May 10th. A pleasant morning, calm, dry and sunny.
A Black-winged Stilt was discovered on Croftmarsh early morning. It fed actively there before moving over to the Freshwater Marsh later in the morning. It is thought to be the long-staying bird from Frampton. This is the first occurrence of Black-winged Stilt at Gibraltar Point since 2 in April 1965! A Little Gull, a Ruff, a Yellow Wagtail and 3 Spoonbill were also around the lagoons. At least 1 Grasshopper warbler was reeling and Crossbill flew towards the North Car Park pines.
The second session of CES was done this morning. The 10 new birds were 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and the 12 retraps were a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, a Blue Tit, a Goldfinch, a Long-tailed Tit, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Wren.
The Black-winged Stilt returned to Croftmarsh, visible from Harvey's Hide until 1930hrs at least.
May 9th. A Golden Oriole sang briefly from the Plantation early morning, a Turtle Dove was in the company of a Collared Dove nearby and a Little Gull and a Greenshank were at Tennyson's Sands. A light raptor movement involved 5 Buzzards and 3 Red Kites. Other birds around 80 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail and a Marsh Harrier.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in a new Wren; and a retrap Blackbird.
..jpg)
May 8th. A murky morning with a fairly chilly wind. Some 50 Swallows were hawking low over the Freshwater Marsh again following an emergence of midges, with other Swallows and Sand Martins moving south, a House Sparrow was at the Visitor Centre feeding station, a Garden Warbler was in song in the East Dunes, a Hobby and 4 Cuckoos were present and 4 Spoonbills were feeding on Tennyson's Sands with a Greenshank.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a new Chiffchaff; and 4 retraps: a Wren, 2 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.
The evening wader roost involved an exception 3,300 Grey Plover for this time of year, with 6850 Knot, 1250 Sanderling, 550 Dunlin and 45 Ringed Plover. Offshore, a Little Gull, 3 Arctic Tern, 17 Little Tern, 6 Sandwich Tern, 4 'Commic Tern' and 13 Whimbrel moved north.
May 7th. In keeping with the recent weather, a party of 4 Whooper Swans flew south and 2 Pink-footed Geese flew over the Reserve. Swallows were feeding low over the Freshwater Marsh - up to 50 and there were 600 Sanderling at the roost on the evening tide with a Little Stint.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
May 6th. Still too misty or hazy out at sea for any meaningful recording, and a cool morning turned into a very pleasant day. In a repeat of yesterday morning, there was little movement, few new arrivals and the Turtle Dove flew south before U-turning again! A pair of Crossbills did the same. Plenty of birds were singing in the dunes again with 4 Cuckoo and 5 Grasshopper Warblers around the south end. Around the lagoons and marshes were a late Whooper Swan, 5 Spoonbill, 4 Mediterranean Gull and 15 Whimbrel, with a further 20 Whimbrel moving north in the evening.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Goldfinch; and 2 retrap Wren.
In the moth trap, a Pinion-spotted Pug was trapped overnight - a first for the Reserve.
.jpg)
 |
| Goldcrest, ringed 6 May 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Pinion-spotted Pug, 6th May 2024. Photo - Sam Goddard |
May 5th. A light westerly breeze and increasingly warm conditions. Very little movement during the first couple of hours except a few Swallows and Sand Martins south and the first Turtle Dove of the year heading south, then returning north. Another movement of Buzzards was apparent from mid morning with 47 having passed through by 1230hrs when the movement ceased. Also moving were 3 Red Kite, 3 Marsh Harrier , 6 Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and the first Hobby of the year. Brambling and Wheatear were new in the East Dunes, whilst yesterday's Redstart and Firecrest were still present. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Spoonbills were around the lagoons.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wren and a Dunnock.
May 4th. Moderate south-westerly wind, bright and sunny becoming calm and warm in the afternoon.
A trickle of Sand Martins, Swallows and Finches was recorded this morning with single Woodlark, Swift, Redpoll and 4 Siskin. From late morning, a few raptors were moving including at least 5 Common Buzzard, 4 Red Kite, 3 Marsh Harrier and 3 Sparrowhawk. A Redstart was in the East Dunes and at least one Firecrest at Sykes Farm track. Yesterday's 3 Common Cranes, having toured the north of the county, paid us another brief visit early afternoon before heading out across the Wash. A good number of Whimbrels were on the Reserve, with some departing north early evening. Similarly, a flock of 7 Greenshanks headed north, with another 4 remaining around the wetlands. Also, around the lagoons were 4 Spoonbill and 2 Egyptian Geese and a flock of 5 Common Sandpipers were at the northern boundary.
The first session of CES was done this morning. The 9 new birds were a Willow Warbler, a Great Tit, 4 Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock; and the 8 retraps were a Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit, 2 Robin and a Willow Warbler.
 |
| Juvenile Dunnock, ringed 4 May 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Photo - Kev Wilson |
May 3rd. A dull morning with mist over the sea, then rain for much of the day. Very little moving this morning and few new arrivals noted - the exception being a Hawfinch that dropped into scrub near the Golf Course, Arctic Tern and Garganey on the lagoons and 3 Common Cranes that flew north early afternoon..
%202024%20Rob%20Smith.jpg)
May 2nd. Increasing north-easterly wind with mist. Difficult viewing conditions offshore but 85 Sandwich Terns, 32 Little Terns and 3 Common Terns headed north during an hour early morning.
Around were 63 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Jay and a Barn Owl.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced just a new Blackcap.
May 1st. A misty start with a cool onshore breeze but the mist eventually cleared and gave way to some sunny and warm spells during the rest of the day.
Again, plenty of birds singing in the dunes and 4 Cuckoos were vocal. Visibility was mostly poor out to sea but a few Sandwich Terns and Common Scoter were seen whilst 19 Little Terns flew out and 9 remained. Up to 30 Whimbrel were around on the marshes and the Haven an a feeding flock of 70 Hirundines included 43 Sand Martins. On the lagoons, a Wood Sandpiper was the first of the year and a Ruff was also new in with 4 Spoonbill, a Greenshank, Common Tern, Pochard and pair of Mediterranean Gulls. 3 Jays were over the East Dunes on the morning and a Crossbill flew south in the evening.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Zoe Saunders, resulted in 2 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap; and a retrap Dunnock.
A Grass Snake was seen on the Freshwater Marsh.
