October 10th. Early morning rain, then soggy, gradually drying out.
At least 1000 Pink-footed Goose flew around over Croftmarsh early morning. A noticeable arrival of Redwing and some Song Thrush overnight with more arriving after dawn along with a few Goldcrest seen arriving off the sea. Another very good day for visible migration with the highlights being a Raven, a Woodlark, 2 Twite and a Snow Bunting. A Cattle Egret came in off the sea and flew south-west. Good numbers of Wigeon were arriving from the north/east and heading, often distantly, into the Wash. Single Yellow-browed Warblers were in the east Dunes and along the Cycle Track bordering Tennyson's Sands; the latter, or another was seen later along the road edge north of Aylmer Avenue. Also around, including birds trapped, were 18 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Hobby, 2 Peregrine, 7 Chiffchaff, 30 Goldcrest, a Redstart, 11 Stonechat and 7 Blackcap.
A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Dunnock, 3 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and a retrap Dunnock.
A rain-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 38 new birds: 2 Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Goldfinch, 3 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, a Greenfinch, 9 Redwing and a Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, a Great Tit and a Robin.
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Redstart, 10th October 2022. Photo - Alan Brewster |
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Raven 10th October 2022. Photo - Nige Lound |
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Goldcrest, 10th October 2022. Photo - Jack Hood |
October 9th. Increasing southerly wind.
Off of Croftmarsh came 1800 Pink-footed Goose early morning. A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard near Sykes Farm. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Kingfisher, 2 Peregrine, a Merlin, a Jack Snipe ( on the Mere), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff (1 singing in East Dunes), 7 Blackcap, 7 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 14 Stonechat and 54 Goldcrest (22 trapped, 15 near Sykes Farm, 4 roadside). Flying south were 7 Whooper Swan (including 2 off of a New Saltmarsh pool), 2 Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, a Hobby, 2 Redwing, 12 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 12 Siskin and a Snow Bunting, with hundreds of Pipits and Finches again; and north-west 110 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 7 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Redwing; and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Redwing and a Song Thrush.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn produced 39 new birds: 17 Goldcrest, a Wren, 5 Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, 2 Goldcrest, a Goldfinch and a Robin.
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| Kingfisher, 9 October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Sunrise, 9 October 2022. Photo - Nige Lound   Photo - Tom Baker |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, resulted in 21 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Blackcap, 7 Reed Bunting, a Linnet, 3 Great Tit and a Dunnock; 5 retraps: a Goldcrest, a Wren, a Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk; and a control Reed Bunting. The re-trapped Sparrowhawk had gained 60g in 17 days here.
A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn resulted in 25 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Blackcap, a Robin, a Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush, a Blackbird and 2 Green Woodpecker; and 5 retraps: 2 Blackbird, a Song Thrush, a Robin and a Great Tit.
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| Whooper Swans, 8 October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Sparrowhawk, retrapped 8 October 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Green Woodpecker, ringed 8 October 2022. Photo - Carole Lunn |
Three Marsh Harrier left the roost on Old Saltmarsh early, 320 Teal were on the Mere with a late Sand Martin and offshore 9 Red-throated Diver, a Skua sp, 2 Goosander and a Red-breasted Merganser headed south. Visible migration was less intense than yesterday and less diverse but was still impressive and involved some larger flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch. A Yellow-browed Warbler was with the Long-tailed Tit flock around Sykes Farm with several Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. Also feeding in sheltered areas here were 8 Swallow and 3 House Martin.
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Meadow Pipit, 7th October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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Turnstone, 7th October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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Bar-tailed Godwit, 7th October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
October 6th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
A busy morning for vis mig down East Dunes and beach, with a good variety of species involved, predominantly Linnet, Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipit but with increasing numbers of Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Rock Pipit and Skylark. Small flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing were the first decent movement of those this autumn and other birds moving in small numbers included 3 Snipe, Redwing, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Alba Wagtail, Redpoll, Siskin, Yellowhammer, Brambling, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow and a Snow Bunting. On New Saltmarsh were 11 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, 6 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Stonechat, a Redwing, 9 Goldcrest and 2 Brambling. On Croftmarsh were 300 Pink-footed Goose; and on the Mere a Cetti's Warbler. Heading northwest were 195 Pink-footed Goose;
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 4 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Blackcap and a Robin; and a retrap Goldcrest.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap and 2 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 3 Goldcrest and a Robin.
October 5th. Strong south-westerly wind, slowly decreasing, then afternoon rain.
Very little overland migration whilst the strong winds prevailed and there was no coverage of the dunes or lagoons. An hour's sea-watch produced the first Great Northern Diver of the autumn - an adult in summer plumage went south and then a Grey Phalarope arrived from the north, flying south, pausing to settle on the sea occasionally before veering off to the south-east and settling distantly on the sea. A Marsh Harrier arrived off the sea. A Cattle Egret arrived on Jackson's Marsh mid afternoon before re-locating to Croftmarsh with the cattle. Around were a Goldcrest and 2 Redwing. On or over the Mere were a Greenshank and 2 Swallow; over Fenland Lagoon a Marsh Harrier; and on Tennyson's Sands a Ringed Plover.
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Cattle Egret, 5th October 2022. Photo - Jim Shaw |
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Greenshank, 5th October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5th October 2022 Photo - Tom Baker |
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Little Egret and Curlew, 5th October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Weasel, 5 October 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
Sea passage and visible migration were steady with groups of waders and Teal moving south and the Pipit compliment involving considerably more Rock Pipit now. The highlight of the morning was close flocks of House Martin moving south in groups of up to 60 at eye level passing Mill Hill. Also moving south were a Gannet, 2 Buzzard, 11 Swallow, a Fieldfare and a Grey Wagtail; and north 77 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 3 Blackcap, a Yellow-browed Warbler and 4 Goldcrest.
A brief wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Liam Andrews, produced just a new Blackcap.
A longer wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn produced 13 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Blackcap and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
A range of migrant moths have been trapped over recent nights including Pearly Underwing, Scarce Bordered Straw and Delicate.
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 4 October 2022. Photo - Carole Lunn  Photo - Nige Lound  Photo - Nige Lound |
Ringing Control: Kestrel, ringed near Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire 27 June 2022, controlled GPBO 2 October 2022.
October 3rd. Another good morning for vis-mig of Pipits, Finches, Skylark etc. Highlights included a Ring Ouzel in West Dunes, a Raven over North End and a Hawfinch that dropped in near Shovelers Pool. Also around, including birds trapped, were 2 Merlin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest and a Redwing. From the Croftmarsh roost came 900+ Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Liam Andrews and Kyle Campbell, resulted in 44 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Goldfinch, 15 Reed Bunting, 14 Meadow Pipit, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chaffinch, a Robin, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Dunnock and a Robin.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 14 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, a Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Robin.
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Water Rail, 3rd October 2022. Photo - Nige Lound |
October 2nd. Increasing south-westerly wind.
Around, including birds trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, a Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Redstart, 4 Stonechat, a Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and a Redpoll. On Fenland Lagoon was a Greenshank; and on Croftmarsh were 793 Pink-footed Goose, with others flying in various directions. Flying south were 6 Whooper Swan, a Marsh Harrier, 7 Swallow, 3 House Martin and 20 Meadow Pipit. The Marsh Tit was re-located along the Sykes Farm Track in the afternoon.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Liam Andrews, provided 44 new birds: 2 Wren, 3 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 13 Reed Bunting, 6 Chaffinch, 7 Meadow Pipit, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, a Dunnock, a Greenfinch, a Redwing and 5 Song Thrush; 7 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin, a Linnet, a Great Tit and a Long-tailed Tit; and a control Kestrel. The Kestrel was ringed as a pullus elsewhere earlier in the year.
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Reed Bunting, 2nd October 2022. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Redstart, 2 October 2022. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Kestrel, controlled 2 October 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 2 October 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
The day started with one of the rarest birds of the year; - a Marsh Tit was calling and seen well in the West Dunes. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, a Whimbrel, 2 Buzzard, 14 Redwing, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 3 Rook, 6 Redpoll and the regular Snow Bunting on South Marsh Road. On Tennyson's Sands were 40 Black-tailed Godwit; on Fenland Lagoon a Greenshank; and on Croftmarsh 500 Pink-footed Goose. Going south were a Peregrine and 2 Lapland Bunting.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Liam Andrews, produced 7 new birds: a Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and a retrap Robin.
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Young Grey Seal in Main Creek at high tide 1st October 2022. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Lincolnshire Bird Club members watching the young Grey Seal in Main Creek, 1st October 2022. Photo - Kev Wilson. |
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Lincolnshire Bird Club members watching waders returning from roost, 1st October 2022. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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Skylark, 1st October 2022. Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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Little Egret, 1st October 2022. Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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Avocets, 1st October 2022. Photo - Steve Clipperton |