Birds around, including those trapped, were 9 Whooper Swan, 290 Pink-footed Goose, 250 Brent Goose, 42 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 8 Grey Partridge, 28 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 23 Avocet, 7 Spotted Redshank, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Merlin, 39 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 480 Starling, 48 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 3 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, a Water Pipit, a Brambling and 2 Yellowhammer.
Heading south over the west side were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Skylark, a Sand Martin, 21 Swallow, 46 House Martin, 110 Starling, 2 Tree Sparrow, 4 Grey Wagtail, 184 Meadow Pipit, 14 Brambling, 178 Chaffinch, 59 Linnet, 273 Goldfinch, 15 Siskin and 24 Reed Bunting.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 32 new birds: 11 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 5 Robin, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch and a Blackbird; 6 retraps: 2 Wren, a Robin, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Goldfinch; and a control Goldcrest.
October 9th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
Two Common Crane flew south over the west side of the reserve in the evening and landed to the south-west. Around, including birds trapped, were 1191 Pink-footed Goose, 280 Brent Goose, 99 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 192 Teal, a Pintail, 44 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 28 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Red Kite, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 310 Golden Plover, 6 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Jay, 68 Goldcrest, 8 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler (Beach Car Park), a Treecreeper, 50 Starling, 2 Ring Ouzel, 18 Song Thrush, 32 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 48 Robin, a Whinchat, 10 Stonechat, 6 House Sparrow, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Water Pipit. On Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, 41 Avocet and 6 Spotted Redshank. Going south were 3 Whooper Swan, a Great White Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, 4 Rook, 30 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 56 Swallow, 43 House Martin, 79 Starling, 3 Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, 36 House Sparrow, 55 Tree Sparrow, 7 Grey Wagtail, 24 Alba Wagtail, 148 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 10 Brambling, 68 Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, 17 Greenfinch, 3 Redpoll, 702 Goldfinch, 33 Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer and 28 Reed Bunting.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 43 new birds: 4 Wren, 13 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 5 Reed Bunting, 5 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay and a Sparrowhawk; 6 retraps: 3 Robin, a Goldcrest, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit; and a control Goldcrest.
 |
Common Crane, landing distantly to the south-west of the reserve, 9th October 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
|
 |
Solar halo, 9th October 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
|
 |
| Jay, ringed 9th October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 9th October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Sparrowhawk, ringed 9th October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Rebecca Hardwick, resulted in 21 new birds: 3 Wren, 6 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, a Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, a Song Thrush and 3 Redwing; and 7
retraps: 4 Wren, a Great Tit and 2 Robin.
 |
Merlin, 8th October 2019.
|
 |
| Eider, 8th October 2019. |
 |
Wheatear, 8th October 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
|
 |
Double Rainbow, 8th October 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
|
A Richard's Pipit flew west over the East Dunes in the morning. Around, including birds trapped, were 31 Pink-footed Goose, 34 Brent Goose, 17 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 218 Teal, 44 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Red-throated Diver, 9 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 20 Avocet, 235 Golden Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Woodcock, 3 Snipe, 9 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Firecrest, 84 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Treecreeper, 115 Starling, 3 Ring Ouzel, 30 Blackbird, 87 Song Thrush, 206 Redwing, 67 Robin, 3 Stonechat, 6 Greenfinch 184 Linnet, 156 Goldfinch and a Yellowhammer. Flying south were a Great White Egret (and then southeast), a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kestrel, a Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Brambling and 2 Lesser Redpoll; and west a Ring Ouzel.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 59 new birds: 17 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Firecrest, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Robin, 2 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Reed Bunting, 8 Song Thrush and a Redwing; and 12 retraps: a Blackcap, a Robin, 2 Dunnock, 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Reed Bunting, a Blackbird and a Wren.
A rain-shortened afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 16 new birds: 11 Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock.
 |
| Firecrest, ringed 7th October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
A juvenile Sabine's Gull and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua went south in the evening. Also going south were 9 Brent Goose, 6 Pintail, a Shag, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skua, 3 Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, 2 Kittiwake, a Little Gull, a Swallow and a Grey Wagtail; north 17 Eider and an Arctic Tern; and west 31 Snipe. Birds around included 70 Brent Goose, 77 Wigeon, 314 Teal, 21 Tufted Duck, 7 Red-throated Diver, 7 Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, 40 Golden Plover, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, a Guillemot, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 61 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, 2 Blackcap, 20 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 5 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Treecreeper, 138 Starling, 2 Ring Ouzel, 34 Blackbird, 131 Song Thrush, 286 Redwing, 13 Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail, 16 Brambling and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, 44 Shoveler, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, 13 Avocet, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Reed Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler.
October 5th. A Richard's Pipit was north of Mill Hill before flying west and a Quail was in the East Dunes before flying south. Around, including birds trapped, were 660 Pink-footed Goose, 340 Brent Goose, 309 Wigeon, a Gadwall, 249 Teal, a Pintail, 60 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 16 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 3 Water Rail, 10 Avocet, 600 Golden Plover, 120 Lapwing, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 4 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Rook, 70 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 32 Chiffchaff, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Treecreeper, 27 Starling, a Ring Ouzel, 73 Song Thrush, 254 Redwing, 74 Robin, 13 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 71 Chaffinch and 2 Yellowhammer. Heading north were a Manx Shearwater and a Pomarine Skua; and south 3 Whooper Swan, 6 Pintail, a Scaup, a Goosander, 2 Marsh Harrier, 14 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Brambling, 31 Chaffinch, a Redpoll, 5 Siskin and a Snow Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 39 new birds: 3 Wren, 16 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff, a Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock, 3 Redwing and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Wren, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
October 4th. Soggy start, then occasional drizzle.
An elusive bunting calling frequently and seen in flight twice north of Mill Hill in the morning was thought to have been a Little Bunting. Birds around, including those trapped, were 7 Whooper Swan, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 35 Brent Goose, 13 Gadwall, 162 Teal, 12 Pintail, 57 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 9 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rail, 11 Avocet, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Jack Snipe, 4 Snipe, 12 Sandwich Tern, 2 Stock Dove, 4000 Woodpigeon, a Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, an Asio Sp (over East Dunes before dawn), a Green Woodpecker, 47 Goldcrest, a Reed Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreeper, 24 Song Thrush, 13 Redwing, 5 Stonechat and a Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Grey Heron and a Kingfisher; and on Tennyson's Sands a Cetti's Warbler. Heading west were 75 Pink-footed Goose; and south 13 Whooper Swan, 6 Jay, 27 House Martin, 20 Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, a Brambling and 7 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 36 new birds: 7 Goldcrest, a Wren, 4 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 13 Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit, a Great Tit and 3 Dunnock; and 17 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Robin and 9 Long-tailed Tit.
Stonechat, 4th October 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
October 3rd. A Richard's Pipit was seen north of Mill Hill and the Yellow-browed Warbler remained in West Dunes. Around, including birds trapped, were a 3 Whooper Swan, 44 Brent Goose, 104 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 291 Teal, 22 Pintail, 61 Shoveler, 17 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Water Rail, 14 Avocet, 33 Lapwing, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, a Woodcock, 12 Snipe, a Tawny Owl, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, 34 Goldcrest, 78 Redwing, 24 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 12 Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 2 Treecreeper and 4 Stonechat. Flying south were 7 Whooper Swan, a Great White Egret, a Collared Dove, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22 Skylark, 4
Swallow, 5 House Martin, 72 Starling, 3 Grey Wagtail, 6 Tree Sparrow, 27 House Sparrow, a Greenfinch and 3 Siskin; west 85 Pink-footed Goose; and north 18 Pink-footed Goose. In off the sea came a Jack Snipe.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, provided 46 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Wren, 3 Goldcrest, 7 Robin, 3 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 9 Reed Bunting, 3 Goldfinch, 6 Dunnock, a Greenfinch, a House Sparrow, 3 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk; and 9 retraps: 3 Robin, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, a Wren and a Lesser Whitethroat. |
| Migrant Hawker, 4th October 2019. |
Swallow, 5 House Martin, 72 Starling, 3 Grey Wagtail, 6 Tree Sparrow, 27 House Sparrow, a Greenfinch and 3 Siskin; west 85 Pink-footed Goose; and north 18 Pink-footed Goose. In off the sea came a Jack Snipe.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Keith Collett provided 38 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 10 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Redwing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 22 retraps: 2 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackbird, a Goldfinch, 2 Wren and a Greenfinch.
 |
| Sparrowhawk, ringed 3rd October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| House Sparrow, ringed 3rd October 2019. Photo - George Gregory In the early years of the observatory hundreds of House Sparrows were ringed every year. There has been a steady decline and now this species is not even ringed annually. |
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 46 new birds: 13 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, a Treecreeper, 2 Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 3 Dunnock, 10 Greenfinch, a Redwing, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kingfisher; and 13 retraps: a Dunnock, a Robin, a Goldcrest, 4 Great Tit, 2 Wren, a Blackcap, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Coal Tit and a Goldfinch.
 |
| Kingfisher, ringed 2nd October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Treecreeper, ringed 2nd October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
 |
| Treecreeper, ringed 2nd October 2019. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were 52Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 85 Teal, 55 Shoveler, 18 Little Egret, 4 Water Rail, 75 Lapwing, 63 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Turnstone, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 7 Snipe, 12 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 48 Goldcrest, 5 Blackcap, 25 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Treecreeper, 13 Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Stonechat and a Wheatear. On Tennyson's Sands were 319 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Spoonbill, 10 Avocet 620 Oystercatcher, 28 Knot and 5 Spotted Redshank. Heading south were 15 Brent Goose, 8 Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater, a Great White Egret, 11 Lapwing, 23 Arctic Skua, 3 Skua sp, 9 Great Skua, 6 Jay, 4 Rook, 16 Carrion Crow, 44 Skylark, 68 Swallow, 23 House Martin, 72 Starling, 147 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail; and north 2 Arctic Tern. In off the sea came a Jay.
 |
Orb-weaver, 1st October 2019.
Photo - Rebecca Hardwick
|
