September 30th. Increasing southerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands were 613 Teal, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe and a Kingfisher; and on Jackson's Marsh 3 Pintail and 113 Teal. Around, including birds trapped, were 1800 Pink-footed Goose, 28 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 11 Pintail, 101 Teal, 70 Lapwing, 900 Golden Plover, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Great White Egret (fields west of the River Steeping), 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, 17 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler (along the Cycle Track), a Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 19 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 4000 Starling, 9 Song Thrush, 26 Robin, 2 Stonechat, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Redpoll sp and 18 Siskin. Going south were 420 Pink-footed Goose.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Robin, 2 Blackcap and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: 3 Song Thrush, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
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| Sparrowhawk, ringed 30 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Sparrowhawk, ringed 30 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 29th. Drizzle on and off for most of morning, then soggy.
On the Mere were 17 Pintail, a Jack Snipe and a Kingfisher; on Tennyson's Sands a 3 Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 4000 Starling (to roost); on Jackson's Marsh a Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank; and on Croftmarsh a Water Pipit. Birds around, including those trapped, were 1500 Pink-footed Goose, 700 Golden Plover, 6 Turnstone, 2 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 8 Kestrel, 18 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 46 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwing, 18 Song Thrush, 44 Robin, a Redstart, 23 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 22 Yellow Wagtail, a Bullfinch, a Mealy Redpoll, 80 Redpoll sp, 13 Crossbill and 70 Siskin. Heading south were 80 Pink-footed Goose.
A drizzle-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, a Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and 3 Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Goldfinch and a Dunnock.
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 29 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Roosting Magpie, 29 September 2020. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
September 28th. Around, including birds trapped, were 2000 Pink-footed Goose, a Garganey, 4 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Kestrel, a Willow Warber, 25 Chiffchaff, 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, 17 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest (Plantation), 26 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 3000 Starling, 6 Ring Ouzel, 23 Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, 52 Robin, 3 Redstart, 41 Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Tree Pipit, a Water Pipit (over Sykes Farm to roost), 4 Rock Pipit, 4 Brambling, 4 Redpoll and 55 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands was a Ruff. Heading south were 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 5 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 186 Redpoll and 2 Crossbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 31 new birds: 5 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, 8 Blackcap, 4 Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Redstart, 5 Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush and a Redwing; and 12 retraps: 5 Robin, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Wren.
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| Pintail, 28 September 2020. Photo -Kevin Wilson |
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| Garganey, 28 September 2020. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Merlin, 28 September 2020. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Little Egret eyeing up a Dragonfly, 28th September 2020 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Green Woodpecker, retrapped 28 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Redstart, ringed 28 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 27th. Strong north-westerly wind.
On Croftmarsh were 120 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around included 1024 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Pintail, 60 Common Scoter, a Greenshank, 6 Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared owl, 6 Kestrel, a Merlin, 15 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 East Dunes and 1 West Dunes), 5 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 23 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Ring Ouzel (1 Plantation and 1 East Dunes), a Fieldfare, 136 Redwing, 24 Song Thrush, a Wheatear, 20 Stonechat, 2 Redstart, 12 Redpoll, 95 Siskin and 3 Brambling. Offshore were a Velvet Scoter, a Goosander and a Grey Phalarope. Heading north over the sea were 45 Common Scoter, 3 Kittiwake, a Black Tern, 8 Commic Tern, 4 Great Skua, 7 Arctic Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua and a Sooty Shearwater; south 12 Whooper Swan and 6 Pintail; and in from the sea came a Whooper Swan and a Kestrel.
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| Ring Ouzel, 27 September 2020. Photo - James Siddle |
September 26th. Strong north-westerly wind.
A Jack Snipe was on the Mere. Around were a 211 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Goosander, a Jack Snipe, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 6 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 14 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler (East Dunes), a Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, a Ring Ouzel, 63 Redwing, 11 Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Mealy Redpoll (then south), 28 Lesser Redpoll, a Brambling, 90 Siskin and 2 Lapland Bunting. Heading west were 30 Pink-footed Goose; north 2 Sooty Shearwater and a Buzzard; and south 3 Whooper Swan, a Hen Harrier and 5 Redwing.
September 25th. Strong to gale force north-westerly wind; rain for most of the day.
