October 10th. Slowly increasing south-westerly wind.
A day that would have been unimaginable 20 years ago for one local birder when he recorded 5 Heron species in the day today ! A Bittern, a Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egrets, 62 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron, all on Jackson's Marsh - a wetland that was a crop field 25 years ago!
Another big day for migration with Goldfinches in flocks of up to 80 passing at a time along with many Chaffinch, Linnet, Siskin, Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Meadow and Rock Pipit. A late Honey Buzzard arrived mid morning possibly off the sea and was mobbed by local Crows, 3 Merlin headed south, 2 more Short-eared Owls arrived off the sea and a Twite passed through. Still good numbers of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Robins with 3 or 4 Yellow-browed Warblers. It was very busy offshore too with hundreds of Gulls moving from early morning, more wildfowl coming in from the north, Pink-footed Geese heading back north-west and numbers of Gannet, Auks, Sandwich and Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern and Arctic Skuas. Along with all the herons and Egrets, a Jack Snipe was on Jackson's Marsh a Jack Snipe. Another Jack Snipe was in the East Dunes.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 55 new birds: 23 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 11 Robin, 10 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Lesser Redpoll and a Song Thrush; 7 retraps: 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Goldcrest, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and a control Goldcrest with a RIKSMUSEUM STOCKHOLM ring.
October 9th. Quite soggy start, fairly quickly drying out, with a return to south-westerly, then westerly, wind, becoming quite warm and sunny.
A much quieter day after yesterdays arrival of Thrushes etc., however, new Redwings and Song Thrushes were visibly arriving, the dune scrub still held plentiful Robins and Goldcrests and overland migration involved good numbers of Chaffinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Skylark, Meadow and Rock Pipits, with 20 Brambling.. Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in the East Dunes and along the road edge, 7 Crossbill were mobile, at least 2 Jays arrived and a Woodlark was in full song over the East Dunes in the sunny conditions. A Great White Egret remained on Jackson's Marsh where a redhead Goosander was present. 2 Velvet Scoter and 2 Arctic Terns were the highlights of a morning sea-watch.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, 3 Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Redwing, a Dunnock, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Robin and a Chaffinch.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, provided 45 new birds: 11 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Blackcap, 5 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 13 Redwing; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Blackcap and a Blackbird.
A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen in East Dunes.
Wren, 9th October 2023. 
October 8th. An awesome day for birding Gibraltar Point in both numbers and diversity, with a light north-easterly breeze, low cloud and mist hanging well into the morning. Redwings were arriving with other thrushes from dawn, with some 5000 arriving and moving west or south with 150 Song Thrush, 100 Fieldfare and 8 Ring Ouzel (including one trapped). The first Bramblings of the autumn arrived in flocks of up to 20 with Chaffinches, and many Finches, Pipits, Reed Buntings and Skylarks were moving south and with them single Shorelark, Lapland Bunting and 2 Tree Pipit. A Raven and 3 Buzzards headed south and 5 Marsh Harriers were around. Robins and Goldcrest were arriving in the dune scrub with a Yellow-browed Warbler, several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, and a few Swallows and House Martins passed over. Attention turned to the sea from mid day where an unprecedented arrival of 42 Short-eared Owls was witnessed over 4.5 hours. Wigeon, Pintail and Teal were heading south in good sized flocks with the first noticeable arrival of Brent Geese. Over 4000 Pink-footed Geese headed across the Wash to Norfolk. There were parties of feeding Gannets, rafts of Auks and Red-throated Divers, a roost of 60 Sandwich Terns on the beach and additional Sandwich, Common and Commic Terns heading south with 7 Arctic Terns and a single Roseate Tern. 22 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxie and 5 Little Gull flew south and 2 Manx Shearwaters went north with another accompanying the feeding Gannets offshore. A Jack Snipe and 2 Cattle Egrets arrived off the sea, a further 2 Cattle Egret remained on Jacksons' Marsh.
A long ringing session in East Dunes, by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, produced 122 new birds: 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 6 Brambling, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Blue Tit, 5 Robin, 87 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush, a Fieldfare and a Ring Ouzel; and 6 retraps: a Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, a Wren and 2 Dunnock.
A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 61 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit, 7 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Dunnock, 39 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Goldcrest.
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| Ring Ouzel, ringed 8 October 2023. Photo - George Gregory  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker  Photo - Tom Baker  Snipe, 8th October 2023. Photo - Jack Hood  Photo - Kev Wilson |
October 7th. 3 Glossy Ibis, arrived from the north, having been seen earlier flying past Spurn. They paused on the New Saltmarsh briefly then were lost to view. Also, 3 Cattle Egrets were around the Reserve and it was another good day for visible migration.
A long ringing session in East Dunes, by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, yielded 193 new birds: 27 Chiffchaff, 31 Goldcrest, 4 Wren, 43 Goldfinch, 37 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet, 11 Blackcap, 8 Lesser Redpoll, a Siskin, 2 Blue Tit, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Dunnock, 12 Greenfinch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk; and 10 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Goldfinch, a Robin, a Reed Bunting and a Great Tit.
A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, yielded 57 new birds: 17 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 6 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, a Robin, 2 Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
October 6th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
Visible migration was reduced again down the beach and East Dunes, but a calling Lapland Bunting was noted amongst Pipits and Finches. It was busier at sea however, with plenty of Auks and Gannets moving south, and 4 Arctic Skua, 6 Manx Shearwater, 27 Red-throated Diver, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, 47 Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Commic Tern and a single Puffin heading south. 2 Cattle Egrets remained and groups of 8 and 3 Whooper Swans passed through.
A wind-shortened ringing session in East Dunes, by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, provided 23 new birds: 7 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 8 Blackcap, 3 Linnet, a Reed Bunting and 3 Goldfinch; 12 retraps: a Robin, 3 Blackcap, 4 Great Tit, a Wren, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Goldcrest; and a control Blackcap with a Brussels ring.
October 5th. Moderate south-westerly wind.
The continued south-westerly wind saw a continued southward passage of passerines - probably involving half the numbers of yesterday's large scale movement, but nonetheless impressive numbers of Goldfinch, Linnet and Meadow Pipit in particular. A Woodlark was the highlight. Offshore, a Purple Sandpiper headed south and there was a scattering of Auks, Gannets, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Sandwich and Common Terns. The Bittern was seen at the Mere and there were 2 Cattle Egret on Jackson's Marsh. Other birds around included a Greenshank.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, produced 8 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 5 Blackcap and a Robin; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Robin and a Great Tit.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 59 new birds: 15 Chiffchaff, 21 Goldcrest, a Wren, 7 Goldfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, 3 Robin and a Blackbird; and 2 retrap Goldcrest.
October 4th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
A large flock of Pink-footed Geese lifted off from Croftmarsh early morning. An 'eared owl' sp was over East Dunes at dawn. A massive day for visible migration with thousands of passerines moving low south in big flocks. Well represented were Goldfinch, Linnet, Siskin, Redpoll, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, and Reed Bunting with increased numbers of Chaffinch and Skylark giving more of a late autumn feel. However, some good flocks of House Martin were departing with smaller numbers of Swallow. Birds of prey on the move included 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel and a Merlin. A good variety of species were caught up ion the movement with the highlights being 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, single Lapland Bunting, Woodlark and Crossbill. A Cattle Egret was on Jackson's Marsh, 5 Stonechat were around Rock Ridge with another 2 on the Freshwater Marsh and 6 on the Outer Dunes and there were 2 Wheatear on the beach.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 31 new birds: a Wren, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 11 Blackcap, a Robin, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, yielded 39 new birds: 17 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 4 Goldcrest, 8 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Goldfinch, a Reed Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch and a Great Tit; and 2 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and a Goldcrest.
October 3rd. Rain until early morning.
Just a 45 minute recce from Mill Hill this morning after the rain had eased sufficiently. Plenty of Pipits and Finches were on the move even in light rain with 1230 Meadow Pipit, 750 Goldfinch and 610 Linnet just in that time. Offshore highlights were a Pomarine Skua north and 5 Red-breasted Merganser south. The Bittern was seen again on Jackson's Marsh, where a Great White Egret remained. 11 Stonechats and a Whinchat were also recorded.
A rain-delayed ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, provided 63 new birds: 34 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, a Reed Warbler, a Goldfinch, 19 Blackcap and a Dunnock.
October 2nd. Another quite warm morning with a pretty high morning tide.
A large flock of Pink-footed Geese lifted off from Croftmarsh early morning. The morning wader roost involved some of the largest ever counts of Bar-tailed Godwit 8000 and Grey Plover 7000 along with 80,000 Knot, 9000 Oystercatcher, 10,000 Dunlin and 880 Curlew. Robins, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests continue to increase in number, particularly Goldcrests with nearly 100 on the Reserve today. Late summer migrants included a Spotted Flycatcher trapped at Aylmer Avenue, a Sedge Warbler trapped in East Dunes and a Swift. Along with building numbers of Pink-footed Geese, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail, winter wildfowl included a Whooper Swan in off the sea and a Scaup south offshore. 37 Ruff on Tennyson's Sands was a good count. An Osprey was over the west side mid-morning and may have been the bird reported on local farmland recently.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 53 new birds: 19 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Wren, 8 Blackcap, 5 Reed Bunting, a Linnet, 3 Lesser Redpoll, a Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch and 2 Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: 2 Blackcap, a Great Tit, a Chiffchaff and a Dunnock.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 113 new birds: 16 Chiffchaff, 54 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Wren, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 18 Blackcap, 9 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Robin, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Robin, a Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit and a Long-tailed Tit.
October 1st. A warm and overcast morning with another pretty high morning tide, bringing large numbers of waders up to the roost again. In addition to the minimum of 60,000 Knot, there was an increase of Bar-tailed Godwits - up to 5800. After the tide had dropped and most of the waders had departed (as well as most of the counters!), a residual flock of Ringed Plovers remained on the beach and closer inspection of the flock revealed the presence of the Reserve's 2nd ever Buff-breasted Sandpiper!
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 21 new birds: a Wren, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin and a Linnet; and a retrap Goldcrest.
A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, resulted in 41 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 14 Blackcap, 7 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, 5 Great Tit; and 7 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Blue Tit, a Robin and a Great Tit.
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