; and south a Spoonbill and 10 Crossbill.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Garden Warbler; and a retrap Chaffinch.
Bee-eater, 27th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Photo - Ben Ward
Bee-eater, 27th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
Spotted Flycatcher, 27th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Photo - Ben Ward
May 26th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a male Red-backed Shrike in East Dunes, a Common Rosefinch singing east of Mill Hill, 2 Whimbrel, a Jay, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 9 Swift, a Garden Warbler, 50 Swallow, 8 House Martin, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were a Garganey, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff; and over Croftmarsh a Buzzard.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell and Sam Prettyman, provided 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroat and a Red-backed Shrike; and 3 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Linnet.
An odd-looking Acrocephalus Sp was caught in the Heligoland Trap. It showed a mixture of features of Blyth's Reed Warbler, Caspian Reed Warbler and European Reed Warbler: a bold supercilium extending behind the eye, a greyish cast to upper body contrasting with a quite rufousy rump, a slight emargination on p4 on left wing only, moderately pale underbody, and wing formula/biometrics that indicated European Reed Warbler/Caspian Reed Warbler. It could possibly have been a hybrid or intergrade. The bird was not definitely identified and so was released unringed.
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| Red-backed Shrike, ringed 26th May 2018. Photo - George Gregory 
Great Spotted Woodpecker and Great Tit, 26th May 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson
Meadow Pipit, 26th May 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson |
Around, including birds trapped were; a singing Marsh Warbler in the East Dunes, a singing Wood Warbler in the Plantation, a male Red-backed Shrike on Storm Ridge, 2 Common Rosefinch singing along Sykes Farm track, a Hawfinch, 3 Whimbrel, a Black Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 12 Swift, 40 Swallow, 4 House Martin and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Garganey, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and a Common Sandpiper.
An afternoon ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher; and 3 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.
Marsh Warbler, 25th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Marsh Warbler song, 25th May 2018.
Video - Kevin Wilson
Video - Kevin Wilson
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| Common Rosefinch, 25th May 2018. Photo - Roy Harvey Video - Kevin Wilson |
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| Red-backed Shrike, 25th May 2018. Photo - James Siddle |
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| Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 25th May 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Wood Warbler in the Plantation, 25th May 2018. Photo - James Siddle |
A Glossy Ibis arrived from the north, circled around, then flew off south, mid morning. Birds around included a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier, 600 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 60 Sanderling, 150 Dunlin, 5 Turnstone, a Cuckoo, 14 Swift, a Hobby, a Jay, 2 Wheatear and 45 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover, which then flew off north. Going north were 4 Swift.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 6 new birds: 2 Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.
Brown Argus, 24th May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward
Photo - Ben Ward
Common Blue, 24th May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward
Wall Brown, 24th May 2018,
Photo - Kevin Wilson
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| Little Ringed Plover, 24th May 2018, Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Woodpigeon, ringed 24th May 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were 43 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Partridge, 13 Little Tern, 14 Swift, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, 8 Sand Martin, 65 Swallow, 12 House Martin and a Wheatear. On Croftmarsh was a Garganey; on Tennyson's Sands 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Fenland Lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit. Heading north were 2 Swift.
Mediterranean Gull 24rd May 2018,
Video - Ben Ward
Video - Ben Ward
Ringing Control.
Willow Warbler, ringed GPBO 8 August 2016, controlled Catterick, Yorkshire, 6 May 2018.
May 22nd. Increasing northerly wind.
The Spoonbill flew from Tennyson's Sands towards the Wash. Birds around included 15 Brent Goose, 350 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 14 Little Tern, a Cuckoo, a Wheatear, 6 Sand Martin, 35 Swallow and 8 House Martin. On Croftmarsh was a Garganey; and on Tennyson's Sands 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper. Flying north were 14 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 43 Swallow and 2 House Martin; and south a Fulmar.
A wind-restricted morning session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Goldfinch; and 2 retrap Whitethroats.
Tawny Owl, 22nd May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward
Photo - Ben Ward
Long-tailed Tits, 22nd May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward
Photo - Ben Ward
May 21st. Fog until mid morning.
On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill and 11 Black-tailed Godwit; on Jackson's Marsh a Yellow Wagtail; and on Croftmarsh a Ruff. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 27 Little Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, a Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby and a Jay. Going north were 3 Black Tern.
A fog-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Song Thrush and a Whitethroat.
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| Spoonbill, 21st May 2018. Photo - Ben Ward  Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Green Woodpecker, 21st May 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Hobby, 21st May 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Hobby, 21st May 2018. Photo - Ben Ward |
