Late May 2019

May 31st. Around were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 3 Mediterranean Gull, a Cuckoo, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Tree Pipit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Blue Tit; and 5 retraps: a Woodpigeon, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Blue Tit.

Muntjac and Roe, 31st May 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Roe buck, 31st May 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Spotted Flycatcher, 31st May 2019.

Pochard, 31st May 2019.

Great Crested Grebe, 31st May 2019.

Avocet copulating, 31st May 2019.

Sunset, 31st May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Woodpigeon, retrapped 31st May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 30th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included 6 Brent Goose, 4 Eider, 2 Pochard, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Cuckoo and 2 Short-eared Owl. Heading south were a Red Kite, a first-summer Mediterranean Gull, 781 Swift, 6 Sand Martin, 69 House Martin and 46 Swallow.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 4 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Reed Warbler and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit.

Red Kite, 30th May 2019.

Photo - Owen Beaumont  

May 29th. Misty start, slowly clearing.
 A Red-rumped Swallow flew south offshore mid day. Around were a Wigeon, a Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Little Egret, 350 Ringed Plover, 2 Stock Dove, 6 Cuckoo, a Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were 27 Swift, 54 Swallow and 9 House Martin; and east a Marsh Harrier.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the 3rd session of CES, produced 47 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Coal Tit, 8 Goldfinch, 6 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, a Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Swallow, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 51 retraps: 10 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Wren, 6 Dunnock, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap, a Linnet, 5 Goldfinch and a Robin.

Broad-bodied Chaser, 29th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward 

May 28th. Soggy start.
 Birds around included 4 Brent Goose, 91 Shelduck, a Wigeon, 4 Eider, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, 802 Oystercatcher, 304 Grey Plover, 36 Curlew, 11 Turnstone, 1010 Sanderling, 105 Dunlin, a Greenshank, 90 Little Tern, a Collared Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Willow Warbler and 2 Starling. Going north were 22 Brent Goose, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Avocet, 141 Sanderling, 40 Dunlin, 2 Auk Sp and 2 Kittiwake; and south 2 Buzzard, 78 Swift, 60 House Martin and 11 Swallow. In off the sea came a Hobby and 2 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Reed Bunting, a Linnet and a Great Tit; 3 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Great Tit; and a control Reed Bunting.

Sanderling, 28th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Pseudoscorpion (Dactylochelifer latreillei), 28th May 2019.
Photo - Liam Andrews

Marpissa niyoyi, 28th May 2019.
Photo - Liam Andrews

Dactylochelifer latreillei (left) and Marpissa niyoyi (right), 28th May 2019.
Photo - Liam Andrews

May 27th. Increasing westerly wind.
 A Red-rumped Swallow flew south early morning. Around were 3 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Mediterranean Gull, a Collared Dove, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl and 2 Corn Bunting. Heading south were a Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 6 Buzzard, 372 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 168 House Martin and 32 Swallow.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Linnet and a Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: a Chaffinch, a Linnet and a Great Tit.

Skylark, 27th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

May 26th. Rainy spells from mid morning.
 Birds around included a Pink-footed Goose, 30 Brent Goose, 3 Eider, a Pochard, 7 Little Egret, a Spoonbill, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Water Rail, a Greenshank, 90 Little Tern, a Sandwich Tern, 2 Turtle Dove, 4 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 9 Eider, 12 Common Scoter, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red Kite, a Buzzard, 95 Swift, 10 Sand Martin, 180 House Martin and 79 Swallow.
 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Mediterranean Gull, 26th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Red Kite, 26th May 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

May 25th. A male Serin was briefly at Mill Hill early morning prior to flying towards West Dunes. A vocal Temmincks's Stint lingered only momentarily prior to be chased off north by a Ringed Plover in the evening. Around were 2 Pink-footed Goose, 22 Brent Goose, 7 Eider, 2 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 450 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, a Little Stint, 3 Greenshank, 60 Little Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Swift, 2 Hobby, a Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 8 Sand Martin and 45 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Linnet and a Reed Bunting; and 6 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Sedge Warbler.

Reed Warbler, 25th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Sedge Warbler, 25th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Spoonbill, 25th May 2019.

