Late June 2020

June 30th. 2 Great White Egret were on New Saltmarsh where a Short-eared Owl quartered. An adult male Black Redstart was seen near Harvey’s Hide and a Marsh Harrier was over Croftmarsh.

Grey Seal, 30th June 2020.
Photo - Ben Ward

June 29th. Following yesterday’s movement, there was little expectation that there would be any Swifts left in the system to pass through, but what followed was nothing short of astonishing. Fortunately, the shorebird team were out at dawn to deter crows from predating Little Tern clutches and were well placed to witness what is thought to have been the largest ever swift movement in the UK. Again, moving south on a broad front, birds were passing at low level in the strong headwind. A feeding flock accumulated over the Plantation with birds coming in from the north and departing to the south – this flock amassing over 3000 birds at one stage. The total was 46026. Also heading south were 2 Mediterranean Gull. 3 Spoonbill arrived off the sea and continued south as did a Grey Heron.

Swifts, 29th June 2020.

Video - Ben Ward 

Swifts, 29th June 2020.
Photo - Kev Wilson

June 28th. A very impressive day for Swift passage, particularly in the first few hours of the morning when sizeable groups were moving low south over the beach and giving an excellent opportunity to check for any white rumps from Mill Hill. Regular fifteen-minute samples of 650–750 birds were made. This reduced down to c300 per fifteen minutes by midday with nearer 70–80 per 15 minutes by late afternoon. A total of 19418 passed south. Other species were prominent in the movement were 43 Siskin, 27 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 57 Curlew, 20 House Martin, 13 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, a Hobby and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull.

June 27th. A switch to southerly winds saw an expected movement of Swifts totalling 2878 south in the morning. Five Crossbill and 10 Siskin also went south. On the lagoons, Spoonbill had increased to 9 with 7 Grey Heron, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Common Sandpipers. Flocks of Black-tailed Godwits were grounded by rain temporarily and then moved off south totalling 66. Offshore at low tide late afternoon a feeding flock of 220 Sandwich Terns were joined by 10 Gannets.

June 26th. A Coal Tit was in song at Aylmer Avenue and two Yellowhammer were on territory on the west side. An hour’s visible migration up to 0850hrs included 140 Starling, 17 Siskin, 25 Curlew, a Grey Wagtail all south and 17 Sandwich Terns north. Another 35 Sandwich Terns were at roost on the beach, and unusually, 19 flew inland and assembled with gulls on Tennyson’s Sands. A Green Sandpiper and two fully black Spotted Redshank were also present there. 6 Crossbill were around and a late Jay flew from East Dunes to West Dunes.

 The sixth session of CES was done this morning. The 27 new birds were 5 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Great Tit, 3 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock. The 15 retraps were 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wren, a Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Blue Tit.

June 25th. Highlights of visible migration from 0730–0900hrs were 182 Starling, 20 Curlew, 32 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Crossbill and a Siskin south. A male and juvenile Stonechat together on the Old Saltmarsh are presumably from the successful breeding further north on the reserve. 45 Shelduck moved from the Haven onto Tennyson’s Sands on the rising tide and a single Marsh Harrier and Spoonbill were around.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 16 new birds: 3 Wren, 3 Chiffchaff, 2  Lesser Whitethroat,2 Robin, a Linnet, 3 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Dunnock.

June 24th. A Great White Egret flew west at 0500hrs and a 'home-grown' Little Egret juvenile was out on Jackson’s Marsh – one of two youngsters from the first ever nesting pair on the reserve (and apparently the first on any LWT reserve). A flock of 11 Crossbill frequented the pines, a flock of 10 Sand Martins flew south late afternoon and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling down Mill Pond Road. A juvenile Tawny Owl was heard food-begging in the evening.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Blackbird, 3 Great Tit and 3 Whitethroat.

June 23rd. A Wood Sandpiper was a new arrival on Croftmarsh, whilst small numbers of Curlew (15 south) and Lapwing continue to arrive or pass through (16 south today).It remained quiet offshore except for 200 Common Scoter north, 11 Sandwich Tern south and a Great Crested Grebe on the sea. Visible migration highlights included 590 Swift, 18 Sand Martin, a Yellow Wagtail and a Jay. A Crossbill and 2 Siskin were around the Plantation. Red-banded Sand Wasps are now regularly encountered along the East Dunes frontage and a teneral Ruddy Darter was the first of the year.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 12 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Great Tit and a Blackbird.

June 22nd. Light visible migration included 92 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 4 House Martin and 2 Siskin all south. Returning waders on the estuary included 14 Curlew and a Greenshank. A Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl quartered the Old Saltmarsh throughout the day. 6 Spoonbill were on Tennyson’s Sands.

June 21st. Visible migration involved 787 Swift, a Juvenile Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 14 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow, 8 House Martin and 2 Siskin all south. 3 Crossbill flew over the Bird Observatory heading towards the Plantation and a Spotted Redshank toured the lagoons.