Ringing Control: Whitethroat, ringed GPBO 17 June 2020, controlled Portland Bill 27 April 2024.
April 30th. An easterly breeze, but bright and sunny and becoming warm from late morning.
A fairly light southerly passage involved Goldfinches, Linnets, Chaffinches, Swallows, Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtails, Whimbrels and a Tree Pipit. The majority of yesterday's Wheatears had moved on but there were a new Black Redstart and Common Redstart. The good weather encouraged many Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers into song, with 7 Grasshopper Warblers reeling in typical locations and at least 2 Cuckoos. On the lagoons were Spoonbill, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern.
A Common Crane arrived from inland and circled Croftmarsh before flying off low towards the Wash around 1835hrs.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, a Whitethroat and a Cuckoo; and 3 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and 2 Wren.
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| Male Cuckoo, ringed 30 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Green Hairstreak, 30th April 2024. Photo - Rob Watson |
April 29th. Increasing southerly wind, but dry and bright, becoming warm in the afternoon. After yesterday's migrant arrival, Wheatears were the main theme with a remarkable arrival of new birds throughout the day culminating in a count of 154 in the early evening. This included a group of 66 on one favoured area of strip saltings. There were a few other grounded birds associated with this arrival including a scattering of White and Yellow Wagtails, 4 Common Redstarts and 2 Whinchats although three of the Redstarts and 1 Whinchat were probably birds from yesterday. The return to southerly winds saw a resurgence of visible migration of mainly Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Linnets heading south with Swallows and Sand Martins, 2 Siskin and a Brambling. 2 Spoonbill and a Great White Egret also headed south whilst a Hen Harrier and Swift went north. On the lagoons, highlights were a Garganey, Little Gull, a Great Crested Grebe and 2 Common Sandpiper. Other birds around were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Green Sandpiper and 6 Whimbrel.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Robin and 2 Greenland Wheatear; and a retrap Great Tit.
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| Male Greenland Wheatear, ringed 29 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Female Greenland Wheatear, ringed 29 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Greenland Wheatear, 29th April 2024. Photo - Ste Taylor  Common Redstart, 29th April 2024. Photo - Kev Wilson  Common Redstart, 29th April 2024. Photo - Kev Wilson  Photo - Ste Taylor  Photo - Ste Taylor  Photo - Ste Taylor  Little Gull with Black-headed Gull, 29th April 2024. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth  Great Crested Grebe, 29th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Common Sandpiper with Redshank, 29th April 2024. Photo - Rob Watson |
April 28th. The day started with rain in combination with a strong wind that made any bird recording almost impossible, although there was a fair attempt at a sea-watch. Conditions gradually improved from early afternoon when it became apparent that a good spread of new migrants had arrived. At least 32 Wheatears were counted along the frontal dunes and saltings with 3 male Whinchats, 4 Common Redstarts and a Black Redstart. There was a noticeable arrival of Willow warblers and a single Garden Warbler but a Spotted Flycatcher was very early. A Brambling was in the Plantation with another 7 heading south and small groups of Chaffinches were newly arrived. An Osprey arrived from the north and drifted south through the Wash mid afternoon and 2 Swifts also passed through. A small number of Hirundines had arrived off the sea during the dire conditions in the morning and up to 50 were hawking over the Old Saltmarsh later.
April 27th. Fairly cold start, with a moderate north-easterly wind.
Around were a Grey Heron, a Merlin and a Cuckoo.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Great Tit; and a retrap Robin.
April 26th. Still cold with a fairly brisk northerly wind, mostly overcast with some early rain showers. Birds around included a Brambling, 6 Pintail, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Cuckoo. 9 Spoonbill flew over the Visitor Centre into the Wash.
April 25th. Fairly cold start, with moderate south-westerly wind, and with some light rain in late morning.
Pretty quiet at sea although a male Velvet Scoter went south close in. Otherwise, just a few Common Scoter parties, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and a Fulmar north. Unusually, another Fulmar was seen over the West Dunes! Other birds around included a Great White Egret, a Grey Heron and a Barn Owl. A Green-winged Teal was anew arrival on the Freshwater Marsh and a Whooper Swan was on Croftmarsh. After recent flooding there is plenty of Snipe habitat on site and a single Jack Snipe was with several Common Snipe.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a new Lesser Whitethroat; and a retrap Willow Warbler.
April 24th. Increasing north-westerly wind, with occasional brief light rain in morning.
Another fairly quiet day with highlights of Great White Egret, Peregrine, Cuckoo and 2 Wheatears.
A weather-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and a Tree Pipit; and 5 retraps: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff and a Dunnock.
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| Tree Pipit, ringed 24 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Photo - Rob Watson  Oystercatcher, 24th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Great Tit, 24th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Green-veined White, 24th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Bank Vole, 24th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Weevil, 24th April 2024. Photo - Rikki Clark |
April 23rd. North-westerly breeze, dry initially with ran shower later followed by drizzle.
500 Common Scoter were seen at the mouth of the Wash early on and were joined by a Velvet Scoter from the north in a brief sea-watch when 8 Arctic Tern and 15 Sandwich Tern flew north and 2 Little Terns were blogging. Black-tailed Godwit increased to 70 with a Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands. Other birds around included Whimbrel, Marsh Harrier and Merlin.
April 22nd. Less cold that recent mornings but still a cool westerly breeze.
Again, lots of birdsong from the dune scrub, including a few Willow Warblers, Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler along with at least one Cuckoo. An Osprey passed over west early afternoon. On the beach a mass of feeding Gulls attracted by the recent wash-out of razor shells etc. At least 1500 Herring Gulls were present, although the only rare gull of the day was a Caspian Gull found on Tennyson's Sands. A build up of Common Scoter was apparent at the mouth of the Wash with a raft of 450 on the sea and another 800 moving north. A ringtail Hen Harrier and a Jay went south.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 18 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Linnet, 4 Reed Bunting, a Wheatear and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock, a Linnet, a Chaffinch and a Great Tit.
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| Wheatear, ringed 22 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Caspian Gull, 22 April 2024. Photo - Nige Lound  Herring Gulls, 22nd April 2024. Photo - Kev Wilson  Whimbrel, 22nd April 2024. Photo - Kev Wilson |
April 21st. A chilly start and little significant change in bird numbers or movements.
A Cuckoo was vocal on the west side with up to 4 Grasshopper Warblers till reeling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Cetti's Warbler and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Wren.
Following the steady colonisation of the Reserve by Cetti's Warblers, some four or five territories were established in 2022, but since that time, they have become very hard to find. Two out of three recent records relate to birds trapped during ringing sessions at different sites and no song heard this spring.
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 21 April 2024. Photo - George Gregory  Treecreeper, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Black-tailed Godwit, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Redshanks, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Little Grebe, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Hoverfly, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark  Hoverfly, 21st April 22024. Photo - Rikki Clark |
