Late November 2021

November 30th. Around, including birds trapped were 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 109 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet and 15 Black-tailed Godwit.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 6 new birds: 2 Goldcrest and 4 Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Robin, 2 Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

November 29th. Snow and ice gradually melting.

 Birds around included a Goosander, a Peregrine, 25 Blackbird, 4 Redwing and 2 Song Thrush. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Water Rail,  23 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Redshank; on Fenland Lagoon a Redshank; and on Croftmarsh a Buzzard and 180 Lapwing. Flying north were 480 Pink-footed Goose.

Cormorants, 29 November 2021.
Photo - Andrew Pendlebury

The Mere iced over, 29 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Starfish wash-out, 29 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 28th. Early morning snow.

 Around were 15 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Goosander, a Glaucous Gull, 8 Gannet and 15 Blackbird. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank. Going north were 350 Pink-footed Goose and a Pomarine Skua; and south 32 Kittiwake.

Glaucous Gull, 28 November 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Glaucous Gull, 28 November 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Storm Arwen brought snow in its wake, 28 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

November 27th. Strong northerly wind with rainy spells.

 Birds around included 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 8 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, a Song Thrush and 12 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Redshank. Heading south were 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Goldeneye and 109 Kittiwake; and north a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 2 Goosander.

Stormy weather view over Tennyson's Sands from the Fenella Hope Hide, 27 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

November 26th. Early morning and afternoon rain.

  Around were 41 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and 7 Blackbird.

 The final ringing session of the year in East Dunes produced 2 retraps: a Robin and a Goldfinch.

The regular Black-headed Gull hanging around the Visitor Centre Car Park, 26 November 2021. It is probably one of those ringed on Fenland Lagoon as a pullus years ago.
Photo - Andrew Pendlebury

November 25th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 106 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1500 Pink-footed Goose, a Woodcock, a Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler, a Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 22 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 3 Siskin and 12 Snow Bunting. On the Mere was a Water Rail. In off the sea came 2 Whooper Swan. Heading north were 14 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose; and south a Marsh Harrier.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Robin.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25 November 2021.
Photo - Andy Pendlebury

Sanderlings, 25 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Grey Seal, 25 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 24th. Around were 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, a Snipe, a Stonechat, a Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, 21 Blackbird and a Siskin. On the Mere were 14 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 3 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands a Water Rail, a Grey Heron, an Avocet, 14 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Redshank. Flying south were 3 Whooper Swan.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird.

Whooper Swans, 24 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 23rd. Birds around, including those trapped, were 70 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 500 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush and 7 Blackbird; and 4 retraps: 3 Robin and a Blackbird.

Curlew, 23 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 23 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 22nd. Around, including birds trapped, were 115 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3000 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Little Gull, a Long-eared Owl (East Dunes), a Short-eared Owl, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, 25 Blackbird, a Fieldfare and a Bullfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet and a Black-tailed Godwit; and on Jackson's Marsh an Avocet. Going south were a Velvet Scoter, a Hen Harrier, 14 Stock Dove and a Snow Bunting; and north a Velvet Scoter, 2 Goldeneye, a Long-tailed Duck, a Red-necked Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 225 Kittiwake, a Little Gull, 3 Great Skua, 3 Little Auk, 3 Great Northern Diver, a Leach's Petrel and a Manx Shearwater. .

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 20 new birds: a Bullfinch, a Goldfinch and 18 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Goldfinch.

Short-eared Owl, 22 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Marsh Harrier, 22 November 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Bullfinch, ringed 22 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Partially leucistic Blackbird, ringed 22 November 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

November 21st. Some brief rainy spells.

 Birds around, including those trapped, were 150 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3500 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Merlin, 5 Blackbird and 2 Goldcrest. Heading south were 2 Whooper Swan, 3 Little Gull, 779 Kittiwake, a Caspian Gull, 6 Pomarine Skua and a Peregrine; and north a Goosander, 5 Little Gull, a Pomarine Skua, a Little Auk and a Fulmar.

 A rain-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Robin, 2 Great Tit and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Goldcrest.