Early July 2016

July 10th. Around were 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Gull, 57 Sandwich Tern, a Wheatear and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Heading south were 2 Marsh Harrier, 27 Whimbrel, 62 Sanderling, 224 Swift and 81 Sand Martin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Great Tit, 3 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock.

Avocet, 10th July 2016.

Little Gull, 10th July 2016.

Little Gull, 10th July 2016.

Sandwich Tern, 10th July 2016.

Lapwing, 10th July 2016.

July 9th. Rain from mid morning until early afternoon.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Grey Heron, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Turtle Dove, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Treecreeper and a House Sparrow. Flying south were 64 Swift and 12 Sand Martin.
 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: 4 Wren, a Treecreeper, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Great Tit and a House Sparrow; and 3 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Whitethroat and Linnet.
 A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was the highlight of overnight moth trapping. Other species included Broad-barred White, Clouded Magpie, Starwort, Grass Rivulet, Sandy Carpet, White-Line Dart, Round-winged Muslin, Ghost Moth, Short Cloaked, Striped Wainscot, Marbler White-Spot and Small Yellow Wave.

Treecreeper, ringed 9th July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

House Sparrow, ringed 9th July 2016.
In the first decades of the bird observatory many thousands of this species were ringed. In recent decades, however, this species is not ringed here every year.
Photo - George Gregory

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 9th July 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

Clouded Magpie, 9th July 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

Starwort, 9th July 2016.
Photo - Karen and Sarah Hand

July 8th. Rain until mid morning.
 Around were a Wheatear, 4 Whimbrel and 2 Turtle Dove. Going south were 2 Swift.

July 7th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Whimbrel, a Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were 600 Swift and 90 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 6 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: singles of Dunnock and Whitethroat.

July 6th. Around were 4 Whimbrel, a Turnstone, a trapped juvenile Garden Warbler and 2 Turtle Dove (including 1 purring). On Tennyson's Sands was a Greenshank. A Swift and a Marsh Harrier flew south.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and a Blackbird.

Turtle Dove, 6th July 2016
Photo - Les Davidson

Pyramidal Orchid, 6th July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

July 5th. Moderately strong westerly wind.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Cuckoo, a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 3 Little Gull and 3 Brent Goose. Going south were 74 Swift, 55 Sand Martin, a Scaup and 3 Little Gull.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 10 new birds: 2 Wren, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Cuckoo; and 9 retraps: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 3 Blue Tit, a Goldfinch, a Blackcap and a Wren.

Cuckoo, ringed 5th July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

July 4th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Greenshank, 2 Little Gull, 3 Cuckoo and a Siskin. Flying south was a Marsh Harrier.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the 7th session of CES, provided 59 new birds: 10 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 18 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Coal Tit, a Chaffinch, a Siskin, 2 Blackcap, 4 Dunnock, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Woodpigeon; and 27 retraps: 7 Whitethroat, a Wren, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Great Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Dunnock, a Linnet and 2 Chaffinch.
 A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was discovered nectaring on Viper's Bugloss.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 4th July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Siskin, ringed 4th July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on Viper's Bugloss, 4th July 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Small Tortoiseshell on Sea Lavender, 4th July 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

July 3rd. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, a Greenshank, 3 Cuckoo and a Sand Martin. Heading south were 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 8 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and a Dunnock; 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and 2 Blue Tit; and a Portuguese-ringed control Blackcap. The latter bird was a breeding female with a CEMPA SEA LISBOA ring.

Portuguese ring on Blackcap, controlled 3rd July 2016.
Photo - George Gregory 

Black-tailed Godwits, 3rd July 2016.

Little Tern, 3rd July 2016.

July 2nd. On Tennyson's Sands were 5 Spoonbill, including a colour-ringed bird. Around were 2 Cuckoo. Flying south were 25 Swift and 2 Curlew.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: a Whitethroat, 2 Chaffinch, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Spoonbills, 2nd July 2016.
Photo - Keith and Angela Foster

Colour-ringed Spoonbill, 2nd July 2016.
Photo - Keith and Angela Foster

July 1st. Soggy start.
 Birds around included a Mediterranean Gull, a family of 5 House Sparrow and 4 Cuckoo. Going south were 24 Swift and 7 Curlew.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and 2 Dunnock; 5 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Linnet, Whitethroat, Robin and Chiffchaff; and a control Linnet.

House Sparrows, a scarce species at Gibraltar Point, 1st July 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Late June 2016

June 30th. Soggy start, then afternoon rain.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bullfinch, a family of 4 House Sparrow, a family of 5 Goldcrest, 4 Cuckoo and a Barn Owl. On Tennyson's Sands was an adult Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were 5 Swift, 3 Sand Martin and 30 Curlew.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: singles of Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Whitethroat, Starling and Cuckoo; and a retrap Dunnock.

Bullfinch, ringed 30th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Cuckoo, ringed 30th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 29th. Soggy start, rain later.
 Around were an unseasonal Redwing (see entry for June 21st), a House Sparrow (scarce here), 4 Cuckoo and a Barn Owl. Flying south were 9 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 11 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, a Meadow Pipit, a Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Blackbird.

Redwing, 29th June 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Juvenile Goldcrest, ringed 29th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 28th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl and 3 Cuckoo. On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Gull. Going northwest were 3 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Dunnock and a Mistle Thrush; and a retrap Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 34 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Robin, a Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Greenfinch, 5 Dunnock and a Great Tit; and 28 retraps: 7 Chaffinch, 3 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Greenfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 5 Great Tit and a Willow Warbler.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 28th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Poplar Hawkmoth, 28th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 27th. Damp start.
 Around were a Whimbrel and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were 24 Swift and a Grey Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: a Blackcap, a Linnet, a Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch and a Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Wren, a Great Tit and a Robin.

It seems that the two recent Caspian Terns had first turned up in Somerset, where they were seen together at Portbury Wharf in mid May. 

June 26th. Brief early morning rain, then damp.
 Birds around included a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, 75 Little Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Little Gull, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Short-eared Owl and 4 Cuckoo. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were 16 Swift.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Wren.

Privet Hawkmoth, 26th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 25th. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill, which arrived in the afternoon, and a Green Sandpiper. Around were 4 Cuckoo, 70 Little Tern, 4 Common Tern, 27 Sandwich Tern, a Little Gull, 2 Peregrine, a Whimbrel, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 56 Curlew, 8 Mistle Thrush and a Barn Owl. On the move were 90 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Curlew, 7 Gannet, a Great Skua, a Fulmar and 40 Common Scoter.
 On the offshore sandbank were 218 Common Seal, including several pups.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Meadow Pipit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

June 24th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
 Birds around included 2 Barn Owl, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Tern, 70 Little Tern, 4 Mistle Thrush and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were 340 Swift and 2 Curlew. Offshore were 80 Common Scoter,
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, a Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Starling; and 7 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.

 Elephant Hawkmoth, 24th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 23rd. A Caspian Tern, considered to be the ringed previous bird, was on Tennyson's Sands from late morning. Other birds around included 4 Brent Goose, 2 Barn Owl, 4 Cuckoo, a Hobby, a Black-tailed Godwit, 85 Knot, a Grey Heron and 2 Turtle Dove. Offshore were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 65 Little Tern, 82 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, a Kittiwake, 20 Common Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Little Gull. Several small groups of Curlew arrived in from the north during the day; 101 birds in total.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the 6th session of CES, resulted in 26 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 8 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, 4 Dunnock and 2 Greenfinch; and 24 retraps: a Blackcap, a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Coal Tit, 9 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and a Whitethroat.

Curlew arriving from the north, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Caspian Tern on Tennyson's Sands, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Little Gull, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

Little Gull, 23rd June 2016
Photo - Richard Doan

June 22nd. An Osprey flew over the Mere. Around were 60 Little Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, a Grey Partridge, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 500 Herring Gull, 4 Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove. Flying south were 102 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Robin, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Meadow Pipit and a Whitethroat.

June 21st. In from the east came a Spoonbill. An unseasonal adult Redwing, which had just started primary moult, was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. This is the third recent summer in which a moulting adult Redwing has been trapped and ringed in East Dunes here. Other birds around included 7 Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 3 Robin, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock and a Redwing; and 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Wren, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Moulting adult Redwing, ringed 21st June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Mid June 2016

June 20th. Moderately strong southerly wind, with rain developing.
 Birds around included 2 Cuckoo and 2 Turtle Dove. Heading south were 500+ Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Whitethroat, 4 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and a retrap Linnet.

June 19th. A Caspian Tern flew south offshore in the afternoon. Also moving were 3 Gannet north and 10 Swift south. Around were a Hobby, 2 Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: a Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 8 retraps: 7 Great Tit and a Linnet.

Hobby, 19th June 2016.

June 18th. Soggy start with some brief drizzle.
 The 2 Caspian Tern on Tennyson's Sands came and went several times. One bird bore a metal ring. There are 3 old British recoveries of Caspian Terns ringed abroad: (1) ringed in 1927 in the United States and recovered at Whitby in 1939, (2) ringed in 1970 in Finland and recovered at Haddon (in a Fox's den) in 1972, and (3) ringed in 1975 in Sweden and recovered on Yell in 1976.
 One bird shows suspended/arrested moult limits in the wing feathers, but there is little data on moult in post-juvenile large terns as a key to ageing.
  Also on Tennyson's Sands were a Little Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Green Sandpiper. Other birds around were a Grey Heron and 2 Cuckoo. Going north were 23 Gannet
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, a Linnet and a Meadow Pipit; and 7 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 3 Great Tit and a Dunnock.

June 17th. The 2 Caspian Tern were on Tennyson's Sands, and a Green Sandpiper and 4 Black-tailed Godwit on Jackson's Marsh. Also around were a Spoonbill, a Grey Heron, 2 Cuckoo and 2 Turtle Dove. Flying north were 3 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Great Tit and a Goldfinch; and 6 retrap Great Tit.

Caspian Tern showing ring on right leg, 17th June 2016.

Caspian Tern flying past hide, 17th June 2016.

Southern Marsh Orchid, 17th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Yellow Rattle keeps the dune grasses down by parasitizing their roots, 17th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 16th. Another foggy, soggy start, gradually clearing.
 The 2 Caspian Tern were back on Tennyson's Sands. Other birds around included a Green Sandpiper, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Cuckoo and 3 Turtle Dove.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes by Mike Polling produced 2 new Linnet; and 3 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the 5th CES session, produced 41 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Wren, 6 Coal Tit, a Great Tit, 7 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, a Pied Wagtail, a Yellowhammer, 2 Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch, a Jackdaw and a Woodpigeon; and 26 retraps: 4 Dunnock, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Wren and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Caspian Tern, 16th June 2016.
Photo - Andrew Chick

Caspian Tern, 16th June 2016.
Photo - Andrew Chick

Caspian Tern, 16th June 2016.
Photo - Andrew Chick

Pied Wagtail, ringed 16th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Yellowhammer, ringed 16th  June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 16th June 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

June 15th. Foggy, soggy start, gradually clearing.
 The 2 Caspian Tern returned to Tennyson's Sands for some time. Around were 2 Cuckoo, 2 Grey Partridge and a Turtle Dove. A Swift flew south.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: a Wren, 2 Linnet, a Goldfinch, a Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Caspian Tern, 15th June 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Caspian Tern, 15th June 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

June 14th. Soggy start.
 2 Caspian Tern were on Tennyson's Sands this afternoon. Birds around included a Green Woodpecker, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo.

Double Caspian Tern action on Tennyson's Sands, 14th June 2016
Photo - Nige Lound

June 13th. Around were 2 Cuckoo, 4 Sandwich Tern, 25 Little Tern, 208 Oystercatcher and 2 Turtle Dove. A Swift flew north. Flying south offshore were 128 Common Scoter and a Fulmar.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: 6 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Robin and Sedge Warbler.

Ringed Plover and Little Terns, 11th June 2016.
Photo - Richard Doan

June 12th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Green Sandpiper, a Collared Dove, 72 Shelduck, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo and 2 Turtle Dove. Heading south were 73 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: a Reed Warbler, 5 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

June 11th. Around were a Spoonbill, a Green Woodpecker, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Grey Wagtail, a Barn Owl, 2 Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 11 new birds: a Reed Warbler, 8 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Wren and Linnet.