Photo - Liam Andrews

Ring Reading:
Black-headed Gull ringed GPNNR 17 July 2007, ring read in field GPNNR 21 May 2019.

May 24th. A Red-rumped Swallow was briefly over Tennyson's Sands then headed south. Birds around included 17 Brent Goose, 2 Pink-footed Goose, a Spoonbill, 650 Ringed Plover, 400 Grey Plover, 107 Curlew, a Little Stint, 120 Little Tern, a Mistle Thrush, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, a Grey Wagtail and 3 Swallow. Heading south was a Red Kite.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Linnet, a Great Tit, a Reed Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat; and 7 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher, 24th May 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound

Sunset, 24th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

May 23rd. A female Golden Oriole was seen flying in from the north, briefly alighting near Mill Hill before flying west, later seen heading off high south. A Woodlark was in East Dunes; and a Firecrest was singing early morning at the northern end of West Dunes. Around were 78 Brent Goose, 5 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 6 Sandwich Tern, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, 4 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Flying south were a Red Kite, a Buzzard, 3 Swift and a Siskin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 3 new birds: a Wren, a Whitethroat and a Chaffinch; and 6 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Wren.

May 22nd. Birds around, including those trapped, were 88 Brent Goose, 3 Barnacle Goose, 3 Eider, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 35 Little Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, a Collared Dove, a Turtle Dove, 7 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby, 2 Swift, a Redwing, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, a Stonechat, 2 Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were a Wood Sandpiper, 39 Swallow and 16 House Martin; and north a Red-throated Diver and a Mediterranean Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Redwing; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Sedge Warbler, 22nd May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Skylark, 22nd May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Collared Dove, 22nd May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Roe buck, 22nd May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Redwing, ringed 22nd May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 22nd May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 21st. A male Serin was discovered at Shovelers Pool, then was later relocated in East Dunes before ending up in the Plantation where it was last seen mid afternoon. Around, including birds trapped, were 34 Brent Goose, 9 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 30 Little Tern, a Sandwich Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 4 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Swift, a Merlin, 3 Hobby, 25 Swallow, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Tree Pipit. Heading north of note were 11 Whimbrel and a Curlew Sandpiper; and south-west a Red Kite.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, a Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Serin, 21st May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Pipistrelle, 21st May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 21st May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Tree Pipit, ringed 21st May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Mid May 2019

May 20th. Some early morning light rain.
 The Great White Egret remained on Jackson's Marsh. Birds around included 30 Brent Goose, 4 Pochard, 2 Eider, 4 Little Egret, a Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 2500 Oystercatcher, 600 Grey Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstone, 1200 Knot, 2000 Sanderling, 300 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 75 Little Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 5 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 45 Swallow, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, a Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail. Going north were 20 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank; and south 2 Grey Heron.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler; and 10 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock.

Black-headed Gull, 20th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Whinchat, 20th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

May 19th. Heavy mist, clearing late morning.
 Around, including birds trapped, were a Great White Egret, 2 Whimbrel, a Ruff, a Little Stint, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Ring Ouzel, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat and 3 Tree Pipit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Great Tit, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Linnet and a Meadow Pipit; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock and 2 Chiffchaff.

Little Stint, 19th May 2019.

Photos - James Siddle

Colour flagged Sanderling, 19th May 2019.

Photo - James Siddle

Cuckoo, 19th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Great White Egret, 19th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 19th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 18th. Brief light early morning rain.
 Birds around were a 3 Eider, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Ruff, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Turtle Dove, 5 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 4 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 2 Ring Ouzel, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler; and 9 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Wren.

Kestrel, 18th May 2019.
Photo - Stephen Humphreys

Short-eared Owl, 18th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Red Kite, 18th May 2019.
Photo - Stephen Humphreys

Short-eared Owl, 18th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 17th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind, with brief light early morning rain.

  A Serin flew around several sites. Around, including birds trapped, were 40 Brent Goose, 3 Eider, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Ruff, 7 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 72 Little Tern, 6 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 92 Swallow; and north a Swift and 6 Swallow.
 A weather-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Ring Ouzel; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Ring Ouzel, ringed 17th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Ruff, 17th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

May 16th. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill and a Greenshank; on Tennyson's Sands were a Pochard, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank; on Croftmarsh 4 Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Greenshank. Birds around included 2 Pink-footed Goose, 87 Brent Goose, 2 Eider, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Whimbrel, a Little Stint, 28 Little Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, a Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Turtle Dove, 5 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Crossbill and a Corn Bunting. Flying south were a Hobby and 89 Swallow; and north a Gannet, a Greenshank and a Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 2 new Chiffchaff; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Yellow-legged Gull, first summer, 16th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Ruff, 16th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Avocet, 16th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 15th. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pochard, a Great Crested Grebe, 3 Spoonbill and a Yellow Wagtail; and on Tennyson's Sands 4 Grey Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 4 Ruff, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Around were 30 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier,  4 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Hobby, a Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Wheatear and a Tree Pipit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: 2 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided a new Sedge Warbler; and 8 retraps: a Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Dunnock.

Spoonbill, 15th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Spoonbill, 15th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

 Tawny Owl, 15th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Small Copper, in copula, 15th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Brown Hare, 15th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 14th. A female Kentish Plover was discovered late in the evening feeding with Ringed Plover on the estuary, soon after the flock flew south towards Wainfleet. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Pink-footed Goose, a Barnacle Goose, 66 Brent Goose, a Pochard, a Grey Partridge, a Marsh Harrier, 350 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 60 Little Tern, a Collared Dove, 9 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Hobby, 6 Mistle Thrush, a Redwing, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Firecrest, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 6 Wheatear and a Bullfinch. Going south were 3 Buzzard, 13 Common Scoter and 44 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Mistle Thrush; and 7 retraps: 3 Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock, 2 Wren and a Whitethroat.

Kentish Plover, 14 May 2019.

Video - Ben Ward

Kentish Plover, 14th May 2019.

Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wheatear, male Greenland type, 14th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

May 13th. Two Common Crane came from the north at 1600, settling to roost distantly out from Wash Viewpoint prior to departing later in the day. A female Montagu's Harrier was discovered late in the evening, briefly quartering saltmarsh to the south of the reserve.  On Tennyson's Sands were a Pintail, a Pochard, a Great Crested Grebe, a Knot, 3 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Around, including birds trapped, were a Pink-footed Goose, 68 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 5 Cuckoo, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Hobby, 2 Peregrine, a Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail, a Bullfinch and a Corn Bunting. Heading south were a Red Kite, 3 Marsh Harrier, 8 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 8 Swift, a Sand Martin, 44 Swallow and 12 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the second session of CES, yielded 35 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, 11 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, 2 Reed Warbler, a Blackcap, a Bullfinch, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; 20 retraps: a Chaffinch, 2 Blackbird, a Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Great Tit, 4 Dunnock and a Willow Warbler; and a control Whitethroat.

Montagu's Harrier, 14th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Reed Warbler, 13th May 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Avocet, 13th May 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Marsh Harrier, 13th May 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Short-eared Owl, 13th May 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Bullfinch, ringed 13th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 12th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Grey Heron, a Great White Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 4 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Turtle Dove (first of the year), 2 Short-eared Owl, 7 Cuckoo, a Hooded Crow, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, 6 Wheatear, 16 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 19 Blackcap, 20 Whitethroat, 8 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, a Wood Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and a Brambling. Heading north were a Spoonbill, 2 Swift and 20 Swallow; and north-west 5 Buzzard.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Chaffinch and 2 Sedge Warbler.

Wood Warbler, 12th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Wood Warbler, 12th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Swallow, 12th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Hooded Crow, 12th May 2019.

Photo - Steve Humphreys

Holly Blue, nectaring on Hawthorn, 12th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Willow Warbler, 12th May 2019.
Photo - Paul Johnson

May 11th. Prolonged rain around mid morning.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 71 Brent Goose, 3 Pochard, 4 Eider, a Great White Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 5 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 46 Little Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Cuckoo, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Hobby, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 6 Redstart, 13 Wheatear, a Whinchat, 2 Garden Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, a Brambling and a Corn Bunting. Flying north were 6 Swift and 6 Swallow; and south a Woodlark, 296 Swallow and a Tree Pipit.
 A rain-interrupted morning ringinmg session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 5 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Robin and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Goldfinch.

Pied Flycatcher, 11th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward