April 30th . A clear blue sky day with just the tiniest hint of a northerly breeze in the hot conditions.
Early news involved 2 Great White Egrets on Tennyson's Sands.
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| Grasshopper Warbler, 25th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Sedge Warbler, 25th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
Early news involved a Hooded Crow flying north east. Around the Sleeper Track was a Black Redstart whilst on the ponds near there, there was a Whimbrel and a Wheatear. Two Jay flew north. On Tennyson's Sands there were 3 Spoonbill, 2 Common Terns and 32 Black-tailed Godwits whilst on Croft Marsh there was a Yellow Wagtail and a 2 Great White Egrets.
Around were 17 Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Marsh Harrier.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch; and a retrap Wren.
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| Jay, 29th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Great White Egrets, 29th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Lesser Whitethroat, 29th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Whitethroat, 29th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Linnet, 25th April 0225 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Reed Bunting, 25th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Small Copper Butterfly, 29th April 2025 Photo - Jason Virgin |
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| Male Marsh Harrier, 29th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Barn Owl 29th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Long-tailed Tit, 29th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
Early morning there were 2 Whinchats showing well on the bank of Fenland Lagoon and the West Dunes scrub. A Raven flew north east and a Cattle Egret went north-west whilst a trickle of Hirundines went south. On Tennyson's Sands there was a Common Tern, whilst a Spoonbill was on Croft Marsh. A Tree Pipit was singing in West Dunes Sycamore Plot.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Chaffinch; and 5 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Wren and 2 Reed Bunting.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 3 new birds: 2 Goldfinch and a Greenfinch; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Goldfinch.
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| Green Hairstreak, 28th April 2025 Photo - Sam Wilson |
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| Dryad's Saddle, 28th April 2025 Photo - Mike Chester |
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| Dryad's Saddle, 28th April 2025 Photo - Mike Chester |
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| Avocets, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Cormorant, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Water Rail, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Little Egret, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Linnets, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| White Wagtail, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
On the sea there were 18 Common Scoter and a Little Tern heading south. On the water bodies were a Pintail, 41 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank, 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 Adults and a 2CY), a Common Tern, a Kingfisher, 3 Great White Egrets and a Grey Heron.
Other birds around included a single Swift (South), 2 Cuckoo, 2 Turnstone, 1000's of Knot and Dunlin, 1000 Grey Plover, 100 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 12 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellowhammer, a Long-eared Owl and a Barn Owl.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.
Today was the start of the Constant Effort Site ringing in the West Dunes with Session One being completed. The results were 12 new birds: 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, a Blackbird, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler; and 9 retraps: 2 Wren, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff and a Lesser Whitethroat.
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| Whitethroat, 27th April 2025 Photo - Michael Briggs |
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| Common Tern, 27th April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Meadow Pipit, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Linnet, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Reed Bunting, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Goldfinch, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Sedge Warbler, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Sedge Warbler, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
On Moat Scrape from Harvey's Hide were 2 Cattle Egrets briefly before flying off towards the north. On Greenshanks Ridge was a Raven, whilst a Hen Harrier went south over the sea. On the Water Bodies were 4 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, a drake Pintail, a Water Rail, 51 Avocet, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Redshank, 5 Greenshank, a Common Tern, 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and 5 Mediterranean Gulls (a 2CY on Tennyson's Sands and 4 adults which headed east)
Around were a Pochard, 16 Whimbrel (including 6 south), 2 Swifts (First reports of the year), 3 Wheatears, an adult male Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, 6 Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, resulted in 6 new birds: a Great Tit and 5 Goldfinch; and a retrap Chaffinch.
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| Cattle Egrets, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Little Egret, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Cattle Egret, 26th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Oystercatcher, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Curlew, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Shelduck, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
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| Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 24th April 2025 Photo - Rikki Clark |
On the water bodies were 39 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, a drake Pintail, a Water Rail, 51 Avocet, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank (First one of the year), a 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spoonbills, a Grey Heron, and 4 Great White Egrets. Birds around included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Cuckoo, a male Marsh Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Yellowhammers.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch and a Chaffinch; and 5 retraps: a Robin, a Great Tit and 3 Dunnock.
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| Misty start to the day, 25th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Spoonbills, 25th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Robin, 25th April 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Long-tailed Tit, 25th April 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Pheasant, 25th April 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Great White Egret, 25th April 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Roe Deer, 25th April 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
Early news concerned 2 Cattle Egrets on Mere Meadow before flying off to the west. In the afternoon there were 2 Blue-headed Wagtails on Tennyson's Sands before they flew onto Croft Marsh. On the water bodies were 33 Tufted Duck, 12 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, a Pintail, 38 Avocet, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbills, 3 Great White Egrets, a Grey Heron and a Marsh Harrier.
On the move were 52 Arctic Terns and 2 Common Scoter (north), a Puffin, a Red Kite and a Yellow Wagtail (south) and 4 Fieldfare (west). At sea were 3 Gannets. Around were 90 Brent Geese, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Buzzards and a Barn Owl.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Robin and a Whitethroat
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| Two Blue-headed Wagtails, 24th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth  Grasshopper Warbler 24th April 2025. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Noon Fly, 24th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Grey-patched Mining Bee, 24th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew on the Golf Course, 24th April 2025 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Male Shoveler, 24th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Avocets, 24th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Shelduck, 24th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Greenshank and Avocet, 24th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Brent Geese, 24th April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
Early news concerned 4 Spoonbills, including three that arrived from the north and another one that was already present on Tennyson's Sands. At least 3 of these birds were still on Tennyson's Sands in different areas during the afternoon along with 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 41 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Pintail and a Water Rail, whilst 5 Swallows, 15 Sand Martins and 10 House Martins visited in small groups around the water areas from Harvey's Hide in the afternoon also. A morning look at the sea produced a drake Eider, 12 Sandwich Tern and a Red-throated Diver.
Other birds around included 90 Brent Geese, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 15 Swallow, a Collared Dove, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Barn Owl.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 2 new birds: a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Bunting; and 4 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Cetti's Warbler and a Blue Tit.
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| Sedge Warbler, ringed 23 April 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Male Shoveler, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Pied Wagtail, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Collared Dove, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Cuckoo, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Spoonbill, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Spoonbill, Avocet and Oystercatcher, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| House Martin, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Hare, 23rd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Grey Heron, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Grey Heron, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
Another increase today in warbler numbers with more Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers having arrived with 4 Lesser Whitethroats singing. There was also a light passage of Swallows, Goldfinches, Linnets and Yellow Wagtails into the westerly breeze. Around were 2 Cuckoos (East Dunes and North Car Park), a Whimbrel, a Wheatear, a Barn Owl and a Marsh Harrier. On Tennyson's Sands briefly were 5 Mediterranean Gulls (4 adults and a 2CY bird). Also on there were 45 Avocets, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, a Pintail and a Black-tailed Godwit.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 22 April 2025. Photo - George Gregory Cuckoo. April 2025. Video - Kev Wilson |
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| Pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Mediterranean Gulls, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Avocet, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Sedge Warbler, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Roe Deer crossing the road, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Fox hunting around the reedbeds, 22nd April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Female Roe Deer, 18th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Whitethroat with ring on right leg - presumably from last year? 18th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Muntjac Deer, 18th April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
Birds on the water bodies included 47 Tufted Duck, 11 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, a Pintail, a Pochard, 33 Avocet, 12 Redshank, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, a 2CY Mediterranean Gull, a Spoonbill , 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. Also around were a Marsh Harrier, 5 Grasshopper Warblers and 5 Blackcaps. On the beach were a flock of 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Arctic Terns. Flying east were 75 Curlew.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Wren, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Reed Bunting; and 8 retraps: 4 Dunnock, 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff and a Great Tit.
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| 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 21st April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Great White Egret and Grey Heron, 21st April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Great White Egret, 21st April 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Stoat eyeing up a Moorhen for lunch, 21st April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Stoat, 21st April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Stoat, 21st April 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
