Late September 2013

September 30th: Strong easterly wind, mostly cloudy.
 Birds around were 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Firecrest, 3 Ring Ouzels, 40 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Redstarts, 2 Wheatears, 50 Robins and a Spotted Flycatcher. Flying south were a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 5 Swallows, 4 Bramblings and 2 Great Skuas. On the Mere were 9 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover.
 Another wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded moderate results. The new birds were 6 Robins, 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 7 Song Thrushes; and the retraps a Robin, a Song Thrush, a Redstart and a Whitethroat.

September 29th: Strong easterly wind, sun and clouds.
 Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Bramblings, 60 Brent Geese and a Redwing. South went 30 Meadow Pipits and 5 Siskins.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided just 4 new birds: singles of Robin, Whitethroat, Siskin and Song Thrush; and 2 retraps: singles of Song Thrush and Blue Tit.

Female Siskin, ringed 29th September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 28th: Increasing easterly wind, mostly sunny.
 Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, a Stonechat and a Kingfisher. Flying south were 5 Egyptian Geese, 60 Meadow Pipit, 9 Brambling, 80 Greenfinch, 40 Linnet, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 9 Song Thrush and 14 Redwing.
 There was a moderate catch in a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The news were a Robin, a Redstart, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Great Tits, a Dunnock and 5 Song Thrushes; and the retraps a Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Song Thrush and a Dunnock.
  At Aylmer Avenue a ringing session until lunchtime, at which point the wind had got just too strong, resulted in a great catch of 91 new birds and 29 retraps. The new birds were a Wren, 2 Robins, a Song Thrush, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Blue Tits, a Great Tit, 3 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches and a ridiculous 66 Greenfinches! There was a seemingly endless supply of new birds on every net round at the feeding station, whilst the large resident population seemed to have largely cleared off; possibly to the south? If the weather had been better for ringing, the total could undoubtedly of been a lot higher. Considering the conditions, 20 new birds would have been a good result.

September 27th: Light to moderate south-easterly wind, cloudy then mostly sunny.
 A Cattle Egret was discovered on Freshwater Marsh; later it flew onto Croftmarsh, then south. Other birds around were 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 152 Brent Geese, 8 Redwings and a Marsh Harrier. On the Mere was a Water Rail. Going south were 50 Meadow Pipits, a Lapland Bunting, 5 Tree Sparrows, a Brambling, a Grey Wagtail and 20 Pink-footed Geese; north 4 Little Gulls and 2 Great Skuas; and west more 35 Pink-footed Geese.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 9 Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and a Song Thrush. Also there were a retrap Robin, and a British-ringed control Robin.
 Trapped moths new for the year were a Satellite and a Green-brindled Crescent.

September 26th: Moderate north-easterly wind, sun and clouds.
 Around were 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwings, a Redstart, a Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat. On the Mere were 31 Black-tailed Godwits. Flying south over land were a Snipe, 6 Bramblings, 25 Meadow Pipits and a Kingfisher. Offshore 47 Brent Geese, 63 Gannets, 47 Common Scoters and 6 Arctic Skuas went north, and 8 Brent Geese, 50 Gannets, 232 Common Scoters and a Pomarine Skua south.
 Few birds were trapped on a morning ringing session in East Dunes, but there was more of a late autumn aspect to them. The new birds were 3 Meadow Pipits, a Brambling, a Redwing and 3 Song Thrushes; and the retraps 2 Wrens. The Brambling, Redwing and Song Thrushes were light, indicating that they were newly arrived.

Redwing, ringed 26th October 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Brambling, ringed 26th October 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 25th: Light wind, cloudy.
 About 450 Pink-footed Geese flew south-west, and 7 Snipes, 100 Meadow Pipits, 18 Skylarks, a Swallow, 2 Siskins, 2 Redpolls, 12 Reed Buntings and a Stock Dove south. Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Woodlark, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and a Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and a Peregrine, and on the Mere 84 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Spotted Redshanks.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was moderately successful. The news were 19 Meadow Pipits, 8 Reed Buntings, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Greenfinch; and the retraps a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
 Moths new for the year were a Red-Green Carpet and a Yellow-line Quaker.

September 24th: Light wind, cloudy.
 A Woodlark flew southwest; a Kingfisher, 6 Reed Buntings, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Brent Geese and 30 Meadow Pipits south; and 270 Common Scoters north. Birds around were a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Goldcrests, a Green Woodpecker, a Redpoll, a Kingfisher, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Chiffchaffs. Offshore were 46 Sandwich Terns. On the water bodies were 16 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 8 Spotted Redshanks, 108 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Pintails and a Water Rail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 22 new birds: 2 Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 11 Meadow Pipits, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Buntings; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit and 2 Blackcaps.

September 23rd: Light wind, mostly clear and bright.
 Around were 5 Pink-footed Geese, a Green Woodpecker, a Whimbrel, a Wheatear, 3 Whinchats, a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat. Offshore were 57000 Knots. Other waders around were a Common Sandpiper, 9 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover. South went 45 Meadow Pipits, a Rook, a Marsh Harrier, 30 House Martins and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced moderate results. The news were a Wren, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 4 Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler, 15 Meadow Pipits, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Linnets, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lesser Whitethroat. The retraps were a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Robins, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush.

September 22nd: Mostly misty until mid morning, then cleared; light south-westerly wind.
 Around were a Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Whinchats and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 18 Pink-footed Geese, 600 Meadow Pipits, 30 Sand Martins, 50 House Martins, and 420 Swallows. On the water bodies were a Water Rail, 42 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets and 15 Snipe.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided variety rather than numbers. New birds were a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 3 Robins, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Meadow Pipits, a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Kingfisher, and the retraps singles of Robin, Wren and Dunnock.
  A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs, David Vincent and Liv Vincent resulted in 20 new birds and 37 retraps. The new birds were 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Blackcaps and singles of Dunnock, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon and Grasshopper Warbler. The retraps were made up of mostly tits and Finches.
  The Grasshopper Warbler was the 8th ringed at Gibraltar Point this year , which equals the 1979 record!

The 8th Grasshopper Warbler of 2013 ringed on the 22nd of September.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Meadow Pipit ringed on 22nd of September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Kingfisher, ringed 22nd September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 21st: Continuing south-westerly wind, cloudy with occasional sunny outbreaks from midday onwards.
 On the move were 2800 Meadow Pipits, 9 Snipes, 2 Rock Pipits, a Hobby, 900 Pink-footed Geese, 160 Wigeons, 23 Pintails, a Lapland Bunting, 3 Grey Wagtails, 15 Brent Geese, 12 Sand Martins, 240 Swallows, 40 House Martins, 30 Linnets and 7 Yellow Wagtails. Around Aylmer Avenue were 10 Siskins, 3 Bramblings, 2 Crossbills, a Green Woodpecker, a Tawny Owl (early doors!) and two Sparrowhawks. Around elsewhere were 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Whinchats and 6 Chiffchaffs. A Wood Sandpiper was over Millenium Ridge. On Jackson's Marsh were a Kingfisher, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 8 Greenshanks, and on the Mere 7 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 66 Black-tailed Godwits and a Water Rail.
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 48 new birds: a Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Robins, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 22 Meadow Pipits, a Swallow, a Great Tit, a Whinchat and a Song Thrush. The retraps were 2 Robins, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Wren.
  Meanwhile, a much longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs and new Trainee, Jenny Godber, resulted in 66 new birds and 64 retraps. The new birds were 9 Meadow Pipits, a Wren, 3 Robins, a Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 7 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits, 3 Chaffinches, 14 Greenfinches and 7 Goldfinches. The retraps were mainly made up of the usual suspects of Blue and Great Tits, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Goldfinches at the feeding station nets.
  Interestingly it was noticed today that on Friday, George Gregory pushed the new Meadow Pipit total up to a year record total of 236 newly ringed, overturning the previous record year total of 233 from 2002. Another 31 were ringed today pushing the new record total even further. There are a lot more to come through so hopefully the new total at the end of the year will be significantly larger than the previous record total.
 A Feathered Ranunculus in a moth trap was new for the year.

Mid September 2013

September 20th: Westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
 Around, including birds trapped, were a Kingfisher, a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 18 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Brambling and 4 Goldcrests. Offshore were 40000 Knots, 2500 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Manx Shearwater. South went 2 Great Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas, 5 Sand Martins, 25 Swallows, 350 Meadow Pipits, a Lapland Bunting and 30 Siskins, and north 150 Common Scoters and a Manx Shearwater. In off the sea came 12 Pink-footed Geese. On the Mere was a Garganey. Waders on the water bodies included 11 Spotted Redshanks, 17 Greenshanks, 103 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Ringed Plover.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonably productive. The new birds were 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Robins, a Blackcap, 27 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blue Tit, and the retraps a Robin, a Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Dawn over East Dunes.
Photo - George Gregory

September 19th: Moderate south-westerly wind, cloudy, rainy afternoon.
 Birds around included 6 Whinchats, a Wheatear, 2 Bramblings and a Merlin. Offshore were a Black-throated Diver and a Manx Shearwater. The best birds on the water bodies were a Garganey, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Greenshanks, 10 Spotted Redshanks, a Water Rail and a Jack Snipe. Flying south were 2000 Meadow Pipits, 58 Swallows, 255 House Martins, 38 Sand Martins, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 250 Golden Plovers, 80 Pink-footed Geese and 8 Siskins.
 A morning ringing session on East Dunes provided 24 new birds: 5 Robins, 17 Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap and a Whitethroat. The retraps were singles of Robin, Wren and Great Tit.

September 18th: Damp, cloudy start, mostly sunny later.
 South went 200+ Pink-footed Geese, 2 Great Skuas, a Manx Shearwater, 9 Arctic Skuas, 200 Meadow Pipits, 8 Tree Sparrows, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Siskins and a Tree Pipit, and north a Sooty Shearwater, a Great Skua and 14 Arctic Skuas. Around, including birds trapped, were 4 Coal Tits, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Chiffchaffs, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, a Yellowhammer, 5 Rooks and 2 Siskins. Offshore were a Pomarine Skua and a Scaup. On the water bodies were 13 Spotted Redshanks, a Garganey, 15 Greenshanks, a Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was fairly productive until the sun came out. News were 2 Whitethroats, 3 Robins, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 3 Coal Tits, 23 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Sparrow and 5 Dunnocks. The retraps were 3 Dunnocks, a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Robin.

September 17th: Fairly strong south-westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Grey Wagtail and a Common Buzzard. Flying south were 250 Meadow Pipits. On Jackson's Marsh were a Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshanks and 5 Redshanks, on Tennyson Sands 23 Black-tailed Godwits, and on the Mere 75 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Ringed Plover, 5 Greenshanks and 8 Spotted Redshanks.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds being trapped: a Goldcrest, a Blackcap and 8 Meadow Pipits.

September 16th: Strong south-westerly wind, sunny spells.
 South went 500 Meadow Pipits and 40 Pink-footed Geese. Around was a Common Buzzard. Offshore was an Arctic Skua. On the Mere were 74 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Spotted Redshanks, on Jackson's Marsh 17 Greenshanks, 2 Ruffs and a Spotted Redshank, and on Croftmarsh 200 Golden Plovers.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced modest results. New birds were 16 Meadow Pipits, a Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Robin, while 2 Dunnocks were retrapped.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 5 new birds: a Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinches and a Song Thrush. The retraps were a Chaffinch, 5 Great Tits, 3 Greenfinches, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit.

September 15th: A calm cloudy start before an increasing south-westerly wind picking up to 30mph by mid morning, remaining mostly cloudy with periods of light rain from 11am onwards.
  A fantastic start to the day with hirundines and Meadow Pipits pouring through the dunes towards the south from first light. The passage quickly diminished though as the wind picked up, with Meadow Pipits coming to a stand-still by 10am - the 30mph headwind proving too strong to fly into. Hirundines though continued to trickle through to the south though in near continuous groups of 10 to 20 birds at a time with the South Car Park being a great spot to watch from.
  A Honey Buzzard arrived and headed south. Other raptors included a Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Little Owl (very scarce bird for Gibraltar Point) just off the reserve on a Golf Course green hole flag in the twilight at dawn. Around were 5 Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Turtle Dove, 100 Swallows and 400 House Martins. South went 2300 Meadow Pipits, 300 Swallows, 1000 House Martins, 50 Sand Martins, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 15 Skylarks, 150 Linnets, and a Tree Pipit. On the Mere were 8 Spotted Redshanks.
  Ringing at the Observatory by George Gregory and James Siddle resulted in 38 new birds ringed - 19 Meadow Pipits, 3 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 7 Willow Warblers, 2 Chaffinches and a Reed Bunting. The wind defied attempts for a big catch of Meadow Pipits, allowing just one or two net rounds in the calm conditions before the wind strength curtailed activities.
  Dave and Liv Vincent and Mick Briggs were over at Aylmer Avenue where there was a similar result with the conditions being perfect for just one or two net rounds before conditions quickly deteriorated to the point that having the nets open was pointless (it was blowing a hooley). The result was that 26 new birds were ringed - 12 Meadow Pipits, a Wren, a Dunnock, 7 Robins, a Willow Warbler, a Blue Tit and 3 Goldfinches.
  Interestingly today saw the ringing of the 500th Willow Warbler for the year. This is the first year since 1985 that we have got to the five hundred mark for Willow Warbler. 1986 was the best year ever for the Observatory with over 1500 ringed and they then dropped off dramatically to just 96 ringed in 2002, since when they have slowly started to recover their previous migratory population totals during the autumn.

Hirundines feeding in the shelter of the sycamores along the road just before you drive onto the reserve.
15th September 2013. 
Photo - Mick Briggs

September 14th: Mostly northerly wind, cloudy, drizzly start.
  Around were a Long-eared Owl, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Wheatears and a Redstart. On the beach was a Shag. Flying south were 2 Green Sandpipers, 800 Meadow Pipits, 300 Swallows, 175 House Martins, 2 Tree Pipits and 25 Siskins. Offshore a Black Tern, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Red-throated Divers flew north. The Mere held 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Dunlins, a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, a Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Water Rail. There was a Crossbill at Aylmer Avenue in the afternoon, and a Barn Owl hunting around the South Car Park in the late evening.
  A weather-delayed ringing session in East Dunes was quite good, despite a slow start. The new birds were a Wren, 3 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Linnet, a Reed Bunting and 79 Meadow Pipits, and the single retrap a Willow Warbler.
  Meanwhile over at Aylmer Avenue, the nets were opened up as soon as the rain had eased, mid morning, and a long ringing session until just before dusk resulted in 34 new birds and 68 retraps. The news were 2 Wood Pigeons, a Dunnock, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 11 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, a Coal Tit, 5 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, a Brambling (first recorded on the reserve this autumn), 3 Goldfinches and a Linnet. The retraps were mainly made up of the usual tits and finch species at the Feeding Station, along with a small number of warblers from other nets. There was, however, a British control Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler ringed on 14th September 2013 - in the same net as a Brambling
A rare day where summer meets winter!
Photo - Mick Briggs

Male first-winter Brambling ringed on 14th September 2013 - in the same net as a Willow Warbler
A rare day where summer meets winter!
Photo - Mick Briggs

September 13th: Increasing westerly wind, damp start, mostly cloudy.
 South went 1000 Swallows, 1000 House Martins, 15 Sand Martins and 20 Meadow Pipits. Around were a Redstart and 2 Marsh Harriers. Offshore were a Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skuas and 17 Sandwich Terns. On Jackson's Marsh were a Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Greenshanks, 3 Dunlins, a Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank, on Tennyson Sands a Black-tailed Godwit, and on the Mere 94 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlins and 7 Spotted Redshanks.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes indicated a small arrival. News were 5 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Swallows and a Sand Martin. The retraps were a Blackcap, 2 Dunnocks and a Blue Tit.

September 12th: Light westerly wind, mostly cloudy with sunny spells.
 Around, including birds trapped, were a Wryneck, a Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher, a Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers and a Common Buzzard. Flying south were 250 Swallows, 35 House Martins, 25 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 250 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit and 4 Siskins. On the Mere was a Spotted Redshank, on Jackson's Marsh a Curlew Sandpiper, 15 Greenshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipes, 5 Dunlins and a Spotted Redshank, and on Tennyson Sands a Kingfisher, 4 Dunlins, a Little Stint, 2 Snipes, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a White Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. New birds were a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest (The first one of the Autumn!), 2 Willow Warblers, 18 Swallows, 3 Dunnocks, a Yellow Wagtail, a Meadow Pipit, a Blackcap and a Pied Flycatcher, and the retraps 3 Dunnocks, a Blackcap, 2 Wrens, a Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler.
 Moths species trapped that were new for the year were Brown-spotted Pinion, Common Marbled Carpet and Beaded Chestnut, while 2 Large Thorns were notable.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 12th September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 11th: Moderate north-westerly wind, cloudy, light rain mid morning onwards.
The 'Big Bird Day' event was reasonably productive, with a total of 85 species recorded. Around were 3 Whinchats, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin. Moving north offshore were 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 11 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Black Tern, an adult Little Gull, 23 Great Skuas, a Scaup and 545 Common Scoters, and south were 40 Arctic Skuas, 11 Great Skuas and 2 Auk Spp. The Mere proved the most successful of the water bodies with a Water Rail and a Kingfisher present. Tennyson's held a Little Stint, 24 Avocets, 30 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Snipes. Jackson's Marsh yielded 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 150 Golden Plovers and 13 Little Egrets. A Tree Pipit flew south over the East Dunes early morning.
 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced the following new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Swallows, a Meadow Pipit, a Sand Martin, a Reed Bunting, a House Martin and a hybrid House Martin x Sand Martin. A British-ringed Swallow was controlled.

Hybrid House Martin x Sand Martin, ringed 11th September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Hybrid House Martin x Sand Martin, ringed 11th September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Early September 2013

September 10th: Increasing westerly wind, cloudy, rain early morning then from late morning onwards.
 Flying south over land were a Hobby, 400 Swallows, 110 House Martins, 120 Sand Martins, 286 Meadow Pipits, 5 Siskins, 3 Tree Sparrows and 5 Yellow Wagtails. Highlights of sea-watching were 41 Gannets, 22 Arctic Skuas, 4 Great Skuas and a Sooty Shearwater north, and 7 Long-tailed Skuas, 69 Gannets, 158 Arctic Skuas, 72 Great Skuas and a Velvet Scoter south. Around, including birds trapped, were a Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 21 Greenshanks, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff, 5 Dunlins and 3 Snipes, on Tennyson Sands 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Dunlins, 4 Ringed Plovers and 2 Greenshanks, and on the Mere 84 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 7 Spotted Redshanks.
 A short morning ringing session in East Dunes produced modest results. The news were 3 Swallows, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Meadow Pipits. A Robin was retrapped.

September 9th: Light wind, some cloudy spells but mostly sunny morning, cloudier afternoon.
 Birds around, including those trapped, included 3 Whinchats, a Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, a Kingfisher and a Common Buzzard. South went 75 Swallows, a Yellow-legged Gull and 30 Arctic Skuas. On the Mere were 2 Ruffs, 8 Spotted Redshanks, 43 Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper, on Tennyson Sands 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Greenshanks and a Ruff, and on Jackson's Marsh 6 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 12 Greenshanks and a Little Stint. On Croftmarsh were 100 Golden Plovers.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes reflected the paucity of migrant landbirds. New birds were 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Swallows and 3 Reed Buntings, and retraps a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Blackcap.

September 8th: Mild southerly wind, mostly sunny.
 Around were an Osprey, a Hobby, 3 Whinchats, a Garden Warbler, a Merlin, 3 Common Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier. New Saltmarsh held 25 Little Egrets. The best waders on the water bodies were a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint on Jackson's Marsh, 4 Greenshanks on Tennyson Sands, and 2 Spotted Redshanks on the Mere. Black-tailed Godwits totalled 94.
 The sunny conditions did not favour a big catch in a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The news were 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Swallows, a Sand Martin, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting, and the retraps 3 Dunnocks, 2 Blackcaps, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.
  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent was fairly quiet, resulting in only 14 new birds and 27 retraps. The new birds were 5 Greenfinches, 2 Swallows, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers and a Blue Tit. The retraps were 8 Greenfinches, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Chaffinches, 3 Wrens, 3 Great Tits, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Whitethroats and a Goldfinch.
  The lack of migrating passerines now is unbelievable. Surely there must be loads more to move south yet? Where are they all? It's still in the mid twenties Celsius next week - why move south!

The sun beating down on the Observatory like mid summer! 8th September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Some small amounts of cloud started to roll in by lunchtime, but there were still no birds about! 8th September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Juvenile Reed Bunting ringed at the Observatory on 8th September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

September 7th: Increasingly strong southerly wind, started clear then increasing cloud.
  Birds around included an Osprey, a Pied Flycatcher, 4 Whinchats and 2 Marsh Harriers. On Jackson's Marsh were a Little Stint, a Green Sandpiper and 4 Curlew Sandpipers, and on the Mere 6 Spotted Redshanks. Greenshanks on the reserve totalled 22.
  The catch on a restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes was greatly reduced by the unfavourable weather conditions, and consisted of a new Blackcap and a retrap Wren.
  A much longer session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs and new trainee, Jenny Godber, for the morning only, resulted in 18 new birds and a quite frankly ridiculous 79 retraps! At this time of year we expect new birds to outnumber retraps by at least 4 to 1. So the opposite result today amongst the birds processed reveals that any migration taking place is literally "just a trickle!".
  Mick's persistence through the afternoon eventually paid off, though, with a Spotted Flycatcher in the feeding station nets late afternoon, and a retrap Magpie.
  New birds at Aylmer Avenue were 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches and 2 Goldfinches.
  Retraps at Aylmer Aylmer were a Wren, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, 8 Blue Tits, 9 Great Tits, a Magpie, 10 Chaffinches, 33 Greenfinces and 15 Goldfinches.

First-year Spotted Flycatcher on 7th September - a reward for a long day's ringing.
Photo - Mick Briggs

First-year Spotted Flycatcher on 7th September - a reward for a long day's ringing.
Photo - Mick Briggs

September 6th: Changeable wind, cooler, cloudy, some light rain.
  Around was a Peregrine and 4 Whinchats. Offshore were 70000 Knots. During sea-watching 69 Common Scoters, 150 Common Terns, 3 Fulmars, a Little Gull, 65 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, an Arctic Tern, 16 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua went north, and 165 Teals, 40 Gannets, 9 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua south. On the Mere were a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Lapwing, 57 Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Greenshanks, on Tennyson Sands 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshanks and 18 Little Egrets, and on Jackson's Marsh 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Dunlins, a Snipe, a Greenshank and 12 Little Egrets.
  No ringing was attempted.
  On August 25th a Tree-Lichen Beauty was caught in a moth trap, and was apparently the first recorded in Lincolnshire.

Tree-Lichen Beauty, 25th August 2013.
Photo - Nigel Lound

September 5th: Light wind, misty start, gradually clearing, then mostly sunny.
   Around were a Redstart, 7 Whinchats and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were 300 Swallows, 40 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins. Offshore were 570 Sandwich Terns and 6 Arctic Terns. On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Dunlins, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 8 Snipes, a Little Stint, 42 Gadwalls and 2 Little Egrets, on Tennyson Sands 4 Greenshanks, 6 Redshanks, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, a Curlew, 3 Dunlins, 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 38 Little Egrets, and on the Mere 71 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff and a Kingfisher.
  The bright conditions reduced the catch in a prolonged ringing session in East Dunes. The news were a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipits, a Whitethroat and 8 Swallows, and the retraps a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Robin.
  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling was better, with new birds being a Chiffchaff, 9 Goldfinches, a Coal Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch and 4 Greenfinches. There were 54 retraps, mostly the usual finches and tits, but including a Chiffchaff.
   A Blood Vein was in a moth trap this morning.

Blood Vein, 5th September 2013.
Photo - Nigel Lound

September 4th: Somewhat variable wind, mostly sunny.
  An Osprey headed north over Mill Hill. Around were 9 Whinchats, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 65 Yellow Wagtails, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier. South flew 1000 Swallows and 25 House Martins. On the Mere were 2 Ruffs, 14 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks and 2 Common Sandpipers, on Tennyson Sands 47 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, a Little Stint and a Dunlin, and on Jackson's Marsh 5 Greenshanks, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Dunlins, a Ruff and a Common Sandpiper.
  A prolonged ringing session in East Dunes was quite good. New birds were 5 Willow Warblers, 29 Swallows, a Dunnock, 2 Sand Martins, a Great Tit, 3 House Martins and 2 Yellow Wagtails, and the sole retrap was a Lesser Whitethroat.
  A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue from mid morning by David Vincent was reasonably productive, considering the sunny conditions, resulting in 22 new birds and 26 retraps. The new birds were 8 Greenfinches, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robins, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Great Tit. The retraps were 13 Greenfinches, 4 Great Tits, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Blue Tits and singles of Dunnock, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit.

September 3rd: Light westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
  Around, including birds trapped, were 10 Whinchats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Garden Warblers, a Redstart, a Wheatear and 3 Marsh Harriers. On Jackson's Marsh were 5 Curlew Sandpipers and a Garganey, on Tennyson Sands 4 Greenshanks, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Ruffs, and on the Mere 9 Spotted Redshanks and 47 Black-tailed Godwits.
  A prolonged ringing session in East Dunes by visiting ringers Christine Flint and Nigel Judson of the Charnwood Ringing Group, produced reasonable results. The news were 6 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, 6 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, 9 Swallows, a Blue Tit, 5 Meadow Pipits, a Robin, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Linnet, and the retraps were a Blue Tit and a Dunnock.
 Moth species new for the year in a moth trap were Pink-backed Sallow, The Brick and Large Thorn.

Pink-barred Sallow, 3rd September 2013.
Photo - Nigel Lound

The Brick, 3rd September 2013.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Hornet in moth trap, 3rd September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 2nd: Moderate west wind, increasing cloud.
  Around were a Kingfisher, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 35 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Whinchats. South went 150 Swallows, 40 Sand Martins and 15 House Martins. The best birds on the water bodies were a Garganey, 14 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 Spotted Redshanks, a Ruff and a Little Stint. On the estuary were 29 more Curlew Sandpipers.
  On the fourth and last day of the Ringing Opportunity Weekend a prolonged ringing session in East Dunes provided quality rather than quantity. New birds were a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Swallows, a Coal Tit, a Greenland Wheatear and a Blackcap, and the retraps 2 Dunnock, a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Long-tailed Tit and a Blackcap.

Greenland Wheatear, ringed 2nd September 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

September 1st: Increasing westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
  The Short-toed Lark remained at North End. An Osprey flew southwest early morning, and 2 Hobby's, 3 Common Buzzards and 2 Swifts south later. Around were 5 Whinchats, a Cuckoo, a Kingfisher, a Treecreeper, a Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. South flew 2 Pomarine Skuas, and north 16 Arctic Skuas. In the early evening a moulting adult Black-necked Grebe was located on the sea out from Sleeper Track. On the Mere was a Garganey. The best waders around or on the water bodies were 2 Ruffs, 102 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Spotted Redshanks, 9 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint.
  Good moths trapped overnight were a Frosted Orange, a Sallow and a Large Wainscot, all firsts for the year.
  On the third day of the Ringing Opportunity Weekend prolonged ringing sessions were carried out in East Dunes and at Aylmer Avenue. However, the increasing wind was not conducive to a large catch.
  In East Dunes there were 16 new birds - 7 Willow Warblers, a Linnet, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock, 2 Swallows and a Blackcap, while the retraps were 2 Robins, 5 Whitethroats and 2 Willow Warblers.
  Whilst in a similar session over at Aylmer Avenue there were 36 new birds - 15 Willow Warblers, a Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 3 Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinches, a Blue Tit, 8 Greenfinches and a Reed Bunting. There were also 86 retraps, which were mainly made up of birds from the feeding station, which were a single Coal Tit, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Goldfinches, and Greenfinches.
  Amongst the retraps caught today were several Chaffinches and Whitethroats which were all several years old, including a four-year-old Whitethroat and a six-year-old Chaffinch. They were thought not to be resident birds but migrants previously ringed on the reserve and on migration southwards again (having not been caught since at least last autumn).
  Of particular interest were some of the Whitethroats which were in a state of either active moult or in arrested/suspended moult (not commonly seen in migrants). Presumably these birds were just refuelling on the reserve on their way south. Most Whitethroats, though, will not migrate until after they have finished their moult so this prompts some interesting questions. What is going on here?
  Part of the long weekend's Ringing Opportunity involved a two-day visit by the first two beneficiaries of the B.T.O.-organised "Young Bird Observatories Volunteer Fund": Oliver and Tom (accompanied by Oliver's father - Chris, and by Tom's mother - Alison). They both spent Saturday and Sunday ringing with the Observatory Team at both the Observatory on Saturday and at Aylmer Avenue on Sunday, whilst staying at the Field Station. Mike Archer attended over the weekend to help out with the supervision and training of the two young ringers.


(From left to right) - Chris and his son Oliver, and Tom with his mother Alison.
The first two beneficiaries of the "Young Bird Observatories Volunteer Fund" organised by the B.T.O.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The tail of an adult Whitethroat showing growth bars and a re-growing lost tail feather on 1st September 2013
(Growth bars are caused when a bird has a lack of food for a day or two whilst growing its new tail feathers.)
Photo - Mick Briggs

The same Whitethroat as above showing a double arrested/suspended moult in both the primaries and the secondary's on the left wing on 1st September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The same Whitethroat as above showing a double arrested/suspended moult in both the primaries and the secondary's on the right wing on 1st September 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Late August 2013

August 31st: Moderate westerly/north-westerly wind, sunny morning, clouded over later.

  The Short-toed Lark was still at North End. Around were a Wryneck, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Hobby, 150 Yellow Wagtails, 60 Alba Wagtails and 12 Whinchats. Offshore or over the shore were 2 Arctic Skuas, a Guillemot, 2 Whimbrels and a Greenshank. On the Mere were 8 Spotted Redshanks and a Garganey.

  On the second day of the Ringing Opportunity Weekend, attended by 7 participants, together with various trainers and helpers, prolonged ringing sessions were held in East Dunes and at Aylmer Avenue. More than 230 birds were processed, which was very good, considering the mostly sunny conditions.

  New birds in East Dunes were 7 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 34 Swallows, 2 Whitethroats, a Robin, 3 Blue Tits, 43 House Martins and a Woodpigeon, and the retraps were a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, a Redstart and a Whitethroat.

  At Aylmer Avenue the new birds were 2 Wrens, a Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Robins, 6 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and 29 Greenfinches. There were 84 retraps, mostly finches and tits.

August 30th: Increasing south-west wind. Mostly cloudy.

  The Short-toed Lark was re-found at North End. Offshore were 15 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, a Little Tern, 500 Sandwich Terns, 21 Curlew Sandpipers, 1000 Ringed Plovers and 3000 Dunlins.   Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, a White wagtail.2 Common Buzzards, a Hobby and a Peregrine. Heading south were 181 Yellow Wagtails, 200 Linnets, 2549 Swallows, 109 Sand Martins, 230 House Martins, a Hobby, a Common Buzzard, 4 Great Skuas and 47 Arctic Skuas. To roost went 40 more Yellow Wagtails. On the water bodies notable birds were 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints and a Garganey.

  A prolonged ringing session in East Dunes on the first day of the Ringing Opportunity Weekend was productive. The new birds were 4 Willow Warblers, a Wren, 73 Swallows, 9 Yellow Wagtails, a House Martin, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Sand Martin. The retraps were a Great Tit, 3 Whitethroats and 3 Dunnock. There was also a British-ringed control Swallow.

August 29th: Moderate south-west wind, cloudy then clearing. 

  Around were 2 Redstarts, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Wheatear, a Tree Pipit, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Peregrine, 2 Hobby's and 2 Turtle Doves. A Marsh Harrier went south. On the Mere was a Garganey. The best waders on the water bodies were 7 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint and a Little Ringed Plover.

  A morning ringing session on East Dunes was quite good. The new birds were 22 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Linnets, a Goldfinch, 33 Swallows, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Blue Tits, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Dunnock, a Garden Warbler and a Reed Bunting, and the retraps a Great Tit, a Garden Warbler and a Blue Tit.

Peregrine, 29th August 2013.
Photo - Philip Millns 

Peregrine hunting, 29th August 2013.
Photo - Philip Millns

August 28th: Light wind, wet foggy start, which was slow to clear.

 The Short-toed Lark was re-found at Greenshanks Creek in the afternoon. Other birds around, including those trapped, included 12 Redstarts, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Whinchats and 2 Garden Warblers. On Jackson's Marsh was a first-winter Mediterranean Gull. Waders in various places were represented by 33 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 8 Greenshanks. Flying south were 4 Common Buzzards, 147 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, a Great Skua, 3 Gannets and 2 Little Terns, and north 6 Common Scoters.

 The wet fog greatly reduced the catch on a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The birds processed were 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Swallows, a Blackcap, a Yellow Wagtail, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redstarts, 2 Wrens and 5 Dunnock.

Adult Whitethroat showing a retained old secondary, retrapped on 28th August 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Almost all Swallows trapped in autumn here are juvenile/first-year birds. This adult had a tail difference of 54mm and was therefore un-sexable.
Photo - George Gregory

August 27th: Continuing north-easterly wind, misty start then clearing.

 Migrants and dispersers around included 20 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Pied Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Wheatear, a Redstart and 2 Whinchats. The best waders on Tennyson Sands were 4 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint. On the Mere were a Greenshank, 6 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Garganey, a Whimbrel, 9 Shovelers and 5 Black-tailed Godwits.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. The new birds were 2 Willow Warblers, a Redstart, a Sedge Warbler, 18 Swallows, 13 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, a Linnet and a Sparrowhawk, and the retraps were 2 Wrens, 2 Whitethroats, a Woodpigeon and a Greenfinch.

August 26th: Mostly sunny from the start of the day with a light north-easterly breeze, remaining dry throughout the day.

  The Short-toed Lark was again near Greenshanks Creek. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Wryneck, a Tree Pipit, 8 Willow Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 8 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts, 4 Wheatears10 Whinchats, a Green Woodpecker, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Marsh Harrier, 22 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Ruff, 5 Wigeon and 4 Kestrels. Waders on or over the water bodies included 9 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Spotted Redshanks.



Short-toed Lark near Greenshanks Creek photographed on 25th August 2013.
Photo - James Siddle (original finder of the bird)

  The sunny conditions reduced the catch on a morning ringing session in East Dunes to just 16 new birds and 3 retraps. The news were a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 2 Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Reed Bunting and 9 Swallows, and the retraps were 3 Whitethroats.

  At Aylmer Avenue, despite best efforts, only 17 new birds and 23 retraps were processed. The new birds were a Wren, 2 Dunnock, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinches and 1 Goldfinch. The retraps were mainly made up of finches and tits visiting the feeding station.

  This had to be one of the most disappointing August days ever!, with hardly any warblers present on the reserve or indeed hardly any small migrants showing up at all across all of the ringing area at Aylmer Avenue. The only bonus besides the 2 Pied Flycatchers ringed were 3 more un-ringed Pied Flycatchers that were feeding in pines around the ringing shed giving great views for most of the morning. The lack of migrants though, especially warblers (only 1 Willow Warbler caught today) was very puzzling, though. Have they all gone south already?

First-year Whitethroat ringed on 26th August 2013.
One of very few warblers present on the reserve today -  very puzzling
Photo - Mick Briggs

One of two first-year Pied Flycatchers ringed on 26th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

 August 25th: A light north-easterly breeze throughout the day, with thick cloud for most of the morning, giving way to sunny outbreaks through high level cirrus cloud later in the afternoon. Remaining dry throughout.

  There was a general clear out during the evening, which was somewhat unexpected considering the overnight rain. However, some of the more scarce migrants had made it onto the coast or possibly had come south down the coast from yesterday's landing sites. There was though, a worryingly considerable absence of any decent numbers of common migrants.

  A Short-toed Lark was found and photographed north of Greenshanks Creek early morning by James Siddle, and later on was seen by a host of other observers, showing very well from time to time. Offshore was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua.

  Birds around including those trapped, were 4 Wrynecks, (3 ringed plus one in the West Dunes near the Mere Hide mid morning, again found by James Siddle), 5 Redstart, 7 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 4 Tree Pipit, 3 Wood Sandpiper, 12 Common Sandpiper, a Marsh Harrier, 8 Kestrel (including 6 together in one group of pines at Aylmer Avenue at one point) and 3 Sparrowhawk.  Heading south were a Swift and 12 Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson Sands the best birds were a Spoonbill, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 5 Sandwich Terns.

Short-toed Lark near Greenshanks Creek on 25th August 2013.
Photo - Richard Doan

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 39 new birds, which were 8 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Swallows, 2 Whitethroats, a Redstart and a Wryneck (the first of the year) The 6 retraps were 3 Whitethroats, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Blackcap.

  Meanwhile a longer session at Aylmer Avenue, which included the last C.E.S. session of the year, resulted in 37 new birds and 42 retraps. The C.E.S. was dismal with just a Blackbird, a Wren and 2 Willow Warblers the new birds, whilst other nets at Aylmer Avenue were more productive. There were, amazingly, 2 Wrynecks caught and ringed, 2 Dunnocks, a Robin, 3 Reed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, 12 Willow Warblers, 3 Chaffinches, 3 Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches.

  Both the Wrynecks were caught in the same net, nearly in the same spot, but just five hours apart. Both did their best to effect an escape from the hand by doing a ridiculous combination of "head spins" and "stretches" to put any potential predator off eating the bird for dinner.

  After checking the records I found that ridiculously, 3 Wrynecks ringed in one day is not a first for the Observatory. The last time it was done was the 31st August 1976 and the seventies were the really big years for Wrynecks at the Observatory, with the peak year being 1976, when 10 were ringed.

3rd Wryneck of the year ringed on 25th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

3rd Wryneck of the year ringed on 25th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

2nd Wryneck of the year ringed on 25th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

2nd Wryneck of the year ringed on 25th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

1st Wryneck of the year ringed at the Observatory on 25th August 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

August 24th: Rain overnight and through the morning until 11.30am. Then full cloud cover all day with light north-easterly breeze. Light rain fell again from 6pm.

  Migrants around, including birds trapped, were a Wryneck (West Dunes), 6 Pied Flycatchers, 7 Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, 68 Willow Warblers, 4 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 20 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Garden Warblers, 3 Sparrowhawks, 4 Kestrels and a Green Woodpecker. On Jackson's Marsh were a Spoonbill, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Little Egrets and a Common Sandpiper, on Tennyson Sands 8 Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint, 80 Dunlins, 2 Ruffs, 38 Ringed Plovers, 32 Little Egrets and 2 Common Sandpipers, and on Fenland Lagoon 11 Green Sandpipers. Other waders around were 37 Ruffs (including 36 south), 2 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 13 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers. A Black Tern was on the beach.
  A much delayed ringing session in East Dunes yielded 22 new birds, namely 12 Willow Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Redstart, a Yellow Wagtail and a Reed Warbler. The 17 retraps were a Dunnock, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits and a Lesser Whitethroat.
  Meanwhile nets were also eventually opened up over at Aylmer Avenue at 11.30am after the rain stopped. The session finished as the rain tried to start again at 6.30pm. The result was another 53 new birds ringed and 42 retraps. The new birds were a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 2 Wrens, a Dunnock, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Chaffinches, 8 Greenfinches and 8 Goldfinches. The retraps included a Coal Tit, just a single Willow Warbler and the usual finches and tits.
  The Kestrel was the 6th for 2013, equalling the best year ever for the Observatory, which was 6 ringed in 1995.


First-year Spotted Flycatcher ringed on 24th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The record-equalling 6th Kestrel ringed of 2013 on 24th August.
Photo - Mick Briggs

First-year Kestrel ringed on 24th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

First-yearear male Sparrowhawk ringed on 24th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

August 23rd: Overnight rain, southeasterly/easterly wind. Around were a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, Hobby, a Marsh Harrier, a Mediterranean Gull, a Wheatear and 6 Whinchats. Flying south were 5 Wigeons, and east a Spoonbill. Offshore were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls. High tide wader counts included 60000 Knots, 4300 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2000 Oystercatchers, 3000 Sanderlings, 5000 Dunlins, 850 Ringed Plovers and 19 Whimbrels. On the water bodies were 6 Spotted Redshanks, a Little Stint, a Ruff, 7 Green Sandpipers, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 23 Greenshanks and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. On the Mere 2 Garganeys remained, while 2 Water Rails were new.
 A morning ringing session on East Dunes was disappointing, considering the wind direction. New birds were 5 Willow Warblers, 10 Swallows, a Whinchat, a Sand Martin, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a Song Thrush. The retraps were 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnocks and a Wren.

August 22nd: Much the same weather as yesterday in the morning, but the wind shifted towards south-easterly in the afternoon. Around were 12 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 2 Wheatears, a Redstart, a Tree Pipit, 6 Whimbrels, 40000 Knots, a Common Sandpiper, 30 Yellow Wagtails, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Spotted Redshanks. Flying offshore was a Spoonbill. On Jackson's Marsh were a Little Stint, a Ruff, 4 Green Sandpipers and 2 Spotted Redshanks, and on the Mere 4 Garganeys, 5 Green Sandpipers and a Wood Sandpiper. Black-tailed Godwits totalled 139 and Greenshanks 17.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 88 new birds, namely 17 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Dunnock, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 44 Swallows, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Sand Martins, a House Martin, a Woodpigeon and a Sparrowhawk. The 11 retraps were a Wren, a Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, a Kestrel, 3 Dunnocks and a Chaffinch.

August 21st: Mostly cloudy with southwesterly wind, again.
 Flying south were 35 Yellow Wagtails, 250 Swallows and 20 Sand Martins. Around, additional to birds trapped, were 2 Wheatears, 14 Whinchats, a Redstart, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 30 Yellow Wagtails and 30 Willow Warblers. Offshore or flying about were 58000 Knots, 5000 Dunlins, a Little Gull, a male Scaup, 2 Peregrines, a Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spoonbills (an adult and an immature), 3 Green Sandpipers, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Greenshanks and 200 Lapwings, on Jackson's Marsh 5 Greenshanks and 100 Black-tailed Godwits, and on the Mere 4 Garganeys and 5 Green Sandpipers.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was again interesting. The new birds were 28 Willow Warblers, a Dunnock, a Robin, a Pied Flycatcher (first of autumn), 5 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears (first of year), 29 Swallows, a Garden Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, a Whinchat and a Sparrowhawk. Also there was a retrap Dunnock, and a British-ringed control Swallow.
  An afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent was reasonably productive, for an afternoon ringing session, resulting in 35 new birds and 36 retraps. The new birds were 14 Willow Warblers, 10 Greenfinches, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches and singles of Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Swallow, Blue Tit, and Whitethroat. The retraps were a mix of finches, tits and warblers.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 21st August 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Wheatear, ringed 21st August 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

Mid August 2013

August 20th:  Mostly cloudy again.
 South went a Whimbrel, 95 Swallows, 15 House Martins and 10 Sand Martins. Around were a Hobby and a Grasshopper Warbler. The water bodies held a Spoonbill, 143 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Greenshanks, 3 Green Sandpipers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 3 Garganeys.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was notable for variety rather than quantity. The news were 13 Willow Warblers, a Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Dunnocks, a Garden Warbler, 26 Swallows, a Redstart (first of autumn), 3 Sand Martins, a Whinchat (first of autumn), a Reed Warbler and another Kestrel. The retraps were 2 Dunnocks and 2 Whitethroats.

Adult Spoonbill, Tennyson Sands.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Whinchat, ringed 20th August 2013.
Photo - George Gregory

August 19th: Mostly cloudy.
  A fresh arrival of migrants included 4 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Whinchat, a Wheatear, a Stonechat, a Treecreeper, a Green Woodpecker and a Grasshopper Warbler. There were also a Cuckoo, 5 Whimbrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Peregrines around. South flew 1500 Swallows, 400 House Martins and 2 Swifts. The best birds on the water bodies were a Spoonbill, 3 Garganeys, 57 Little Egrets, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 24 Greenshanks, a Ruff and 4 Little Ringed Plovers. Over Croftmarsh were 190 Golden Plovers. On the beach were 4 Mediterranean Gulls.
  A morning ringing session on East Dunes was productive. The 105 new birds were 10 Willow Warblers, 62 Swallows, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 14 House Martins, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet, 3 Whitethroats, a House Sparrow and a Kestrel, and the retraps 6 Dunnock, a Great Tit and 2 Whitethroats. A male Peregrine was almost added to the total, but it escaped from a net as a ringer approached.
  The Yellow Wagtail total now stand at 43 birds ringed so far this year, quite simply incredible if you consider that the previous year record of just 21 ringed was set in 2010, and indeed since 1949 only 92 have been ringed to the start of this year. Before 2010, only 60 had been ringed, an average of just one a year!, and now 43 have been ringed in this autumn alone. Either they must have had a phenomenally successful breeding season, or perhaps we are simply experiencing a very large increase in the numbers migrating through East Dunes during this autumn?

August 18th: A calm start with cloud in the east made for a cracking start to the day. The wind soon picked up, with intermittent puffy cumulus cloud throughout the day being blown through on the 15mph southerly.
  Flying south were 42 Swifts, 400 Swallows, 235 House Martins and 18 Yellow Wagtails. Around were 2 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 4 Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, a Crossbill and a Tree Pipit. On the water bodies were  a Spoonbill, at least 3 Garganey, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 9 Dunlins, 95 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, 18 Greenshanks, 20 Snipes and 38 Little Egrets. At Aylmer Avenue, 3 Turtle Doves and several Willow Warblers were in song early morning, making it feel more like June than August!
  A morning ringing session on East Dunes was reasonable. There were 38 new birds, which were 15 Willow Warblers, a Wren, a Linnet, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Reed Bunting, 9 Swallows and a House Martin, and the retraps 8 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Wren.
  Things were marginally better over at Aylmer Avenue with 74 new birds ringed. They included a Swallow, 2 Robins, a Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 29 Willow Warblers, 4 Blue Tits, 9 Greenfinches and 7 Goldfinches. There were also 46 retraps including a British control Willow Warbler.

August 17th: A calm clear start quickly turned into a windy day with a force 3 south-westerly blowing patchy light rain in from mid morning. Heavier rain followed late afternoon.
  There had clearly been a significant arrival of migrants overnight and with these was a juvenile Woodchat Shrike found near the Weather Enclosure, just south of the Field Station early morning and was just the third record ever for reserve. South went a Red-necked Phalarope, 140 Swifts, 90 Swallows and a Tree Pipit. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 9 Turtle Doves (including 2 singing at Aylmer Avenue), 3 Crossbills and 18 Yellow Wagtails. In addition to those trapped, there were at least 45 other Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats and 34 Whitethroats on the reserve. On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill, 5 Greenshanks, 4 Snipes, 91 Black-tailed Godwits, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 88 Lapwings, and on Jackson's Marsh 22 Greenshanks, 2 Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Ruffs, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover.
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes was productive. The 96 new birds were a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 63 Willow Warblers, a Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, 8 Whitethroats, a Linnet, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Robin, 9 Swallows, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch and a Song Thrush. The 6 retraps were a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock and a Willow Warbler.
  Whilst at Aylmer Avenue the 11th C.E.S. session was completed with some success. Other nets there helped push the total for the day at Aylmer Avenue up to 81 new birds ringed and 38 retraps. The highlights included a Garden Warbler and the first Treecreeper of the year from the C.E.S. nets, whilst the feeding station produced two new Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Other birds ringed included 3 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blue Tit, 11 Greenfinch and 12 Goldfinch. There was also 29 New Willow Warbler which when added to the Observatory's total, makes 92 new Willow Warblers for the day! - probably a new day record for recent decades.
  Two Painted Ladies were the best butterflies.

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike, at the weather enclosure on the 17th August 2013.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Garden Warbler ringed on the 11th C.E.S. session of 2013 on 17th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Juvenile Treecreeper ringed on the 11th C.E.S. session of 2013 on 17th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

August 16th: Windy, rain most of morning. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier, a Little Ringed Plover, 120 Swifts, 100 Swallows, 50 Sand Martins, 12 House Martins and 3 Yellow Wagtails. Jackson's Marsh held a Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Snipes and 2 Dunlins, Tennyson Sands 69 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Curlews, 73 Lapwings and 7 Dunlins, and the Mere a Garganey.
 No ringing was possible.

August 15th: Windy, cloudy, intermittent light rain. South went 3 Spoonbills, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Swallows and a Greenshank. Around were a Green Woodpecker and a Marsh Harrier. Offshore were 1280 Sandwich Terns, 24 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns and 8 Kittiwakes. On Jackson's Marsh were an adult Spoonbill, a Whimbrel, 19 Greenshanks, 7 Green Sandpipers, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Snipes, on Tennyson Sands a Spotted Redshank, 7 Snipes, 14 Dunlins, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Greenshanks, 92 Black-tailed Godwits and 10 Redshanks, and on the Mere 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Green Sandpipers.
 A restricted morning ringing session, with sheltered nets, in East Dunes yielded just 6 birds processed: a Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, a Dunnock and 2 Whitethroats.

August 14th: Light wind, mostly sunny. South went 200 Swallows, 25 Sand Martins and 12 House Martins. A Marsh Harrier came in off the sea. Around were a Common Buzzard, 7 Lesser Whitethroats and 33 Willow Warblers. Offshore, on the beach or going to roost were 2500 Herring Gulls, 10500 Black-headed Gulls, 9 adult Mediterranean Gulls (a record count), 2500 Sandwich Terns, 92 Common Terns and 31 Arctic Skuas. Tennyson Sands held 133 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Dunlins, 28 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper, and Jackson's Marsh 11 Greenshanks, 12 Redshanks, 5 Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover. On the Mere were up to 3 Garganeys.
 A morning ringing session on East Dunes produced 23 new birds, namely 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Reed Bunting, 10 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins, and 4 retraps, namely 2 Whitethroats, a Wren and a Dunnock.

Garganey, 14th August 2013.
Photo - Philip Millns

August 13th: Increasing westerly wind, sunny morning, cloudy afternoon. Around were 7 Kestrels. Flying south were a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, 30 Yellow Wagtails, 500 Swallows and 75 House Martins, and north a Marsh Harrier. On Jackson's Marsh were 6 Greenshanks, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 7 Redshanks, and on Tennyson Sands 11 Greenshanks, 87 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Ringed Plover, 51 Redshanks, 4 Snipes, 85 Lapwings and 2 Ruffs. Around were 5 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks.
 The weather was not conducive to high productivity on a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The new birds were 17 Willow Warblers, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Whitethroats, a Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Swallows, a House Martin and a Kestrel, and the retraps a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps and a Wren.
 Overnight moth trapping produced a Scallop Hook Tip and a Black Arches.

Scalloped Hook Tip.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Black Arches.
Photo - Nigel Lound

August 12th: Increasing westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
 South went 250 Swallows, 50 House Martins, 10 Sand Martins and a Whimbrel. Tennyson Sands held 91 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Snipes, a Greenshank and 150 Lapwings, and Jackson's Marsh 18 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and 80 Redshanks. Offshore were 150 Sandwich Terns.
 The wind reduced the catch on a morning ringing session in East Dunes. The news were 13 Willow Warblers, a Wren, a Yellow Wagtail, a Linnet, 17 Swallows, 3 Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler, and the retraps a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnocks and a Whitethroat. Migrant Willow Warblers, mostly juveniles, continue to reach here in moderate, but not yet high, numbers. It remains to be seen whether there has been enough breeding success to restore the recently diminished population size.

August 11th: A calm start to the day was soon replaced by a brisk 18mph westerly wind that hampered both visible migration and ringing efforts for most of the day. There were prolonged sunny spells throughout the day, and it remained dry.
  Swallows were the main feature of the day with at least 3500 passing south through the reserve, although this figure may well have been much bigger. They were not passing straight through but were feeding in ever bigger waves stretched out across most of the reserve, which made getting an accurate count through the day nearly impossible. At least 1000 Swallows were feeding on the Old Saltmarsh at 10.20am, whilst at midday there were 2000+ House Martins in a feeding frenzy at high altitude over the West Dunes. A further 500 House Martins and  200 Sand Martins went south through the day, along with 35 Yellow Wagtail and a Grey Heron. Hunting around the reserve was a Peregrine, at least 3 Sparrowhawks, a Barn Owl and at least 4 Kestrels. On Jackson's Marsh were 13 Greenshanks, a Ruff and 2 Snipes, and on Tennyson Sands 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, a Dunlin, 2 Snipes, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruffs and a Common Sandpiper. Over Croftmarsh were 280 Golden Plovers.
  A length ringing session at the Observatory, first by George Gregory and then by Mick Briggs resulted in 76 new birds ringed, which were a Song Thrush, a Sand Martin, 53 Swallows, 7 House Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 7 Willow Warblers and 2 Wrens. There were just 3 retraps, which were 2 Wrens and a Dunnock.
  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent was fairly quiet for this time of year, probably due to it being a bit too breezy and bright sunny spells. The morning's ringing resulted in 30 new birds and 16 retraps. The new birds were 12 Swallows, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Whitethroats and singles of Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Blue Tit, House Martin, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. The retraps were 5 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Chiffchaffs and singles of Whitethroat, Robin and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Swallows start to move south on a good day for visible migration of hirundines, 11th August 2013
Photo - Mick Briggs

Swallows hawking around the Storm Ridge - just above the nets!, 11th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The 19th Yellow Wagtail of the autumn on 11th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs

A House Martin showing the incredible feathery legs of the species - allowing them to sleep on the wing at high altitude at night in freezing temperatures at a reported 10,000 feet.
Photo - Mick Briggs

House Martin, one of 8 ringed on 11th August 2013.
Photo - Mick Briggs