Early October 2024

October 8th. Soggy start, then mostly cloudy, with outbreaks of rain later on and a light southerly to south-easterly breeze.

  Early news involved three Yellow-browed Warblers, including 2 at Sykes Farm and one around the north end of the Cycle Track. Two Jay went south along the East Dunes late morning.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 14 new birds: a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcap, a Stonechat and 2 Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Robin, 2 Dunnock and 2 Goldcrest.

  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn yielded 7 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest and a Great Tit; and a retrap Goldcrest.

Stonechat, ringed 8 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

October 7th. Soggy, clear start, becoming quite cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

  Four Yellow-browed Warblers around the west side this morning included 3 around the Plantation/Sykes Farm where a Ring-necked Parakeet was also vocal. Over the East Dunes and beach visible migration was fairly busy with Rock Pipits and Reed Buntings in particularly good numbers, whilst 70,000 mixed waders were again up to roost. Birds of prey on site included a Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harrier and the male Hen Harrier. A Firecrest was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. 

  A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 18 new birds: 4 Wren, 5 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, 4 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: 2 Robin, 4 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and a Song Thrush.

  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 24 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Swallow, 3 Great Tit, a Robin, 4 Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: 2 Dunnock and a Great Tit.

Firecrest, ringed 7 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

October 6th. Cloudy, with quite strong south-easterly wind.

 First thing on Tennyson's Sands, there were 1800 Pink Footed Geese, 15 Pintail, 11 Mute Swan,263 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Heron, a Peregrine over along with 19 Swallow south. A Great White Egret was on Croft Marsh.  A Yellow-browed Warbler was very vocal at Sykes Farm from early morning and another remained up the road edge, north of Aylmer Avenue. The Sykes Farm bird was then joined by another later in the day with both showing very well.

  Jays were a feature of the day with several arriving from inland - at least 14 through. A substantial wader roost was again witnessed on the morning tide with c70,000 birds involved. A Jack Snipe arrived off the sea and birds of prey included 2 Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier and a Merlin. In the evening Tennyson's Sands held 2531 Teal, 60 Mallard, 50 Shoveler, 45 Little Grebe, 6 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall and a Pintail along with 3 Ruff and 650 Starling coming into roost in the reedbed.

  A brief, wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retraps: a Blackcap and a Robin.

Yellow-browed warbler, 6th October 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard
Yellow-browed warbler, 6th October 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard
October 5th. Partially cloudy, with increasing south-easterly wind.

  Early news included a Yellow-browed Warbler that was trapped and ringed at Aylmer Avenue. The Bearded Tits were still calling, audible from Harvey's Hide (Although nobody has actually managed to get an exact count yet!). 658 Pink Footed Geese were on Tennyson's Sands at first light along with 287 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Mute Swans, 3 Water-rail and 41 Avocet. Along the cycle path were a male Brambling, a Yellow-browed Warbler, (probably a different bird to the one ringed), a Lesser Whitethroat and a Firecrest.

 At mid day, a Bittern was seen briefly but was proving elusive, also at Harvey's Hide. A 2nd winter Caspian Gull was on Tennyson's Sands whilst a Great White Egret was on Jackson's Marsh. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier. An evening count of the Teal on Tennyson's Sands revealed there were 2551 still present along with 57 Little Grebe, 1 Ruff. 200 Starling came in to roost and 180 Pink Footed Goose flew over heading towards their roost on the wash whilst the Bearded Tits were still calling at near the North end.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, resulted in 31 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, 5 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Robin, a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting, a Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap and a Greenfinch; and 13 retraps: 2 Robin, a Goldcrest, a Garden Warbler, 6 Long-tailed Tit, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

  Another morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue with an earlier start by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn resulted in 30 new birds: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Dunnock, a Redwing and a Song Thrush; and retraps: Blackcap, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit.

Bittern, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Ste Taylor
Bittern, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood
Bearded Tit, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Paul Neale
Bearded Tit, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Paul Neale
Bearded Tit, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Tom Baker
Caspian Gull, 5th October 2024. 
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Water Rail juvenile moulting to adult plumage, 5th October 2024.
 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 5 October 2024.
Photo - Christine Flint
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 5 October 2024.
Photo - Christine Flint
October 4th. A perfectly still start to the day with just scattered broken cloud continuing like this all day.

  Overnight clear skies doubtless led to the departure of some of yesterday's birds. However, there were still at least 5 Yellow-browed Warblers present along the west side of the Reserve, including two singles around Sykes Farm/Plantation, another at the north end of the Cycle Track, and another couple along the roadside as you drive onto the reserve. There were still high numbers of Robins and Reed Buntings with a scattering of Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldfinch and a few Swallows. 

  A Coal Tit was in North Carpark whilst a Tawny owl was calling at first light at the North end of the West Dunes. On Tennyson's Sands were 3000+ Pink Footed Geese whilst a Great White Egret was on Croft Marsh. Around were several Brent Geese, a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, a Greenshank, a Jay and a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands from Fenella Hope hide were 2 Whooper Swans and a Cetti's Warbler with Bearded Tits calling there early afternoon. On Tennyson's Sands, late in the afternoon were 2638 Teal, 3 Ruff and the Bearded Tits (numbering at least 2 birds) calling this time, from near Harvey's Hide.

  This morning's ringing session in East Dunes provided 55 new birds: 8 Goldcrest, 4 Wren, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blackcap, 9 Robin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, a Redwing, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Jay; 7 retraps: 2 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Dunnock, a Great Tit, a Robin and a Long-tailed Tit; and a control Blackcap with a BRUSSELS ring.

  A late morning start ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 11 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Blackcap, a Goldfinch and a Robin; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Robin.

Water Rail, 4th October 2024.
 Photo - Paul Neale
Cetti's warbler, 4th October 2024.
 Photo - Paul Neale
Cetti's warbler, 4th October 2024.
 Photo - Paul Neale
Peregrine, 4th October 2024. 
Photo - Russell Hayes
Jay, ringed 4 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory
October 3rd. Partially cloudy, with light to moderate north-easterly wind.

  There was a further arrival of Redwings, Song Thrushes, Reed Buntings, Bramblings and Chaffinches from early morning with many birds passing south along with Meadow and Rock Pipits and Swallows. There was no sign of yesterday's Olive-backed Pipit in the East Dunes but a possible OBP flew south over the West Dunes. 

  Two Ring Ouzels were in West Dunes and another arrived over East Dunes with Song Thrushes. The first Woodcock of the autumn was flushed from the Plantation. There were probably at least 9 Yellow-browed Warblers on the Reserve, with one in the Sallows around the Mere Hide, another in West Dunes, two in East Dunes,  and others in the hedge opposite Aylmer Avenue, North Building Ridge and Halfway Sycamores and two along the Cycle Track near the Jackson's Marsh Entrance.  There were 2 Jays in between North Car Park and Mill Pond. The Blyth's Reed Warbler showed briefly and called from the Sleeper Track at 8.50am. Also in the East Dunes, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Barred Warbler, a Firecrest, Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler. Another Firecrest was seen along the road edge.

    A Dusky Warbler was discovered calling and was audio recorded and seen mid afternoon along the road edge in-between Aylmer Avenue and North Car Park. A lot of Robins were on the reserve and continued to build throughout the day. As dusk came, there were clearly new Goldcrests beginning to arrive fresh on to the reserve.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Liam Andrews, produced 65 new birds: 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Wren, 10 Goldcrest, 10 Blackcap, 16 Robin. a Brambling, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, a Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, 5 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing; and 3 retraps: 2 Wren and a Robin.

  An afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Liam Andrews produced 9 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a Robin; and 2 retrap Dunnock.

Ring Ouzel, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Ring Ouzel, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Andy Sims
Ring Ouzel, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Redwing, 3rd October 2024, 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Song Thrush, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Tom Baker
Jay, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Common Buzzard, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Common Buzzard, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Great White Egret, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons
Little Grebe, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons
Brambling, ringed 3 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory
Kingfisher, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Rikki Clark
Blackcap, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Nige Lound
Chaffinch, 3rd October 2024. 
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

October 2nd. A cloudy day with limited early morning rain, with a strong north-north-easterly wind.

  A very busy day in the strong winds with grounded migrants across much of the reserve. Five Yellow-browed Warblers were still present, with 1 around Mill Hill and a further 2 around Sykes Farm, another along the Sleeper Track mid afternoon and another in Army Swathe. There were also 10+ Brambling, 3 Grey Wagtail, 30 Song Thrush and 300+ Redwing south over Sykes Farm early morning, most of which were dropping out of the low cloud and heading for cover in the strong winds having clearly just arrived from foreign lands. At Aylmer Avenue there were another 150 Redwing around. The Blyth's Reed Warbler was calling occasionally on the Sleeper Track mid morning in its original position but very difficult to see. There were 6 Ruff on the Old Saltmarsh.

  An Olive-backed Pipit was found in East Dunes and was mostly concealed in deep cover mid afternoon. Also newly arriving Goldcrests were arriving on the Reserve during the afternoon along with 6 Ring Ouzels that dropped into the Sleeper Track area  and a Redstart that found itself in one of the bird hides.A large Pipit seen and photographed in flight was most likely the long-staying Richard's Pipit.

Olive-backed Pipit, 2nd October 2024. 
Photo - Sam Goddard
Olive-backed Pipit, 2nd October 2024. 
Photo - Sam Goddard
Olive-backed Pipit, 2nd October 2024. 
Photo - Daniel Langston
Blyth's Reed Warbler, 2nd October 2024. 
Photo - Daniel Langston
Redstart in bird hide, 2nd October 2024. 
Photo - Tom Baker

October 1st. Heavy overnight rain continued throughout the morning and into the afternoon, accompanied by a strong north-westerly wind.

  Sea watching was the only option for much of the morning, although visibility was poor. A Great Skua and a Long-tailed Skua were the highlights. On the lagoons, there was a noticeable arrival of wildfowl with over 2000 Teal being a very high count for the Reserve. Five Ruff were again on Tennyson's Lagoon whilst a Spotted Redshank flew over the New Saltmarsh. Two Marsh Harrier were around.

  Three Yellow-browed Warblers were still around with 2 in the Plantation/Sykes Farm area and another was around Mill Hill late afternoon - possibly a new arrival, with a small number of new Song Thrushes and Redwings also having arrived. An evening sea watch produced 6 northbound Arctic Skuas, 3 Arctic Tern and 180 Common Scoter but the main event was the arrival of waders at the evening roost - c80,000 Knot.

Marsh Harrier, 1st October 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harrier with Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Teal, 1st October 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harrier with Black-tiled Godwits, 1st October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood 

Late September 2024

September 30th. A very wet start to the day with the overnight heavy rain continuing for much of the day. Feeling cold in the occasional breaks with a strong east-south-easterly.

  Early news involved, amazingly a Yellow-browed Warbler was still calling at Sykes Farm even in the heavy rain and gusting wind with another one later on in the Orchard. Mid afternoon there were 5 Ruff on Tennyson's Sands visible from Harvey's Hide. 

  Tennyson's Sands and the Mere combined held 85 Pink Footed Geese, 10 Egyptian Geese, 14 Shoveler, 14 Wigeon, 124 Mallard, 21 Pintail, 1538 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Water-Rail, 33 Little Grebe, 28 Avocet, 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Snipe whilst there were 3 Great White Egrets around.

  Early evening the Richard's Pipit flew out of the saltmarsh at the Wash Viewpoint, calling. It was probably driven out of the marsh by the incoming high tide.

Yellow-browed Warbler 30th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great White Egret, 30th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton

September 29th. Fairly mild but sunny start, quickly turning cloudy, with slowly increasing south-south-easterly wind.

  On Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide were 4 Great White Egrets before they flew south into the Wash, whilst flying north out of the Wash in multiple skeins were 950 Pink-footed Geese. Around Aylmer Avenue before flying south were 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, whilst 2 Marsh Harriers were over the Old Saltmarsh. There were 3 Yellow-browed Warblers being their usual vocal selves with a single at Aylmer Avenue and 2 around Sykes Farm. A Green Woodpecker was vocal in Measures following a Tawny Owl there before first light. A single Redstart was around Aylmer Avenue and a Wheatear was on South Marsh Road briefly.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group resulted in 17 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 6 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Robin, a Redwing, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and retraps: 4 Dunnock, 4 Robin, a Goldcrest, a Garden Warbler and a Wren.

  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 12 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin, a Great Tit and a Blackcap; and a single retrap: a Chiffchaff.

Great White Egret, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Zara Brown
Great White Egret, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Spoonbills, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Greenshank, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Spoonbills, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Shoveler, 29th September 2024. 
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Knot, 29th September 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker
Knot with Shoveler, 29th September 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker
Great White Egret with Teal, 29th September 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

September 28th. Cold, clear start, with a light frost in parts, and with some cloud developing, and light north-westerly wind.

  A wintery feel to the morning was complemented by the appearance of 8 Whooper Swans on Tennyson's Sands with around 750 Teal. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was discovered in East Dunes and fortunately was quite vocal, which enabled it to be located although typically not easily seen during a couple of hours up to 11am. A Barred Warbler and a Yellow-browed Warbler were trapped and ringed in East Dunes. Four other Yellow-browed Warblers were seen: further north up the East Dunes, in West Dunes, Orchard, and Aylmer Avenue.  The Richard's Pipit was seen in flight briefly calling loudly as it went across South Marsh Road before landing in Old Saltmarsh early morning.

  Around were 2 Redstarts, a Willow Warbler, 6 Buzzard, 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk and a Collared Dove, whilst at least 5 Redwings went west. Up to 2000 Pink-footed Geese were around Croftmarsh with a White-fronted Goose. The male Hen Harrier was still present and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew south. Three Jay's flew south down the East Dunes and the male Brambling was still on Mill Pond Road first thing.

  A long ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group provided 52 new birds: 5 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 8 Wren, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, 4 Meadow Pipit, 5 Reed Bunting, 8 Robin, a Barred Warbler, 6 Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing; and 11 retraps: a Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Robin and 2 Wren.

Blyth's Reed Warbler, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - James Siddle

Blyth's Reed Warbler, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - James Siddle

Blyth's Reed Warbler, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - James Siddle

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 28 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Yellow-browed Warbler, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - James Siddle

Whooper Swans, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - Paul Neale

Whooper Swans, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbills, 28th September 2024. 
Photo - Paul Neale

The Sorby Breck Ringing Group at the Bird Observatory, 28 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Barred Warbler, ringed 28 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

September 27th. Some early morning rain, with increasingly strong then slowly decreasing north to north-westerly wind.

 A morning sea-watch saw a passage of Arctic Skuas moving south, often shearing at some speed with the backing northerly wind. 3 Great Skuas, 3 Long-tailed Skuas and a Pomarine Skua were also involved in the movement. Also offshore, several Red-throated Divers headed south while 15 Arctic Terns went north. Meadow Pipits and Swallows were arriving off the sea, two Bramblings flew south and another was grounded on Mill Pond Road. About 500 Pink-footed Geese were flying around.


Brambling, 27th September 2024. 
Photo - Rob Watson

Long-tailed Skua, 27th September 2024. 
Photo - Sam Goddard.

September 26th. Soggy start, cloudy with occasional morning rain and a light south-westerly wind, then an afternoon rainstorm.

 Five Yellow-browed Warblers were present today, with 2 around Sykes Farm and others in West Dunes,  Aylmer Ave and on East Dunes north of Mill Hill. An Eastern Lesser Whitethroat was a new arrival, 2 Fieldfares flew west and 2 Hobbies were around. The Little Stint remained on Tennyson's Sands. There was a steady passage of Meadow Pipits before the morning rain. Other birds around were a Redstart, a Wheatear and 3 Stonechat.

  An evening sea-watch for 40 minutes before the storm broke produced a feeding flock of 80 Sandwich Terns, 20 Common Terns and 4 Arctic Terns with 8 Arctic Skuas and 90 Commic Terns heading south.

  A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 4 Robin, a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Robin.

Redstart, 26th September 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood
September 25th. Cloudy, with a light south-westerly wind.

  At least 3000 Pink-footed Geese left the roost on Croftmarsh early and there followed skeins totalling 650 passing over north-west. Duck numbers on the lagoons remained high with over 1000 each of Wigeon and Teal. Amongst the waders on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Stint.  

  Visible migration involved moderate numbers of Meadow Pipits and Swallows, fewer Linnets and increasing numbers of Rock Pipit, Chaffinch and Skylarks, with a few Alba and Grey Wagtails and the first Brambling of the autumn. Birds of prey were concentrated around the foreshore where the regular adult Hobby was in dispute with the regular male Hen Harrier over a Meadow Pipit. A Merlin and a Peregrine were both present nearby. Offshore, 2 Black-throated Diver and a Pomarine Skua were the highlights. In the Dunes, a further increase of Robins and Chiffchaffs was noticeable, with new Song Thrushes and 2 Firecrest in West Dunes. A late Sedge Warbler was near the Freshwater Marsh, a Redstart was in the Plantation, a Black Redstart was at Sykes Farm and Yellow-browed Warblers remained at Mill Hill and Sykes Farm.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 28 new birds: 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 3 Robin, a Stonechat, a Goldfinch, 2 Blackcap, a Linnet, a Swallow and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Wren.


Pink-footed Geese, leaving the roost on Tennyson's Sands, 25th September 2024. 
Photos - Nige Lound
Stonechat, ringed 25 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

September 24th. A soggy start, gradually drying out, cloudy, with light to moderate north-westerly wind.

  Early news involved a Ring Ouzel again in  the East Dunes with the regular Yellow-browed Warbler still around Mill Hill, a Yellow-browed Warbler being really vocal along Sykes Farm Track, with another YBW in the West Dunes, and yet another YBW and a Firecrest trapped and ringed in East Dunes. A single Redstart was also present. Flying north-west out of the Wash were at least 2000 Pink-footed Geese, and south a Hobby, a few hundred Meadow Pipits  and a good number of Hirundines - some 1200 Swallow headed south on a broad front mid morning to early afternoon. Over the saltmarshes were 2 Marsh Harriers. A Cattle Egret arrived from the east and landed on Jackson's Marsh. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were on Tennyson's sands.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 20 new birds: 5 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Firecrest, 4 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit and 4 Goldfinch; and 8 retraps: a Wren, 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Robin and a Bullfinch.

Cattle Egret, 24th September 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood
Marsh Harrier, 24th September 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood
Snipe, 24th September 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Wheatear, 24th September 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 24 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory
Firecrest, ringed 24 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory
September 23rd. A soggy, quite cloudy start, with some brief late morning light rain, some longer early afternoon heavy rain, and with a moderate north-easterly slowly shifting to southerly wind.

  There was plenty happening today with the overnight rain having grounded migrant birds on the coast. Early on there was a Nuthatch in the Plantation (an extreme rarity on the coast here), with a Grey Wagtail flying over. A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling around Sykes Farm, with presumably the same bird later around the Plantation feeding station and another Yellow-browed Warbler at Aylmer Avenue.

  Two Hen Harriers (male and ringtail) and a Ring-necked Parakeet were over the East Dunes mid morning, along a Firecrest around Mill Hill. Late morning there was a Lapland Bunting over East Dunes, along with a vocal Ring Ouzel. A Bullfinch was around Sykes Farm entrance late morning also. At least two Marsh Harrier were over the saltmarshes. The wader roost again contained over 100,000 Knot with 25-30,000 other waders. There was a Cattle Egret briefly on Tennyson's Sands along with 25 Spoonbills.

  A morning sea watch was productive with 19 Arctic Skuas, 4 Bonxies, 3 Pomarine Skuas, a Long-tailed Skua, 28 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, a Black-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 3 Little Gulls300 Common Scoter and various wildfowl heading south.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced just a new Woodpigeon.

Yellow-browed Warbler, 23rd September 2024. 
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Siskin, 23rd September 2024. 
Photo - Jack Hood

September 22nd. Mostly cloudy, with light but slowly increasing north-easterly wind.

  The morning WeBS count was a challenge, with two counters compiling the morning totals over high tide; 108000 Knot, 6800 Oystercatcher, 6500 Grey Plover, 1885 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10540 Dunlin, 4450 Sanderling and 347 Ringed Plover 

  A Yellow-browed Warbler was around North Car Park early morning, with another one around Mill Hill. On Fenland Lagoon were a Stonechat, a Wheatear and a Kingfisher and on Tennyson's Sands the Curlew Sandpiper remained. Hobby, Peregrine, Merlin and 3 Marsh Harriers were also seen.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat and 2 Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Wren and a Robin.

Curlew Sandpiper, 22nd September 2024.
 Photo - Jason Virgin

Little Egret, 22nd September 2024. 
Photo - Rob Smith

September 21st. Generally clear, with light north-easterly wind.

  Another spectacular wader roost was observed from Mill Hill to start the day. Subsequently, it was another day of good variety but no migrants in any particular quantity. Yellow-browed Warblers were again at Mill Hill and along the road edge north of Aylmer Avenue, the Common Rosefinch was seen again in East Dunes, the Richard's Pipit was on the Old Saltmarsh edge, a Barred Warbler was trapped in East Dunes, and a Honey Buzzard went south early on. Other birds around were 3 Cattle Egret, 3 Great White Egret, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 18 Pintail, 2 Hobby, 4 Marsh Harrier, 6 Common Buzzard, a Caspian Gull, 2 Redstart, 2 Wheatear, a Stonechat and a Whinchat.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Redstart, a Reed Warbler, a Reed Bunting, a Barred Warbler and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap and 2 Wren.

Barred Warbler, ringed 21 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Ruddy Darter, 21st September 2024. 
Photo - Rob Smith

Willow Emerald, 21st September 2024. 
Photo - Rob Smith