Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Early May 2018

May 10th. Some early morning rain.

A Spoonbill landed on Old Saltmarsh. Around, including birds trapped, were a 88 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Long-eared Owl heard late, a Swift, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands was a Common Sandpiper. Flying south was a Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail.
A rain-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Prettyman and Keith Collett, produced 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 10th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

May 9th. Birds around included 80 Brent Goose, 2 Garganey (on Old Saltmarsh), a Red Kite, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo, a Garden Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and 4 Swallow. On Jackson's Marsh was a Garganey; and on Croftmarsh a Greenshank. Flying south were a Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Common Tern.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 3 Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Great Tit.

Yellow Wagtail, 8th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Recent Ringing Controls.
Great Tit, ringed GPBO 14 October 2017, controlled Muckton Bottom, Lincolnshire 7 April 2018.
Blackbird, ringed GPBO 1 November 2016, controlled Skaelskor, Denmark 31 March 2018.
Blackbird, ringed GPBO 3 November 2016, controlled Akeroya, Norway 13 April 2017.
Great Tit, ringed GPBO 3 July 2017, controlled Kilnsea, Yorkshire 25 March 2018.
House Martin, ringed GPBO 7 August 2013, controlled Fishtoft Sewage Works, Lincolnshire 29 April 2018.

May 8th. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill and a Garganey; and on Croftmarsh a Greenshank. Around were a Marsh Harrier, 4 Whimbrel, 50 Little Tern, 15 Sandwich Tern, 3 Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 4 Stock Dove and 3 Swift.
The first session of CES was done this morning. The 8 new birds were a Wren, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Linnet and 2 Blackcap. The 3 retraps were a Long-tailed Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird.

Spoonbill, 8th May 2017.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 7th. Birds around included 41 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo, a Peregrine, a Jay, a Wheatear, a Redstart, a Siskin and 5 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Garganey; and on Croftmarsh a Greenshank. Heading north were 33 Black-tailed Godwit and a Swallow; and south a Marsh Harrier.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Prettyman, provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and a Blue Tit; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Chiffchaff.

Marsh Harrier, 7th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Barn Owl, 7th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Grass Snake, 7th May 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Large Red Damselfly, 7th May 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 6th. Around were 59 Brent Goose, 7 Whimbrel, a Wood Sandpiper, 4 Little Tern, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Cuckoo, a Jay, 3 Wheatear, a Siskin and a Yellowhammer. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Common Tern; and on Jackson's Marsh a Garganey. Flying south were 2 Grey Heron, 2 Sand Martin and 4 Swallow; and north a Greenshank.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Prettyman, produced 8 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, a Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Wood Pigeon; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.

Roe Deer, 6th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Orange-tip, 6th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Woodpigeon, ringed 6th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

May 5th. A Serin was discovered in West Dunes. On Jackson's Marsh was a Great White Egret; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 41 Brent Goose, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo, a Peregrine, 2 Jay, a Tree Pipit and 8 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Prettyman, yielded 8 new birds: a Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Great White Egret, 5th May 2018

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Great White Egret, 5th May 2018.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Tawny Owl, 5th May 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound

Spotted Redshanks, 5th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 4th. Around were a Grey Partridge, 33 Brent Goose, a Garganey, 4 Buzzard, a Little Ringed Plover, a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Snipe, 2 Whimbrel, a Swift, 2 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 8 Jay, 5 Ring Ouzel, 4 Whinchat, 42 Wheatear, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, a Treecreeper, a Yellow Wagtail, 8 Swallow, a Brambling and 3 Corn Bunting. Offshore were 2 Common Scoter and 20 Little Tern. On Croftmarsh were 4 Pink-footed Goose and 11 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were a Buzzard, a Stock Dove and a Siskin; east a Common Tern; and west 3 Collared Dove.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Prettyman, provided 4 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Water Vole, 4th May 2018.
Photo - Chris Tyler

Whinchat, 4th May 2018.
Photo - Roy Parkin

Colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit, 4th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Garganey, 4th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 3rd. A Red-rumped Swallow was over the north end of the reserve, then over Tennyson's Sands. Birds around were 35 Brent Goose, 3 Little Tern, 3 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Jay, 3 Ring Ouzel, 3 Wheatear, 2 Pied Flycatcher, a Yellow Wagtail, 12 Swallow and 2 Tree Sparrow. On the Mere were 2 Pochard; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Common Tern. Flying south were 2 Collared Dove, a Sand Martin and 12 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 18 new birds: 6 Chiffchaff, a Robin, 4 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet and a Goldfinch; and 3 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 7 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Wren.

Cowslips, 3rd May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

May 2nd. Strong south-westerly wind; rain until mid afternoon.
A Red-rumped Swallow flew over Jackson's Marsh in the afternoon, then drifted south. Around were 13 Brent Goose, 4 Whimbrel, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Ring Ouzel, 5 Wheatear, a Redstart, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 60 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin and 180 Swallow. Going south were 2 Yellow Wagtail; and west a Turtle Dove.

Red-rumped Swallow, 2nd May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Pied Flycatcher, 2nd May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 1st. Increasing south-westerly wind.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 26 Brent Goose, 2 Buzzard, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Long-eared Owl, c7 Jay, a Garden Warbler, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Ring Ouzel, a Redstart and 9 Wheatear. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Pink-footed Goose; and on Croftmarsh 2 Garganey. Heading north were 3 Gannet; south a Mediterranean Gull, a Collared Dove, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, a Sand Martin, 2 House Martin and 47 Swallow; south-west a Tree Pipit; and west a Grey Heron.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 16 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Wheatear, a Redstart, 2 Reed Bunting and a Ring Ouzel; and 4 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Robin.

Pied Flycatcher, 1st May 2018.
Photo - Paul Neale

Ring Ouzel, ringed 1st May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Redstart, ringed 1st May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Wheatear, ringed 1st May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory