Early August 2019

August 10th. Strong south-westerly wind.
 A Roseate Tern flew south offshore late evening. Also flying south were 3 Shelduck, 29 Teal, a Scaup, 42 Gannet, 11 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 11 Whimbrel, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Turnstone, 481 Knot, 5 Ruff, a Curlew Sandpiper, 46 Sanderling, 18 Dunlin, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Little Tern, 2 Black Tern, 321 Sandwich Tern, 43 Common Tern, 11 Arctic Tern, 14 Commic Tern, 5 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and 344 Swift. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Shoveler, an eclipse drake Mandarin Duck, 23 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 9 Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe, 45 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, 333 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Knot, 23 Dunlin, 9 Spotted Redshank, 10 Greenshank, 34 Redshank, 2 Snipe, a Little Tern, 22 Sandwich Tern, 45 Common Tern and 2 Arctic Tern. Birds around included a Wigeon, 15 Gadwall (plus 4 chicks), 119 Teal, 17 Tufted Duck (plus 2 chick), 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Treecreeper, a Pied Flycatcher, a Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail and 2 White Wagtail.

Mandarin Duck, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Marsh Harrier, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Little Tern, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Greenshank, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Spotted Redshank, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Little Egret and Spoonbill, 10th August 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

August 9th. Fairly strong variable winds, with rain early morning.
 On Tennyson's Sands were a Grey Heron, 9 Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe, 36 Avocet, 220 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and 2 Common Tern; and on Jackson's Marsh a juvenile Spotted Redshank. Around were 59 Teal, 16 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 90 Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank, 650 Sandwich Tern, 220 Swallow and 21 Yellow Wagtail.

Wasp Spider, 9th August 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Sea Holly, 9th August 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Little Grebes, 9th August 2019.

Photos - Jim Shaw

Reed Warbler, 9th August 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

August 8th. On Jackson's Marsh was a Wood Sandpiper; and on Tennyson's Sands were a Great Crested Grebe, 36 Avocet, 94 Lapwing, 189 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 3 juvenile Ruff, 5 Spotted Redshank, 2 Snipe and 2 Common Tern. Around were 2 Egyptian Goose, 94 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 31 Tufted Duck, a Common Scoter, 24 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Spoonbill, 5 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, 13 Greenshank, 620 Sandwich Tern, 6500 Black-headed Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Stock Dove, a juvenile Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 13 Kestrel, 195 Willow Warbler, a Treecreeper, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, a Whinchat, 17 Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and a Bullfinch. Going north overland were 4 Arctic Skua; and south 2 Grey Heron, 7 Sand Martin and 1360 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 76 new birds: 58 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 4 Sedge Warbler, 7 Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat and a Chaffinch; and 5 retraps: 3 Wren, a Linnet and a Whitethroat.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 69 new birds: 18 Willow Warbler, 4 Wren, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 6 Chaffinch, 3 Great Tit, a Robin, a Sedge Warbler, 5 Dunnock, a Greenfinch, a Song Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 17 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit and 2 Wren.
 Insects of note included 8 female Willow Emerald Damselfly, 2 male Banded Demoiselle and 35 Painted Lady.

Banded Demoiselle, male, 8th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

August 7th. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Grey Heron, 7 Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe, 28 Avocet, 30 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper and 4 Spotted Redshank; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Wood Sandpiper; on Croftmarsh another Wood Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon 5 Greenshank. Birds around included 80 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 126 Lapwing, 140 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Dove, a Green Woodpecker, a Short-eared Owl, 15 Kestrel, a Hobby, a Peregrine, 21 Willow Warbler, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 22 Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and a Bullfinch. Heading south were a Black Tern and 3 Arctic Tern.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 18 new birds: 3 Wren, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Linnet, 6 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap.
 Migrant insects included a Willow Emerald Damselfly and 3 Banded Demoiselle.

Whinchat, 7th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

August 6th. On Jackson's Marsh were 5 Wood Sandpiper and a Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Grey Heron, 3 Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe, 38 Avocet, a Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 220 Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Knot, 4 Sanderling, 13 Dunlin, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull. Around were 18 Shelduck, 105 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 12 Little Egret, 5 Marsh Harrier, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 8 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, 260 Sandwich Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Dove, a juvenile Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 10 Kestrel, 22 Willow Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 184 Linnet and 85 Goldfinch.  Flying south were 5 Whimbrel, 4 Turnstone, 2 Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper, 34 Sand Martin and 164 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 12 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 4 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: a Blackcap, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
 Migrant insects included a male Banded Demoiselle and 70 Painted Lady.

Wheatear, 6th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Common Darter, 6th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Oak Eggar on Heligoland Trap, 6th August 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Fox Moth caterpillar, 6th August 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

August 5th. Late morning rain shower.
 A female type Kentish Plover was discovered at Greenshanks Creek on high tide during the morning. Unfortunately only present momentarily it then flew strongly south into the Wash and was not seen again. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Brent Goose, 23 Shelduck, 65 Teal, 7 Shoveler, a Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 2 Eider, 14 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 5 Spoonbill, 48 Lapwing, 225 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Whimbrel, a Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 14 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 16 Little Tern, 650 Sandwich Tern, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, a Treecreeper and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Going south were a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Wood Sandpiper and 154 Swift.
 The tenth session of CES was done this morning. The 29 new birds were 5 Wren, 6 Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 6 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird and a Magpie. The 10 retraps were 2 Blackcap, a Blackbird, a Robin, a Song Thrush, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff.
 396 Small Red-eyed Damselfly were counted, almost certainly a county record for a single site. Other insects of note included 13 Willow Emerald Damselfly. Migrant insects included a male Banded Demoiselle and a male Red-veined Darter.

Kentish Plover, 5th August 2019.

Photos - Kev Wilson

Willow Emerald Damselflies, 5th August 2019.

Photos - Adrian Royle

Male Banded Demoiselle damselfly, 5th August 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Magpie, ringed 5th August 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Treecreeper, ringed 5th August 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

August 4th. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Grey Heron, 9 Spoonbill, 251 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Snipe and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull; and on Jackson's Marsh a Common Sandpiper and 2 Wood Sandpiper. Around, including birds trapped, were 37 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 9330 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 871 Curlew, 12 Turnstone, 28300 Knot, 5850 Sanderling, 8285 Dunlin, 12 Greenshank, 214 Redshank, an Arctic Skua, 270 Sandwich Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Stock Dove, a Green Woodpecker, a Cetti's Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a juvenile Stonechat and 4 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting; and 8 retraps: a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Dunnock and a Sedge Warbler.
 An outstanding 28 Willow Emerald Damselfly were counted on the reserve, a new county record. Migrant insects included a male Banded Demoiselle.

Yellowhammer, 4th August 2019.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Willow Emerald Damselfly, female, 4th August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward 

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 4th August 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

 August 3rd. Misty start, gradually clearing.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 65 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 254 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Dunlin, 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank and 3 Wood Sandpiper; and on Jackson's Marsh a Greenshank and 2 Wood Sandpiper. Birds around, including those trapped, were 4 Shoveler, 13 Little Egret, a Spoonbill, 2990 Oystercatcher, 68 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 50000 Knot, 864 Sanderling, 640 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Little Tern, 850 Sandwich Tern, 30 Common Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 120 Swallow, 4 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler and 5 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 2 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, a Robin, 5 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock;and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
  90 Painted Lady were noted on the reserve.

The evening high tide sea watch and wader watch event produced stunning views of tens of thousands of waders such as Knot and Grey Plover in summer plumage going to roost; whilst three Arctic Skuas harassed Sandwich Terns often at close range. Thanks to Chris Martin for the following pictures:

Painted Lady, 3rd August 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

August 2nd. A male Common Rosefinch was heard singing at the north end of the West Dunes. Unfortunately it did not linger. On Jackson's Marsh were a Great White Egret (briefly), 3 Wood Sandpiper; and on Tennyson's Sands 49 Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, 213 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Common Tern and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Around were 3 Grey Heron, 3 Spoonbill, 83 Lapwing, 40000 Knot, 5000 Sanderling, 4500 Dunlin, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Tawny Owl. Heading south were a Whimbrel, a Wood Sandpiper and a Hobby; and north a Black Tern.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 14 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 5 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Sedge Warbler, a Great Tit, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
 There was a fall of 215 Painted Lady on the reserve.

Roosting waders, 2nd August 2019.

Photo - Kev Wilson

Curlew Sandpiper, amongst roosting Dunlin and Knot, 2nd August 2019.

Photo - Kev Wilson

August 1st. On Croftmarsh were a Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpiper; on Tennyson's Sands 4 Grey Heron, 8 Spoonbill, 54 Avocet, 225 Black-tailed Godwit, a Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 11 Greenshank, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. Birds around included 8 Shoveler, a Marsh Harrier, 76 Lapwing, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Bullfinch. Heading south were 7 Brent Goose, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Wood Sandpiper, 400 Swift and 162 Swallow.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 25 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, 9 Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and 2 Blackbird; and 16 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, 3 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Wren, 4 Whitethroat and a Blackcap.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 38 new birds: 2 Wren, 7 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Robin, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Warbler, a Great Tit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, a Yellowhammer and a Blackbird; and 12 retraps: 5 Great Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Blackbird, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Wren.

Wader roost on the morning high tide; consisting mainly of Knot, Sanderling and Dunlin, 1st August 2019.
Photos - Owen Beaumont

Turnstone, 1st August 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont