Late July 2019

July 31st. Fairly strong south-westerly wind, with rainy spells.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Grey Heron, 9 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 57 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 232 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 10 Dunlin, 4 Spotted Redshank, 17 Greenshank, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Tern and 3 Mediterranean Gull. Around were 70 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 21 Little Egret, 12 Common Sandpiper, 12 Green Sandpiper, 6 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Stock Dove, a Green Woodpecker and 5 Willow Warbler. Flying south were a Common Sandpiper, 3 Wood Sandpiper and 10000 Swift.

Migrant Hawker, immature male, 31st July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 30th. An adult Roseate Tern came out of the Wash roost early morning and headed north. Birds around included 48 Teal, 3 Eider, 7 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Little Ringed Plover (an adult and 3 juveniles, plus 1 chick), 6 Turnstone, 420 Sanderling, a Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, 3 Arctic Skua, 5 Little Tern, 3300 Sandwich Tern, 14 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 45 Commic Tern, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Woodpecker, 10 Kestrel, 240 Swallow and 6 Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 67 Avocet, 234 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 3 Wood Sandpiper (briefly then south) and 2 Snipe. Going south were a Common Scoter, 34 Gannet, a Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Great Skua, 2 Swift and 39 Starling; and north a Manx Shearwater and 2 Arctic Skua.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Linnet, a Reed Bunting, 2 Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 9 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Great Tit and 2 Blackcap.

Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls, 30th July 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Wood Sandpiper, 30th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Marsh Harrier, 30th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

White-letter Hairstreak, 30th July 2019.
Photo - Adrian Royle

Long-winged Conehead, 30th July 2019.
Photo - Adrian Royle

July 29th. Another damp, cloudy start.
 The Wood Warbler relocated to the Plantation. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Grey Heron, 5 Spoonbill, 61 Avocet, 4 Whimbrel, 181 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank and 6 Greenshank. Birds around, including those trapped, were 53 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 13 Common Scoter, 66 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 12 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Stock Dove, a Garden Warbler, 3 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 45 Common Scoter, a Marsh Harrier, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, 33 Knot, 39 Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, 8 Wood Sandpiper, an Arctic Skua, 451 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 32 Sand Martin and 26 Swallow; and thermalling west and inland were 2 Arctic Skua.
 The ninth session of CES was done this morning. The 25 new birds were 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Wren, 3 Chiffchaff, a Robin, 3 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch and a Cuckoo. The 10 retraps were 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Wren and 2 Dunnock.

Wood Warbler, 29th July 2019.
Photo - Paul Neale

Just-fledged juvenile Cuckoo, ringed 29th July 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Painted Lady, 29th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Small Copper, 29th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

July 28th. Damp, cloudy start, with some mid morning drizzle.
 A truly breath-taking day for Wood Sandpiper on the reserve. At one stage there were 25 grounded birds with a further 5 passing straight through, far surpassing the previous reserve record of 12. A Wood Warbler and 2 Pied Flycatcher were in the East Dunes. The day was capped off by a Cattle Egret, which was picked up flying in from the north in the evening before settling only briefly on Croftmarsh prior to continuing southwest. Around, including those trapped, were 14 Gadwall (plus 22 chicks), 149 Teal, a Shoveler, 45 Common Scoter, 31 Little Egret, 9 Grey Heron, 7 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 65 Avocet, 55 Lapwing, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 227 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 19 Common Sandpiper, 19 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, 1300 Sandwich Tern, 21 Common Tern, 8 Arctic Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Stock Dove, a juvenile Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, 10 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 3 Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Yellow Wagtail. Flying south were 16 Golden Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 3 more Green Sandpiper and another Common Sandpiper; and north over Croftmarsh 2 Arctic Skua.
 A drizzle-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 9 new birds: 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Garden Warbler, a Blackbird and a Cuckoo; and 6 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and a Blackcap.

Cattle Egret, 28th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wood Warbler, 28th July 2019.

