Early May 2019

May 10th. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still at Mill Hill early morning. There was an impressive arrival of migrants. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Pochard, a Great White Egret (then south), a Hen Harrier, 3 Whimbrel, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, 9 Cuckoo, 5 Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, 19 Blackcap, 26 Whitethroat, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, a Wood Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 29 Willow Warbler, 4 Firecrest, a Tree Pipit and 2 Brambling. Heading south were a Red Kite and 2 Ring Ouzel.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 38 new birds: 16 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, 8 Whitethroat, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 3 Redstart, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Wheatear; and 8 retraps: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Song Thrush.

Iberian Chiffchaff, 10th May 2019.

Video - Kev Wilson

Pied Flycatcher, 10th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Redstart, 10th May 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 10th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Firecrest, ringed 10th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Redstart, ringed 10th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 9th. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still at Mill Hill during the morning. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Garganey, a Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Black Tern and a Little Gull. Around, including birds trapped, were a Spoonbill, 7 Whimbrel, 23 Turnstone, a Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 23 Little Tern, a Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern, 3 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 45 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 5 Wheatear, 22 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler, 11 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler and 4 Yellow Wagtail. Going north were 50 Little Tern, 7 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 6 Arctic Tern, 3 Commic Tern, 21 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 44 Swallow, 18 House Martin; west a Buzzard and a Swift; and south a Grey Heron.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 16 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, a Wheatear, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroat; and 11retraps: a Linnet, 6 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Little Gull, 9th May 2019.

Video - Ben Ward

Black Tern, 9th May 2019.

Video - Ben Ward 

Tawny Owl, 9th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Little Gull, 9th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Greenland Wheatear, ringed 9th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

May 8th. Rain and increasing easterly wind from the morning onwards, turning south later in the day.
 The Iberian Chiffchaff was along Mill Pond Road early morning. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Garganey, a Pochard, a Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 24 Dunlin, 6 Common Tern and an Arctic Tern; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Grey Plover, a Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Birds around included a Black Tern, 15 House Martin, 4 Swift and 3 Cuckoo. Heading north was a Swift; east were 14 Arctic Tern; and south 3 Sand Martin and 24 Swallow.

Garganey, 8th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward.

May 7th. The eagerly anticipated first Iberian Chiffchaff for the reserve and for Lincolnshire was discovered at Mill Hill during the morning. The bird delighted locals and county listers alike, staying faithful to the same area throughout the day. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Grey Heron, a Spoonbill, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank; and on Tennyson's Sands a Wigeon, 3 Garganey, a Pochard, a Whimbrel, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Snipe. Around, including birds trapped, were an Eider, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Wheatear, 16 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 20 Whitethroat, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail. Heading north were a Hobby and a Crossbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler and 5 Lesser Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: 2 Wren and 2 Whitethroat.

Iberian Chiffchaff, 7th May 2019.

Photo - James Siddle

Iberian Chiffchaff, 7th May 2019.

Photo - Owen Beaumont

Iberian Chiffchaff, 7th April 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Iberian Chiffchaff, 7th April 2019.

Video - Ben Ward

Iberian Chiffchaff song, 7th April 2019.

Video - Owen Beaumont

May 6th. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Garganey, a Pochard, a Great Crested Grebe, 15 Black-tailed Godwit and a Bar-tailed Godwit; and on Jacksons Marsh 6 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 2 Spoonbill, a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Buzzard, a Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 4 Wheatear, 5 Garden Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the first session of CES, yielded 19 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Wood Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler, a Goldfinch and a Song Thrush; and 40 retraps: 6 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Sedge Warbler, a Blackbird, 3 Dunnock, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Wren, 3 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Wood Warbler, ringed 6th May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Tree Pipit, 6th May 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Wheatear, 6th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wheatear, 6th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

May 5th. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Garganey, a Spoonbill, a Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl , a Cuckoo, 4 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Chaffinch.

Garganey, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Rob Watson

Brown Hare, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Rob Watson

Spoonbill, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Rob Watson

Linnet, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Wheatear, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Wheatear, 5th May 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 4th. Increasing north-westerly wind; brief hail mid morning, then occasional rain.
 Birds around included a Pink-footed Goose, 3 Garganey, Pochard, 3 Eider, a Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 10 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit. Heading north were 7 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 67 Gannet, an Arctic Skua, 272 Little Tern, 96 Sandwich Tern, 38 Arctic Tern and 4 Swift.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 5 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Great Tit, a Robin, a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch; and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Goldfinch.

Common Sandpiper, 4th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Greenshank, 4th May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

May 3rd. Light rain from mid morning.
 A Nightjar was flushed in East Dunes before dawn. A female Red-necked Phalarope was seen to arrive from the south, alighting briefly on Tennyson's Sands before continuing north. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Pink-footed Goose, 45 Brent Goose, 3 Garganey, 8 Eider, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, a Goosander, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 179 Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Snipe, 21 Little Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 2 Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Red Bunting; and 8 retraps: 2 Wren, a Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Sedge Warbler.

Red-necked Phalarope, 3rd May 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

 May 2nd. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Great White Egret, a Great Crested Grebe, 3 Garganey, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, a Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and 2 Common Tern. Birds around, including those trapped, were 28 Brent Goose, a Pochard, 2 Eider, 11 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 87 Avocet, a Spotted Redshank, a Cuckoo, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Redwing, 17 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 10 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Wheatear, a Blue-headed Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit. Heading south were a Red Kite and 3 Buzzard.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Redwing and a Sparrowhawk; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Dunnock.

Whimbrel, 2nd May 2019.
Photos - Paul Neale

Great White Egret and Garganey, 2nd April 2019.

Photos - Nige Lound

Blue-headed Wagtail, female, 2nd April 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Spotted Redshank, 2nd April 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Sparrowhawk, ringed 2nd May 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Wheatear, 2nd May 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Roe Deer, 2nd May 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

 May 1st. Around, including birds trapped, were a Pink-footed Goose, 42 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Garganey, 2 Grey Partridge, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 19 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Tern, a Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 40 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 19 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 21 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit and a Brambling. Heading south were a Sand Martin, 48 Swallow, 3 House Martin, a Swift (first of the year), a Red Kite, a Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Goldfinch; and 5 retraps: a Blackcap, 3 Linnet and a Whitethroat.

Whinchat, 1st May 2019.
Photo - Richard Doan

Red Kite flying south over the beach, 1st May 2019.
Photo - Richard Doan