Off of Croftmarsh early morning came 2500 Pink-footed Goose. There followed an excellent spell of southerly migration involving 8 Whooper Swan, 2 Razorbill, 4390 Woodpigeon, a Buzzard, 4 Swallow, Siskin, Redpoll and Chaffinch. Two Waxwing south down the West Dunes were the highlight. Fairly quiet offshore, but 2 Great Northern Diver arrived separately from the north and joined the raft of feeding Cormorant. Also around were a Sparrowhawk, 6 Goldcrest, a Merlin and 4 Stonechat. 2 Swallow arrived during the afternoon and were feeding around Sykes Farm and we received news that a White-tailed Eagle had been tracked over Jackson's Marsh around mid-day. This bird an immature female (G542) from the isle of Wight scheme.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 4 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Goldcrest and 3 Blackbird.
Ringing Control: Goldcrest, ringed Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire 12 October 2021, controlled GPBO 10 October 2022.
November 9th.
2,500 Pink-footed Geese left the roost early morning. Vis mig involved very good numbers of Siskins and Woodpigeons with other Finches, Rock Pipits, Skylarks and 4 Swallows. Around the Reserve were 4 Stonechat and 2 Cetti's Warbler.
A rain-shortened sheltered morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 2 new birds: a Goldcrest and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Goldcrest, a Great Tit, a Blackbird and a Dunnock.
November 8th. Soggy start, with increasing south-westerly wind.
Birds around included 28 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2500 Pink-footed Goose, 76 Gadwall, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 4 Goldcrest, 11 Robin, 3 Stonechat, a Song Thrush, 2 Redwing and 9 Blackbird. On Tennyson's Sands was a Fieldfare. Heading south were 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Fieldfare, 14 Red-breasted Merganser, a Swallow and 55 Siskin.
November 7th. Soggy start, with moderately strong south-westerly wind.
An hour's watch from Mill Hill early morning was productive. Flying south offshore were single Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and Long-tailed Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 25 Whooper Swan and 11 Red-breasted Merganser whilst a light passage down the East Dunes involved Starling, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Chaffinch, Siskin, Redpoll and 2 Swallows. Flying around were 1100 Pink-footed Goose.
A wind-sheltered morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 4 new Blackbird; a retrap Robin; and a control Blackbird with an ARNHEM VT HOLLAND ring.
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| Blackbird with an ARNHEM VT HOLLAND ring, controlled 7 November 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
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| ARNHEM VT HOLLAND ring, 7 November 2022. Photo -George Gregory |
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| ARNHEM VT HOLLAND ring, 7 November 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
November 6th. Soggy start, slowly drying out, but remaining overcast.
Over Wainfleet Marsh were 3000 Pink-footed Goose. Around, including birds trapped, were 28 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, a Woodcock, and 5 Blackbird. Heading south were 2 Merlin, a Sandwich Tern, a Black-throated Diver, 4 Snow Bunting, 11 Whooper Swan and a Swallow, with good numbers of Skylark, Chaffinch and Rock Pipit.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 4 Reed Bunting and 3 Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 2 Blackbird, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Robin, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Goldcrest.
Stonechat, 6th November 2022. November 5th. Off from Croftmarsh came 1000+ Pink-footed Goose and 20 Whooper Swan. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Hen Harrier, a Blackcap, 3 Bearded Tit, a Goldcrest, a Redwing, a Song Thrush and 9 Blackbird.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 12 new birds: 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and 5 Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 4 Blackbird, a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.
November 4th. Flying around in various directions were 2000 Pink-footed Goose; and south 10 Whooper Swan, 2 Brambling, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 12 Siskin. Around, including birds trapped, were 22 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Woodcock, a Sparrowhawk, a Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, a Stonechat, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 36 Blackbird and a Bullfinch. 6 Goosander flew south offshore having been seen earlier passing Huttoft.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 26 new birds: a Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Lesser Redpoll, a Robin, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, 4 Song Thrush, a Redwing and 7 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Great Tit, a Blue Tit, 3 Blackbird, a Wren and a Robin.
November 3rd. Rain until late morning.
Starling, Finches and Skylark were moving south after the rain had passed and there were still plenty of Robin around the west side. A Marsh Harrier also went south. Other birds around included 1100 Pink-footed Goose on Croftmarsh, 4 Water Rail (3 on Tennyson's Sands and 1 on the Mere), a Whimbrel, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 22 Redwing, 15 Siskin, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 3 Stonechat, and 30 Blackbird. The highlight at sea was a Black-throated Diver.
November 2nd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, later increasing.
The main theme of the morning's migration watch concerned Woodpigeon - going south in many flocks exceeding 500 and a total approaching 27,000! Skylark, Rock Pipit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Siskin were also passing in good numbers. The highlight of passage was a Snow Bunting. Offshore 3 Velvet Scoter arrived from the north and landed on the sea, having been seen passing Huttoft some 45 minutes earlier. Also heading south were 8 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 120 Pink-footed Goose, a Goosander, a Red-breasted Merganser, 27 Whooper Swan, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Arctic Tern and a Sandwich Tern. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 2 Stonechat, 2 Redwing, a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff, a Swallow, a Firecrest and 5 Blackbird. In off the sea came a Fieldfare.
A wind-sheltered morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 13 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Robin, 2 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 4 Blackbird; and 4 retraps: 2 Wren, a Blackbird and a Robin.
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| Peregrine, 2 November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Nige Lound  Lapwing, 2nd November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Nige Lound  Stonechat, 2nd November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
November 1st. Strong south-westerly wind.
Birds around included 90 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 210 Pink-footed Goose, a Sandwich Tern, an Arctic Tern, a Goldcrest, 2 Robin, a Redwing, a Fieldfare, 3 Blackbird and a Siskin. Flying south were 2 Goldeneye.
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| Fieldfare, 1 November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Siskin, 1 November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Teal and Shoveler, 1 November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker  Brent Geese, 1 November 2022. Photo - Tom Baker |
