Ringing Recovery: Turtle Dove, ringed GPBO 12 May 2017, ring read in field Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire 21 June 2022. Sadly, it appears that we have lost Turtle Dove as a breeding species at Gibraltar Point now, but it is good to hear that nesting is underway by a pair near Burgh-le-Marsh, some 10 miles inland. First seen and photographed in mid-May, a partial ring sequence was noted by Richard Yeadon from the ringed bird. More recently, the full sequence was confirmed allowing the details to be submitted to BTO. Photos of the pair below from Nicky Yeadon on 19th May.
June 30th. Soggy start, fairly quickly drying out.
Birds around included a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank and 6 Spoonbill; on Jackson's Marsh a Green Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon a Curlew.
The seventh session of CES was done this morning. The 28 new birds were 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, 4 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, 3 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat; and the 9 retraps were a Robin, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, a Blackcap, a Long-tailed Tit and 2 Sedge Warbler.
At least 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoths were present.
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Hummingbird Hawkmoth, 30 June 2022. Photo - Tom Baker     Spotted Redshank with Greenshanks 30th June. Photo: Nige Lound |
Birds around included a Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 9 Spoonbill; and on the Mere a Water Rail. Flying south were 2270 Swift and 3 Sand Martin.
A brief, weather restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Chiffchaff.
A good evening for birds of prey with 2 Peregrine, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, 3 Marsh Harrier and a male Hen Harrier - presumably the same bird seen over a week ago.
Moths included a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
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| Cinnabar Moth caterpillars feeding on Ragwort, 29 June 2022. Photo - George Gregory  Furrow Orb-Weaver Spider 29th June. Photo: Nige Lound |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 14 new birds: 4 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackbird and a Blue Tit.
A White-letter Hairstreak was seen in the West Dunes.
Avocet 28th June. Photo: Tom Baker
Redshank 28th June. Photo: Tom Baker
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| Juvenile Blackcap, ringed 28 June 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were a Cuckoo and a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands were 31 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and 3 Mediterranean Gull; and on Jackson's Marsh 4 Spoonbill. Heading south early morning were 300 Swift, and 2 Grey Heron. On the Mere, successful breeding by Water Rail became apparent with the appearance of a well grown juvenile accompanied by an adult. Offshore 130 Sandwich Terns, 63 Gannets and 23 Common Scoters moved south in an hour. Curlew numbers were building up with the local roost holding 35 and a further 30 moving south.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Great Tit; and a retrap Great Tit.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, provided 4 new birds: 3 Robin and a Blue Tit; and 2 retraps: a Cetti's Warbler and a Dunnock.
A Bittern was heard calling (the 'gull call') and a sound-recording was obtained after dark as it seemed to be circling and then moving off south.
A Norfolk Hawker Dragonfly seen at Tennyson's Sands was a new record for the Reserve.
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Spoonbills, 27 June 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  |
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Sandwich Terns, 26 June 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  |
At least five active Swallow nests are on the Reserve currently, with the fist juveniles ready to fledge.
A Cattle Egret flew south over Croftmarsh in the evening. On Tennyson's Sands were a Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 9 Mediterranean Gull and 6 Spoonbill.
2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth were near Harvey's Hide and a male Red-veined Darter moved north over the beach front.
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| Spotted Redshank, 25 June 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Wood Sandpipers, 25th June 2022. Video/Photo - Ben Ward |
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| Mediterranean Gulls, 25th June 2022. Photos - Ben Ward |
Marsh Harrier with Shelducks 25th June 2022. Photo: Tom Baker
June 24th. Swift passage (1363 south) and returning waders were very much the order of the day. On the lagoons were 29 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and 6 Spoonbill. The Short-eared Owl was active early and late around the Old Saltmarsh. Around were 500 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Linnet, a Robin and a Dunnock; and 10 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat and 6 Long-tailed Tit.
At least 6 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (4 along the cycle track) were clearly new arrivals.
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| Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 24th June 2022. Photo - Ben Ward |
June 23rd. Flying south were 635 Swift, 25 Curlew, a Hobby, 18 Sand Martin, 27 Swallow and 2 Crossbill. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 summer plumage Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and 6 Spoonbill. Birds around included 2 Cuckoo, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Long-eared Owl (flushed from East Dunes early morning), a Short-eared Owl and 550 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 16 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock and 5 Starling; and 6 retraps: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Whitethroat.
3 Lunar Hornet Clearwing were trapped in the morning, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth were also noted.
| Lunar Hornet Clearwing, 23rd June 2022. Photo - Liam Andrews |
June 22nd. Sunny day with increasing onshore winds.
Light visible migration was again in evidence with 18 Swift, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 21 Sand Martin and a Siskin flying south; heading in the opposite direction over the sea were 2 Fulmar. A Crossbill was new in the Beach Car Park early morning. On Jackson's Marsh was a Great White Egret; and on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 74 Shelduck, 20 Eider, a Green Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and 3 Grasshopper Warbler.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Blackbird and 3 Starling; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Linnet.
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was noted along South Marsh Road.
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| Pony grazing in Measures East, June 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
June 21st. The Summer Solstice - The Longest Day. A bright, sunny morning.
Moving south early morning were 68 Sand Martin, 130 Swift, a Red Kite a Hobby and a Great White Egret. On the lagoons were 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Spoonbill. Starling numbers have built up to 600 around the New Saltmarsh and further arrival of Painted Ladies involved a minimum of 40 feeding on Sea Rocket on the outer dunes.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat and 3 Starling; and 4 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and a Wren.