Late September 2021

September 30th. Increasing south-westerly wind with rainy spells.

 On Tennyson's Sands were 44 Avocet, 232 Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Heron and 5 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 12 Black-tailed Godwit.

Dawn from Tennyson's Sands, 30 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 29th. Soggy start. Increasing westerly wind.

 Around, including birds trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 42 Sandwich Tern, a Jay, a Goldcrest, 9 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat. On Tennyson's Sands were a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 25 Avocet, 312 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank, 5 Spotted Redshank and 17 Spoonbill; on Croftmarsh 300 Pink-footed Goose; on the Mere a Marsh Harrier, a Grey Heron, 8 Snipe, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 5 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Grey Heron, 30 Gannet, a Yellow-legged Gull, 145 Sandwich Tern, 3 Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 3 Arctic Tern, a Swift, 3 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow, 59 House Martin, 40 Meadow Pipit, a Grey Wagtail and 8 Siskin; and north a Marsh Harrier.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, a Meadow Pipit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat. 

Grey Heron, 29 September 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Marsh Harrier, 29 September 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

September 28th. Increasing southerly wind.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 54 Sandwich Tern, a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, 25 House Martin, 2 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler and a Whitethroat. On Tennyson's Sands were 322 Pink-footed Goose, a Barnacle Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 19 Avocet, 277 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Knot, 6 Greenshank, 6 Spotted Redshank, 21 Spoonbill, a Merlin and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Jackson's Marsh 5 Whooper Swan, 2 Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and a Greenshank. Flying south-west were 42 Pink-footed Goose; east 70 Pink-footed Goose; and south 2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Razorbill, a Rook, 90 Swallow, 150 Meadow Pipit, a Lesser Redpoll, 16 Siskin and 4 Brambling. In off the sea came a Buzzard.

 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldfinch and a Garden Warbler; and 3 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Peregrine, 28 September 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Stonechat, 28 September 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Ringing Control: Blackcap, ringed GPBO 19 September 2021, controlled Lodge Hill, Kent 23 September 2021.

September 27th. Strong southerly then south-westerly wind, with rainy spells.

 Birds around included 2 Sand Martin, 300 Swallow, a Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 13 Avocet,  272 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, a Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and 17 Spoonbill; on Jackson's Marsh an Avocet and 4 Dunlin; and on Croftmarsh 350 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Buzzard. Going south were 46 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 12 Arctic Tern, an Arctic Skua, 16 House Martin and 7 Swallow; and north a Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

Roesel's Bush Cricket, 27 September 2021.
Photo - Steve Hibbard

September 26th. Around, including birds trapped, were 176 Pink-footed Goose, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Treecreeper. On Tennyson's Sands were 16 Avocet, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, a Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, a Redshank, 4 Spotted Redshank, 19 Spoonbill and a Kingfisher; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 3 Snipe, a Grey Heron and 15 Swallow.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Bunting, a Robin and a Blue Tit; and 5 retraps: a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap and 3 Great Tit. The retrap Garden Warbler was ringed on September 20th, and increased in weight from 15.5g to 22.7g.

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 26 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 25th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Wheatear, a Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap. On Tennyson's Sands were 12 Avocet, a Ringed Plover, 180 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 4 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank and 20 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 107 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank. Flying north were 8 Pink-footed Goose; east 72 Pink-footed Goose and south-east 185 Pink-footed Goose.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, provided 13 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Robin, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Robin and 3 Dunnock.

Barred Red, 25 September 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

September 24th. Increasing south-westerly wind.

 Around, including birds trapped, were 45 Pink-footed Goose (New Saltmarsh then south just after dawn), a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 3 Sandwich Tern, a Merlin, a Cetti's Warbler, a Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap. On Tennyson's Sands were 110 Pink-footed Goose, a Water Rail, 17 Avocet, 264 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 4 Snipe, 5 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, a Redshank, a Grey Heron and 22 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh an Avocet, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin. Going south were 18 Golden Plover, 11 Rook, a House Martin, 68 Swallow and 5 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 4 new birds: a Linnet, a Blackcap and 2 Reed Bunting.

September 23rd. Increasing south-westerly wind.

 A Glossy Ibis arrived on Tennyson's Sands in the afternoon. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Greenshank, 3 Swallow and 5 Chiffchaff. On Tennyson's Sands were a Barnacle Goose, 5 Pink-footed Goose, a Water Rail, 25 Avocet, 284 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 2 Dunlin, a Snipe, 5 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 30 Spoonbill and 2 Yellow Wagtail; and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank. Heading south were 15 House Martin; east 170 Pink-footed Goose; and north 50 Pink-footed Goose.

 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap and a Song Thrush; and a retrap Robin.

Knot, 23 September 2021.

Avocet, 23 September 2021.

Grey Heron, 23 September 2021.
Photo - Jack Hood

September 22nd. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2000 Starling, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 16 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover, 242 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 2 Snipe, a Dunlin and 26 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh a Barnacle Goose and a Greenshank. Flying south were 2 Swallow.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 4 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Goldcrest and a Whitethroat.

Female Sparrowhawk, ringed 22 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Female Sparrowhawk, ringed 2w2 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Ringing Control: Chiffchaff, ringed GPBO 16 July 2021, controlled Calverton, Nottinghamshire 12 September 2021.

September 21st. Birds around, including those trapped, were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 50000 Knot, 4 Greenshank, 36 Sandwich Tern, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 5 Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest and a Stonechat. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Avocet, 267 Black-tailed Godwit and 25 Spoonbill; and on the Mere a Kingfisher. Going south were 36 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 75 Meadow Pipit, 4 Siskin and 2 Brambling; and north a Marsh Harrier.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 14 new birds: a Goldcrest, 7 Blackcap, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Linnet, 2 Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting, 2 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Blackcap, a Robin, 2 Dunnock and a Great Tit.

Goldcrest, ringed 21 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Goldcrest, ringed 21 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory