Late July 2025

July 22nd. Clear start, cloudy later, with moderate westerly wind and rain in afternoon.

  There was a good migration of Swallows and Sand Martins early morning, with several Yellow and alba wagtails also passing though. A Hobby paused briefly on the beach before continuing south and an Arctic Skua was offshore. Swifts were moving south in small numbers during the late afternoon in front of squally rain fronts.

  On the water bodies through the day were 138 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 39 Little Grebe, 150 Avocet, 34 Lapwings, 541 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 25 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 635 Black-headed Gulls, 32 Spoonbills and 1 Kingfisher.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 15 new birds: 5 Wren, 4 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, 2 Linnet and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blackcap and 2 Whitethroat.

  A male Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly was at Shoveler's Pool.

Spotted Redshank, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Spotted Redshank, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Adult Ringed Plover, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Ringed Plover chick, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Kingfisher, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Southern Migrant Hawker, 22nd July 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Gatekeeper Butterfly, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Common Blue Butterfly, 22nd July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
July 21st. Cloudy, with occasional rain and light south-easterly wind.

  Early news included a mobile Wood Sandpiper flying around on Tennyson's Sands, there were also 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 69 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egrets and 33 Spoonbills whilst at lunchtime there was a Spotted Redshank.

  During the late afternoon Tennyson's Sands still held 103 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 42 Little Grebe, 156 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Water Rail, 51 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 544 Black-tailed Godwit, 134 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 54 Lapwing whilst the Spoonbills had increased to 29.

  On Fenland there were 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Greenshank whilst on the Mere there was a single Gadwall, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper flew over heading south. On Mill Pond, there were 2 Kingfishers showing well at times.

Wood Sandpiper, 21st July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
x3 Curlew Sandpipers, 21st July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Little Ringed Plovers, 21st July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Snipe, 21st July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Common Sandpiper, 21st July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Green Sandpiper, 21st July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Greenshank with Little Egrets, 21st July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
x2 Kingfishers on Mill Pond
(1st pond on the left as you walk out from North Carpark towards the Sea)
21st July 2025, Photo - Tom Baker
x2 Kingfishers on Mill Pond
(1st pond on the left as you walk out from North Carpark towards the Sea)
21st July 2025, Photo - Tom Baker
Roe Deer, 21st July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Red Admiral Butterfly, 21st July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Mid July 2025

July 20th. Cloudy, with rain from late morning and moderate south-easterly wind.

  A Whimbrel and a Marsh Harrier went south early morning whilst a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling along Mill Pond Road.

  Around lunchtime, heavy rain started and kept up until late afternoon. The results of the downpours became evident on the water bodies, Tennyson's Sands' water levels had gone up significantly with large areas of shallow water evident again where there had been expanses of dry mud. Waders were taking full opportunity to feed, especially late afternoon after being grounded by the rain.

  On the water bodies were 1 juvenile Water Rail, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 18 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 30 Spoonbills, 36 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets and 48 Pied Wagtails.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Magpie; and 3 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Robin.

Curlew Sandpiper, 20th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, 20th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Black-tailed Godwits, 20th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Greenshank, 20th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Curlew Sandpiper, 20th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Juvenile Water Rail, 20th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Dunlin in the rain, 20th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
July 19th. Cloudy, with rainy spells and moderate south-easterly wind.

  Early news concerned 4 Crossbill around North Carpark.

  On Jackson's Marsh were a Water Rail and 7 Green Sandpiper, whilst on Tennyson's Sands there were 1 Mediterranean Gull, 170 Avocet, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 140 Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpiper, 24 Spoonbill, 21 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret and a Kingfisher.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Little Ringed Plovers, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Sedge Warbler, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack hood
Green Sandpiper, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Greenshank and Green Sandpiper, 19th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Spotted Redshank, 19th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Green Sandpiper, 19th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Greenshank in the rain, 19th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
July 18th. Cloudy start, gradually clearing and becoming hot, with light south-easterly wind.

  On the water bodies around the reserve were a Water Rail, 3 Greenshank, 20 Redshank, several hundred Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great White Egret and 22 Spoonbill.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 4 Wren, a Blackcap, a Robin and a Linnet; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Linnet and 2 Whitethroat.

x22 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 18th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Greenshanks, 18th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Common Sandpiper on the Mere, 18th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Water Rail 18th July 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
July 17th. A partly cloudy day with a hint of a southerly breeze, getting hot during the afternoon.

  Early news concerned 3 Crossbills around North Carpark. A Curlew Sandpiper flew south along the beach with 5 Dunlin along with 3 Mediterranean Gulls (an adult and two juveniles). On the Wash there were 3500 Sandwich Tern and 350 Redshank. Sand Martins were moving south in good numbers as well. Around was a Barn Owl.

  On the water bodies around the reserve, there were 35 Little Grebe, 145 Mallard, 18 Teal, 357 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Lapwing, 175 Avocet, 2 male Ruff, 35 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Great White Egrets, 1 Grey Heron and 22 Spoonbill.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff and 5 Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

  Colour-ring Sighting Control: The details on the colour-ringed Sanderling that Tom Baker photographed on the 15th July 2025 (See 15th July for photo) have come back courtesy of our colour-ring coordinator Nigel Lound. The bird has amazingly not been reported since its first ringing in Punta Balea, Cangas (Pontevedra), Spain on the 26th May 2023. The bird has moved 1389.4km and survived for 783 days.

  Colour-ring Sighting Control: We have just received the details back for a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull (EZ70562 with colour-ring 2TJN) that was photographed on the 8th July 2025. This bird was originally ringed on the 14th January 2017 at Pitsea Landfill Site as a third calendar year bird, Essex. The bird was next reported at Gibraltar Point on the 12th August 2018 and has been sighted at Gibraltar Point again in 2018, twice in 2021, twice in 2022 and once in 2023 and then not again until the 8th July 2025. In-between these sightings, it has not been reported anywhere else! perhaps just showing amazing site fidelity! This bird is now in its eleventh calendar year! Many Thanks to Nigel Lound for this incredible record!

Colour-ringed Black-headed Gull, 8th July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Spotted Redshank, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Spoonbill begging food from parent, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Black-tailed Godwit, 17th July 2025
Photo -Paul Neale
Great White Egrets, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Green Sandpiper, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Grey Heron, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Tufted Duck with young duckling finally proving breeding this year!, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Sedge Warbler, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Crossbill, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Common Blue, 17th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
July 16th. After more overnight rain, a mostly cloudy day, with some brief light morning rain and fresh wind eventually shifting to a north-eastly.

  Morning migration included 532 Swifts heading south accompanied by 4 Sand Martins and a Red Kite (8.30ish).

  On the water bodies around the reserve were 1 juvenile Water Rail, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 41 Little Grebe, 154 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 206 Avocet, 30 Lapwing, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 120 Redshank, 452 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Cormorant, 21 Spoonbill, 12 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret and 1 Grey Heron.

Little Tern attacking an unfortunate Hare, 16th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Little Tern not giving up! 16th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Little Tern - all is well again, 16th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
July 15th. A mostly clear start, quickly clouding over, in an increasing south-westerly wind which brought prolonged afternoon rain, heavy at times.

  On the water bodies around the reserve today were 114 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 35 Little Grebe, 230 Avocet, 455 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank216 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 6 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 41 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret, 31 Spoonbill (including colour ringed bird ND9L), 332 Black-headed Gulls and a Kingfisher.

  During the evening a Hobby, a Red Kite and 2300 Swift went south over Tennyson's Sands from 7pm until 9pm.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff and 2 Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Sanderlings flying along the beach on the mornings high tide, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Sandwich Tern with food, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Colour Ringed Sanderling, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Skylark, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Seal in the sea, 15th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Dunlin being harassed by Little Egrets, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Snipe, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Cormorant, 15th July 2025
Photo - David Nutt
Little Egrets and Spoonbills from Harvey's Hide, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Ruddy Darter Dragonfly, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
July 14th. Partially cloudy, with slowly increasing southerly to south-easterly wind.

  During the morning Tennyson's Sands held a Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, a Snipe, 3 Great White Egret and 27 Spoonbill whilst on Jackson's Marsh, there were 2 Green Sandpiper. At the Visitor Centre, there was a female/juvenile Black Redstart.

  In the late afternoon, a check of the Mere revealed 181 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper, all right in front of the hide - unfortunately nobody had a camera! Whilst watching these birds it became evident that a strong migration phase was underway with Sand Martins and Swifts pouring through, mainly along the east side of the reserve visible from the Mere hide. In just 30 to 40 minutes, 640 Sand Martin, 270 Swift, a Hobby and 3 Great White Egret went south into rapidly strengthening headwind so probably a locally related movement through a moving weather front.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced a new Chiffchaff; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.

Spotted Redshank (Note the tiny Little Grebe chick with its parent in the background),
 14th July 2025. Photo - Tom Baker
Green Sandpiper, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Greenshanks, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Common Sandpiper, 14th July 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Little Egrets and a couple of Spoonbills at sunrise on the Mere, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Barn Owl, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Sedge Warbler, 13th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
July 13th. Mostly clear, with light to moderate north-easterly wind.

  Highlight of the morning was a Red Kite that drifted south over the Visitor Centre at 10.20am. At lunch time a Crossbill was heard over Sykes Farm, and then during the evening 3 Greenshanks flew over. Heading south were 4 Whimbrel whilst around the boats on the river and around the Freshwater Marsh were 150 Sand Martins and 250 Swallows. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from scrub on the Freshwater Marsh.

  On the water bodies were 1 Water Rail, 41 Little Grebe, 168 Avocet, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 92 Redshank, 9 Greenshank, 1 male Ruff, 27 Spoonbill, 3 Great White Egret.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Wren; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

  A total of 26 new birds and 9 retraps were processed over in the West Dunes today with the Eighth Session of the CES ringing site being completed (Session Seven was unfortunately missed due to rain last Sunday before the time that the session would have finished). This resulted in 13 new birds: 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Robin, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap and 1 Great Tit; and 5 retraps: 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Dunnock.

  The West Dunes feeding station nets produced 13 new birds: 3 Chaffinch, 4 Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Greenfinch and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 4 retraps: 1 Chaffinch and 3 Great Tit.

An early start to the CES which started over an hour before the sun came up.
13th July 2025, Photo - Michael Briggs
Juvenile Coal Tit ringed, 13th July 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs
Great White Egret pouncing on Black-headed Gulls! 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Black-tailed Godwits, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Red Kite, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Spoonbill stretching, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
Spoonbills arriving, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
A pair of Small Skippers, 13th July 2025
Photo - Paul Neale
July 12th. Cloudy start, gradually clearing, with gradually increasing north-easterly wind.

 On the water bodies around the reserve were 32 Little Grebe, 298 Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 16 Lapwing, 448 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 24 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 29 Spoonbill, 44 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret and 1 Grey Heron.

  Around were 66 Curlew (on Seacroft Golf Course at first light), a juvenile Cuckoo and 8 Mistle Thrush.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

Little Egrets from Harvey's Hide on Tennyson's Sands, 12th July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound
Little Egrets and Grey Heron on Tennyson's Sands, 12th July 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound
July 11th. Clear and hot, with light then slowly increasing southerly to south-easterly wind.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Kingfisher; and 4 retraps: 2 Robin, a Wren and a Whitethroat.

Kingfisher, ringed 11 July 2025.
Photo - George Gregory
Sandwich Tern with lunch! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Ringed Plover chick looking for mum and food! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Little Tern looking for breakfast! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Tern at dawn, 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Sandwich Tern with more breakfast! 9th July 2025
Photo - Mike Watts