Late April 2017

April 30th. Quite strong south-easterly wind.
 On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, a Spotted Redshank, a Turnstone, 11 Common Tern and a Reed Warbler; and on the Mere a Reed Warbler. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Tern, 2 Cuckoo, a Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and 12 Swallow. Going south were 3 Common Scoter and 4 Gannet.

Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, 30th April 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Common Terns on Tennyson's Sands, 30th April 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Green Carpet 30th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Wheatear, 30th April 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

April 29th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 58 Brent Goose, 2 Wigeon, 2 Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Greenshank, 10000 Knot, a Snipe, 78 Little Tern, 2 Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallow, 3 Wheatear, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a male Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spotted Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Mediterranean Gull. Flying south were 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Brambling, and north a Pink-footed Goose, 5 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler and a Greenland Wheatear; and 4 retraps: singles of Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Wren and Blue Tit.

Grasshopper Warbler 29th April 2017
Photo - James Siddle

Mediterranean Gulls on Tennyson's Sands, 29th April 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Garden Warbler, ringed 29th April, 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Greenland Wheatear, ringed 29th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Greenland Wheatear, ringed 29th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

April 28th. Around, including birds trapped, were a ringtail Hen Harrier, 6 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 15000 Knot, 5000 Grey Plover, 2000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 34 Little Tern, a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwing, 2 Blackcap, a House Martin and 4 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 8 Black-tailed Godwit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 3 new birds: singles of Meadow Pipit, Blackcap and Great Tit; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Blackcap and 2 Wren.

April 27th. Frosty start, gradually warming up; some light rain later.
 A Woodlark was in West Dunes. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 17 Brent Goose, 11 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Snipe, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 20 House Martin, 20 Swallow, 7 Wheatear, 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff. The 2 Garganey were still on the Mere. Heading north were 70 Little Tern and 31 Arctic Tern; and south 3 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, a Blackbird and a Cuckoo; and 2 retraps; a Great Tit and a Blackbird.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 3 new Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: 3 Chaffinch and a Blue Tit.

Cuckoo, ringed 27th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

26th. Rain/wintry showers overnight until early morning, then several wintry showers later.
 Around were a Whimbrel, a male Marsh Harrier, a Cuckoo, a Wheatear, 6 House Martin, a singing Willow Warbler and a singing Lesser Whitethroat. The pair of Garganey remained on the Mere.

April 25th. Cold start, then sun, then rain.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Cuckoo, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warbler. Flying north was a Swallow; and south a Mediterranean Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 5 new birds: singles of Wren, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and Blackcap; and a retrap Wren.

April 24th. A White Stork flew south-east over the Wash in the afternoon. Around, including birds trapped, were a Red Kite, a Little Ringed Plover, 18 Whimbrel, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 5 Wheatear, 4 Fieldfare, 20 Swallow, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler and a Siskin. Offshore were a Little Tern, 2 Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern and 11 Eider. Going south were 90 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet, a large Diver Sp, a Sparrowhawk, a Hobby, 40 Swallow, 7 Sand Martin, a House Martin and 6 Chaffinch; and north 2 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 18 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, a Sedge Warbler, 5 Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 2 Greenfinch; and 12 retraps: a Mistle Thrush, a Robin, a Wren, 2 Blackbird, 4 Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Long-tailed Tit.

Mistle Thrush, retrapped 24th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

April 23rd. West in off the sea came an Osprey. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Red-legged Partridge, a Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, a Cuckoo, a Kingfisher, a Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler. Single Reed Warblers were singing at Tennyson's Sands and the Mere. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was on Jackson's Marsh. Offshore were 2 Little Tern. Flying north were a Marsh Harrier and a Swallow; and south 5 more Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, produced 13 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 4 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: singles of Blackbird, Wren and Dunnock.
 Offshore were 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Blackcap singing in the Plantation, 23rd April 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

Linnet, 23rd April 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

Whinchat, 23rd April 2017
Photo - Richard Doan

 April 22nd. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 35 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo, a Redwing, a Fieldfare, a Jay, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 2 Swallow; and north a Marsh Harrier.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 9 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Great Tit; and 5 retraps: a Linnet, a Wren, 2 Reed Bunting and a Great Tit.

Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 22nd April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

April 21st. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Common Buzzard, 126 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 1000 Dunlin, 11 Sandwich Tern, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Sedge Warbler, 15 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, a Firecrest singing at Aylmer Avenue and a Brambling. The pair of Garganey were still on the Mere. Flying south were 9 Common Scoter, 13 Sandwich Tern, 13 Rook, 41 Carrion Crow, 6 Jackdaw, 14 Swallow, 70 Linnet, 20 Goldfinch and a Brambling; and north 3 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Wren and 4 Blackcap; and a retrap Reed Bunting.

Mid April 2017

April 20th. A belated record involved 9 Common Crane photographed flying over Mill Hill by Alan Brewster.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Snipe, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 5 House Martin, 2 Ring Ouzel, 16 Wheatear, 3 Firecrest (1 female trapped in Observatory, 1 male singing in Plantation, 1 male singing at Aylmer Avenue), 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Brambling. On the Mere were 2 Garganey, a Jack Snipe and 2 Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh a female Pintail. Going north were 11 Whimbrel and 24 Swallow; and south 15 Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern and 4 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Firecrest and a Robin; and no retraps.
 Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars are now emerging from their silk tents in Sea Buckthorn and other bushes. The hairs of these caterpillars can cause severe allergic reactions, and they should be avoided.

Male Garganey on the Mere, 20th 2017.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Firecrest, ringed 20th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars emerging from their silk tent, 20th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Common Cranes over Mill Hill, 20th April 2017.
Photo - Alan Brewster

April 19th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, a Greenshank, a Cuckoo, a Ring Ouzel, a Redwing, a Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, a Yellow Wagtail, a Siskin and a Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 6 retraps: 2 Goldfinch, 2 Wren, a Linnet and a Chaffinch.

April 18th. Around were 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Cuckoo, 3 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff and a Brambling. Heading north were 3 Sandwich Tern, 4 Gannet and a Swallow, and south a Common Buzzard and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 6 new birds: 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Dunnock.

Powdered Quaker, 18th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Water Carpet, 18th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Streamer, 18th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Early Grey, 18th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

April 17th. In off the sea then west came an Osprey, while a Marsh Harrier and 3 Yellow Wagtail headed south, and 13 Sandwich Tern, a Fulmar, a Gannet and 4 Whimbrel north. Birds around, including those trapped, were 10 Common Scoter, a Common Buzzard, 2 Greenshank, 3000 Knot, a Snipe, a Cuckoo, 18 Swallow, a Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 13 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 16 Blackcap and a Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, resulted in 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a Goldfinch; and no retraps.
 The moth trap produced a Powdered Quaker, a Streamer and a Water Carpet.

Common Buzzard, 17th April 2017
Photo - Steve Humphreys

Whitethroat, 17th April 2017
Photo - Steve Humphreys

Powdered Quaker, 17th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Streamer, 17th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

Water Carpet, 17th April 2017
Photo - John Shaughnessy

 April 16th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Little Ringed Plover, 7 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Cuckoo, 7 Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and a Siskin. Flying north were 4 Swallow, and south-west another Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Robin.
 Butterflies included a Green-veined White.

Female Blackap, Sykes Farm track 16th April 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Chiffchaff with pollen horn, 16th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Lady's Smock, 16th April 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

Green-veined White, 16th April 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

April 15th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 33 Brent Goose, a Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Cuckoo, 2 House Martin, 2 Ring Ouzel, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear, a Goldcrest, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a Pochard. A Whimbrel went north.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting; and a retrap Wren.

Ring Ouzel by Mere Hide, 15th April 2017.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

High Tide, 15th April 2017.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

April 14th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Cuckoo, a Merlin, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel, a Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfare, a Redwing, a Wheatear, a Firecrest, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff and a Yellow Wagtail. On Fenland Lagoon was a Little Ringed Plover. Heading south-west were 4 Swallow; and south 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Crossbill, 40 Goldfinch and 60 Linnet.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Chris Hansell, yielded 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet and a Wheatear; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Reed Bunting.

Wheatear, ringed 14th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Cowslips, 14th April 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

April 13th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Wheatear, a singing Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Yellow Wagtail. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Greenshank. Flying north were a Whimbrel, a Swallow and 3 House Martin.
 A check of large nest boxes revealed a Tawny Owl nest with 2 warm eggs.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Linnet, a Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Blackbird and 2 Wren.
 Butterflies included 3 Small White and 5 Speckled Wood.

Hare on Jacksons Marsh meadow, 13th April 2017
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

April 12th. Rain until 0800hrs.
 Around, including birds trapped, were a Firecrest, a Redstart, 5 House Martin, 6 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, a Willow Warbler, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, a Siskin,  a Brambling, a Common Buzzard and 5 Whimbrel. On Fenland Lagoon was a Water Pipit; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Garganey.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Wren and a Great Tit; and no retraps.

April 11th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Woodpecker, a Swallow, a Ring Ouzel, a singing Grasshopper Warbler, 2 singing Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap and a singing Goldcrest. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Greenshank; and on Tennyson's Sands a Pintail and a Black-tailed Godwit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren and a Blackcap; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Wren.