August 31st. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
Birds around, including those trapped, were a Yellow-legged Gull, a Peregrine, 30 Swallow, 3 Whinchat, a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Spoonbill; and on the Mere 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank and a Curlew Sandpiper. 70,000 waders came up to roost but the morning sea-watch was disappointing, with 20 Arctic Skua, 198 Common Scoter, 88 Gannets, a Yellow-legged Gull, small flocks of Teal and a few Wigeon being the main highlights. An hours watch in the evening produced 18 Arctic Skua and a single Long-tailed Skua.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Blackcap, a Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Blackcap.
Curlew Sandpiper (right), 31st August 2022.
Photo - Kev Wilson
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| Redstart, ringed 31 August 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
August 30th. Increasing north-easterly wind.
Around, including birds trapped, were 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Wheatear and a Pied Flycatcher. On the Mere were 4 Spotted Redshank; and on Tennyson's Sands 14 Spoonbill. Offshore 2 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Fulmar, 130 Common Scoter and 6 Arctic Skua north were the highlights of an hours watch from 0730hrs before attentions again turned to the wader roost where some 70,000 Knot arrived.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Pied Flycatcher. The Pied Flycatcher weighed only 9.0g so clearly had just arrived from across the North Sea.
Sooty Shearwater, 30th August 2022.
Video - Kev Wilson
August 29th. Another impressive wader roost this morning with wardening cover again ensuring no disturbance. After generally low numbers of Dunlin so far this autumn, a significant increase was noted today, with 9000 present. Also a slight increase in Sanderling numbers to 5900. Sea-watching over two hours in the morning and an hour in the evening was somewhat disappointing given the wind direction and strength with highlights of 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Manx Shearwater, 10 Arctic Skua, a Bonxie, 60 Common Scoter and 15 Kittiwake. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Snipe, 4 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 11 Spoonbill. A Whinchat was on the Old Saltmarsh.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Wren, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and a retrap Whitethroat.
August 28th. An amazing day of Buzzard migration which got underway late morning but was intense from 1215hrs - at one time, a total of 42 birds were circling and heading south with further individuals apparently arriving from the west before moving off south. A total of 166 passed through during the day - scenes reminiscent of Batumi -- almost! Also involved in the movement were a single Honey Buzzard, 7 Marsh Harrier, 5 Sparrowhawk and 5 Kestrel.
The morning high tide roost involved 60,000 Knot and 5000 Sanderling amongst other waders.
Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, a Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Sparrow. On Tennyson's Sands were a Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and 16 Spoonbill; and on the Mere 6 Spotted Redshank.
Heading south were 220 Sandwich Tern, 200 Swallow, 400 House Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail and 22 Yellow Wagtail. Offshore in the evening, 8 Arctic Skua headed north. 4 Grey Partidge at the northy end were the first of this species for some weeks.
The morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 9 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler and 2 Linnet.
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| There is a good crop of Sea Buckthorn berries this autumn, ready for the influx of thrushes later in the year, 28 August 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Robin, a Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.
August 26th. Soggy start, slowly drying out.
On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Spoonbill and 3 Green Sandpiper; and on the Mere 5 Spotted Redshank. A Kingfisher was mobile around the lagoons. In the dunes were 2 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Redstart. Flying south were a Raven, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 25 Yellow Wagtail, 140 Swallow, 11 Sand Martin and 15 Tree Sparrow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 4 new birds: 2 Linnet, a Robin and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
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August 25th. Rain for most of day.
Around were 2 Redstart, 550 Sandwich Tern, 55 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern and a Black Tern. Another Black Tern went north offshore along with 10 Arctic Skua. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Common Sandpiper, a Snipe and 2 Buzzard; on the Mere 2 Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.
August 24th. Birds around included a Green Sandpiper. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Greenshank; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Snipe. Heading south were 3 Curlew and 12 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, yielded just a retrap Dunnock.
August 23rd. Around, including birds trapped, were a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Long-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher. Flying south were 10 Whimbrel, 20 Sand Martin, 400 Swallow and 50 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Pied Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 2 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 2 retrap Long-tailed Tit.
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| Wheatear, 23 August 2022. Photo - Nige Lound  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Pied Flycatcher, ringed 23 August 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
August 22nd. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier. Going south were 3 Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 3 Robin, 2 Reed Warbler, a Dunnock and a Kestrel; and a retrap Dunnock.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Blackbird and a Whitethroat.
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| Kestrel, ringed 22 August 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
August 21st. Around, including birds trapped, were 6 Swift, a Marsh Harrier, 11 Willow Warbler, a Redstart, 5 Whinchat and a Pied Flycatcher. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Snipe; and on the Mere 3 Snipe.
The twelfth and final session of CES was done this morning. The 20 new birds were a Wren, 10 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler; and the 5 retraps were 3 Blackbird, a Wren and a Willow Warbler.
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