August 31st. Partially cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.
During a morning sea-watch there were plenty of distant Terns heading slowly south again, with many more in the beach roost and in a feeding flock offshore with Gannets and Gulls. A single Black Tern was also present in the roost, and 7 Arctic Skuas passed south with another 3 blogging and an unidentified small Skua.. Passage waders down the beach included 4 Greenshank, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, a Snipe and 9 Whimbrel, with small groups of Dunlin, Sanderling, Redshank and Knot along with 30 Teal and 5 Shoveler.
Two Cattle Egrets were new in with 2 Spotted Redshanks remaining on Tennyson's Sands. 4 Little Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper were on the Mere. A Greenshank was on Jackson's Marsh.
In the Plantation was a Treecreeper. Flying south were a Grey Heron, a Kestrel, a Marsh Harrier, a Tree Sparrow, 2 Swifts and a number of Swallows. 5 Whinchats and 3 Stonechats were at the south end of the West Dunes adjacent to the Visitor Centre Car Park.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Robin and a Sedge Warbler; and 2 retrap Robin.
Overnight moth trapping in Sykes Farm revealed a very scarce migrant Tawny Wave amongst the well over 200 moths caught. There was also a scarce Pearly Underwing which is just about an annual species for the reserve.
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| Cattle Egret, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Cattle Egret, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Cattle Egret, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spotted Redshanks, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Wren, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Common Darter Dragonfly, 31st August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Tawny Wave, 31st August 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
A very pleasant morning with a good variety of birds around. There was a steady passage of Swallows, with several parties of House Martins and more Sand Martins than recent days, with 2 Swifts, 4 Grey Wagtails, 6 Yellow Wagtails and several Meadow Pipits on the move.
Waders were passing too, with 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Spotted Redshank south along the beach. A constant passage of Sandwich Terns and Commic Terns were quite distant offshore with 40 Gannets and 2 Arctic Skuas heading south. A roost of Terns and Gulls on the beach included a single Caspian Gull.
A Little Stint was with a Little Ringed Plover on the Mere. In the dunes there were 4 Goldcrests, a Redstart and an arrival of 9 Whinchats. Two House Sparrows were the first of autumn.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 14 new birds: 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Woodpigeon; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Willow Warbler.
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| Greenshank, 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Greenshanks, 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spotted Redshank, 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spoonbill, 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Water Rail 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Roe Deer Stag, 30th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
A Black Redstart (probably yesterday's trapped bird) was around the Bird Observatory building early morning. Flying north from the estuary were 4 Spoonbill. A male Common Redstart was in the West Dunes late afternoon. On the Mere was a Little Ringed Plover
Overnight Moth trapping at Sykes Farm resulted in the 2nd Dewick's Plusia of the year and indeed the 2nd ever for the reserve! Also trapped were not one but two Ni Moths, a rare migrant to the reserve.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Goldcrest, 5 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit and a Robin; and 9 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Robin, 5 Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock.
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| Goldcrest, ringed 29 August 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Little Ringed Plover, 28th August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Little Ringed Plover, 28th August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Grey Heron, 28th August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Common Darter Dragonflies, 28th August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Common Darter Dragonfly, 29th August 2025 Photo - Jeremey Eyeons |
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| Green-veined White Butterfly, 29th August 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| One Ni Moth, 29th August 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| x2 Ni Moths, 29th August 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Snails finally on the move after some light rain, 29th August 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
On the water bodies around the reserve (what's left of them!) were 420 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Avocet, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, a Great White Egret and 29 Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, a Redstart, a Black Redstart, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap and a Robin; and 3 retraps: a Robin, a Dunnock and a Willow Warbler.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, produced 7 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Goldfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 3 Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.
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| Redstart, ringed 28 August 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Black Redstart, ringed 28 August 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Great White Egret, 28th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spoonbill, 28th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spoonbill, 28th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spotted Redshank, 28th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Long-tailed Tit, 28th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
Around the Visitor Centre and along the East Dunes frontages were 3 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat and 3 Stonechat. Flying north from the estuary were 3 Spoonbill. During the morning 450 House Martins and 300 Swallows moved south over the West Dunes during a two hour count.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 3 Robin and 2 Sedge Warbler.
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| Spoonbill, 26th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Spoonbill, 27th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 27th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Greenshank, 27th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Speckled Wood Butterfly, 27th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, 27th August 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
Early news involved a Curlew Sandpiper on the beach as well a 1st summer Caspian Gull in the gull roost. Heading south were a number of Hirundines and a least 4 Swifts. On the Mere were a Little Stint and a Spotted Redshank and 2 Grey Wagtails.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Linnet and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
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| Waders on the beach during the morning high tide, 16th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Waders over the beach during the mornings high tide, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Waders during the mornings high tide, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Waders during the morning high tide, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Oystercatchers during the morning high tide, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Greenshank during the mornings high tide, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Ruddy Darter Dragonfly, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, 26th August 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
A Corncrake flushed in the north saltings was a major rarity for the Reserve. Nearby, a Whinchat was on the Outer Dunes. Three Stonechat were on Rock Ridge with a Wheatear and there was a moderate passage of Swallows and House Martins. Little Stints were in the wader roost on the beach and on the Mere. Nine Spoonbills were on the Estuary.
Water levels on the Mere and Tennyson's Sands and Jackson's Marsh are now as low as they have ever been. Wader numbers are tailing off on them now as are all other water bird species numbers. Hopefully we will get a good amount of rain this week, probably Wednesday looks best to start to refill them and refresh them somewhat. The lagoons are now probably as low as they were when they were first dug out. The only area of open water left is in front of North Hide and Fenella Hope Hide on Tennyson's Sands and distantly from Jackson's Hide. The Mere is just a large expanse of rapidly drying Mud!
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
A Bedstraw Hawk Moth was found in the East Dunes during the morning by Daniel Langston and is the just the 2nd record on the Reserve for the year. During overnight trapping at Sykes Farm, there was a 2nd The Vestal of the year attracted along with a cracking Blood-vein Moth to back it up. Also a Clouded Yellow Butterfly was around Rock Ridge this morning.
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| Wheatear, 25th August 2025 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Bedstraw Hawk Moth, 25th August 2025 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Bedstraw Hawk Moth, 25th August 2025 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Blood-vein Moth, 25th August 2025 Photo - Nige Lound |
On the water bodies around the reserve were a Water Rail, 32 Avocet, 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 1 Knot, a Little Stint and 15 Spoonbill.
The morning high tide count produced 1760 Oystercatcher, 2620 Grey Plover, 140 Ringed Plover, 70 Curlew, 1400 Bar-tailed Godwit, 270 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 46,800 Knot, 5100 Sanderling and 400 Dunlin.
The highlight of an evening sea-watch was an adult Sabine's Gull flying north out of the Wash with Sandwich Terns. It veered out north-east subsequently. Gannets were moving north at close range but Arctic Skuas were more distant. The beach roost held two Caspian Gulls with 400 large gulls and 500 Sandwich Terns. 13 Common Scoter were on the sea.
Other birds around included a Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 140 Jackdaws, 2 Coal Tits and a Pied Flycatcher.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Linnet; and a retrap Whitethroat.
The last session (Number 12) of the Constant Effort Site was completed this morning, which is a BTO National scheme which has been completed every year for around 40 years by the Observatory Team. This resulted in 21 new birds: 5 Whitethroat, 5 House Martin, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, 1 Wren, 1 Swallow and 1 Blue Tit; and 4 retraps: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Long-tailed Tit. Many thanks to Mick Briggs for completing this years CES.
West Dunes nets were also opened which resulted in 19 new birds: 8 Goldfinch, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 House Martin, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Dunnock; and 18 retraps: 11 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Coal Tit.
August 23rd. Cloudy, with light south-easterly wind.
A fairly quiet day in calm conditions. Good numbers of waders came up to roost on the morning tide and a small flock of Wigeon were new arrivals. The evening high tide showed up to 60,000 Knot on the beach. A Caspian Gull was on the beach but Tern numbers were much reduced. In the dunes, some pockets of activity involved all the regular warblers, three flocks of Long-tailed Tits totalling 70 birds, 3 Stonechat, and single Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.
A nice selection of waders on the Mere on and off during the day included 4 Green Sandpiper, 10 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank and a Little Stint. A Roseate Tern was in the beach roost in the evening.
On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Dunlin, 3 Spotted Redshank (probably same birds as on the Mere), 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and 20 Spoonbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap and a Sedge Warbler; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat.
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| Spotted Redshank and Avocet, 23rd August 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Greenshank and Avocet, 23rd August 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Dunlins, 23rd August 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
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| Green Sandpiper, 23rd August 2025 Photo - Tom Baker |
A good variety of birds around today; 107 species recorded by one birder during 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening. Highlights included the first Pomarine Skua of the autumn, 15 Arctic Skuas, 2 Caspian Gulls, 2 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, 6 Ruff, 4 Marsh Harriers, a Cuckoo, a Redpoll, a Bullfinch, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart and a Coal Tit.
On the water bodies were 1 Little Ringed Plover, 320 Black-tailed Godwits, 48 Avocet, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 3 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 11 Greenshank, 7 Knot (Tennyson's Sands) , 2 Dunlin, a Little Stint (Mere briefly in the afternoon), 16 Spoonbill and an adult Mediterranean Gull (Tennyson's Sands).
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a Linnet; and 5 retraps: a Dunnock, 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Blue Tit.
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Mixed Waders including Little Stint. 22nd August 2025. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Greenshank, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Jeremey Eyeons |
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| Green Sandpiper, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Jeremey Eyeons |
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| Black-tailed Godwit, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Muntjac Deer, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Jeremey Eyeons |
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| Migrant Hawker, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Migrant Hawker, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Migrant Hawker, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Jeremey Eyeons |
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| Migrant Hawker, 22nd August 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
A morning sea-watch in the ideal conditions produced 2 Sooty Shearwater, 3 Manx Shearwater, 3 Fulmar, 1 Little Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver, 6 Wigeon, 17 Arctic Skua and good numbers of Terns with 172 Common Tern, 30 Commic Tern, 340 Sandwich Tern and 69 Gannet and 260 Common Scoter all moving north.
Two Goosander were on Greenshanks Creek and 2 Turnstone were on the beach along with a 3CY Caspian Gull and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.
On the Mere there were 3 Spotted Redshank, 10 Greenshank and 3 Green Sandpiper, whilst on Tennyson's Sands there were 58 Mallard, 53 Teal, 51 Avocet, 565 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and 27 Spoonbill. Also around were 110 Jackdaw, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat and 1 Crossbill (South).
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, a Linnet and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: 2 Robin, a Wren and 2 Dunnock.
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| Female Sparrowhawk, ringed 21 August 2025. Photo - George Gregory |
