May 10th. Another soggy start, slowly drying out in the sun; then some afternoon rain.
A new juvenile Pallid Harrier arrived from the south and hunted over the outer dunes before circling high and moving out east over the sea. This bird was a much brighter individual that last week's bird. A male Goosander was on Jackson's Marsh, a Hobby was feeding over the East Dunes before moving inland and an Osprey arrived at 1410hrs and flew south mobbed by Gulls and Avocet. A Ring Ouzel was down by the Wash Viewpoint. Also around were 120 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Cuckoo, 2 Spoonbill, a Great White Egret and a Short-eared Owl.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.
May 9th. Soggy and overcast start, then a bit foggy, then clearing and drying out in morning; rain showers in afternoon.
Swallow were moving south over the sea and beach in fair numbers after the fog had cleared with 15 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit in 2 hours. A Whinchat was a new arrival along the north saltings. Other birds around included 18 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Whimbrel and 2 Cuckoo.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Cuckoo; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Sedge Warbler.
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| Cuckoo, ringed 9 May 2023. Photo - George Gregory |
May 8th. In contrast to yesterday, a clear morning with good visibility and a light southerly breeze. A male red-spotted Bluethroat was seen early morning along the saltings edge 150m south of the Reserve Boundary off Seacroft Esplanade. A Red-rumped Swallow flew south over Mill Hill at 0750hrs during a morning of good visible migration for Swallow and Finches. The morning movement also involved a Jay, 3 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, and several Yellow Wagtail, Whimbrel and Swift. 17 Little Tern went south offshore. A singing Garden Warbler was another new arrival.
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May 7th. High hopes for a productive morning of visible migration and sea-watching were dashed by fog that lingered from dawn through until late morning and when it cleared, a few light rain showers passed over. A Long-eared Owl was seen at dawn and some pulses of southbound Swallow and Finches occurred with a few more Swift than of late. Two Red Kite, a Raven and a Marsh Harrier went through, and the Montagu's Harrier was hunting over the southern marshes again. Also around were the Redwing, 18 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 6 Little Tern, a Short-eared Owl, 5 Wheatear and good numbers of waders at the roost. A male Goosander flew north close in early evening.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Redstart, 2 Chaffinch, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Redpoll, a Robin and a Blackcap; and 6 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Wren, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting.
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May 6th. A pleasant morning with a southerly breeze again and a good migration of Swallow, Goldfinch and Linnet, with smaller numbers of Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martin and House Martin. The highlight was a ringtail Montague's Harrier. Other birds around were 120 Dark-bellied Brent Goose 35 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Fieldfare, a Redwing, a Merlin, a Wheatear and 3 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Garden Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retrap Whitethroat.
May 5th. Dry and overcast becoming bright with a southerly breeze.
Better conditions than of late encouraged many birds into song, particularly Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler, whilst Swallow passage was heavier than on previous days so far this spring, with accompanying Goldfinch, Linnet and Yellow Wagtail. Single Tree Pipit, Redpoll, Marsh Harrier and 6 Whimbrel also went south. Birds around included a Redstart, another Tree Pipit, 3 Marsh Harrier, 15 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Tern. Over 1000 Sanderling and 800 Dunlin came up to roost on the evening tide with several Little Tern. A Purple Heron came in off the sea and flew strongly inland at 1750hrs. Swallow and House Martin were still moving south in small numbers until late evening.
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May 4th. Moderately strong easterly winds and then rain showers from mid evening.
Difficult birding conditions around the dunes due to the wind. However, a Pied Flycatcher was new in at Shovelers Pool, although brief and a Whinchat was a new arrival around the Visitor Centre with 2 Wheatear. During an unprecedented arrival of Ruff in the county, 3 birds on Croftmarsh early on were joined by a flock of 66 during the late morning before they moved on. Other birds around included 2 Cuckoo, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Pink-footed Goose, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and a Barn Owl, whilst offshore a few Gannet, Auks, Sandwich Tern and Little Tern.
May 3rd. Remaining cool in the north-easterly breeze, but sunny and dry. Again, quiet for migration at sea or over land. The highlight of the morning watch was a group of 3 Dotterel that flew low, south down East Dunes, calling, having probably been flushed off the nearby saltings. Also new in was a Garden Warbler singing occasionally near Mill Hill, but mostly drowned out by local Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. A flock of around 150 geese were seen coming across from Norfolk and heading north, silhouetted in strong sun, presumably Pink-footed Goose. A late Redwing was trapped on the CES. Also around were 17 Little Tern, 4 Greenshank, 12 Whimbrel, 4 Cuckoo, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, a Short-eared Owl, a Spoonbill and 3 Wheatear.
The first session of CES was done this morning. The 20 new birds were 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, a Dunnock, a Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and the 4 retraps were a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Dunnock and a Robin.
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| Redwing, ringed 3 May 2023. Photo - George Gregory |
May 2nd. A much quieter day for movement and new arrival today in the cool northerly breeze that dominated the morning until the sun broke through in the afternoon. Plenty of birds in song though, including many Whitethroat now in the scrub. A Great White Egret appeared on Jackson's Marsh. late morning. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill and 2 Mediterranean Gull. Other birds around included 120 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 15 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart, 4 Wheatear and a Corn Bunting. Offshore, 12 Gannet headed south and 12 Little Tern were fishing.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Robin and a Blackcap.
The first Small Coppers were noted in the dunes with several Green Hairstreaks and Speckled Woods.
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May 1st. Overnight rain cleared early on and a light southerly wind encouraged some overland migration before turning north-westerly late morning. There were some very warm spells before thick cloud brought rain early afternoon.
The day started with a male Brambling in song before heading south down the West Dunes, then two male Redstart were found in East Dunes (one singing). A Ring Ouzel was elusive in the area, 2 Redwing were new arrivals and a Jay over the Freshwater Marsh was the first of the year. 10 Wheatear were scattered between the beach and East Dunes. Linnet and Goldfinch again were predominant in overland passage with an increase in Swallow and Yellow Wagtail numbers, a Tree Pipit, a Yellowhammer, a Redpoll, a House Sparrow, 8 Whimbrel, a Merlin, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Red Kite, and another pulse of Crow migration down the beach. Also, along the tideline, Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover were arriving in small parties. Offshore were at least 20 Little Tern. Also around were 12 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker and 4 Grasshopper Warbler.
A very productive evening visit produced 2 Short-eared Owls, another 2 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstarts around the Visitor Centre (including an adult male) and a ringtail Harrier. Upon circulation of photographs it is now thought that this Harrier is the Pallid Harrier that turned up at Spurn the following day.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Bethany McGuire, provided 15 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Goldfinch.
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