Mid October 2021

October 20th. Soggy start, then mid morning rain.

 Around, including birds trapped, were 30 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6000 Pink-footed Goose (into roost), a Swallow, a Blackcap, 7 Redwing, a Blackbird and a Ring Ouzel. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Avocet, a Curlew, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 3 Redshank; and on Jackson's Marsh a Grey Heron. Flying south or onto Wainfleet Marsh fields were 90 Whooper Swan; south 5 Goosander, 10 Little Gull and 7 Swallow; and south then back north 2 Jay.

 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, a Redwing, a Ring Ouzel and a Blackbird; and a retrap Robin.

Little Egret, 20 October 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Ring Ouzel, ringed 20 October 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

October 19th. Soggy, misty start, then mid morning rain.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1800 Pink-footed Goose, a Snipe, 4 Blackbird, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Song Thrush, a Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Brambling and 4 Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Avocet; on the Mere a Grey Heron and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler. Going south were 25 Black-tailed Godwit, 650 Redwing, 4 Brambling and 2 Siskin; and north-west 30 Pink-footed Goose.

 A rain -shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 16 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, 9 Redwing and a Blackbird; and a retrap Blue Tit.

Mushrooms, 19 October 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

October 18th. Around, including birds trapped, were 7 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3000 Pink-footed Goose (from estuary to Wainfleet Marsh fields), a Buzzard, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Merlin, 3 Jay, a Redwing, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest and a Siskin. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Avocet, 95 Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank,  Bearded Tit and a Water Pipit; on the Mere a Jack Snipe and 3 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands 5 Whooper Swan (briefly), 31 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were a Scaup, a Marsh Harrier, 11 Little Gull and 2 Arctic Skua.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Wren, a Blue Tit and a Redwing; and a retrap Robin.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent yielded 2 new birds: a Goldcrest and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit and 2 Robin.

Whooper Swans, 18 October 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

October 17th. Some mid-morning rain.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 30 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 15250 Pink-footed Goose (onto Wainfleet Marsh fields then mostly south-west), 3 Buzzard, 2 Merlin, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, a Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest and 5 Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Avocet and 18 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Greenshank and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south were 4 Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Mediterranean Gull, a Merlin and 17 Redwing.

 A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock and a Redwing; and 3 retraps: 2 Wren and a Dunnock.

October 16th. Around, including birds trapped, were 32 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 250 Pink-footed Goose (from estuary onto or over Wainfleet Marsh fields), a Marsh Harrier and a Blackcap. On Jackson's Marsh were 101 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands a Grey Heron, 3 Avocet and 2 Greenshank. Going south-west were 67 Whooper Swan and 15000+ Pink-footed Goose; and south a Velvet Scoter, 6 Goldeneye, a Pomarine Skua, 11 Little Gull, an Arctic Tern, 12 Sandwich Tern, a Shag, a Jay, 5 Grey Wagtail and 7 Bearded Tit. A Hawfinch came into the Plantation from the north late afternoon.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and a retrap Blue Tit.

October 15th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 30 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 15000+ Pink-footed Goose (mostly south-west or onto Wainfleet Marsh fields), 3 Bean Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 3 Snipe, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, a Jay, 3 Stonechat, a Wheatear, a Cetti's Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit and a Yellowhammer. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Whooper Swan (in from north), 2 Water Rail, a Grey Heron, 3 Avocet, 180 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank and 3 Greenshank; on the Mere 2 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank, 5 Snip, a Jack Snipe and 1+ Bearded Tit; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Egyptian Goose and 145 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 18 Whooper Swan, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Arctic Skua, a Razorbill, 9 Jay, a Siskin and a Twite; west a Buzzard; and north a Long-tailed Duck, a Manx Shearwater, 10 Kittiwake, 8 Little Gull and 2 Sandwich Tern.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, resulted in 11 new birds: 2 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird and a Jay; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Wren and a Reed Bunting.

October 14th. Around, including birds trapped, were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, 9 Redwing, 4 Blackbird, a Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat and 3 Yellowhammer. On Tennyson's Sands were a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Water Rail, 12 Avocet, 157 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Redshank, a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank and a Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh a Grey Heron; and on the Mere 3 Snipe. Flying south were 80 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Whooper Swan, a Little Gull, an Arctic Tern, 3 Arctic Skua,  a Great Skua, a Grey Heron and 4 Siskin; north-west 3700 Pink-footed Goose; and south-west 3 Jay. 

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 4 new birds: 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Robin.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 23 new birds: 3 Wren, 10 Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 5 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and 5 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, a Blackbird, a Robin and a Wren.

Pink-footed Geese, 14 October 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

October 13th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest, 6 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and 3 Blackbird. On Tennyson's Sands were 85 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, a Grey Heron and 4 Bearded Tit; on the Mere 5 Snipe and a Jack Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh 32 Black-tailed Godwit. Going south-west were 2 Jay.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 15 new birds: a Wren, a Robin, 3 Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, a Dunnock, 5 Redwing, a Song Thrush, a Starling and a Blackbird; and a retrap Song Thrush.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn produced 34 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Robin, a Blackcap, 7 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, 9 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Woodpigeon; 9 retraps: a Blackbird, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and a control Blackcap with a Belgian ring.

Jack Snipe, 13 October 2021.
Photo - Jack Hood

Snipe, 13 October 2021.
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harrier, 13 October 2021.
Photo - Paul Neale

Bearded Tit, 13 October 2021.
Photo - Paul Neale

Angle Shades, 13 October 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

October 12th. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Marsh Harrier, a Blackcap, 7 Goldcrest, 6 Song Thrush, 300 Redwing, a Coal Tit, 2 Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit, 3 Brambling and 2 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 3000 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Avocet, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Great White Egret and a Cetti's Warbler; on the Mere 8 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail; on Fenland Lagoon a Grey Plover, a Redshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh 143 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 200 Pink-footed Goose, a Whooper Swan, a Great White Egret, 22 Red-throated Diver, 2 Black-throated Diver, 3 Arctic Skua, a Manx Shearwater, 2 Arctic Tern, a Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern, 4 Tree Sparrow, 11 Siskin and 3 Brambling; and north a Puffin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 15 new birds: 2 Wren, 4 Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush and 6 Redwing; and 2 retraps: a Song Thrush and a Dunnock.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, yielded 16 new birds: 3 Wren, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Blackcap and a Greenfinch; and 10 retraps: a Coal Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest and a Blue Tit.

Grey Plover, 12 October 2021.
Photo - Jack Hood

Redwing, trapped 12 October 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

October 11th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 15260 Pink-footed Goose (many moving), 3 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 5 Sandwich Tern, a Merlin, a Stonechat, 6 Jay, 7 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird. On Tennyson's Sands were 9 Avocet and a Great White Egret; and on the Mere a Water Rail, a Snipe and a Jack Snipe. Flying north were a Spoonbill and 2 Jay; west a Jay; and south 2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Swallow and 14 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 22 new birds: 4 Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Blackbird; and a retrap Blackcap.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 9 new birds: 2 Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Goldcrest, a Wren and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Jack Snipe, 11 October 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Snipe and Jack Snipe, 11 October 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Curlew, 11 October 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Shaggy Ink-cap, 11 October 2021.
Photo - George Gregory