April 20th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 108 Brent Goose, an Eider, a Goosander, a Great White Egret, a Grey Heron, a Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk, 6 Buzzard, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Stock Dove, a Cuckoo, a Woodlark, 3 Ring Ouzel, 14 Fieldfare, 25 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 7 Wheatear, 12 Sedge Warbler, 11 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 21 Blackcap, 9 Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, a Tree Pipit, 6 Yellowhammer and 2 Corn Bunting. Heading north were a Marsh Harrier, 2 Whimbrel, 13 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow and a House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sonia Vallocchia, resulted in 15 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, a Goldcrest and a Great Tit.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 5 new birds: 3 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch; and 6 retraps: a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, 3 Chaffinch and a Coal Tit.
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Muntjac, 20th April 2019.
Photo - Nige Lound
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April 19th. Two Common Crane flew south, then south-east toward Norfolk early evening. Around, including birds trapped, were a Garganey (Jackson's Marsh), 5 Common Scoter, 15 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, a Grey Heron, a Hen Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2277 Grey Plover, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 31 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10636 Knot, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Glaucous Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Woodlark, 3 Ring Ouzel, 20 Song Thrush, 14 Redwing, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Blackcap, 8 Willow Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 10 Sedge Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, a Black Redstart (Visitor Centre), a Stonechat. 3 Wheatear, a White Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and a Brambling. Flying north were an Eider, 19 Sand Martin, 21 Swallow and 46 Redwing; and south 2 Brambling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sonia Vallocchia, provided 13 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Robin, a Chaffinch, a Blackcap and 2 Redwing; and 7 retraps: a Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Chaffinch, a Robin, a Great Tit and a Goldcrest.
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| Great White Egret (top), with 2 Little Egrets, 19th April 2019 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
April 18th. Going south were a Little Ringed Plover, a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, a Brambling and a Yellowhammer; and north 2 Little Tern and 10 Swallow. Birds around, including those trapped, were 70 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Heron, a Great White Egret, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a Ring Ouzel, 15 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, 30 Redwing, 4 Wheatear, a Stonechat, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling, 4 Yellowhammer and 14 Corn Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and Sonia Vallocchia, produced 14 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Robin, 3 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch.
Butterflies included Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.
April 17th. A Woodlark was heard over West Dunes late morning. On Jackson's Marsh were a Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, a Spoonbill and a Whimbrel. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Sparrowhawk, 8 Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 9 Swallow, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), a Redwing, 10 Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 24 Starling, a Redstart (West Dunes), 2 Wheatear (Wash View Point) and a Brambling.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Sonia Vallocchia, yielded 13 new birds: a Wren, 5 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch and a Brambling; and 2 retrap Goldfinch.
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Brambling ringed, 17th April 2019.
Photo - George Gregory
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| Wheatear, 17th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Wheatear, 17th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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Small Copper, 17th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Green Hairstreak, 17th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Chiffchaff, 17th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
April 16th. Moderately strong easterly wind.
A second-summer Glaucous Gull was briefly present on the estuary on the building tide, prior to heading north. A fine summer-plumaged Great White Egret appeared on Jackson's Marsh in the evening, where there were also a Goosander, 10 Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron. Birds around included a Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 3 Whimbrel, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 26 Turnstone, a Jack Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), 2 Redwing, 5 Swallow, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands), 2 Sedge Warbler, 7 Goldcrest, a Firecrest (East Dunes), a Redstart (West Dunes) and 14 Corn Bunting. Heading south were a Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sonia Vallocchia, provided 3 new birds: a Wren, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush.
Great White Egret, 16th April 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
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Glaucous Gull, 16th April 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
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| Redstart, 16th April 2019. Photo - Jim Shaw |
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| Green Hairstreak, 16th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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Great White Egret, 16th April 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
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The first Spoonbill of the year came in off the Wash and stayed briefly. Around were a male Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull (Tennyson's Sands), 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Rook, a Redstart (West Dunes), 2 Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwing, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sonia Vallocchia, produced 2 new birds: a Linnet and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retrap Great Tit.
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Redstart, 15th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Redstart, 15th April 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont
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Spoonbill, 15th April 2019.
Photo - David Caulfield
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The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was in song by Mill Pond. Birds around included 85 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 12 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Merlin, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), 8 Redwing, 5 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Redstart (West Dunes), 2 Wheatear (Rock Ridge) and 16 Corn Bunting.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in just 2 new Linnet.
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Sparrowhawk, 14th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Wheatear, 14th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Mediterranean Gull pair, 14th April 2019.
Video - Ben Ward
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 2 Goldcrest and 2 Linnet; and 4 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and a Robin.
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| Male Common Redstart, 13th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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Wheatear, 13th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Ring Ouzel, 13th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Male Common Redstart, 13th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Wren and a Goldcrest; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Chiffchaff.
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| Male Wheatear, 12th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Male Wheatear, 12th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett yielded just 3 retraps: a Blackcap and 2 Blue Tit.
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Roe buck, 11th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Roe doe, 11th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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| Male Wheatear, 11th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Male Ring Ouzel, 11th April 2019. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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Red Admiral nectaring on Blackthorn, 11th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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Grass Snake, 11th April 2019.
Photo - Ben Ward
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