June 30th. The Whooper Swan remained. Other birds around included a Cuckoo. Going southeast were 36 Shelduck; and south 1500 Starling, 40 Swift, 54 Sand Martin, 17 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, 721 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 37 Gannet, 3 Little Egret, 15 Common Scoter, a Golden Plover, 28 Dunlin, a Grey Wagtail and 8 'alba' Wagtail.
The first Humming-bird Hawk-moth of the year was seen.
An evening seawatch recorder 5 Many Shearwater north and a Fulmar, an Arctic Tern, 23 Gannet, 392 Sandwich Tern, 950 Swift, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 22 Curlew and 8 Avocet south.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Robin, 4 Whitethroat and a Blackbird.
June 29th. Rainy spells in morning.
Around were a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 6 Sand Martin and 2 Bullfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 10 Spoonbill. An unseasonal adult Whooper Swan flew north over Tennyson's Sands.
Moth News: The moths below were trapped overnight on June 27th:
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| Blackneck, 27 June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Shark, 27 June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
June 28th. Overcast again with a light breeze and becoming warm and humid.
A Quail was singing overnight from saltmarsh at the south end. Busy offshore again with the feeding flock of large Gulls, Gannet and Sandwich Tern, joined by a few more Common Tern today and the two Arctic Skua remained. up to 400 Black-headed Gull were again feeding along the tideline with 4 Mediterranean Gull and 76 Avocet. Three flocks of fine summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit arrived from the north and passed through, totaling 41 birds. A few Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit did likewise. A Treecreeper was the first record of the year and presumably the result of post-breeding dispersal.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Wren and a Linnet; and 6 retraps: 5 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.
June 27th. Much cooler today with a westerly breeze and some light rain late on.
Excellent light over the sea resulting from overcast conditions facilitated a prolonged watch. Sandwich Tern were moving south into the Wash throughout the two hours, totaling 300, with a further 140 in the feeding flock with up to 50 Gannet and 300 Herring Gull. A light phase Arctic Skua was harassing the terns and a dark phase bird arrived from the north. 2 Red-throated Diver remained and 3 Mediterranean Gull were offshore, with many Black-headed Gull dip-feeding close in. A Greenshank flew south and Hobby was hunting Hirundines. A Spotted Flycatcher was presumably yesterday's bird having moved across from East Dunes to West Dunes, where a Song Thrush was in song and a flock of 10 Crossbill flew into the Pines early morning - the flock probably departed soon after but a lone juvenile appeared later. A large mixed feeding flock of tits, warblers etc moved through East Dunes. A light movement of Swift was intermittent during the morning. Spoonbill had increased to 12 on Jackson's Marsh but they were flushed off by two loud microlights along with most other waterbirds from the lagoons. Two Little Tern chicks hatched in the Shorebird Sanctuary.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 60 new birds: 2 Wren, 14 Long-tailed Tit, 17 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Great Tit, 10 Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Kestrel; and 11 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, 2 Wren, a Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
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| Kestrel, ringed 27 June 2023. Photo - George Gregory |
June 26th. Bright and sunny again, but cooler than recent days with an increasing westerly wind.
A very busy 2 hours on Mill Hill this morning during which 77 species were recorded. A Spotted Flycatcher was a new arrival, Swift were going south with Starling, a few Sand Martin, 4 Siskin, and single Grey and Yellow Wagtail, whilst offshore 3 Red-throated Diver together were unseasonal and the feeding flock involved 130 Sandwich Tern, 300 Herring Gull, a Mediterranean Gull and 30 Gannet. Moving south were 220 Sandwich Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, and 120 Common Scoter. Red Kite were arriving from the north and departing south with 8 seen during the initial 2 hours along with 2 Buzzard and a total of 17 by 1000hrs. Also around were 2 Cuckoo, 800 Starling and 29 Long-tailed Tit in a single flock.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Wren, 2 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Blackbird, a Chiffchaff and 2 Dunnock.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 15 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, a Robin and 4 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Blackbird, a Sedge Warbler and a Goldfinch.
Moth News: The moths below were trapped overnight on June 24th.
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| Green Silver-lines, 24 June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Peach Blossom, 24 June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Tawny-barred Angle, 24 June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
June 25th. Very warm, becoming hot again with light wind and a welcome rain shower late afternoon.. Little change over yesterday except for an increase in Spoonbill - up to 10 were on Jackson's Marsh with 5 Grey heron and 17 Little Egret and an increase in Little Ringed Plover with a flock of 5 flying out East and 10 remaining on Tennyson's Sands.. The Montagu's Harrier was present again from the Wash Viewpoint and the feeding flock offshore contained similar numbers to yesterday. Other birds around included 5 Stock Dove, 3 Marsh Harrier and a Barn Owl. Heading south were 450 Starling and 10 Sand Martin. In off the Wash came a Grey Heron and a Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Bethany McGuire, produced 13 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, 5 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 8 retraps: a Wren, a Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, a Blackbird, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Robin.
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The sixth session of CES was done this morning. The 24 new birds were a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 3 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Tree Pipit, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Dunnock, a Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and the 6 retraps were a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff.
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| Sparrowhawk, ringed 24 June 2023. Photo - George Gregory  Pied Wagtail - early morning visitor arrives too early to eat at the cafe!, 24th June 2023. Photo - Andrew Pendlebury  Black-tailed Godwit, 24th June 2023. Photo - Rob Smith  Black-tailed Godwit, 24th June 2023. Photo - Steve Clipperton  Greenshank with Black-tailed Godwit, 24th June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker  Green Sandpiper with Black-tailed Godwit, 24th June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker  Spotted Redshank, 24th June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker  Redshank chasing Spotted Redshank, 24th June 2023. Photo - Steve Clipperton  Little Ringed Plover juvenile, 24th June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker  Kestrel, 24th June 2023. Photo - Rob Smith  Long-tailed Tit juvenile, 24th June 2023. Photo - Rob Smith |
June 23rd. Birds around, were 3 Cuckoo, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 5 Spoonbill, 5 Grey Heron, 17 Little Egret, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Siskin and a Bullfinch. Flying south were 230 Starling; and north 4 Sand Martin. A pair of Stonechats were still around Seacroft Marsh.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Bethany McGuire, yielded 13 new birds: 3 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock and a Cuckoo; and 5 retraps: a Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat and a Linnet.
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| Adult male Cuckoo, ringed 23 June 2023. Photo - George Gregory   Photo - Jeremy Eyeons  Photo - Jeremy Eyeons  Swallow chicks, 23rd June 2023. Photo - Beth Mcguire  Stonechat, 23rd June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker  Stonechat, 23rd June 2023. Photo - Tom Baker |
Ringing Control: Chiffchaff, ringed GPBO 14 June 2022, controlled Saltfleet Haven, Lincolnshire 6 May 2023.
June 22nd. Warm and dry again from early morning.
Highlights from the morning watch were a Grey Wagtail U-turning, a Crossbill out east and 150 Starling heading south. On the lagoons were 3 Spotted Redshank, a Spoonbill, a Green Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull. Also around were 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and 4 Marsh Harrier..
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit; and 8 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird, a Linnet and a Blue Tit.
Moth News: A Coronet was trapped overnight on June 20th.
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| Coronet, 20th June 2023. Photo - Nige Lound |
June 21st. The Summer Solstice - The Longest Day. Another very warm, calm and dry day.
Birds on the move included 220 Starling, 13 Lapwing and 30 Swift. On the lagoons were 59 Teal, a Water Rail, 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, 5 Spoonbill and 3 Mediterranean Gull. Around were 2 Cuckoo and a Barn Owl.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Bethany McGuire, produced 3 new birds: 2 Whitethroat and a Woodpigeon; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 16 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Bullfinch, 3 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Goldfinch, a Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch.
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