September 22nd. Misty start, then partly cloudy, with light south-westerly to south-easterly wind. A late start to the morning watch due to the mist.
Flying north-west early morning were 600 Pink-footed Geese, and south-west 120 Pink-footed Geese.
Hundreds of Gulls and Terns were again involved in a large feeding flock over the sea with the morning highlight being a Sabine's Gull, initally close in but then drifting out to sea where it blogged for a while landing on the water occasionally. Other than that, the main theme of the morning was incoming parties of Teal - some 700 had arrived form the north by 0900. Also offshore, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua, several Red-throated Divers and many Gannets. One of the two ringtail Hen Harriers came out of roost and hunted the outer dunes and beach area early morning.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 24 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Robin, a Great Tit, a Goldfinch, 16 Blue Tit, a Song Thrush and a Kingfisher; and 2 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.
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| Kingfisher, ringed 22 September 2026. Photo - George Gregory |
September 21st. Partly cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.
Flying north-west out of the Wash early morning were at least 1800 Pink-footed Geese. A further 500 came over from Norfolk later. This morning's recording effort gave a snapshot of overland migration and sea passage in limited time and in tricky sunny conditions. Although a similar range of species to recent days was involved, the impression was of reduced numbers overall. However, 2 juvenile Hen Harriers hunting the saltmarsh and outer dunes together provided an opportunity to count many flushed Meadow Pipits and Skylarks! Along the dune frontage there was a Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechats and 2 Wheatears, with another Stonechat at the Visitor Centre. Three Kingfishers today included two together along the River Steeping. Two Jays flew south.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 12 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and a Robin.
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| Short-eared Owl, 21st September 2026. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Jay, 21st September 2026. Photo - Ste Taylor |
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| Goldcrest, ringed 21 September 2026. Photo - George Gregory |
