Early April 2021

April 10th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 98 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Swallow, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler and a Yellowhammer. On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Avocet.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Jenni Godber provided 19 new birds: 2 Robin, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, a Great Tit, a Yellowhammer and a Blackbird; and 19 retraps: a Goldfinch, 7 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, a Dunnock, a Linnet, a Wren, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

Chiffchaff, 10 April 2021.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

April 9th. Around were 56 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were a Great Crested Grebe, 10 Avocet and 2 Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh a Little Ringed Plover and 6 Avocet; on Fenland Lagoon 4 Little Ringed Plover; and on Jackson's Marsh a Ruff and a Water Pipit. Heading south were 2 Swallow, 2 Brambling and 2 Siskin.

Ruff and Water Pipit, 9 April 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

 An interesting pipit on Jackson's Marsh has been identified variously as a littoralis Rock Pipit and as a Water Pipit. Today it looked more like a Water Pipit. Please see photographs below.

Water Pipit, 9 April 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Water Pipit, 9 April 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Spotted Redshank, 9 April 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

April 8th. Increasing south-westerly wind.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 127 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, a Brambling and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Mute Swan, 35 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover; and over Jackson's Marsh a Swallow.

 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes by Mike Polling produced 2 new Great Tit.

 A longer morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by James Siddle produced 21 new birds: 3 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, 8 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and a Cetti's Warbler; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Goldfinch.

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 8 April 2021.
Photo - James Siddle

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 8 April 2021.
Photo - James Siddle

Sparrowhawk, 8 April 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

April 7th. Around were 109 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail,  a Spotted Redshank, a Mediterranean Gull, a Gannet, 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap. On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Avocet and a Mediterranean Gull; and on Croftmarsh 10 Avocet.

First-summer Mediterranean Gull, 7 April 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Spotted Redshank, 7 April 2021.
Photo Nige Lound

First-summer Mediterranean Gull, 7 April 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars active after over-wintering in their silk tents, The hairs of these caterpillars can cause severe allergic reactions in human skin and should be avoided. 7 April 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

April 6th. Increasing north-westerly wind; wintry showers in afternoon.

 On Croftmarsh were 6 Avocet; and on Tennyson's Sands a Goldeneye, 22 Avocet and a Swallow. Birds around, including those trapped, were 46 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 3 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest. Flying south were 347 Kittiwake; and north 5 Gannet.

 A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 8 new birds: a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Greenfinch; and 11 retraps: 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 3 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and a Chaffinch.

April 5th. Strong north-westerly wind, with early morning snow.

 Around were 135 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. On Tennyson's Sands were 27 Avocet. Going south were 42 adult Kittiwake.

April 4th. Frosty start.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 138 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Woodcock, 10 Snipe, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Black Redstart, 4 Siskin and a Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Avocet, a Snipe and a Cetti's Warbler; on Jackson's Marsh a Ruff; on the Mere a Pochard, a Snipe and a Water Rail; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Croftmarsh 8 Buzzard (including 6 south) and an Avocet. Heading south were a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, a Grey Heron, 10 Rook, 13 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow and 4 Siskin; and west a Peregrine.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 16 new birds: a Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldfinch, a Brambling, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, a Reed Bunting, a Great Tit and 2 Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldfinch and a Chiffchaff.

Little Ringed Plover, 4 April 2021.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Little Ringed Plover, 4 April 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Zebra Jumping Spider, 4 April 2021.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Black Redstart, 4 April 2021.
Photo - James Siddle

Brambling, trapped 4 April 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Cetti's Warbler, trapped 4 April 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

April 3rd. Quite strong north-easterly wind.

 Around, including birds trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest and a Lesser Redpoll. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Pink-footed Goose, 33 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit; on Jackson's Marsh a Little Ringed Plover; and on the Mere a Pochard. Flying north were 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver; and south 23 Common Scoter, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Red-throated Diver and a Peregrine

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 20 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Chaffinch, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Great Tit, 6 Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 14 retraps: a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Dunnock and 2 Great Tit.

Lesser Redpoll, trapped 3 April 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

April 2nd. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe and 23 Avocet. Around were a Swallow and a Brambling.

April 1st. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe and 8 Avocet. Birds around included a Chiffchaff and a Brambling. Going north were 2 Swallow.