April 30th. Frosty start.
Around, including birds trapped, were 138 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Cuckoo, 5 Avocet, 5 Golden Plover, 12 Whimbrel, a Snipe, a Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 66 Little Tern, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, a Cetti's Warbler, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 36 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 19 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 61 Whitethroat, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Siskin and a Crossbill. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh a Pink-footed Goose. Going south were 25 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap; and 3 retraps: a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling yielded 17 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, a Blue Tit, 4 Greenfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 16 retraps: 2 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, 4 Great Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blue Tit and a Dunnock.
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| Hobby, 30 April 2021. Photo - Dean Nicholson |
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| Hobby, 30 April 2021. Photo - Dean Nicholson |
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| Sparrowhawk, 30 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Sparrowhawk, 30 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Cowslips on Jackson's Marsh Meadow, 30 April 2021. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Shore Crab, 30 April 2021. Photo - Jack Wilson |
Ringing Control: Willow Warbler, ringed GPBO 13 August 2019, controlled Portland Bird Observatory 29 April 2021.
April 29th. Some early morning light rain.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 95 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and a Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh an Avocet. Flying south were 3 House Martin; and north a Red-necked Grebe.
A rain-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Robin, a Meadow Pipit and a Blackbird: and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.
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| Mixed waders, 29 April 2021. Photo - Tom Green |
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| Oystercatcher roost, 29 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
April 28th. Increasing north-easterly wind.
Around, including birds trapped, were 140 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo, a Water Rail, 12 Whimbrel, 3 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 3 House Martin, a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 9 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 4 Ring Ouzel. 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, a Wheatear and a Crossbill. On Tennyson's Sands were 26 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Croftmarsh 4 Avocet and a Little Ringed Plover. Going north were 2 Iceland Gull, 35 Sandwich Tern, 17 Arctic Tern, 118 Little Tern, a Marsh Harrier, a Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater and 2 Fulmar; and south 17 Whimbrel, a Manx Shearwater.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Song Thrush and a Fieldfare; and 2 retrap Blue Tit.
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| Ring Ouzel, 28 April 2021. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Fieldfare, ringed 28 April 2021. Photo - George Gregory |
April 27th. Some light rainy spells.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Jack Snipe, a Swift, a Buzzard, 20 Swallow, 18 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 4 Ring Ouzel, 8 House Martin, 9 Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 11 Whitethroat, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, a Wheatear and a Tree Pipit. On the sea were 6 Goosander; on Tennyson's Sands 19 Avocet; on Fenland Lagoon 3 Avocet; over Jackson's Marsh 3 House Martin; and on Croftmarsh a Little Ringed Plover and 5 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were a Red-throated Diver, a Sand Martin and 12 Swallow; and south then north a Ring-necked Parakeet.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 7 new birds: a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Great Tit; and 11 retraps: a Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch and a Goldfinch.
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| BlueTit, 27 April 2021. Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Great Black-backed Gull, 27 April 2021. Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Wren, 27 April 2021. Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Mixed thrushes, 27 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Mixed thrushes, 27 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Goosanders, 27 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Goosander, 27 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
April 26th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Cuckoo, a Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Avocet. Flying south were 2 Sand Martin and 5 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a new Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: 2 Robin and a Whitethroat.
April 25th. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, 25 Avocet, 2 Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Warbler; on Croftmarsh a Buzzard; on the Mere a Little Gull; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Avocet and 2 Little Ringed Plover. Birds around, including those trapped, were 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, a Mediterranean Gull, a Little Tern, 3 Cuckoo, a Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 10 Sedge Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Wheatear, a Black Redstart and a Lesser Redpoll. Going south were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 2 Buzzard and a Yellow Wagtail.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 15 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 3 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, a Robin and a Linnet; and 11 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Great Tit, 4 Goldfinch and a Blue Tit.
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| Little Gull, 25 April 2021. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Little Gull, 25 April 2021. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
April 24th. Cold start.
Around were 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo, a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Little Gull, 6 Little Tern, a Short-eared Owl, a Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 26 Whitethroat, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a Ring Ouzel and a Black Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were 10 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh 4 Avocet. Heading south were a Red Kite, 17 Sand Martin and 33 Yellow Wagtail; and north 3 Common Scoter.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Dunnock.
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| Black Redstart, 24 April 2021. Photo - James Siddle |
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| Black Redstart, 24 April 2021. Photo - James Siddle |
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| Grasshopper Warbler, 24 April 2021. Photo - James Siddle |
April 23rd. Frosty start.
A Great White Egret came in to Jackson's Marsh briefly, then departed north. A Black Redstart was at the Visitor Centre. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh 5 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Black-tailed Godwit; and on the Mere a Garganey. Birds around included 205 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 4 Jack Snipe, 18 Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Short-eared Owl, a Long-eared Owl, a Cetti's Warbler, 6 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 8 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 21 Blackcap, 18 Whitethroat, a Treecreeper, 2 Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear and a Brambling. Flying south were 4 Buzzard, a Little Ringed Plover, 23 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow and 5 Yellow Wagtail.
Butterflies included a Green Hairstreak.
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| Garganey, 23 April 2021. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Garganey, 23 April 2021. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Green Hairstreak, 23 April 2021. Photo - Rob Watson |
April 22nd. Cold start.
The best birds were a Wryneck (see photographs below) and a Spoonbill. Around, including birds trapped, were 145 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pink-footed Goose, a singing Cuckoo, 6 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 6 Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, . On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Avocet. Going south were 13 Sand Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler, a Song Thrush and a Dunnock.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 12 new birds: a Reed Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, a Cetti's Warbler, a Linnet, a Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch and a Dunnock; and 14 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 6 Great Tit, a Goldfinch and a Robin.
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| Wryneck, 22 April 2021. Photo - Roy Harvey |
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| Wryneck, 22 April 2021. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Wryneck, 22 April 2021. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Snipe, 22 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
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| Wryneck droppings showing remains of ants, 22 April 2021. Photo - Kevin Wilson |
April 21st. Increasing north-easterly wind.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 70 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Little Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern, a Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, a Short-eared Owl, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler. On Seacroft Fields were 2 Little Gull; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; on Croftmarsh an Avocet; and on Tennyson's Sands 16 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 3 Common Scoter; and north 104 Sandwich Tern, 10 Commic Tern and 6 Arctic Tern.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Linnet; and a retrap Wren.
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| Muntjac, 21 April 2021. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Muntjac, 21 April 2021. Photo - Nige Lound |