Stellar movement over the sea - full totals to be subsequently added. Highlights over the sea included a Sabine's Gull, 223 Great Skua, 11 Pomarine Skua, 194 Arctic Skua, 3 Long-tailed Skua and a small Harrier sp. In from the sea came a Short-eared Owl. Birds around included 10 Little Egret. Flying south were 15 Swallow and 3 House Martin.
September 24th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
Highlights south over the sea were 31 Great Skua, a Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic Skua and a Great White Egret; and north 3 Kittiwake. The first Water Pipit of the autumn flew over Sykes Farm in the afternoon and a Great White Egret was out from Wash Viewpoint in the evening. Highlights moving south over land were 4 Crossbill, 909 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands was a Water Rail; and on Jackson's Marsh a Water Rail. Around, including birds trapped, were 13 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 41 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 238 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Grey Heron, 14 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Kestrel, a Kingfisher, a Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 2000 Starling, a Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, 25 Robin, a Redstart, 3 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 8 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 30 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting (blogging over East Dunes frontage mid day).
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, 3 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Kingfisher; and 5 retraps: a Redstart and 4 Great Tit.
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| Kingfisher, ringed 24 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 23rd. Rainy spells.
On Jackson's Marsh were 36 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, 118 Teal, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot and a Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands 12 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Snipe, 6 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank; and on the Mere 10 Pintail and 88 Teal. Birds around, including those trapped, were 5 Pintail, a Whimbrel, 4 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, a Grey Heron, 16 Little Egret, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Kestrel, 28 Chiifchaff, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 still along Gibraltar Road north of Tennyson's Sands and 1 in the Plantation), a Garden Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 28 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 2000 Starling, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), 12 Song Thrush, 35 Robin, a Redstart, a Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Lapland Bunting (over the Wash Viewpoint in the morning). Heading south were 6 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 210 Meadow Pipit, 7 Redpoll and 118 Siskin.
A brief mid morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 14 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, a Dunnock and 2 Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: a Redstart, a Robin, a Linnet, 2 Goldcrest and a Blue Tit.
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, 23rd September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
September 22nd. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Pintail, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Spoonbill, 18 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 2 Willow Warbler, 22 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler (along Gibraltar Road north of Tennyson's Sands), a Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 13 Blackcap, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 3500 Starling, 10 Song Thrush, 36 Robin, 3 Redstart, a Whinchat, 3 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, a Tree Pipit (East Dunes), 3 Lesser Redpoll, a Crossbill and 25 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 23 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Redstart, a Blackcap, a Robin and 3 Dunnock.
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| Robin, 22nd September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
September 21st. A Honey Buzzard flew north mid-morning and a Little Bunting was briefly seen in the East Dunes mid-day but was not relocated. Heading south were 7 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 32 Swallow, 14 House Martin, 16 House Sparrow, 12 Tree Sparrow, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 10 Alba Wagtail, 435 Meadow Pipit, a Tree Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 32 Linnet, 45 Goldfinch, 332 Siskin, 88 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Redpoll sp, a Crossbill, 45 Goldfinch and 28 Reed Bunting; south-west a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 24 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, a Hobby and 18 Skylark; north a Great White Egret and a Hawfinch; and north-west 190 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were 4 Grey Partridge, 195 Wigeon, 28 Pintail, 200 Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 75000 Knot, 5 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 4 Spoonbill, a Grey Heron, 22 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 8 Kestrel, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, a Yellow-browed Warbler (West Dunes Sycamores), 6 Willow Warbler, 29 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 13 Blackcap, 10 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, a Firecrest (East Dunes), 22 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 6000 Starling, a Redwing, 11 Song Thrush, 38 Robin, a Pied Flycatcher (Plantation), 4 Redstart, 4 Whinchat, 6 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 25 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Crossbill, 22 Siskin, a Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 29 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 4 Robin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Blackcap, a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting, a Redstart, 2 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, 3 Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Kingfisher; and 7 retraps: 3 Dunnock, a Robin, a Lesser Redpoll, a Great Tit and a Chiffchaff.
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| Sparrowhawk, migrant, 21st September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Pied Flycatcher, 21st September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Kingfisher, ringed 21st September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Stonechat, ringed 21st September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Redstart, ringed 21st September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
