30th April. A much warmer day after a morning frost and a return to some visible migration with over 120 Swallow, 16 Yellow Wagtail, a Blue-headed type Wagtail, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Red Kite and an Osprey south. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew north-east out to sea. 2 Ring Ouzel were seen in the East Dunes with possibly a new bird later in the Plantation. A new Wryneck was found on Rock Ridge. A Redstart was new along Sykes farm track. A Great White Egret arrived from the north-east and at least 34 Jay were blogging. An immature white winged gull species, probably Glaucous, flew north in the afternoon, also north went 42 Whimbrel. Around were 4 Cuckoo, 20 Whimbrel, 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Spoonbill, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, and a summer plumaged Water Pipit was on the Old Saltmarsh.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Liam Andrews, produced 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and a Blackcap; and 5 retraps: a Blackbird, a Wren and 3 Cetti's Warbler.
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| Osprey 30th April. Photos: Ben Ward |
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Red Kite 30th April. Photos: Ben Ward     |
29th April. The Red-rumped Swallow remained with the House Martin flock, generally around the Tennyson's Sands and Jackson's Marsh lagoons until the later afternoon, when warmer conditions prevailed, a few Hirundines started to move off south. 2 Ring Ouzels and a flock of 28 Jays were in the East Dunes. A morning seawatch recorded 30 Sandwich Terns, 20 Little Terns, a 'Commic' Tern, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Fulmar north. A Wryneck was seen briefly in the East Dunes. A Wood Sandpiper was around Croftmarsh. 3 Marsh Harrier, a immature male Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl and a Merlin were at the south end of the Reserve.
The first session of CES, with Kyle Campbell, was done this morning. The 14 new birds were 2 Wren, a Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap,2 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and 2 Song Thrush; the 18 retraps were 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
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Red-rumped Swallow 29th April. Photos: Tom Baker
Spotted Redshank 29th April. Photo: Roy Harvey
Black-tailed Godwits, Gadwall, Whitethroat 29th April. Photos: Tom Baker
28th April. Cold easterly wind continuing, overcast with just a couple of spots of rain. A phenomenal 132 species were recorded across the reserve during 16 hours of constant coverage, needless to say setting a new record, beating the previous best of 125 notched up during the last inter -observatory bird race. The Red-rumped Swallow re-appeared over Jackson's Marsh from 0830. Also there briefly much earlier, a male Blue-headed Wagtail, as well as the first Wood Sandpiper of the year flew over the lagoons calling. 2 Black Tern were best from the first significant movement of terns offshore. A Ring Ouzel was in the east Dunes. The petite first summer female Dutch Caspian Gull made another appearance in the pre roost gathering on Tennyson's Sands.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 5 retraps: a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Wren.
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| Cetti's Warbler, re-trapped 28 April 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
27th April. A Red-rumped Swallow showed very well with up to 30 House Martin and 4 Swallow over Tennyson's Sands and Jackson's Marsh all day. Offshore, there was a northerly movement of Terns and Waders involving 110 Sandwich Terns, 23 Arctic Terns, a Little Tern and 73 Whimbrel, with single Red-throated and Great Northern Diver. 3 Spoonbills were on Tennyson's Sands; as were 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull (the male German ringed), a Dutch first summer Caspian Gull, and a possible Viking Gull. Other birds around were 4 Pintail, 2 Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Ring Ouzel (Freshwater Marsh), 7 Yellow Wagtail, and a Water Pipit (off Croftmarsh).
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26th April. After an absence of two days, the Hawfinch re-appeared at Sykes Farm around dawn and was seen flying north along the cycle track in the evening. The Spoonbill remained, commuting between the lagoons and the river haven. The Hobby was also seen again. 5 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling (7 birds total) and best appreciated from the visitor center area; and there were at least 5 Cuckoo also. From the Wash viewpoint in the evening were 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl (1 miles distant to south), a Peregrine and 3 Yellow Wagtail. New arrivals were a Turtle Dove, a Crossbill and 1 or 2 Ring Ouzel; on the other hand a Short-eared Owl headed out into the Wash early morning. Around were 18 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull, a Little Gull, a Merlin, a Wheatear and a Rock Pipit.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Liam Andrews, provided 4 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Sedge Warbler; and 4 retaps: a Magpie, a Chiffchaff, a Wren and a Cetti's Warbler.
Kestrel, Black-headed Gulls and Avocets, Black-headed Gull on nest, Moorhen, Tufted Duck 26th April. Photos: Tom Baker
25th April. Continued north-easterly wind, remaining very dry. A dull start, becoming bright. Offshore, 83 Sandwich and a single Arctic Tern headed north, whilst 16 Jays appeared out of the East Dunes and flew north. The first Hobby of the year lingered later in the day. Best around were a Spoonbill, 46 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Garganey (Jacksons Marsh), 38 Eider, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, a new Redstart (East Dunes) and 3 Yellow Wagtail. A first summer Caspian Gull was found in the roost on Tennyson's Sands.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Liam Andrews, produced 6 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackap and 2 Song Thrush; and 7 retraps: 2 Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackbird, a Chiffchaff and a Lesser Whitethroat.
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| Sanderling and Dunlin, 25th April 2022 Photo - Ben Ward |
24th April. Continued north-easterly wind. A morning seawatch produced 155 Sandwich Terns north or north-east with another 11 on the sand bar. A good northerly movement of immature Herring and Common Gulls also occurred. In the dunes, at least 4 Cuckoo were present and an influx of Sparrowhawk involved 6 birds, with 2 heading south. Jays featured again with 15 down the East Dunes before returning to the north-west later. A Brambling was in the West Dunes and waders on the lagoons included Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Little Ringed Plover.
2 Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonflies were freshly emerged.
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Grasshopper Warbler 24th April. Photo: Nige Lound
23rd April. The cold north-easterly wind continued but after a cloudy start it became bright and remained dry. Records received from the sea after an hours watch from 0715 were 40 Sandwich Tern, 4 Fulmar, and single Gannet, Red-throated Diver and Whimbrel north. A Grasshopper warbler and a Redwing were new arrivals in the east Dunes. The long-staying Hawfinch was seen again around Sykes Farm.
22nd April. A cold and increasing north-easterly wind put sea-watching firmly on the agenda; heading north in an hour from 0715 were 82 Sandwich Tern, 4 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 2 Whimbrel and a Kittiwake, whilst a Red-throated Diver went south. The Hawfinch remained but was elusive. An evening sea-watch recorded Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, 20 Sandwich Tern and 12 Arctic Tern moving north.
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