Early August 2018

August 10th. The Spotted Crake was still on the Mere. On Tennyson's Sands were 27 Spoonbill (reserve record), a Water Rail, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 408 Black-tailed Godwit, 53 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 12 Snipe and a Mediterranean Gull. Flying south were 6 House Martin and 36 Swallow; and west 14 House Martin. Around were 2 Whimbrel and an adult Caspian Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 20 new birds: a Wren, 8 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat.

Spotted Crake, 10th August 2018.
Photos - Colin Casey
27 Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, a new reserve record, 10th August 2018
Photo - Nige Lound
August 9th. A Spotted Crake was found on the Mere early morning and a Water Rail there later. On Jackson's Marsh were 19 Spoonbill (later 6 of these flew to the estuary); and on Tennyson's Sands 400 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Snipe, 250 Sandwich Tern, a Green Woodpecker, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Redpoll. Heading north were 2 Arctic Tern, 19 Common Tern and 3 Pied Wagtail; and south a Gannet, 45 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 17 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Pied Flycatcher, 5 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit; and 11 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 5 Dunnock, 2 Linnet, a Willow Warbler and a Wren.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, provided 6 new birds: a Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Willow Warbler, a Blackbird and a Sedge Warbler.

Spotted Crake, 9th August 2018
Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Spotted Crake, 9th August 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound
Pied Flycatcher, ringed 9th August 2018.
Photo - George Gregory
August 8th. On Jackson's Marsh were 21 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail. Around were a Cuckoo and a Green Woodpecker. Going south were 35 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin and 16 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 27 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, 17 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: a Linnet, a Wren, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.

August 7th. On Tennyson's Sands were 10 Spoonbill, a Water Rail, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Yellow Wagtail; and on Jackson's Marsh a Wigeon, a Green Sandpiper and 15 Snipe. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 18 Swift, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Sand Martin and 65 Swallow.
 The tenth session of CES was done this morning. The 61 new birds were 5 Wren, 17 Willow Warbler, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, 8 Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, a Swallow, a Lesser Whitethroat and 6 Blackbird. The 15 retraps were 2 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, 4 Wren, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.

August 6th. A White Stork flew over Jackson's Marsh then headed west. On or over Tennyson's Sands were 10 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier with green wing tags, 2 Common Sandpiper and 500 Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a Garganey, 2 Grey Heron, an untagged Marsh Harrier, 12 Snipe, 3 Wheatear, a Whinchat and a Garden Warbler. Heading south were 35 Yellow Wagtail, 450 Swallow and 60 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 9 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Wren.

August 5th. On Tennyson's Sands were 13 Spoonbill, a Water Rail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 500 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included 3 Grey Heron, a Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, a Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Arctic Skua, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby and 30 Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 8 Yellow Wagtail, 35 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin; and north a Little Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and a retrap Goldfinch.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 13 new birds: 7 Willow Warbler and singles of Wren, Blackcap, Linnet, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blue Tit; and 5 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Blackcap.

August 4th. 2 Common Crane were observed flying low south over East Dunes at 1540hrs. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Spoonbill, 543 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Dunlin, a Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank and 288 Redshank; and on Jacksons Marsh a Wood Sandpiper. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Water Rail, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 15000 Knot, 11 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 27 Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Hobby, 12 Pied Flycatcher and 7 Yellow Wagtail. Flying north were 2 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin; and south a Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, an Arctic Skua and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 26 new birds: 11 Willow Warbler, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Linnet, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and a Pied Flycatcher; and 4 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Linnet and 2 Dunnock.
 Also around were at least 5 Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, 4th August 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Pied Flycatcher, ringed 4th August 2018.
Photo - George Gregory
August 3rd. A Nightjar flew around over the southern end of West Dunes at dawn, and was seen again at dusk. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Spoonbill, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 562 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 354 Redshank, 21 Snipe and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Jacksons Marsh a Whimbrel and a Wood Sandpiper. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 36 Swallow, 7 Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 6 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were a Grey Heron, 3 Stock Dove, 8 Swallow and 3 Yellow Wagtail..
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 13 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, 5 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a Greenfinch; and 4 retraps: singles of Great Tit, Whitethroat, Wren and Dunnock.

Pied Flycatcher, 3rd August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Juvenile Spotted Redshank, 3rd August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Migrant Hawker, 3rd August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
August 2nd. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Spoonbill, a Water Rail, a Little Ringed Plover, 606 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank, 331 Redshank, 19 Snipe and 2 Mediterranean Gull. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, 117 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 159 Curlew, 23 Turnstone, 8000 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull, 350 Sandwich Tern, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Garden Warbler, a Stonechat and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Going south were a Grey Heron, a Yellow-legged Gull, 60 Swift, 61 Sand Martin, 18 House Martin and 285 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a Stonechat; and 9 retraps: a Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat and 5 Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 12 new birds; 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and a Willow Warbler.

Little Grebe chicks fed by parent, 2nd August 2018.
Photos - Ben Ward
Painted Lady, 2nd August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
August 1st. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Spoonbill, a Little Ringed Plover and a Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 3 Grey Heron, 4 Marsh Harrier, 5 Whimbrel, 529 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Turnstone, 10000 Knot, 1500 Sanderling, 6000 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank, 6 Snipe, 400 Sandwich Tern, 30 Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Peregrine and the first Pied Flycatcher of the autumn. Flying south were 5 Whimbrel, 48 Sand Martin, 667 Swallow and 6 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 45 new birds: 16 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 2 Robin, 8 Linnet, a Great Tit, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap and 3 Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Wren, 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.
 Also around were 27 Painted Lady, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a sizeable arrival of Silver-Y.

Pied Flycatcher, 1st August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Copulating Common Blue, 1st August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Holly Blue, 1st August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward