Early June 2018

June 10th. A flighty Serin was discovered in East Dunes during the morning, and a Golden Oriole was heard singing from the Plantation in the evening. Other birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Swift, 3 Cuckoo, a Peregrine and 2 Crossbill. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Spoonbill. Heading south were a Buzzard and 2 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, provided 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, 4 Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Scarlet Pimpernel, 10th June 2018.
Photo - Rob Watson 

Southern Marsh Orchid, 10th June 2018.
Photo - Rob Watson

Viper's Bugloss, 10th June 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Drinker Moth caterpillar, 10th June 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Painted Lady, part of a small arrival, 10th June 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

June 9th. The Common Rosefinch was still in East Dunes. Around were 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Whimbrel, 39 Curlew, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Yellow Wagtail. Flying north were 13 Swift; and south 18 Starling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: 2 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

June 8th. A Common Rosefinch was discovered in East Dunes. Birds around included 128 Shelduck, 2 Grey Partridge, a Grey Heron, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Hobby, a Peregrine, 4 Jay, 10 Swift, 6 Swallow, 62 House Martin and 3 Yellowhammer. Flying north were 5 Swift and 22 House Martin. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 10 new birds: a Chaffinch, 2 Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat, 4 Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 5 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat.

Barn Owl, 8th June 2018.

 Video - Ben Ward 

Wall Brown, 8th June 2018.

 Photo - Ben Ward 

Elephant Hawkmoth, 8th June 2018.

 Photo - Ben Ward 

Brown Silver-lines, 8th June 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound

June 7th. Around were a Marsh Harrier, 52 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Hobby, 15 Swift, 8 Swallow and 40 House Martin. Flying north were 20 Brent Goose; and south a Grey Heron, an Osprey, 4 Jay and 31 Starling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Reed Bunting, a Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit and a Sedghe Warbler.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, a Dunnock, 2 Great Tit and a Blackbird; and 9 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Wren and 2 Dunnock.

A new Macro moth for the NNR was trapped in the East Dunes overnight, Concolorous is a Red Data Book species with just a localised distribution in the UK;

Concolorous, 7th June 2018.

 Photo - K & S Hand 

Small Heath, 7th June 2018.

 Photo - Ben Ward 

June 6th. Birds around included a mobile Great White Egret, 4 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 37 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo, 20 Swift, 2 Wheatear, a Siskin and a Yellowhammer. On Croftmarsh was a Wood Sandpiper; and on Tennyson's Sands a Mediterranean Gull. Heading north were 11 Swift; and south a Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Chaffinch; and 4 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.

Wood Sandpiper, 6th June 2018.
Video - Ben Ward 

Mediterranean Gull, 6th June 2018.
 Video - Ben Ward 

Spoonbills, one of which colour flagged, 6th June 2018.

Video  - Ben Ward

Spoonbills, 6th June 2018.

Video  - Ben Ward

 

Great White Egret, 6th June 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward 

Wheatear, 6th June 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward 

Southern Marsh Orchid, 6th June 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Yellow Rattle, a parasite on roots of dune grasses, 6th June 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

June 5th. Slowly increasing north-easterly wind.
 Birds around included a Curlew Sandpiper on the morning high tide, 60 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 256 Sanderling, 80 Dunlin, 2 Grey Partridge, a Spoonbill, 3 Marsh Harrier, 15 Little Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Cuckoo, a Asio sp, 25 Swift, 6 Swallow, 50 House Martin, a Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 46 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Croftmarsh a Greenshank. Flying north were a Fulmar and 30 Sanderling.
 The fourth session of CES was done this morning. The 15 new birds were 10 Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Linnet and 2 Sedge Warbler. The 20 retraps were 2 Blackbird, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Sedge Warbler.

Spoonbill, 5th June 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Spoonbill, 5th June 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

June 4th. Drizzle around mid morning.
 Around were 2 Garganey, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 7 Swift, 2 Cuckoo, 6 Swallow and 70 House Martin. Flying north were 9 Swift; and south 9 Swallow.
 A drizzle-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Wren and a Sedge Warbler; and 4 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

June 3rd. Fog/mist until mid morning.
 On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, 3 Pochard and a Greenshank; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover. Birds around included 81 Black-tailed Godwit, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Jay, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Yellowhammer, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin. Flying south were 14 Swallow and a House Martin; and north 14 House Martin and a Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 7 new birds: a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and 13 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackbird, 3 Great Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat.
 A Poplar Hawkmoth was found on the Heligoland Trap.

Poplar Hawkmoth, 3rd June 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Hairy Dragonflies copulating, 3rd June 2018. 

Photo - Ben Ward

June 2nd. Light rain for most of day.
 Around were 78 Black-tailed Godwit, a Jay, a Yellowhammer, a Marsh Harrier and 2 Cuckoo. On Jackson's Marsh was a Mediterranean Gull; on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Greenshank; on Croftmarsh a Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover.

Cuckoo, 2nd June 2018. 

Video - Ben Ward

Yellowhammer, 2nd June 2018. 

Video - Ben Ward

June 1st. Birds around included a Hawfinch, a Crossbill, a Hobby, a Asio sp, 20 Little Tern, 24 Sandwich Tern, a Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Yellowhammer. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover; on Tennyson's Sands 65 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Pintail; and on Jackson's Marsh a Greenshank.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Sedge Warbler; and 5 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Late May 2018.

May 31st. Fog until mid morning.

 Around were a Wood Warbler (in Plantation), a Little Stint, a Green Woodpecker, a Cuckoo, 2 Swift, a Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and 8 Swallow. On Fenland Lagoon were 35 Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Ringed Plover.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and Sam Prettyman, yielded a new Goldfinch; and 7 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.

Wood Warbler, 31st May 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward 

Wheatear, 31st May 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward 

May 30th. Thunder, lightning and rain until mid morning.
 Birds around, including those trapped were a Little Stint, a Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 7 Swift, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby, 8 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, a Stonechat, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Garganey, 2 Pintail, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Sandpiper; on Jackson's Marsh were a Great Crested Grebe, 46 Black-tailed Godwit and a Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were 20 Black-tailed Godwit and a Sand Martin.
 A ringing session from late morning to mid afternoon provided 8 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, a Whinchat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: a Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.

Mediterranean Gulls, 30th May 2018.
Video - Ben Ward 

Spoonbill, 30th May 2018.

Video - Ben Ward

 

Little Stint, 30th May 2018.

Video - Ben Ward 

Barn Owl, 30th May 2018.

Video - Ben Ward 

Whinchat, ringed 30th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

May 29th. Fog/mist until mid morning; slowly increasing north-easterly wind.
 Around were 2 Grey Partridge, a Redstart, a Wood Sandpiper, a Garganey, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, a Wheatear, 9 Turnstone, 8 Little Tern, 2 Swallow and a Hawfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and 9 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying north were 58 Swift, 18 Swallow and 35 House Martin.
 The third session of CES was done this morning. The 8 new birds were 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap; and 10 retraps: 3 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Hobby in the mist, 29th May 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound

Painted Lady, 29th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Colour-flagged Ringed Plover, 29th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 28th. A Hoopoe was discovered on North Building Ridge mid morning. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 87 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Greenshank, 6 Turnstone, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, a Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Little Tern, 5 Cuckoo, a Hobby, a Marsh Harrier, a Siskin, 25 House Martin and 10 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Garganey, 2 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Black-tailed Godwit; on Fenland Lagoon a Garganey, 2 Little Ringed Plover; on Croftmarsh 4 Grey Plover; and on the beach a Little Stint. Going north was a Fulmar.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 8 retraps: 5 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.

Garganey, 28th May 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

Muntjac, 28th May 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

Muntjac, 28th May 2018.
Photo - Nige Lound

May 27th. Increasing north-easterly wind.
 A Bee-eater was briefly in East Dunes before flying south-west. Around, including birds trapped, were 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, 2 Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Siskin, a Tree Sparrow, a Marsh Harrier and 30 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 2 Garganey; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Pintail. Heading north were an Osprey and 9 Swift; and south a Spoonbill and 10 Crossbill.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Garden Warbler; and a retrap Chaffinch.

Bee-eater, 27th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Bee-eater, 27th May 2018.

 Video - Ben Ward

 Spotted Flycatcher, 27th May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

May 26th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a male Red-backed Shrike in East Dunes, a Common Rosefinch singing east of Mill Hill, 2 Whimbrel, a Jay, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 9 Swift, a Garden Warbler, 50 Swallow, 8 House Martin, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were a Garganey, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff; and over Croftmarsh a Buzzard.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell and Sam Prettyman, provided 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroat and a Red-backed Shrike; and 3 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Linnet.
 An odd-looking Acrocephalus Sp was caught in the Heligoland Trap. It showed a mixture of features of Blyth's Reed Warbler, Caspian Reed Warbler and European Reed Warbler: a bold supercilium extending behind the eye, a greyish cast to upper body contrasting with a quite rufousy rump, a slight emargination on p4 on left wing only, moderately pale underbody, and wing formula/biometrics that indicated European Reed Warbler/Caspian Reed Warbler. It could possibly have been a hybrid or intergrade. The bird was not definitely identified and so was released unringed.

Red-backed Shrike, ringed 26th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Great Spotted Woodpecker and Great Tit, 26th May 2018.

Photo - Paul Johnson

Meadow Pipit, 26th May 2018.
Photo - Paul Johnson

May 25th. Rain in the morning.
Around, including birds trapped were; a singing Marsh Warbler in the East Dunes, a singing Wood Warbler in the Plantation, a male Red-backed Shrike on Storm Ridge, 2 Common Rosefinch singing along Sykes Farm track, a Hawfinch, 3 Whimbrel, a Black Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 12 Swift, 40 Swallow, 4 House Martin and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Garganey, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and a Common Sandpiper.
An afternoon ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher; and 3 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.

Marsh Warbler, 25th May 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

Marsh Warbler song, 25th May 2018.
Video - Kevin Wilson

Common Rosefinch, 25th May 2018.
Photo - Roy Harvey

Common Rosefinch song, 25th May 2018.
Video - Kevin Wilson

Red-backed Shrike, 25th May 2018.
Photo - James Siddle

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 25th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Wood Warbler in the Plantation, 25th May 2018.
Photo - James Siddle

May 24th. Fairly strong north-easterly wind.
 A Glossy Ibis arrived from the north, circled around, then flew off south, mid morning. Birds around included a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier, 600 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 60 Sanderling, 150 Dunlin, 5 Turnstone, a Cuckoo, 14 Swift, a Hobby, a Jay, 2 Wheatear and 45 Swallow. On Tennyson's Sands were 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover, which then flew off north. Going north were 4 Swift.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 6 new birds: 2 Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.

Brown Argus, 24th May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward

Common Blue, 24th May 2018,

Photo - Ben Ward

Wall Brown, 24th May 2018,

Photo - Kevin Wilson

Little Ringed Plover, 24th May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward

Woodpigeon, ringed 24th May 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

 May 23rd. Fairly strong northerly wind.
 Around were 43 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Partridge, 13 Little Tern, 14 Swift, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, 8 Sand Martin, 65 Swallow, 12 House Martin and a Wheatear. On Croftmarsh was a Garganey; on Tennyson's Sands 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Fenland Lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit. Heading north were 2 Swift.

Mediterranean Gull 24rd May 2018,
 Video - Ben Ward

Ringing Control.
Willow Warbler, ringed GPBO 8 August 2016, controlled Catterick, Yorkshire, 6 May 2018.

May 22nd. Increasing northerly wind.
 The Spoonbill flew from Tennyson's Sands towards the Wash. Birds around included 15 Brent Goose, 350 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 14 Little Tern, a Cuckoo, a Wheatear, 6 Sand Martin, 35 Swallow and 8 House Martin. On Croftmarsh was a Garganey; and on Tennyson's Sands 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper. Flying north were 14 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 43 Swallow and 2 House Martin; and south a Fulmar.
 A wind-restricted morning session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Goldfinch; and 2 retrap Whitethroats.

Tawny Owl, 22nd May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward

Long-tailed Tits, 22nd May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward

May 21st. Fog until mid morning.
 On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill and 11 Black-tailed Godwit; on Jackson's Marsh a Yellow Wagtail; and on Croftmarsh a Ruff. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 27 Little Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, a Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Hobby and a Jay. Going north were 3 Black Tern.
 A fog-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Song Thrush and a Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, 21st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Cuckoo, 21st May 2018,
Photo - Ben Ward

Green Woodpecker, 21st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Hobby, 21st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward

Hobby, 21st May 2018.
Photo - Ben Ward