The first Tree Pipit of the year flew south mid afternoon. Birds around included 39 Brent Goose, a Goosander, a Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, a Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel (first of the year), 2 Sandwich Tern (first of the year), a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 3 Swallow, a House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler (first of the year), 3 Ring Ouzel, a Black Redstart (Visitor Centre), a Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail (first of the year), a Rock Pipit, 2 Yellowhammer and 16 Corn Bunting.
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Black Redstart, 10th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Black Redstart, 10th April 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
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Wheatear, 10th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Ring Ouzel, 10th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Goldfinch ringed GPBO 2 March 2019, controlled Saul's Bank, Lincolnshire 28 March 2019.
April 9th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
An Osprey was fishing the river west of Croftmash in the late afternoon. Birds around included a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and a Siskin.
Ringing Control:
Chiffchaff ringed Willingham Wood, Lincolnshire 25 August 2018, controlled GPBO 27 March 2019.
April 8th. Misty start, gradually clearing.
Around, including birds trapped, were a Pink-footed Goose, 79 Brent Goose, 33 Eider, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 152 Redshank, 7 Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Short-eared Owl, 4 Blackcap, 16 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush, a Redwing, 3 Brambling and 21 Corn Bunting. In off the sea came a Buzzard.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap; and 5 retraps: 3 Goldcrest and 2 Blackbird.
Brambling, 8th April 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
A second summer Yellow-legged Gull was in the evening high tide roost. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 White Wagtail; on Croftmarsh 3 Barnacle Goose; and on Jackson's Marsh a Water Pipit. Birds around, including those trapped, were 85 Brent Goose, an Eider, 2 Buzzard, 87 Avocet, 29 Ringed Plover, 47 Curlew, 11 Turnstone, 94 Redshank, a Jack Snipe, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Firecrest (Plantation), 5 Redwing, 3 Yellowhammer and 11 Corn Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 20 new birds: 8 Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and a Song Thrush; and 14 retraps: 6 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch and a Chaffinch.
April 6th. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pink-footed Goose, 4 Barnacle Goose, 3 Goosander (later east) and a Water Pipit. Around, including birds trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Hooded Crow, 4 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, a Rock Pipit and 19 Corn Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin and 2 Reed Bunting; and 7 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, 2 Wren and 2 Reed Bunting.
April 5th. Moderately strong easterly wind.
Birds around, including those trapped, were a 79 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Merlin, a Hooded Crow, a Sedge Warbler (first of year), 5 Blackcap, 16 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, 3 Yellowhammer and 4 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were a male Garganey, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe and 3 Water Pipit.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded just 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Robin.
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Sedge Warbler, 5th April 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Skylark. 5th April 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Little Ringed Plover, 5th April 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw
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Around, including birds trapped, were 37 Brent Goose, 3 Barnacle Goose (Croftmarsh), an Eider, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 15 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 4 Yellowhammer and 5 Corn Bunting. Heading south was a Redpoll.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 4 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap and 2 Robin; and 2 retrap Blue Tit.
'A little bit of bread and no cheese', 4th April 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
Video - Ben Ward
April 3rd. Cold, soggy start, gradually warming up and drying out.
A migrant Long-eared Owl was discovered roosting at the northern end of the reserve. Birds around, including those trapped, were 3 Barnacle Goose (Jackson's Marsh), 2 Goosander (Tennyson's Sands), a Hen Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Hooded Crow (Beach), a Swallow, 7 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, a White Wagtail (Croftmarsh), a Redpoll, 3 Yellowhammer and 19 Corn Bunting. Flying south were 3 Siskin and a Yellowhammer.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Blackbird, a Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest and a Dunnock.
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| Long-eared Owl, 3rd April 2019 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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Long-eared Owl, 3rd April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Yellowhammer, 3rd April 2019. Photo - Jim Shaw |
Around, including birds trapped, were a Pink-footed Goose, 69 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Garganey (briefly on Jackson's Marsh), 21 Eider, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Goosander, 2 Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Water Rail, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Hooded Crow (Greenshanks Creek), 12 Sand Martin, a Swallow, a House Martin, 9 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Redwing, a White Wagtail (Tennyson's Sands), 2 Rock Pipit, 4 Brambling, 2 Yellowhammer and 25 Corn Bunting. Going south were a Red Kite, 4 Rook, a Swallow and 14 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Goldcrest, a Dunnock and a Reed Bunting.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 6 new birds: 5 Goldfinch and a Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: a Goldfinch and 2 Long-tailed Tit.
Garganey, 2nd April 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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White Wagtail, 2nd April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Blackcap with adhering pollen, ringed 2nd April 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Woodpigeon, ringed 2nd April 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff; and 3 retraps: a Blackbird, a Wren and a Dunnock.
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| Bearded Tit (Male), 1st April 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Bearded Tit (Male), 1st April 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Bearded Tit (Male), 1st April 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Bearded Tit (Female), 1st April 2019. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Avocet, 1st April 2019. Photo - Jim Shaw |
