August 31st. Around were 3 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest and a Spotted Flycatcher. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Green Sandpiper and 5 Greenshank. Heading south were 4 Swift, 500 Swallow, 50 Sand Martin and 35 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, was productive. The 61 new birds were 5 Willow Warbler, 4 House Martin, 6 Robin, 3 Dunnock, a Reed Bunting, 35 Swallow, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sand Martin, a Meadow Pipit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; the 8 retraps were a Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit, 2 Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff; and there was a control (ringed elsewhere) Swallow.A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent, which included the 12th and final C.E.S session of the year, resulted in a total of 50 new birds and 44 retraps. Of the C.E.S nets the new birds were 4 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest and singles of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Wren, Greenfinch and Redstart. The retraps were 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Dunnock and singles of Robin, Whitethroat, Wren, Chaffinch and Blue Tit. Of the other nets the new birds were 21 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Robin, a Whitethroat and a Coal Tit. The retraps were 9 Great Tit, 7 Chaffinch, 7 Greenfinch, 7 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Magpie and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
August 30th. The Wryneck remained on Rock Ridge, and the Wood Warbler in the Plantation. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 19 Greenshank, 2 Arctic Skua, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, 5 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, 20 Yellow Wagtail, a Peregrine, a Hobby, 3 Marsh Harrier and a Kingfisher. On Jackson's Marsh were a Garganey and 3 Pintail, and on Tennyson Sands 350 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Ruff. Going south were 3000 Swallow, 200 Sand Martin, 90 House Martin, 32 Swift, a Grey Wagtail, 31 Yellow Wagtail, 60 Tree Sparrow, a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 20 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a House Martin, 7 Swallow and a Kingfisher; and 3 retraps: 2 Wren and a Blackcap.
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| Kingfisher, ringed 30 August 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
On Rock Ridge was the Wryneck, and in the Plantation the Wood Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Treecreeper and a Spotted Flycatcher. Around were a Wheatrear, a Whinchat, a Marsh Harrier, 29 Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Green Sandpiper. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill, 2 Pintail and a Kingfisher, on Tennyson Sands 2 Ruff and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Curlew Sandpiper. Flying south were 3000 Swallow, 500 Sand Martin, 50 House Martin and 9 Swift.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 5 Robin, a Sand Martin and a Reed Warbler; and 2 retraps: singles of Wren and Whitethroat.
August 28th. Wind still south-easterly in morning, then south-westerly in afternoon. Light rain from early morning to late morning.
The Wryneck remained on Rock Ridge in the morning. In the Plantation were a Hippolais Spp (either Icterine Warbler or Melodious Warbler) and a Wood Warbler. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 4 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, a Sand Martin, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel and 21 Greenshank. On Fenland Lagoon was a Curlew Sandpiper. A Garganey, 2 Ruff, 7 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were on Tennyson Sands. Heading south were an Arctic Skua, 350 Swallow and 4 Swift.
A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, resulted in 2 new Pied Flycatcher; and 3 retraps: 2 Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
Below are Philip Millns photographs of waders and of the Wryneck.
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| High tide waders, 27 August 2014. Photo - Phillip Millns |
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| Wryneck on Rock Ridge, 27 August 2014. Photo - Philip Millns |
A dark Honey Buzzard arrived briefly from the south-west, then returned whence it came; other possible sightings may have involved different birds. Flying south were 5 Spoonbill, a Common Buzzard and 10 House Martin, and west 6 Grey Heron. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Wryneck, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 3 Garden Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Kingfisher. On Tennyson Sands was a Wood Sandpiper, and on Jackson's Marsh a Little Gull.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, provided 21 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 4 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 6 retraps: 2 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, a Robin and a Wren.
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| The Wryneck showed well during the afternoon of 27th August Photo - Roy Harvey |
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| Wryneck at the Wash Viewpoint, 27th August 2014. Photo - Richard Doan |
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| Pied Flycatcher, ringed 27 August 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Redstart, ringed 27 August 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
Around were a Wryneck, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 2 Wheatear, a Kingfisher, 24 Greenshank, 8 Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, 340 Black-tailed Godwit, 20000 Knot and 60 Arctic Tern. On the Mere were 2 Garganey. North went 6 Manx Shearwater, 3 Little Gull, 3 Kittiwake, 5 Pochard and 500 Common Scoter, and south 130 Gannet, 2 Kittiwake, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 50 Great Skua and 65 Arctic Skua.
No ringing was attempted.
August 25th. Occasional light rain early morning, then more prolonged and heavier rain with strong easterly wind.
Birds around included 30 Greenshank, a Whimbrel, a Kingfisher, 2 Ruff, 4 Redstart, 15 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Willow Warbler and a Yellow-legged Gull. Flying north were a Sooty Shearwater and 7 Manx Shearwater, and south 50 Arctic Tern and 2 Kittiwake.
A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes was very disappointing. The 2 new birds were a Wren and a Blackbird; and the 3 retraps were singles of Blackcap, Blue Tit and Great Tit.
August 24th. Around were 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart, 2 Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, 7 Greenshank and a Whimbrel. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Ruff. South went 20 Swallow, 5 House Martin and 4 Sand Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Andrew Pugsley, produced 11 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, and singles of Robin, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Swallow and Dunnock; and 2 retrap Dunnocks.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 42 new birds and 77 retraps. The new birds were 13 Greenfinch, 10 Willow Warbler, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap and singles of Chaffinch, Reed Warbler, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Wren, Whitethroat, Blackbird and Sparrowhawk. The retraps were 36 Great Tit, 15 Blue Tit, 11 Chaffinch, 9 Greenfinch, 2 Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat, a Robin and a Wren.
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| Male Sparrowhawk, ringed 24th August 2014. Photo - David Vincent |
August 23rd. Birds around included a Redstart, 17 Mistle Thrush, 4 Whimbrel, a Hobby, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kingfisher, 53 Little Egret, 359 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff. On Tennyson Sands was a Mediterranean Gull. A Spoonbill flew south-east early morning. Heading south were 100 Swallow, 20 Sand Martin and 30 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 14 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 4 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 7 retraps: a Robin, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Wren and a Great Tit.At Aylmer Avenue there was a good build up of hirundines with 200 Swallow and 300 House Martin sunning themselves in the early morning sun on the Aylmer Avenue roof tops.
There was a slightly longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs resulting in 58 new birds: 9 Willow Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 5 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 3 Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch and 16 Greenfinch.
There were also 34 retraps: 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Blue Tit, 22 Great Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch.
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| Male Sparrowhawk, ringed 23rd August 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 15 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, a Long-tailed Tit, a Robin, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Linnet and 2 Whinchat; and 10 retraps: 2 Blackcap, a Robin, 3 Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Long-tailed Tit.
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| Whinchat, ringed 22 August 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 22 new birds: 8 Willow Warbler, a Wren, 2 Robin, 3 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and 8 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren, a Dunnock, 3 Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling was very productive. The 78 new birds were 13 Willow Warbler, 3 Wren, a Robin, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 15 Great Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 3 Dunnock and 21 Greenfinch. The 45 retraps were 3 Robin, a Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Blue Tit, 22 Great Tit, 3 Greenfinch, a Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit and a Willow Warbler.
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