Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Early August 2021

August 10th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallow and 5 Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Avocet, 35 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Redshank and 6 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 96 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 120 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, 25 Dunlin, 258 Redshank, 2 Common Tern and 21 Spoonbill. Heading south were 2 Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 14 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Robin, 2 Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Bordered Beauty, 10 August 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

August 9th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Grey Heron, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallow and 4 Willow Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 103 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 140 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 6 Green Sandpiper, 16 Snipe, a Dunlin, 8 Greenshank, 265 Redshank, a Sandwich Tern and 24 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 13 Redshank and 6 Spoonbill. Flying south were 45 Swift, 4 Swallow and 6 Sand Martin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 4 Robin, a Dunnock and a Kestrel; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and a Wren.

Black-tailed Godwit, 9 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Green Sandpiper, 9 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Green Sandpiper and Snipe, 9 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Kestrel, ringed 9 August 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

August 8th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Collared Dove, a Peregrine and a Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were a Common Sandpiper and 27 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 81 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 114 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, a Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank and 41 Redshank. Going south were 145 Swift and 8 Swallow.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler and a Linnet.

August 7th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Swallow and a Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were a Snipe and a Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 81 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 92 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 85 Redshank and 17 Spoonbill. Heading south were 38 Swift and 76 Curlew.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: a Wren, 3 Linnet, a Goldfinch, 3 Whitethroat and a Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Willow Warbler.

August 6th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

Birds around, including those trapped, were a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Swallow, a Cetti's Warbler and a Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 55 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 62 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 37 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Dunlin, a Snipe, a Ruff, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank and 21 Spoonbill. Flying south were 150 Swift.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 3 Linnet and a Blackbird; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, 6 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Greenshank, 6 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Marsh Harrier, 6 August 2021.
Steve Clipperton

Ruff, 6 August 2021.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

August 5th. Around were a Peregrine, 7 Swallow and a Willow Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 73 Avocet, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 74 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 8 Greenshank, 11 Redshank and 10 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 70 Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper. Going south were 45 Curlew, 6 Whimbrel, 6 Spoonbill (early) and 24 Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.

Mediterranean Gull, 5 August 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

August 4th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, 9 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 56 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe and 2 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 67 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 58 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Greenshank. Going north were 4 Sand Martin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 7 new birds: a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Swallow; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.

Garden Warbler, ringed 4 August 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Willow Warbler, 4 August 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

August 3rd. Around were 19 Swallow and a Bullfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 110 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 188 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Dunlin, a Snipe, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Tern and 18 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier and 7 Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: 3 Wren, a Robin, 4 Linnet, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.

Snipe, 3 August 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Spoonbills, 3 August 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Juvenile Shelduck, 3 August 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

August 2nd. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Treecreeper and a Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 18 Avocet, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin and 2 Spoonbill; on Fenland Lagoon 2 Redshank and a Kingfisher; and on Tennyson's Sands 21 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 72 Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank and a Spoonbill. Flying south were 2 Swallow.

The tenth session of CES was done this morning. The 20 new birds were a Treecreeper, a Willow Warbler, 5 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, 4 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Chaffinch, a Great Tit and 3 Dunnock. The 7 retraps were 2 Robin, a Linnet, 2 Wren, a Blackcap and a Blue Tit.

Peacock, 2 August 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

August 1st. Intermittent early morning drizzle.

Around were a Greenshank, 4 Kittiwake, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, an Arctic Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, 10 Gannet, a Peregrine, 120 Swallow and a Willow Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Black-tailed Godwit; over Croftmarsh a Great White Egret; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, 147 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Greenshank and 2 Redshank; and on Tennyson's Sands 61 Avocet, 65 Lapwing, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 66 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and a Spotted Redshank. To roost at the Mere went 17300 Starling. Going south were 45 Common Scoter, a Little Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua, 4 Swift and 10 Sand Martin; north 2230 Sandwich Tern, 11 Arctic Skua and a Manx Shearwater; and east an Arctic Skua.

A drizzle-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 15 new birds: 5 Wren, a Blue Tit, 4 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.