Early May 2012

May 10th: Moving south were 679 Swifts, 659 Swallows, 76 House Martins and 9 Yellow Wagtails. Around were a Ruff, an Avocet and a Turtle Dove.
A Painted Lady was seen on the beach.

May 9th: A quiet day. Landed migrants included a Wheatear, 2 Turtle Doves and a Cuckoo. Whitethroats increased significantly in numbers. There was a small passage of Swallows south.

May 8th: A ringtail Pallid Harrier was seen by many observers south of Wash Viewpoint. Heading south were 6 Common Buzzards, an Arctic Tern, 21 Yellow Wagtails, many hirundines and 13 Swifts. A female Pied Flycatcher appeared in the Plantation. The best of the rest were a Short-eared Owl, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 27 Avocets, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Wheatear and 2 Cuckoos, one of which was trapped on Storm Ridge.


                                             2+CY male Cuckoo (George Gregory)


May 7th: A Common Buzzard, 3 Yellow Wagtails and many hirundines flew south. Also around were a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 4 Whimbrels, a Cuckoo, 3 Turtle Doves, a Swift, a Sedge Warbler, a Redstart, 6 Crossbills and 3 Blackcaps.
A female Redstart was trapped and ringed on Storm Ridge.

May 6th: 4 Turtle Doves were the first of the year. Warblers included 5 Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 8 Lesser Whitethroats and 25 Whitethroats. Offshore were 25 Eiders. A Common Buzzard went east. Other good birds were 45 Little Terns, a Wheatear, a Ruff, a Peregrine, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Swifts, a Treecreeper and 3 Short-eared Owls. A ringtail Harrier Spp, not specifically identified, was seen distantly from Wash Viewpoint.
The first session of the Constant Effort Site (CES) was done this morning, resulting in 10 new birds ringed and 18 retraps.

May 5th: A Ring Ouzel, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Ruff, 18 Eiders, 18 Corn Buntings, a Short-eared Owl, 20 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Little Terns were notable. A Common Buzzard flew south.
A male Blackcap with a Min. Med. Amb. Icona Madrid ring was controlled on Storm Ridge. Newly ringed birds in East Dunes included a Woodpigeon and several Reed Buntings.

                                           3+CY Woodpigeon (George Gregory)

                                         2CY male Reed Bunting (George Gregory)


May 4th: Lots of variety today. South went 16 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 3 Siskins, and north 19 Arctic Terns. Around were 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Sandwich Terns, 10 Swifts, 2 Cuckoos, 22 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 159 Ringed Plovers, 8 House Martins, a Barnacle Goose, 4 Common Terns, 5 Little Terns, a Marsh Harrier, a Barnacle Goose and a Common Sandpiper. Warblers incuded 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 20 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers and a Blackcap. Other grounded birds included a Ring Ouzel, a Brambling, a Crossbill, 13 Wheatears and 4 Fieldfares.

May 3rd: The best birds were 13 Avocets, a Short-eared Owl and 2 House Martins.

May 2nd: 9 Yellow Wagtails flew south. Around were 10 Bramblings, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, a Short-eared Owl and a Wheatear.
Birds ringed in East Dunes included a Wheatear and a Sparrowhawk.

                                       2CY male Wheatear (George Gregory)

                                 3CY female Sparrowhawk (George Gregory)

May 1st: A male Pied Flycatcher and a Firecrest were the best birds. Other notables were 3 Bramblings, a Wheatear, 2 Siskins and a Yellow Wagtail.