Early September 2017

September 10th. Soggy start, then foggy until mid morning.
 Birds around included 9 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier (including 1 with a rectangular green tag on the right wing), a Merlin, 5 Golden Plover, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Whinchat, a Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail. On Jackson's Marsh were a Black Tern, 175 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and a Spotted Redshank; on the Mere a Water Rail; and on Fenland Lagoon a Yellow-legged Gull and 9 Greenshank. Heading south were a Manx Shearwater, 19 Pintail, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Black Tern, 11 Ruff, 3 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 192 Meadow Pipit, 319 Swallow, 122 House Martin and 7 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Toby Collett, yielded 8 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Robin and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: 3 Wren, a Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

A selection of pictures from taken at high tide, 10th September by Les Binns

September 9th. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Spoonbill, 6 Snipe and a Kingfisher. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Marsh Harrier, 7 Kestrel, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Whinchat and 45 Wheatear. Flying south were a Whimbrel, 7 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 443 Meadow Pipit, 60 Swallow, 55 Sand Martin, 374 House Martin and 42 Tree Sparrow; and west a Peregrine.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 49 new birds: a Wren, 15 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 6 Blackcap, a Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Tree Sparrow, a Reed Bunting, a Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Chaffinch, a Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Goldcrest and a Great Tit.

Sparrowhawk, ringed 9th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Stinkhorn Fungus in Heligoland Trap, causing a bad smell, 9th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 8th. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill, 39 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Snipe; on Fenland Lagoon 5 Greenshank; and on Tennyson's Sands a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 268 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, and a Kingfisher. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Greenshank, 8 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher. Going south were a Merlin, 40 House Martin and 120 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 15 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Kestrel; and 7 retraps: a Goldcrest, 4 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 8th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Kestrel, ringed 8th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 8th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 7th. On Jackson's Marsh were 10 Spoonbill, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe and a Kingfisher; on Tennyson's Sands 2 Pintail, a Snipe, a Spotted Redshank and 251 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Fenland Lagoon a Spotted Redshank. Around, including birds trapped, were a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear, 11 Whinchat and 2 Goldcrest. Heading south were a Great Skua, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Swift, 12 Yellow Wagtail, 100 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 40 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 9 Robin, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, a Linnet, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Robin, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Whitethroat.

Knot, 7th September 2017

Sanderling, 7th September 2017.

Common Buzzard, 7th September 2017.

Meadow Pipit, 7th September 2017.

Turnstone, 7th September 2017.

Redshank, 7th September 2017.

Tern Flock, 7th September 2017.

Spotted Redshank, 7th September 2017.
Photo - Ben Ward

September 6th. Birds around included 10 Spoonbill, 82 Little Egret, a Merlin, 2 Ruff, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 275 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 8 Whinchat, 65 Yellow Wagtail and a Goldcrest. Flying south were an Osprey, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 7 Arctic Skua, 2 Swift, 2 Grey Wagtail, 140 Meadow Pipit, 50 Swallow, 40 House Martin and 2 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 23 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, 9 Robin, a Reed Warbler, a Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retrap Whitethroats.

Osprey, 6th September 2017.
Photo - Ben Ward

Wheatear, 6th September 2017.

Kingfisher, 6th September 2017.

Pale Common Buzzard, 6th September 2017.

Pale Common Buzzard, 6th September 2017.

Wheatear, 6th September 2017.

Mixed flock of Sandwich and Common Terns, 6th September 2017.

September 5th. On Jackson's Marsh were 10 Spoonbill, 85 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Stint; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Kingfisher. Around were 11 Arctic Skua, 3 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 4 Swift, 80 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin and 65 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new Blackcap; and a retrap Whitethroat.

 September 4th. On Jackson's Marsh were 8 Spoonbill, 60 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron and 9 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Snipe and a Water Rail. Birds around included a Greenshank, a Kingfisher, a Wheatear, 2 Whinchat and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were a Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 2000 Sandwich Tern, 5 Sand Martin, 7 House Martin and 14 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Starling; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

September 3rd. On Jackson's Marsh were 7 Spoonbill, 61 Little Egret and 3 Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands 8 Greenshank and 4 Spotted Redshank; and on the Mere 2 Wigeon. On or over the sea were 8 Goosander and a Red-throated Diver. The tern roost contained 1500 Sandwich Terns, with a further 350 flying south along with a Great Skua, 8 Arctic Skua, 40 Teal, 45 Gannet and a Fulmar. Around were a Common Buzzard, a Greenshank, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, 2 Whinchat, a Wheatear, 45 House Martin and 25 Yellow Wagtail. Flying north were a Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier and 15 Swallow; and south 2 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: 2 Blackcap and a Blue Tit; and 4 retraps: singles of Great Tit, Dunnock, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Whinchat, 3rd September 2017.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Whinchat, 3rd September 2017.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wheatear, 3rd September 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

Bittersweet (Woody Nightshade), 3rd September 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

September 2nd. Misty start, gradually clearing.
 On Jackson's Marsh were 13 Spoonbill (arrived in afternoon); and on Tennyson's Sands 7 Snipe, 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Yellow-legged Gull, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 3 Arctic Skua, a Kingfisher, a Wheatear, a Whinchat, a Bullfinch and a Goldcrest. Going south were 2 Whimbrel and a House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 13 new birds: a Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, a Robin, a Reed Warbler, 4 Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: a Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Kingfisher, 2nd September 2017.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Chiffchaff, 2nd September 2017.

Willow Warbler, 2nd September 2017.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2nd September 2017.

Whitethroat, 2nd September 2017.

Treecreeper, 2nd September 2017.

Yellow-legged Gull, 2nd September 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound

September 1st. Soggy, misty start following yesterday's rain, gradually drying out and clearing.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 13 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 7 Arctic Skua, 800 Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern, a Wheatear, 4 Goldcrest and 2 Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were a female Scaup, 163 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Greenshank, a Snipe, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Common Sandpiper; on Jackson's Marsh a Little Stint, 4 Snipe and a Common Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon 5 Greenshank and a Kingfisher. Heading south were 4 Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 2 Collared Dove, 12 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin and 25 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.
 A brief ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling yielded just a new Dunnock.

Female Scaup, 1st September 2017.
Photo - Doug Aston

Late August 2017

August 31st. Heavy rain in afternoon.
 On Jackson's Marsh were 8 Spoonbill, 2 Grey Heron and a Little Stint; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Around, including birds trapped, were 750 Sandwich Tern, 11 Arctic Tern, a Greenshank and a Wheatear. Flying south were a Great Skua, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 25 Swallow, 30 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail; and east 12 Black-tailed Godwit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 20 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 3 Whitethroat, a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 5 Linnet and 2 Blue Tit; and 7 retraps: a Robin, 4 Whitethroat, a Wren and a Blue Tit.

Greenland Wheatear, ringed 31st August 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

August 30th. On Jackson's Marsh were 14 Spoonbill, 84 Little Egret , a Grey Heron and a Kingfisher; and on Tennyson's Sands a Little Gull. On the beach or offshore were an adult Roseate Tern, 400 Sandwich Tern, 30 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern, a Red-throated Diver and 10 Arctic Skua. Birds around included a Wheatear, 600 Swallow and 650 House Martin. Going north was a Black Tern.

Little Gull (left) with Black-headed Gulls, 30th August 2017.
Photo - Steven Humphreys

August 29th. On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Spoonbill, a Water Rail, a Green Sandpiper and 11 Snipe. Around, including birds trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Garden Warbler and 2 Goldcrest. Heading southwest were 6 Meadow Pipit, 500 Swallow, 100 House Martin and 100 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 21 new birds: a Goldcrest, 3 Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 4 Robin, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, a Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and 4 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Wren and a Dunnock.

August 28th. On Jackson's Marsh were 16 Spoonbill and a Little Stint. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, a Mediterranean Gull, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Whinchat, a Wheatear, 4 House Sparrow and a Siskin. Flying south were 5 Common Buzzard, 2 Whimbrel, 23 Curlew, a Hobby, a Grey Wagtail, 60 Swallow, 15 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 7 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Wren, a Robin, 3 Dunnock and a Blackcap.

Spoonbill, 28th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbill, 28th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwits, 28th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Whimbrel , 28th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

August 27th. On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Spoonbill, 75 Little Egret, a juvenile Little Stint, 2 Common Sandpiper and 25 Dunlin. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 70000 Knot, a Greenshank, a Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail and 4 Swallow. Going south were 8 Tree Sparrow.
 The twelfth and final session of CES was done this morning. The 14 new birds were 4 Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock. The 3 retraps were a Wren, a Blackcap and a Dunnock.
 Insects included a Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Willow Emerald Damselfly, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Willow Emerald Damselfly, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Sanderling, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

Speckled Wood, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

Muntjac, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Cormorant, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbills, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbills, 27th August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

August 26th. On Jackson's Marsh were 19 Spoonbill, a juvenile Little Stint, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 70000 Knot, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear and 2 Whinchat. Heading south were 7 Swallow and 70 Tree Sparrow; and north 2 Black Tern.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, provided 26 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Wren, a Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, a Robin, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 12 retraps: 4 Dunnock, 3 Robin, a Wren, 3 Whitethroat and a Great Tit.

Pied Flycatcher, 26th August 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Pied Flycatcher, 26th August 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Noisy juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 26th August 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

August 25th. On Jackson's Marsh were 18 Spoonbill, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, a Ruff and 49 Little Egret; and on Tennyson's Sands a Snipe, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and 150 Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Yellow-legged Gull, 15 Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear and a Tree Sparrow. Flying south were 3 Swift, 740 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, 38 House Martin, a Tree Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail and 3 Tree Sparrow; and west 4 Grey Heron.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 30 new birds: 12 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 3 Robin, 5 Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock and a Robin.

Grey Plover, 25th August 2017

Grey Plover, 25th August 2017

Sparrowhawk, 25th August 2017

Snipe, 25th August 2017

August 24th. On Jackson's Marsh were 18 Spoonbill, 64 Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and a Kingfisher; and on Tennyson's Sands 6 Common Sandpiper and a Ruff. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 9 Little Egret, 50000 Knot, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Snipe, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Goldcrest and a Garden Warbler. Going south were 52 Sand Martin, 84 House Martin, 428 Swallow.a Tree Pipit, 10 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Tree Sparrow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 53 new birds: 37 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet, 3 Blue Tit, a Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Small Copper, 24th August 2017.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Kingfisher, ringed 24th August 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

August 23rd. Around were 16 Spoonbill, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 5 Snipe, a Crossbill and a Bullfinch. Heading south were a Swift and 60 Swallow.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: singles of Wren, Robin, Whitethroat and Swallow; and a retrap Dunnock.

August 22nd. A White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered at Greenshanks Creek early morning. Later it flew off south. Birds around included 20 Spoonbill (a reserve record), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Snipe and a Green Woodpecker. Flying south were a Velvet Scoter, 4 Swift, 5 Sand Martin, 15 House Martin and 120 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The 3 new birds were a Wren, a Linnet and a Swallow; and the 6 retraps were a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, a Wren and a Willow Warbler.

White-rumped Sandpiper, 22nd August 2017.
Photo - James Siddle

White-rumped Sandpiper, 22nd August 2017.
Photo - James Siddle

White-rumped Sandpiper, 22nd August 2017.
Photo - James Siddle

August 21st. Around were 10 Spoonbill, a Common Buzzard, a Water Rail, a Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull, a Treecreeper, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat. Going south were 2 Whimbrel, 6 Sand Martin, 3 House Martin and 55 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 7 retraps: 2 Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Linnet, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.

Green Sandpiper, 21st August 2017.

Lapwing and Green Sandpiper, 21st August 2017.

Moorhen with chick, 21st August 2017.

Spotted Flycatcher, 21st August 2017.

Spoonbills, 21st August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Lapwing, 21st August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Godwits, 21st August 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale