Late April 2014

April 30th. Around were a Cuckoo, 3 Turtle Dove, a Ring Ouzel, a Redstart, a Reed Warbler, 12 Little Tern, a Greenshank and 3 Whimbrel.
 During a morning ringing session in East Dunes the new birds were a Willow Warbler, a Meadow Pipit, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and the retraps were a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

April 29th. Birds around included a Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel and 4 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Tree Pipit, a Linnet and a Robin; and 7 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, a Wren and a Dunnock.

Tree Pipit, ringed 29th April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

April 28th. A Montagu's Harrier flew through the reserve, then towards Norfolk. A Woodlark was over East Dunes. Other birds around were a Little Ringed Plover, 8 Song Thrush, a Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Cuckoo, 5 Wheatear, a Redstart and a Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 10 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Song Thrush (continental type) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.
 The Great Spotted Woodpecker was a large female, with wing length 142mm and bill depth 10mm. It was also rather white below. Baker (1993) gives for full grown females: D. m. anglicus wing length 126-134mm and bill depth 8-9mm; and D. m major wing length 138-144mm and bill depth 9-10mm. However, more recent work apparently shows that some British birds (whether pure D. m. anglicus or an admixture) can have longer wings than Baker gives for D. m. anglicus.

Large female Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 28th April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Large female Great Spotted Woodpecker, ringed 28th April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

April 27th. Birds around included a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Swallow, 3 Redstart and a Sparrowhawk.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The news were 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Whitethroat; and the retraps 2 Whitethroat.
  A similarly disappointing ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in just 3 new birds and 8 retraps. The new birds were a Great Tit, a Goldfinch and a Blackcap. The retraps were 2 Greenfinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Chaffinch and a Blue Tit.

April 26th. Around were a Whinchat, a Redstart, a Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare, 2 Siskin, a Brambling and a Hen Harrier.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting.

Whinchat, 26th April 2014.
Photo -  James Siddle

April 25th. Drizzle/rain and poor visibility for most of day.
Birds around included a Redstart, a Jack Snipe, a Tawny Owl, a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker and 3 Brambling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat; and a retrap Goldfinch.

April 24th. Around were a Redstart, 10 Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel, a Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier,10 Snipe, 3 Little Tern, 2 Common Tern, 20 Sandwich Tern and a Jay.  Flying south were 31 Swallow, 7 Sand Martin, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite and a Common Buzzard. 2 adult Mediterranean Gull flew high north.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler; and 6 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, 2 Wren, a Blackcap and a Dunnock.

April 23rd. A Hoopoe was discovered near the Mere. A Great White Egret was on the Freshwater Marsh briefly. Around were a Goosander, a Jay, 15 Rook, a Fieldfare, 5 Wheatear, a Reed Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Siskin, a Cuckoo, 2 Common Tern, a Greenshank and 9 Whimbrel. South went 14 Yellow Wagtail, a Peregrine, a Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Heron and 4 Stock Dove. A Marsh Harrier went north over Croft Marsh.
 A morning session provided 6 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch (from 2008) and a Blue Tit.
 A Scorched Carpet Moth was trapped overnight, the 2nd reserve record.

April 22nd. Rain on and off during day.
Birds around included a Hen Harrier, 8 Whimbrel, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Fieldfare, a Black Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Siskin and 14 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a White Wagtail, a Spotted Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.

April 21st. Around were 13 Little Tern, a Marsh Harrier, 11 Wheatear, 5 Rook, a Siskin, a Whimbrel, a Jack Snipe, a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. Flying north were a Fulmar, a Hobby and 6 Swallows.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Bullfinch (British subspecies), a Chaffinch and a Linnet; and 4 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet and a Dunnock.

Bullfinch, ringed 21st April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Mid April 2014

April 20th. An Iceland Gull was on Jackson's Marsh then drifted north. Around were a Peregrine, 3 Wheatear, 10 Corn Bunting, a White Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Redpoll. Waders included 1500 Dunlin, 31 Turnstone and 97 Ringed Plover. Offshore were 220 Common Scoter and 2 Harbour Porpoise. North went 3 Whimbrel, 7 Sand Martin and 4 Swallow.

April 19th. A Kentish Plover was discovered in the Sanctuary. Around were 2 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail, 4 Swallow, a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard. Offshore were 2 Little Tern, 105 Common Scoter and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. North flew a Hen Harrier, a Rook and a House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, yielded 3 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Linnet and a Meadow Pipit; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Great Tit.



KENTISH PLOVER on the 19th April 2014
Photo - Kev Wilson

 April 18th. Around
were a Whimbrel, 2 House Martin, 3 Swallow, 7 Whitethroat and a Grasshopper Warbler. On Fenland Lagoon was a Greenshank, and on Jackson's Marsh a White Wagtail. Waders included 13000 Knot and 750 Grey Plover. Offshore were 250 Common Scoter. South went 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Redpoll, and south-east a Buzzard.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retrap Wren.

April 17th. A Peregrine, a Merlin and 3 Wheatear were around.
Again little was caught on a morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling. The 5 new birds were 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Linnet, and there were no retraps.

April 16th. Around were a Whimbrel, a Peregrine, a Merlin and a Crossbill. 2 Tree Pipit, 5 Swallow, a House Martin and 5 Yellow Wagtail went south. 5 Velvet Scoter flew north at sea and the first 4 Little Tern of the year were seen.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with trainee Jenni Godber, was disappointing. The news were 2 Linnets and a Goldfinch, and the retraps a Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Lesser Whitethroat.

April 15th. A sea-watch first thing saw 2 Red-throated Diver south, 151 Common Scoter north and 69 south, 2 Gannet north and 3 south. Flying north were a Great Crested Grebe, a Sandwich Tern, 2 Fulmar, 3 MANX SHEARWATER and a GREAT SKUA. 6 Yellow Wagtail and a Common Buzzard flew south. Around were a Barn Owl, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Merlin.
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a bit of variety. The new birds were 2 Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Sparrowhawk and a Woodpigeon. The retraps were 2 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Dunnock.

Sparrowhawk, ringed 15 April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

April 14. Around were a male Hen Harrier, 2 Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Green Woodpecker. 2 Swallow flew south and 3 went north.
A brief, wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes was not very productive. The news were 2 Long-tailed Tit, and the retraps 3 Wren and a Blue Tit.

April 13th. Around were 2 Hen Harrier, a Whimbrel, 7 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Rook, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Wheatear, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer.
  During a morning ringing session in East Dunes 9 new birds were trapped: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, a Linnet and a Blue Tit; as were 6 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 2 Wren and a Blackcap.
A simultaneous ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 16 new birds and 19 retraps. The new birds were 8 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, a Blackbird and a Linnet. The retraps were 10 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit and 2 Great Tit.

April 12th. Heading north were 3 Whimbrel, and south 2 Swallow, a Sand Martin, 8 Rook and 2 Common Buzzard. About were a male Wheatear, a Willow Warbler, a Merlin and 55 Avocet
  A morning ringing session, with trainee Georgina Scott, in East Dunes provided 15 new birds: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Brambling, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Reed Bunting and a Black Redstart; and 5 retraps: 3 Dunnock, a Chaffinch and a Goldfinch.

Brambling, ringed 12 April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Black Redstart, ringed 12 April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

April 11th. A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. The new birds were a Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 5 Linnet, a Reed Bunting and a Goldfinch. The retraps were 2 Dunnock, a Linnet and a Great Tit.

Early April 2014

April 10th. Around today were a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, a Swallow, a Snipe, a Wheatear, a White Wagtail and a Greenshank. 59 Avocet were on Tennyson Sands.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 4 Linnet, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 3 Wren, 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Goldfinch.

April 9th. In the East Dunes were a Long-eared Owl and a Woodlark. Around were 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Common Buzzard and 4 Sparrowhawk. A Mediterranean Gull, a Whimbrel, 2 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin went south. 17 Corn Bunting were around the Visitor Centre
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Firecrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting and 2 Linnet; and 5 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Wren and a Linnet.

Firecrest, ringed 9 April 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

April 8th. A strong westerly wind. Mostly sunny.
Moving south were 2 Red Kite, 3 Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Sandwich Tern (1st for the year), a Yellow Wagtail and 3 Swallow. Around the reserve were 4 Wheatear, 50 Avocet, 200 Redshank, 80 Brent Geese, 4 Brambling, 2 Blackcap and 5 Chiffchaff.

April 7th. A fairly strong westerly wind. Showers on and off all day, heavy at times.
Around were 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 500+ Redshank, 150 Redwing, 2 Brambling, a Woodcock, a Pintail, 38 Avocet, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 12 Corn Bunting and 3 Jack Snipe.

April 6th. A fairly strong wind all day. Sunny intervals.
Around were 4 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Blackcap, a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 6 Corn Bunting, a Brambling, a Crossbill, a Redpoll Sp and there was a Little Ringed Plover on Jackson's Marsh (1st for the year).
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes was moderately successful. The news were a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Reed Bunting, 2 Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and the retraps 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Blackbird.

April 5th. A brisk south-south-westerly wind. Mostly sunny.
Around were a Crossbill, a Bullfinch, a Mealy Redpoll, a Sand Martin, 109 Linnet, 67 Goldfinch, 13 Magpie, 10 Brambling, a Woodcock, 26 Rook, a Yellowhammer, 6 Corn Bunting, a Sparrowhawk and 60+ Avocet. 
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 3 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock.

April 4th. A breezy westerly wind. Mostly cloudy. 
Visible migration was evident from mid-morning with the following flying south: 6 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, a House Martin (1st of the year), 124 Linnet, 11 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 11 Siskin, a Redpoll Spp, 6 Rook and 2 Grey Heron flew north-west.
On the reserve were: 11 Yellowhammer, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Chiffchaff, 25 Avocet, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Red-legged Partridge, a Tawny Owl, a Corn Bunting, 124 Meadow Pipit, 64 Skylark and 20 Golden Plover.
  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced just a single new bird, a Goldfinch, while the retraps were 2 Goldfinch, a Robin, a Dunnock and a Great Tit.

April 3rd. A brisk north easterly wind with thick fog and mist again.
Again rather quiet first thing. Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing and a Goldcrest. 37 Avocet were on Tennyson Sands.

April 2nd. A brisk north easterly wind with thick fog and mist.
Very little about first thing. A Coal Tit, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff were among the few birds singing around North Car Park. 23 Redwing flew north over Aylmer clearing and a further flock of 60 Redwing were around the north of the reserve late afternoon.

April 1st. A slight easterly wind. Sunny intervals.
Around the reserve were 16 Little Egret, a Twite, a Willow Warbler, 6 Corn Bunting, 2 Brambling, a Woodcock, a Blackcap, a Pintail and a Goosander.
Wader counts from the Estuary this evening were 2964 Grey Plover, 250 Redshank, 65 Sanderling, 2390 Dunlin, 16376 Knot, 14 Avocet and 4 Black-tailed Godwit.