August 20th. At 1835hrs an adult summer Sabine's Gull came from the north, momentarily alighting on the beach out from Mill Hill before continuing south. The Spotted Crake was still on the Mere, again elusive at first. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank and 714 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Grey Heron, 14 Spoonbill and 5 Green Sandpiper. Around, including birds trapped, were a Great White Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 550 Curlew, a Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Black Tern, 9 Arctic Skua, 550 Sandwich Tern, 4 Mediterranean Gull, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 12 Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 10 Wheatear. Heading south were 6 Whimbrel, 5 Greenshank, 6 Arctic Skua, a Great Skua, 4 Black Tern, 550 Sandwich Tern, 500 Swallow, 8 Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin; and north 3 Tree Sparrow.
The eleventh session of CES was done this morning. The 46 new birds were 5 Wren, 11 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Green Woodpecker. The 10 retraps were a Linnet, a Robin, a Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Blackcap and a Wren.
August 19th. Increasing then decreasing south-westerly wind.
The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, but was elusive at first. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover, 712 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, a Black Tern and a Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included a 14 Spoonbill, an Osprey, a Water Rail, 24 Golden Plover, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Arctic Skua, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Short-eared Owl and 3 Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were an Osprey, a Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, a Ruff, 2 Arctic Skua, 4 Little Tern, 5 Black Tern, 109 Common Tern, 13 Arctic Tern, 3 Swift, 7 Sand Martin, 2 House Martin and 150 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Reed Warbler, a Goldfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Whitethroat.
August 18th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind. The Spotted Crake and 2 Water Rail were still on the Mere. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, a Water Rail, a Little Ringed Plover, 682 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank and 111 Redshank; and on Jacksons Marsh 3 Green Sandpiper. Around were 7 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Arctic Skua, 350 Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Whinchat. Going south were 4 Turnstone, 2 Arctic Skua, 81 Sandwich Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Swift, 42 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin, 94 Swallow and 7 Yellow Wagtail.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: 8 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
August 17th. The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover, 571 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Common Sandpiper. Birds around included 17 Little Egret, 20 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Water Rail, a Whimbrel, 30000 Knot, 3000 Sanderling, 5000 Dunlin, 8 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 19 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, a Short-eared Owl, 280 Willow Warbler (including birds trapped), a Garden Warbler, 3 Whinchat and 8 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 6 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 560 Sandwich Tern, 24 Common Tern, 18 Swift, 150 Swallow, 22 Sand Martin, 16 House Martin and 10 Yellow Wagtail; and north 86 Common Scoter.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 72 new birds: 51 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 2 Robin, 14 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Whitethroat.
August 16th. Rain from early morning to early afternoon.
The Spotted Crake was rediscovered on the Mere. On Jackson's Marsh were 13 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Grey Heron, a Grey Plover, 74 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 17 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot, 158 Dunlin, 601 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling, 13 Common Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 120 Redshank, 8 Greenshank and 8 Snipe. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 3 Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Hobby and 2 Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 8 Swift.
August 15th. On Jackson's Marsh were 17 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Garganey, 2 Water Rail, 708 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 333 Redshank and 7 Greenshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 9000 Sanderling, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Garden Warbler, 35 Willow Warbler, 5 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 25 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Crossbill. Going south were 15 Yellow Wagtail, 90 Sand Martin, 220 Swallow and 40 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackbird; and a retrap Willow Warbler.
Ringing Control.
Chiffchaff ringed Kilnsea, Yorkshire 27 May 2018, controlled GPBO 8 June 2018.
August 14th. The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, though highly elusive. A Garganey was also identified there; and on Tennyson's Sands there were a Water Rail, 650 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank and a Mediterranean Gull. Around, including birds trapped, were 17 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail, 2264 Grey Plover, 381 Ringed Plover, 302 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 3903 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Turnstone, 60000 Knot, 10105 Sanderling, 13920 Dunlin, 12 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Wood Warbler (trapped and ringed at Observatory), 6 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 40 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Tree Pipit. Heading south were a Swift, 290 Sand Martin, 1140 Swallow and 23 Yellow Wagtail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 25 new birds: 14 Willow Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Starling; and 9 retraps: a Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Starling.
Also around were 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a vast influx of Small Tortoiseshell.
August 13th. Occasional morning and afternoon drizzle/showers.
The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, though becoming rather elusive. On Jackson's Marsh were 27 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail, a Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included 3 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Water Rail, 4500 Oystercatcher, 1060 Grey Plover, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 400 Ringed Plover, 560 Curlew, 6 Whimbrel, 729 Black-tailed Godwit, 3000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9800 Sanderling, 16300 Dunlin, 51200 Knot, 22 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank, 3 Little Tern, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 80 Sand Martin, 400 Swallow, 121 Willow Warbler, a Redstart and 50 Yellow Wagtail.
August 12th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, with drizzle in morning.
The eleventh session of CES was done this morning. The 46 new birds were 5 Wren, 11 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Green Woodpecker. The 10 retraps were a Linnet, a Robin, a Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Blackcap and a Wren.
Short-eared Owl, 20th August 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
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Spotted Crake, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson
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Redshank, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson
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Snipe, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson
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Lapwing, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson
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Spotted Flycatcher, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Short-eared Owl, 20th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Noisy Green Woodpecker, ringed 20th August 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, but was elusive at first. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover, 712 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, a Black Tern and a Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included a 14 Spoonbill, an Osprey, a Water Rail, 24 Golden Plover, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Arctic Skua, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Short-eared Owl and 3 Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were an Osprey, a Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, a Ruff, 2 Arctic Skua, 4 Little Tern, 5 Black Tern, 109 Common Tern, 13 Arctic Tern, 3 Swift, 7 Sand Martin, 2 House Martin and 150 Swallow.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Reed Warbler, a Goldfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Whitethroat.
Spotted Crake, 19th August 2018.
Video - Sue Brook
Black Tern, 19th August 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
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A different perspective of the Spotted Crake, 19th August 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Osprey, south over the beach in the evening, 19th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Black Tern, 19th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Osprey, fishing the river to the west of the reserve, 19th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Mediterranean Gull, 19th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Osprey, at nearby Havenhouse, 19th August 2018.
Photo courtesy of Dave Hitchen
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A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: 8 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
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Mediterranean Gull, 18th August 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound
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A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 72 new birds: 51 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 2 Robin, 14 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Whitethroat.
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Short-eared Owl, 17th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Spotted Crake, 17th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Leopard Slug, 17th August 2018. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Waders, 17th August 2018. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Painted Lady, 17th August 2018. Photo - Nige Lound 
Spoonbill, 17th August 2018.
Photo - Chris Tyler  Photo - Chris Tyler |
The Spotted Crake was rediscovered on the Mere. On Jackson's Marsh were 13 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Grey Heron, a Grey Plover, 74 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 17 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot, 158 Dunlin, 601 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling, 13 Common Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 120 Redshank, 8 Greenshank and 8 Snipe. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 3 Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Hobby and 2 Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 8 Swift.
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Swallow, 16th August 2018.
Photo - Jack Wilson
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A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackbird; and a retrap Willow Warbler.
Garganey, 15th August 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
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Whinchat, 15th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Stonechat, 15th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
Spotted Flycatcher, 15th August 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson
Crossbill, 15th August 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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Chiffchaff ringed Kilnsea, Yorkshire 27 May 2018, controlled GPBO 8 June 2018.
August 14th. The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, though highly elusive. A Garganey was also identified there; and on Tennyson's Sands there were a Water Rail, 650 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank and a Mediterranean Gull. Around, including birds trapped, were 17 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail, 2264 Grey Plover, 381 Ringed Plover, 302 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 3903 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Turnstone, 60000 Knot, 10105 Sanderling, 13920 Dunlin, 12 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Wood Warbler (trapped and ringed at Observatory), 6 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 40 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Tree Pipit. Heading south were a Swift, 290 Sand Martin, 1140 Swallow and 23 Yellow Wagtail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 25 new birds: 14 Willow Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Starling; and 9 retraps: a Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Starling.
Also around were 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a vast influx of Small Tortoiseshell.
Curlew Sandpiper, 14th August 2018.
Video - Ben Ward
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Spotted Flycatcher, 14th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Tree Pipit, ringed 14th August 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Tree Pipit, ringed 14th August 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Wood Warbler, ringed 14th August 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Wood Warbler, ringed 14th August 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
The Spotted Crake remained on the Mere, though becoming rather elusive. On Jackson's Marsh were 27 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail, a Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included 3 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Water Rail, 4500 Oystercatcher, 1060 Grey Plover, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 400 Ringed Plover, 560 Curlew, 6 Whimbrel, 729 Black-tailed Godwit, 3000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9800 Sanderling, 16300 Dunlin, 51200 Knot, 22 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank, 3 Little Tern, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 80 Sand Martin, 400 Swallow, 121 Willow Warbler, a Redstart and 50 Yellow Wagtail.
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Spotted Crake, 13th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Cuckoo, 13th August 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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House Sparrow, 13th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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The Spotted Crake was still on the Mere, also a Water Rail; on Fenland Lagoon 4 Little Ringed Plover; on Jackson's Marsh a Green Sandpiper; and on Tennyson's Sands 25 Spoonbill, 650 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Common Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 297 Grey Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 60000 Knot, 8300 Sanderling, 11000 Dunlin, 600 Sandwich Tern and a Short-eared Owl. Flying south were 5 Whimbrel, 4 Arctic Skua, an Arctic Tern, 65 Swallow and 65 Sand Martin.
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Evening high tide wader roost, 12th August 2018.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Evening high tide wader roost, 12th August 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward
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A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 9 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, a Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 8 retraps: a Wren, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Linnet.
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Black-tailed Godwit, 11th August 2018.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Greenshank, 11th August 2018.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Spoonbills, 11th August 2018.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Whinchat, 11th August 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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