September 20th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
A Sabine's Gull flew north in the early morning. Also flying north over the sea were 12 Shelduck, a Teal, 17 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Kittiwake, 27 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, 4 Commic Tern, 5 Auk sp, a Red-throated Diver, 54 Gannet and a Marsh Harrier; and south 2 Arctic Skua and 24 Red-throated Diver. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill and a Grey Heron; and on Tennyson's Sands a Kingfisher. Birds around, including those trapped, were 5 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 156 Shelduck, 44 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 300 Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 12 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Little Gull, 26 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Kestrel, a Merlin, 19 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler (north end of West Dunes), a Reed Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 6000 Starling, 3 Pied Flycatcher (Plantation), 4 Redstart (1 North Building and 3 East Dunes), a Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Tree Sparrow, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Grey Wagtail, a Tree Pipit (Plantation), 2 Rock Pipit, 3 Brambling, 3 Redpoll sp, 3 Crossbill (Plantation), 2 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting (over Mill Hill in the evening).
A wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 11 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Robin, 3 Blackcap. a Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and 12 retraps: 5 Dunnock, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, 2 Goldcrest and a Great Tit.
 |
| Little Gull and Black-headed Gull, 20th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Pied Flycatcher, 20th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Whinchat, 20th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 20 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 19th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
Heading north over the sea were 2 Shelduck, 40 Common Scoter, 2 Kittiwake, 2 Little Gull, 2 Sabine's Gull, 85 Sandwich Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, a Pomarine Skua, an Auk sp, a Sooty Shearwater and 156 Gannet; south 11 Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 7 Teal, a Velvet Scoter, a Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Kittiwake, 8 Great Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 3 Pomarine Skua, 3 Skua sp, a Guillemot, 2 Auk sp, 66 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater, 45 Gannet and 4 Swallow; south-east 485 Pink-footed Goose; and out east 90 Wigeon. Around, including birds trapped, were 44 Wigeon, 2 Eider, a Water Rail, 7100 Oystercatcher, 3300 Grey Plover, 105 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 490 Curlew, 27 Turnstone, a Purple Sandpiper, 78400 Knot, 4 Ruff, 3250 Sanderling, 7600 Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, 2 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 290 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, a Mediterranean Gull, 18 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, a Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 4000 Starling, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), a Pied Flycatcher (Plantation), a Whinchat, 6 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 8 House Sparrow and 2 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 7 Spoonbill and 10 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Greenshank.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 6 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, a Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Robin, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Goldcrest.
September 18th. Slowly increasing north-easterly wind.
Highlights over the sea were a Sabine's Gull north; and 2 Long-tailed Skua south. A Hawfinch flew south over Rock Ridge in the morning, and later one was in the West Dunes Sycamore Plot. On Jackson's Marsh were 7 Spoonbill. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Pintail, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 220 Sandwich Tern, 12 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 7 Kestrel, a Peregrine, a Willow Warbler, 24 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 5000 Starling, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), 2 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Redstart, 2 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Lesser Redpoll and 10 Siskin.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, 3 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Redstart and a Song Thrush; and a retrap Great Tit.
 |
| Redstart, ringed 18 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 17th. There was a notable arrival of migrants during the morning, largely on the east side of the reserve, with many quickly filtering south through the dune. Around, including birds trapped, were 5 Pintail, 2 Whimbrel, a Little Stint (on the estuary), 9 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, a Grey Heron, 18 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 8 Kestrel, a Peregrine, 26 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Willow Warbler, 48 Chiffchaff, a Wood Warbler (East Dunes), 3 Yellow-browed Warbler (East Dunes), 3 Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Barred Warbler (West Dunes), a Garden Warbler, 17 Blackcap, 17 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, a Firecrest (West Dunes), 18 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 800 Starling, 3 Ring Ouzel (1 East Dunes, 1 West Dunes and 1 Plantation), 3 Redwing, 26 Song Thrush, 45 Robin, 10 Pied Flycatcher, 10 Redstart, 8 Whinchat, 10 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 2 House Sparrow, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, a Brambling, 8 Greenfinch, 140 Linnet, 90 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, a Mealy Redpoll, 2 Redpoll sp, 39 Reed Bunting and a Lapland Bunting (from the Wash Viewpoint). There was excellent movement over the sea early morning, with 2 Little Gull, 4 Great Skua, 7 Arctic Skua, a Pomarine Skua, a Long-tailed Skua, 5 Skua sp, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 6 Manx Shearwater and 450 Gannet logged. In from the sea came 2 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel; and heading south-east were 212 Pink-footed Goose. On Jackson's Marsh in the evening were 24 Shoveler, 29 Avocet, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot and 19 Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 4 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Redstart; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler, 17th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Pied Flycatcher, 17th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Small Copper, 17th September 2020. Photo - Jim Shaw |
 |
| Redstart, ringed 17 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 16th. Increasing northerly wind, then decreasing slowly.
Heading north were a Shelduck, a Pintail, 95 Wigeon, 15 Teal, 533 Common Scoter, a Purple Sandpiper, a Kittiwake, an adult Little Gull, 264 Sandwich Tern, 22 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 2 Skua sp, 2 Auk sp, 4 Manx Shearwater, and 4 Swallow; and south 3 Common Scoter, 2 Greenshank, 2 Arctic Skua, a Manx Shearwater, a Shag, a Buzzard, 21 Swallow, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 18 Siskin, 130 Meadow Pipit and 8 Reed Bunting. On the estuary were 16 Spoonbill. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Spotted Redshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Grey Partridge,178 Shelduck, 8 Pintail, 2 Eider, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper (off the lagoons early morning), 2 Greenshank, a Mediterranean Gull, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Grey Heron, a Great White Egret (to roost), 15 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 2 Short-eared Owl, 8 Kestrel, a Grasshopper Warbler, 45 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest (West Dunes then Yacht Club), 8 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, a Wheatear, a House Sparrow, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Crossbill (Plantation) and 35 Reed Bunting.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Blackcap and a Great Tit; and 5 retraps: 2 Blackcap, a Wren and 2 Dunnock.
 |
| Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 16 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 15th. Misty, damp start, then sunny.
On Jackson's Marsh were 28 Avocet, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, a Knot and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon a Spotted Redshank. Around, including birds trapped, were a Barnacle Goose, 5 Eider, a juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 17 Spoonbill, 16 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl (Old Saltmarsh in the evening), a Kingfisher, 6 Kestrel, 17 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Treecreeper, 1100 Starling, 5 Pied Flycatcher (2 East Dunes and 3 Shovelers Pool), 2 Whinchat, a Wheatear, 12 Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit (West Dunes), a Crossbill (Plantation), a Corn Bunting and a Lapland Bunting (from the Wash Viewpoint in the evening). A Buzzard arrived from the sea whilst a Red Kite flew north; and south-east went 65 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting, 2 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Great Tit.
 |
| Pied Flycatcher, 15th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Sundog, 15th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Garden Warbler, ringed 15 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 14th. 8 Egyptian Goose arrived from the north in the morning. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Black-tailed Godwit; on Tennyson's Sands 45 Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe; and on Croftmarsh 59 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Wheatear, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler. Flying south were 8 Arctic Skua, an adult Pomarine Skua, a Manx Shearwater and a Spoonbill. In the late afternoon 24 Spoonbill were out from Wash Viewpoint.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 37 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 7 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Reed Bunting, a Reed Warbler, 3 Great Tit, a Goldfinch and 9 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Robin, a Dunnock and a Wren.
 |
| Egyptian Goose, 14th September 2020. Photos - Kev Wilson |
September 13th. A Pectoral Sandpiper was flushed from Jackson's Marsh by a Buzzard late afternoon and flew south with Black-tailed Godwit. Also there, were 44 Avocet, a Snipe and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper; on Tennyson's Sands a Spoonbill; and on Croftmarsh 68 Pink-footed Goose. Heading south were a Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Arctic Skua, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, 13 Swallow, 38 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 320 Meadow Pipit, a Redpoll, 5 Crossbill and 37 Siskin. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Whimbrel, 64 Black-tailed Godwit, 50000 Knot, 4 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 350 Sandwich Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, a Grey Heron, 12 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 8 Kestrel, a Merlin, 3 Willow Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 4000 Starling, 2 Stonechat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 210 Meadow Pipit, a Crossbill, 2 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting (frequenting fields west of the river).
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin and 2 Siskin; and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Great Tit and a Dunnock.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by James Siddle resulted in 12 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit and 3 Blue Tit; and 6 retraps: a Chiffchaff, 3 Great Tit, a Long-tailed Tit and a Robin.
A Painted Lady was in East Dunes.
 |
| Reed Warbler, 13th September 2020. Photo - Kev Wilson |
 |
| Marsh Harrier, migrant, south over the sea, 13th September 2020. Photo - Kev Wilson |
 |
| Siskin, ringed 13th September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 12th. Heading south were 20 Arctic Skua, 2 Spoonbill, 17 Buzzard, 3 Grey Wagtail and a Lapland Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Bar-tailed Godwit, 65 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, a Curlew Sandpiper, 8 Snipe, a Turnstone, 4 Spotted Redshank and 5 Spoonbill; on Jackson's Marsh a Green Sandpiper; and on Croftmarsh 61 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 7 Kestrel, 12 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 11 Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 12 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 900 Starling, 3 Stonechat, 2 House Sparrow, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, a Redpoll and 8 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Whitethroat, a Stonechat, a Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blackbird, a Robin and a Dunnock.
A male Black Darter was discovered in the West Dunes late afternoon.
 |
| Black Darter, 12th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
 |
| Moorhen, 12th September 2020. Photo - Jim Shaw |
 |
| Stonechat, ringed 12 September 2020. Photo - George Gregory |
September 11th. Going south were 79 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Shelduck, a Pintail, 7 Teal, 6 Common Scoter, 7 Collared Dove, 30 Golden Plover, 14 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 1555 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, 59 Arctic Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua, a Guillemot, 2 Auk sp, a Red-throated Diver, 266 Gannet, a Grey Heron, a Great White Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, 33 Rook, 8 Sand Martin, 98 Swallow, 448 House Martin, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Alba Wagtail, 2319 Meadow Pipit, 2 Greenfich, 142 Linnet, 5 Redpoll, 59 Goldfinch, 492 Siskin, 34 Reed Bunting and 3 Lapland Bunting; and north a Shelduck, 13 Arctic Skua and 67 Gannet. On Jackson's Marsh were a Pintail, the 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Dunlin; and on Tennyson's Sands 54 Pink-footed Goose, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone and a Knot. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Common Scoter, 55 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 8 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 150 Sandwich Tern, 4 Arctic Skua, 5 Red-throated Diver, a Spoonbill, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 2 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 3000 Starling, 4 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Stonechat. On Wainfleet Marsh were 3000 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 4 Robin, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Wren, a Blackbird and a Whitethroat.
 |
| Pink-footed Goose, 11th September 2020. Photo - Jim Shaw |
 |
| Small Copper, 11th September 2020. Photo - Ben Ward |