Photos - Ben Ward

Pied Flycatcher, 28th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Wood Sandpipers, 28th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Wood Sandpiper, 28th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Juvenile Cuckoo, ringed 28th July 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Common Blue butterfly, 28th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

July 27th. Cooler, with occasional rainy spells.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 11 Grey Heron, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 61 Avocet, 78 Lapwing, a Little Ringed Plover, 167 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Spotted Redshank; and on Croftmarsh the female Mandarin. Around were 10 Gadwall (plus 10 chicks), 95 Teal, a Shoveler, 32 Tufted Duck (plus 5 chicks), 30 Little Egret, 5 more Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Whimbrel, 18 Common Sandpiper, 10 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 7 Snipe, 3 Little Tern, 4000 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, 6 Mediterranean Gull, a Kingfisher and a Green Woodpecker. Going south were a Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper and 10 Arctic Tern.

Spoonbill, adult and food begging juvenile, 27th July 2019.

Video - Ben Ward

Common Gull, juvenile, 27th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 26th. On Tennyson's Sands were 30 Avocet, 4 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 3 Common Tern and a Kingfisher; and on Jackson's Marsh a Spoonbill. Around were 3 Gadwall (plus 10 chicks), 68 Teal, a Shoveler, 18 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 91 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover (2 adults and 2 juveniles, plus 1 chick), 679 Curlew, 191 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Common Sandpiper, 8 Green Sandpiper, 2 Black Tern, 1900 Sandwich Tern, 3200 Black-headed Gull, 17 Mediterranean Gull (reserve record), 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Hobby, 250 Swallow, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Corn Bunting. Heading south were 43 Teal, 6 Manx Shearwater, 70 Gannet, a Spoonbill, 216 Oystercatcher, a Little Ringed Plover, 130 Whimbrel, 57 Curlew, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit,  681 Knot, a Ruff, 259 Dunlin, 70 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 62 Redshank, 10 Little Tern, 1710 Sandwich Tern, 125 Common Tern, 19 Arctic Tern, 43 Commic Tern, 5 Swift, a Hobby, 400 Sand Martin, 800 Swallow, 6 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail and 12 alba Wagtail; and north 66 Common Scoter. In off the sea came a Snipe.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 2 Wren, 3 Linnet, 4 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Robin and a Whitethroat.
 Migrant insects included 2 Brown Hawker.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, pair in copula, 26th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Mediterranean Gull, part of a reserve record day total, 26th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward 

Colour Ring Sighting; 

Colour code: L/YRL  Ring: T085701 ESI  Age: 3  Sex: -  Date: 10/09/2012  Catching place: Dena, Meaño (Pontevedra), Spain 42º27'22"N 08º49'20"W

Re-sightings as follows;
                                                                                                                       Km   Distance     Days
15/10/2012  Rouxique, Sanxenxo (Pontevedra), Spain                 42º27'23"N 08º51'16"W    2,7          0             35 
20/10/2012  Rouxique, Sanxenxo (Pontevedra), Spain                 42º27'23"N 08º51'16"W    2,7          0             40 
15/01/2013  O Vao, O Grove (Pontevedra), Spain                        42º27'07"N 08º52'15"W    4,0          0             127 
13/02/2013  Rouxique, Sanxenxo (Pontevedra), Spain                 42º27'23"N 08º51'16"W    2,7          0             156 
25/07/2019  Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, England, UK   53°06'03"N 00°20'22"E    1365,8   26,7         2509

Colour ringed Dunlin, 25th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 25th. Sunny and hot.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Whimbrel and 4 Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 2 Gadwall (plus 10 chicks), 44 Teal, a Shoveler, 37 Tufted Duck, 3 Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 6 Gannet, 28 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 38 Avocet, 452 Oystercatcher, 4 Grey Plover, 77 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 66 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 251 Curlew, 198 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 35 Sanderling, 192 Dunlin, 13 Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 171 Redshank, 4 Snipe, 2 Arctic Skua, 10 Little Tern, 2344 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern (including a portlandica type), 35 commic Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 70 Swallow and 8 Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 4 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 24 Whimbrel, 11 Sanderling, an additional juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Kestrel and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 19 new birds: 3 Wren, 5 Sedge Warbler, a Robin, 3 Linnet, 5 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap and a Wren.
 Insects of note included a male Willow Emerald Damselfly and 4 Red-veined Darter.
Another excellent night moth trapping in the north end of the East Dunes produced 1376 moths of 134 species. Picture highlights courtesy of Nige Lound below:

Antler Moth

Lesser Cream Wave

Old Lady

Pretty Chalk Carpet

Tree Lichen Beauty (2nd reserve record)

True Lover's Knot

The Vapourer

Willow Emerald Damselfly, 25th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Common Blue, in copula, 25th July 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

Roesel's Bush-cricket, 25th July 2019.

Photo - Jim Shaw

July 24th. Thunderstorms during the early hours clearing mid-morning; then hot and humid..
  A Purple Heron came in off the sea and continued north-west late evening. Around were 57 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 4 Eider, 7 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 2 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 320 Black-tailed Godwit, 69 Lapwing, a Little Ringed Plover, 320 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 2000 Sandwich Tern, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 30 Sand Martin, 80 Swallow, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Yellow Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail. On Croftmarsh was the female Mandarin Duck; and on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Golden Plover, 57 Lapwing, a Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank.
 Migrant insects included a newly arrived Red-veined Darter.

Purple Heron, arriving from the sea, 24th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

 Impending thunderstorm out at sea, 0220hrs, 24th July 2019.

 Video - Ben Ward

July 23rd. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Dunlin,2 13 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, 3 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank and 98 Redshank; on Croftmarsh 2 Garganey, the female Mandarin Duck, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper; and on Jackson's Marsh another 2 Spoonbill, another 2 Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper. Around were a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, 1411 Sandwich Tern, a Green Woodpecker and a Short-eared Owl. Flying south were 24 Black-tailed Godwit, a Wood Sandpiper, 12 Knot and 14 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 35 new birds: 4 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 5 Great Tit, 10 Linnet, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 10 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap and a Sedge Warbler.

Black-tailed Godwit, 23rd July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Lapwing, 23rd July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

July 22nd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 On Tennyson's Sands were the female Mandarin Duck, a Pochard, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 68 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 168 Redshank, a Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Croftmarsh 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Snipe. Birds around included 60 Teal, 3 Eider, 15 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 73 Lapwing, 273 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper, 1500 Sandwich Tern, a Collared Dove and a juvenile Cuckoo. Going south were a Tufted Duck, a Common Scoter, 13 Gannet, 2 Spoonbill, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 86 Knot, a Curlew Sandpiper, 66 Dunlin, 732 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Tern, 6 Common Tern, 7 Arctic Tern, 2 Commic Tern, 701 Swift, 576 Sand Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
A moth trapped by Nige Lound on 10th July 2019 has been confirmed as a Pigmy Footman. This is the first record for Gibraltar Point, and only the second record for Lincolnshire (The first record was 1989).

Pigmy Footman, 10th July 2019
Photo - Nige Lound

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 22nd July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Arctic Skua, 22nd July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 21st. Around were 9 Brent Goose, 49 Teal, 9 Eider, 12 Little Egret, 4 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 88 Lapwing, 4 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 11 Greenshank, 1790 Sandwich Tern, 2904 Black-headed Gull, 252 Common Gull, 27 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1839 Herring Gull, 159 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Stock Dove  a Short-eared Owl and 2 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were the female Mandarin Duck, 57 Avocet, 226 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank and 142 Redshank; and on Jackson's Marsh another Spoonbill, a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpiper. Heading south were a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Little Ringed Plover, 114 Swift, 71 Sand Martin and 112 Swallow.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 18 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 4 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat and a Chaffinch; and 7 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat and a Linnet.

Kestrel, 21st July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Red Admiral, 21st July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Sunrise, 21st July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Mid July 2019

July 20th. Early morning rain; increasing south-westerly wind.
 On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 239 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, a Little Stint, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 11 Greenshank, 5 Snipe and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Garganey, 2 Spoonbill, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Wood Sandpiper. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 1500 Sanderling, a juvenile Cuckoo and a Hobby. Going south were 14 Little Egret, 6520 Swift, 3 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin.

Wood Sandpipers, 20th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Spoonbill, 20th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Little Egrets, 20th July 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

July 19th. A Serin flew south over Mill Hill mid morning. On Tennyson's Sands were a Wigeon, the female Mandarin Duck, a Spoonbill, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 146 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 47 Redshank, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 21 Snipe and an adult Mediterranean Gull; and on Jackson's Marsh a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Common Sandpiper. Birds around included 26 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall (plus 11 chicks), 5 Shoveler, 3 Eider, 9 Little Egret, another Spoonbill, a Sparrowhawk, 1300 Oystercatcher, 5 Grey Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 449 Curlew, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 1000 Knot, 1500 Sanderling, 1000 Dunlin, another Common Sandpiper, another Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 116 Redshank, a Snipe, 600 Sandwich Tern, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl and 4 Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 2 Green Sandpiper, 822 Swift, 68 Sand Martin and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 13 new birds: a Robin, 6 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

 

Wood Sandpiper, 19th July 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound 

The Moon, Waning Gibbous phase, 19th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 18th. Heading south were a Red Kite, 61 Knot, 6704 Swift, a Hobby, 59 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin and 52 Swallow; and north 20 Arctic Tern. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Wigeon, the female Mandarin Duck, 4 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, 176 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank and 5 Snipe; and on Croftmarsh a Garganey and a Green Sandpiper. Around were 52 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 11 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, a Golden Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 42 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 191 Dunlin, 28 Sanderling, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 307 Sandwich Tern, 80 Common Gull, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Short-eared Owl, 320 Swallow and a Grasshopper Warbler.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 6 new birds: a Wren, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; and 11 retraps: 3 Wren, a Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and 3 Great Tit.
 Notable insects included a Red-veined Darter.

Garganey, 18th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 17th. On Tennyson's Sands were the female Mandarin Duck, a Shoveler, a male Scaup, a Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 36 Avocet, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 193 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 33 Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull; on Croftmarsh were a Garganey, 2 Green Sandpiper and 5 Snipe; on Jackson's Marsh 3 Common Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon another Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 7 Gadwall (plus 13 chicks), 68 Teal, 53 Tufted Duck, 11 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 48 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 40 Sandwich Tern, a Greenshank, 3 Stock Dove, a juvenile Cuckoo, a Peregrine, a Grasshopper Warbler and 136 Goldfinch. Going south were 8 Sand Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 23 new birds: a Wren, 7 Linnet, 2 Sedge Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and 2 Blackcap; and 8 retraps: a Wren, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Linnet, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat and a Great Tit.
 Insects of note were a Red-veined Darter, 2 Southern Hawker and a White-letter Hairstreak.

Scaup, eclipse drake, 17th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

White-letter Hairstreak, 17th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Essex Skipper, 17th July 2019.

Photo - Owen Beaumont

Adult male Linnet in main moult lacking red pigment, ringed 17th July 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

July 16th. On Tennyson's Sands were the female Mandarin Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 66 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, a Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank; on Croftmarsh a Spoonbill, a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank; and on Jackson's Marsh a Grey Heron and a Greenshank. Around were 48 Teal, 37 Tufted Duck, 8 Little Egret, 24 Avocet, 32 Lapwing, 420 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 3 Greenshank, 42 Sandwich Tern, 14 Common Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 30 Sand Martin, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Treecreeper and a Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 11 Whimbrel, 5 Knot, 13 Sandwich Tern, 9 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 15 new birds: 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 8 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Blackcap and a Greenfinch; and 6 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Great Tit.
A moth trapping session run by Nige Lound in the North end of the East Dunes yielded a phenomenal 1169 moths of 102 species!Attached photos courtesy of Nige Lound.

Burnished Brass, 16th July 2019

Cream-bordered Green Pea, 16th July 2019

The Delicate (Rare Migrant), 16th July 2019

Rosy Footman, 16th July 2019

Little Egret and Spoonbill, 16th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 15th. On Tennyson's Sands were the female Mandarin Duck, a Grey Heron, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 168 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank and 2 Snipe. Birds around included 2 Common Sandpiper, 19 Sandwich Tern, a Collared Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Flying south were 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Snipe. Offshore were a Red-breasted Merganser and an Arctic Skua.
 The eighth session of CES was done this morning. The 34 new birds were 8 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat, 4 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a Robin and 3 Dunnock. The 25 retraps were 2 Blackbird, 6 Wren, a Great Tit, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, 9 Long-tailed Tit and a Chiffchaff.
 Migrant insects included 4 Red-veined Darter at the Mere.

Common Darter, 15th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Roesel's Bush-cricket, 15th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 14th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
 On Croftmarsh were 2 Garganey, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank and 7 Snipe; on Tennyson's Sands 2 Shoveler, a Mandarin Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Knot, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank and 2 Common Tern; and on Jackson's Marsh a Grey Heron and 3 further Greenshank. Around were 90 Shelduck, 65 Teal, 38 Tufted Duck, 3 Eider, 9 Little Egret, 64 Avocet, 28 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 99 Curlew, 161 Black-tailed Godwit, 68 Dunlin, 53 Redshank, 22 Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 25 Sand Martin, 2 Grasshopper Warbler and 110 Goldfinch. Going south were an Eider, a Greenshank and 3 Swallow; and north 8 Common Scoter, 21 Gannet, 2 Little Tern and 63 Sandwich Tern.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Black-tailed Godwit, 14th July 2019.

Photo - Owen Beaumont

Ruddy Darter, 14th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 13th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Shoveler, a Mandarin Duck (the remaining female), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 43 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 134 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot, 2 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 51 Redshank and 2 Common Tern; on Croftmarsh 2 Garganey and 2 Green Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon 6 further Greenshank. Birds around included 96 Shelduck, 12 Gadwall (including 5 chicks), 63 Teal, 26 Common Scoter, 8 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 47 Lapwing, 6 Whimbrel, 123 Curlew, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Sanderling, 70 Dunlin, 108 further Redshank, 7 Snipe, 6 Little Tern, 18 Sandwich Tern, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Common Gull, 8 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Grey Wagtail.  Heading south was a Greenshank; and north were 18 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting; and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.
 Migrant insects included a Red-veined Darter.

Garganey, 13th July 2019.

Video - Ben Ward

Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile, 13th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Red-veined Darter, 13th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Mandarin Duck, 13th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 12th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
 Birds around included a Brent Goose, 94 Shelduck, 41 Teal, a Shoveler, 9 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 35 Avocet, 41 Lapwing, 6 Whimbrel, 159 Curlew, 108 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank (Tennyson's Sands), 3 Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper (Croftmarsh), 140 Redshank, 6 Snipe, 435 Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Gull, a Short-eared Owl, 138 Swallow, 950 Starling, a juvenile Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. Flying north was an Arctic Skua; and south were many Sandwich Tern and 100 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 32 new birds: a Wren, 20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 17 retraps: 2 Wren, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 8 Long-tailed Tit and a Robin.
 Migrant insects around included 2 Red-veined Darter.

Wheatear, juvenile, 12th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Whimbrel, 12th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Red-veined Darter, male, 12th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Gatekeeper, 12th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

July 11th. A Quail was watched as it arrived in off the sea during the morning. Offshore were 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 76 Sandwich Tern and 7 Little Tern. On Tennyson's Sands remained the Mandarin Duck. Also there were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 50 Avocet, a Whimbrel, 112 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Common Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon 3 Greenshank. Birds around included a Brent Goose, 45 Teal, 53 Tufted Duck, 9 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 26 Lapwing, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, a juvenile Cuckoo, 110 Swallow, a Grasshopper Warbler, 450 Starling and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were 146 Swift and 41 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Blackbird and a Wren.
 Migrant insects included 2 Red-veined Darter, a Brown Hawker and a Southern Hawker.

Red-veined Darter, 11th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Cuckoo, juvenile food begging, 11th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Mandarin Duck, 11th July 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward