August 31st. Around, including birds trapped, were 17 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 229 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Eider, 2 Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 3 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, a Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, a Grey Heron, 15 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 6 Kestrel, 19 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, a Treecreeper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Redstart, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 65 Linnet, a Crossbill, 55 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 16 Spoonbill; on Tennyson's Sands 2 Common Sandpiper, and to roost there 4000 Starling, 72 Alba Wagtail and 12 Pied Wagtail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 19 new birds: a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Robin, 4 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 8 retraps: 3 Dunnock, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Chiffchaff and a Wren.
August 30th. Moderately strong northerly wind, gradually decreasing.
Offshore in the morning was a Black-throated Diver; and north over the sea a Sooty Shearwater. Birds around, including those trapped, were 12 Shoveler, 162 Teal, 5 Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, a Spoonbill, a Great White Egret, 3 Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Kestrel, 48 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 5500 Starling, a Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 4 Whinchat, a Redpoll and 27 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Common Sandpiper and 4 Spoonbill..
A wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 12 new birds: a Goldcrest, 4 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Robin, 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap, 2 Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock.
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| Redstart, 30th August 2020. Photo - Sarah Hunter |
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| Spoonbill, 30th August 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
August 29th. Quite strong north-westerly wind with rainy spells.
Heading south were 8 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 22 Wigeon, 47 Teal, 2 Swift, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 190 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 48 Sanderling, 35 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Black Tern, 20 Great Skua, 96 Arctic Skua, 6 Pomarine Skua, 13 Long-tailed Skua, 11 Smaller Skua Sp, 3 Fulmar, 22 Gannet, a Sand Martin, 18 Swallow and 3 House Martin; and north 2 Barnacle Goose, 4 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 57 Teal, a Tufted Duck, 16 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kittiwake, 2 Little Gull, 9 Little Tern, 74 Common Tern, 8 Arctic Tern, 3 Black Tern, 280 Commic Tern, 7 Great Skua, 13 Arctic Skua, 5 Long-tailed Skua, 5 smaller Skua Sp, a Fulmar, 3 Sooty Shearwater, and 39 Gannet. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Spoonbill. Around were 5 Eider, 2 Whimbrel, 22 Turnstone, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Black Tern, a first calendar year Caspian Gull, a Long-tailed Skua, 8 Spoonbill, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Merlin, a Tree Pipit, 2 Crossbill and 15 Siskin.
August 28th. Soggy start then rain from late morning and increasingly strong north-westerly wind.
Offshore on the sand bars at low tide were a Yellow-legged Gull, 9 Arctic Skua and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua. Flying north were 53 Teal, a Tufted Duck, a Scaup, 35 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, 2 Kittiwake, 545 Sandwich Tern, 5 Little Tern, 80 Common Tern, 18 Arctic Tern, 2 Black Tern, 385 Commic Tern, 2 Great Skua, 15 Arctic Skua, 2 Long-tailed Skua, 7 smaller Skua Sp, an Auk Sp, a Red-throated Diver, 4 Fulmar, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 26 Gannet, 2 Sand Martin, 202 Swallow and 19 House Martin; and south 3 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 47 Teal, 10 Common Scoter, 17 Turnstone, 34 Knot, 56 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 460 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Long-tailed Skua, a smaller Skua sp, 21 Gannet, 164 Swallow and 117 House Martin. Birds around included 342 Teal, 5 Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Swift, a Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 850 Sandwich Tern, a Grey Heron, 9 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Kestrel, a Merlin and a Peregrine. On Tennyson's Sands were 130 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 5 Spotted Redshank and a Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: 2 Blackcap, 2 Linnet and a Robin; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap, a Blackbird and a Dunnock.
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| Merlin, 28th August 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Kestrel, 28th August 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
August 27th. Heading south were 4 Swift, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 6 Gannet, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Sand Martin, 92 Swallow, 11 House Martin, 10 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Alba Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 20 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin. Birds around, including those trapped, were 36 Shelduck, 106 Teal, 5 Eider, 12 Common Scoter, 142 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 400 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 483 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 780 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Tern, 26 Common Tern, 8 Arctic Skua, 14 Gannet, 19 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Merlin, 8 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 2 Tree Pipit, 90 Linnet, 111 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Barnacle Goose, a Water Rail, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull, and to roost there were 5500 Starling, 72 Alba Wagtail and 8 Pied Wagtail On Jackson's Marsh were 14 Shoveler, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Snipe.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: a Wren, 3 Robin, 6 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff.
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| Merlin, 27th August 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
August 26th. Strong westerly wind, gradually becoming northerly and decreasing.
Limited observer coverage. Offshore there was good southerly movement with 300 Sandwich Tern, 6 Little Tern, 25 Common Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, 7 Great Skua, 23 Arctic Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua, 6 Long-tailed Skua, 7 small Skua sp, 7 Fulmar and 60 Gannet. Incoming waders included small groups of Redshank, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and a single Curlew Sandpiper amongst the latter. On Jackson's Marsh were 6 Shoveler, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 12 Spoonbill. Around were a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
August 25th. Strong south-westerly wind with rain until the afternoon.
Heading south-west were a Marsh Harrier and 5 Kestrel; and south offshore 2 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 probable Long-tailed Skua and 2 Fulmar. On Jackson's Marsh were 210 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Knot, a Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 4 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Barnacle Goose, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 8 Spoonbill. Birds around included 4 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 12 Little Egret, 8 Sand Martin, 62 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 11 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
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| Barnacle Goose, 25th August 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
August 24th. Going south-west were a Sparrowhawk, a Red Kite, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard and 7 Kestrel; and south 25 Swift, 5 Buzzard, 36 Sand Martin, 338 Swallow, 95 House Martin, 13 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail and 5 Alba Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 57 Lapwing, 278 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 446 Redshank, 7 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank and 7 Spoonbill; and on fields to the west of Croftmarsh was a Great White Egret. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 juvenile Cuckoo, a Common Sandpiper, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl, 9 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 82 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 4 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and 6 Tree Pipit and 22 Yellow Wagtail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 21 new birds: 2 Wren, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Pied Flycatcher and a Meadow Pipit; and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Great Tit, a Blue Tit and 3 Dunnock.
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| Common Sandpiper, 24th August 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
August 23rd. There was an arrival of Willow Warbler, with 312 reserve-wide. In an excellent day for raptor migration; heading south, south-west or west were 140 Swift, 4 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Red Kite, 68 Buzzard, 16 Kestrel, a Hobby, 2 Peregrine, 892 Swallow, 720 House Martin and 32 Yellow Wagtail. Around, including birds trapped, were 7 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 7 Spoonbill, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, 7200 Starling, 8 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, 12 Whinchat, 16 Wheatear, and 4 Tree Pipit. On Tennyson's Sands were 400 Black-tailed Godwit and 200 Redshank.
The twelfth and final session on CES was done this morning. The 121 new birds were 6 Long-tailed Tit, a Wren, 84 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Tree Pipit, 4 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Blackbird. The 8 retraps were a Blackbird, a Robin,3 Blue Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit and a Kestrel.
The reserve's first Southern Migrant Hawker was discovered at the south end of the reserve.
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| Willow Warbler, 23 August 2020. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Wheatear, 23 August 2020. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Buzzard, 23 August 2020. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Tree Pipit, ringed 23 August 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
August 22nd. Strong south-westerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands were 63 Avocet, 400 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 200 Redshank and 7 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 3 Wood Sandpiper. Birds around included 3460 Oystercatcher, 425 Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover, 7 Whimbrel, 78 Curlew, 21 Turnstone, 55200 Knot, 6 Curlew Sandpiper, 6080 Sanderling, 9350 Dunlin, a Little Stint, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl (Old Saltmarsh), a Peregrine, 6 Whinchat (Wash Viewpoint), 2 Wheatear (Wash Viewpoint), 33 Yellow Wagtail and a male Blue-headed Wagtail (around Wash Viewpoint over morning high tide). Heading south were 62 Swift, 2 Black Tern, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Hobby, 26 Sand Martin, 198 Swallow, 88 House Martin, 148 Yellow Wagtail and 8 Alba Wagtail.
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| Waders, 22 August 2020. Photos - James Siddle |
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| Wood Sandpiper, 22nd August 2020. Photo - Sarah Hunter |
August 21st. Strong south-westerly wind.
Around were a Whimbrel and a Greenshank. On Jackson's Marsh were 120 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 13 Spoonbill. The morning wader roost held 45000 Knot, 4000 Oystercatcher, 3000 Sanderling and 5000 Dunlin. Going south were a Marsh Harrier, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 7 Arctic Skua, a Skua sp, a Hobby, 10 Swift, 220 Sand Martin and 220 Swallow.
Spiders included a rare dune spider Philodromus fallax.
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| A rare dune spider Philodromus fallax, 21 August 2020. Photo - Jack Wilson |
