Mid November 2021

November 20th. Around, including birds trapped, were 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Pink-footed Goose, a Goosander, 29 Black-tailed Godwit, a Jack Snipe, a Snipe, a Swallow, a Black Redstart, 3 Stonechat and a Blackbird. On the sea was a Slavonian Grebe. Flying south were 90 Pink-footed Goose, 14 Goosander,  Little Gull and 260 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Goldfinch and a Blackbird; and a retrap Robin.

Black Redstart, 20 November 2021.
Photo - James Siddle

November 19th. A Lapland Bunting flew over East Dunes. Birds around, including those trapped, were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6000+ Pink-footed Goose, a Goosander, a Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Merlin, a Cetti's Warbler, a Song Thrush, 11 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, a Goldcrest, 2 Brambling and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Water Rail, a Grey Heron, an Avocet, 25 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler; and on the Mere a Water Rail. Going south were 11 Whooper Swan, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 58 Siskin and 3 Brambling.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blackbird and a Robin.

Goosander, 19 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 18th. Around, including birds trapped, were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6000+ Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Black-throated Diver and a Song Thrush. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet, 23 Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank; on the Mere a Goosander; and on Fenland Lagoon a Redshank. Out of the Plantation roost came 40 Little Egret. Heading south were 64 Little Gull, 30 Eider, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Swallow, 12 Siskin and a Brambling.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided a new Song Thrush; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Goosander, 18 November 2021.
Photo - Barrie Herriot

Avocet, 18 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Wigeon and Pintail, 19 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Sunset, 18 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

November 17th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 42 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 2 Song Thrush, 7 Blackbird, 3 Stonechat, a Blackcap, a Bullfinch, 8 Snow Bunting and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet, 25 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh 3 Grey Heron; and on Jackson's Marsh a Great White Egret. Flying north were 7 Little Gull.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 10 new birds: a Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush and 7 Blackbird; and 2 retrap Robin.

November 16th. Around, including birds trapped, were 142 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6600 Pink-footed Goose, 23 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, 30 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and 7 Blackbird. On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Water Rail and 46 Black-tailed Godwit. Going south were a Swallow and 32 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, resulted in 7 new Blackbird; and a retrap Wren.

Stonechat, 16 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwit, 16 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 15th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 43 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3000 Pink-footed Goose, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Song Thrush, 19 Redwing, 40 Blackbird, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 2 Brambling, 15 Siskin, a Snow Bunting and a Lapland Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Cetti's Warbler and 4 Bearded Tit. Heading north were 3 Little Auk and a Buzzard; and south 23 Black-tailed Godwit and 30 Siskin..

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: a Wren, a Brambling, 4 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush, 4 Blackbird and a Starling; and 5 retraps: a Robin, a Wren, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Colour-ringed Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 15 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Fieldfare, 15 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Female Brambling, ringed 15 November 2021.
Photo -- George Gregory

November 14th. Around, including birds trapped, were 120 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3000 Pink-footed Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier, 5 Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, an Arctic Skua, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 28 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush, 58 Fieldfare, a Ring Ouzel, 167 Blackbird, 4 Stonechat, 2 Bullfinch, a Common Redpoll, a Yellowhammer and a Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Grey Heron and 2 Bearded Tit.  Flying south were 9 Kittiwake, a Pomarine Skua (then back north) and 14 Stock Dove; south-east an Arctic Tern; and north 252 Little Gull, 20 Kittiwake and 30 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 33 new birds: a Goldcrest, 3 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush, a Redwing, 21 Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: a Dunnock, a Robin, 2 Blackbird and a Great Tit.

Sparrowhawk, ringed 14 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

November 13th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 350 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 400 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, 2 Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, a Cetti's Warbler, 6 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 15 Blackbird, 8 Siskin and 19 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Great White Egret (then on Jackson's Marsh) and a Cetti's Warbler; and on the Mere 8 Whooper Swan (then south) and 2 Snipe. Going north were 41 Little Gull and an Arctic Skua. In off the sea came 2 Woodcock.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 25 new birds: 2 Robin, a Reed Bunting, 6 Redwing, a Song Thrush, 14 Blackbird and a Kestrel; and a retrap Blackbird.

Adult male Kestrel, ringed 13 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Adult male Kestrel, ringed 13 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

November 12th. Fairly strong southerly wind, with rainy spells in morning.

 Around, including birds trapped, were 8 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Whooper Swan, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Cetti's Warbler, 15 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit and 15 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands was a Black-tailed Godwit; and on the Mere were 2 Snipe and a Great White Egret. Heading south were 15 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Great Northern Diver, a Little Gull, a Merlin, a Brambling, 30 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting.

 A brief weather-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 5 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Cetti's Warbler/.

November 11th.  Soggy, misty morning.

Birds around, including those trapped, were 11 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 25 Blackbird, a Stonechat, a Treecreeper and a Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Water Rail, a Great White Egret (then east), 2 Bearded Tit and a Cetti's Warbler; and on the Mere a Pintail, a Water Rail, a Snipe and a Jack Snipe. Flying south were 2040 Pink-footed Goose.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 4 new birds: 3 Reed Bunting and a Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Robin.

Red-green Carpet, 11 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Winter Moth, 11 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Feathered Thorn, 11 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound