Mid June 2022

20th. Increasing north-easterly wind. 

 Offshore, 15 Gannet moved north in a 30 minute watch.  Around were 10 Swift and a Cuckoo. On Jackson's Marsh were 7 Spoonbill including a juvenile that arrived late in the day. Another individual flew south. On Tennyson's Sands 2 Spotted Redshank with increasing numbers of Redshank and 2 Med Gull.

 The sixth session of CES was done this morning. The 9 new birds were 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a House Sparrow; and the 11 retraps were 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and a Wren.

A Brown Hawker was seen. Although there have been sightings of this impressive dragonfly nearly annually for a few years, it is not thought to breed on the Reserve.  

Sundog (partial solar halo), 20th June 2022. Photo - Ben Ward

Juvenile Spoonbill, 20th June 2022. Photo - Ben Ward

19th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.

 Birds around included 2 Cuckoo, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Buzzard and a Short-eared Owl Flying south-west were 3 Red Kite.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 12 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Starling; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Two juvenile Ringed Plovers. Photos: Kev Wilson

18th June. Drizzly spells in morning. 

 A Kingfisher was a new arrival at the Mere.  Around were a Little Gull, a Peregrine and 30 Curlew. Going north was a Swift.

 A drizzle-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Linnet, 5 Great Tit and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Great Tit.

Little Gull 18th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

Juvenile Great Tit, ringed 18 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

17th June. Birds around included 30 Curlew, 60 Grey Plover, 40 Knot and a Short-eared Owl. Heading south were 300 Swift and 10 Sand Martin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: A Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat; and a retrap Dunnock.

Swift. Photo: Tom Baker

Eider 17th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

Pyramidal Orchid, 17 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

16th June. An hour on Mill Hill from 0700 produced a female Red-backed Shrike and a Marsh Warbler. The shrike flew in from the north at some height before showing in the scrub for 10 minutes and then disappearing. The warbler initially giving short snatches of song, later delivered full song with mimicry including Bee-eater calls. Also around were a Cuckoo, 30 Curlew (flushed by a microlight) and a Barn Owl. Flying south were 25 Swift and 5 Lapwing.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded a new Dunnock; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Painted Lady Butterflies were still widespread in small numbers and 3 Humming-bird Hawk-moths were seen nectaring on Sea Rocket on the outer dunes. Continuing the migrant Lepidoptera theme, a Tawny Wave was trapped overnight.

Several Bee Orchids were found along the Cycletrack.

Red-backed Shrike 16th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

Humming-bird Hawk-moth 16th June. Photo: Liam Andrews

Tawny Wave 16th June. Photo: Nige Lound

Red-necked Footman 16th June. Photo: Adrian Royle

Bee Orchid 16th June. Photo: Adrian Royle

Labyrinth Spider 16th June. Photo: Adrian Royle

15th June. Birds around included a Grasshopper Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Ringed Plover.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.

Fledgling Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 15 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

Fledgling Whitethroat, ringed 15 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

Oystercatcher with chick 15th June. Photos: Andrew Pendlebury

Speckled Wood 15th June. Photo: Jeremy Eyeons

Six-spot Burnet Moth 15th June. Photo: Jeremy Eyeons

Peach Blossom Moth 15th June. Photo: Nige Lound

Ringing Recovery: Goldfinch, ringed GPBO 9 October 2021, found dead Holmpton, East Yorkshire 10 June 2022.

14th June. Around were 2 Swift, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard. A Great White Egret was mobile around the water bodies. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover and a Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands a Little Ringed Plover.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin and 4 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock.

Juvenile Chiffchaff, ringed 14 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

13th June. There was little movement offshore in a 30 minute watch, just 2 Common Scoter north and 6 south, with the small Eider group now up to 8 birds on the beach or close inshore. Visible migration was limited to 12 Swift south, 2 Sand Martin west and a Bee-eater! The latter called frequently, high over the East Dunes before heading south or south east over Millennium Ridge at 0825. A Hobby arrived on the beach late morning. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover and a Greenshank. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl and a Grasshopper Warbler.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 7 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Starling; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 13 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Linnet, a Blackcap and 5 Dunnock; and 11 retraps: 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Robin, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock.

Grasshopper Warbler, 13 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Adult male Reed Bunting, ringed 13 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

Hobby 13th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

Moorhen and chick 13th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

12th June. Around was a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands were a Great White Egret, 2 Spoonbill, 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 7 Swift.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: 3 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and 2 Starling; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.

Fledgling Whitethroat, ringed 12 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

Great White Egret 12th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Spoonbill adult and juvenile 12th June, Photo: Tom Baker

Little Ringed Plover 12th June 2022. Photo: Tom Baker

11th June. Increasing south-westerly wind.

 Birds around included a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Ringed Plover and a Greenshank; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Spoonbill. Going south were 200 Swift, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Siskin and small numbers of late Linnets and Goldfinches. A ringtail Harrier flew south offshore, possibly veering south-east towards Norfolk.

 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Robin and 2 Dunnock; and a retrap Lesser Whitethroat.

Great White Egret with Little Egret, 11th June 2022. Photo - Harry Fenwick

Short-eared Owl, Shelduck, Lapwings, Greenshank and Comma Butterfly 11th June . Photos: Tom Baker