Mid June 2012

June 20th: A Common Rosefinch flew south calling over East Dunes. Around were 22 Little Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and a Green Sandpiper.

June 19th: On the water bodies were 10 Little Gulls and 5 Black-tailed Godwits.
The fifth CES session was done this morning, resulting in 20 new birds ringed, including the first juvenile Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats of the year, and 5 retraps.

                                        Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat (George Gregory)

June 18th: Rainy morning. Little Gulls, at various sites, totalled 18. A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was on Tennyson Sands.

June 17th: Wind decreasing but still occasional rain. On Tennyson Sands were 3 Little Gulls, and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit. There was a moderate passage of Swifts south. A Marsh Harrier, a Hobby and a Green Sandpiper were noted.
The recent rain has made ringing sessions few and far between, but has ensured a fine showing of Southern Marsh Orchids.
                                     Southern Marsh Orchids (George Gregory)

June 16th: Again windy, occasional rain. Again several hundred Swifts headed south into wind. A Red Kite appeared and the Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Gulls were around.

June 15th: Windy, occasional rain. Hundreds of Swifts and some House Martins flew south into the wind. A Black-tailed Godwit was on Jackson's Marsh.

June 14th: Rainy early morning, sunny later. Flying around were 14 Crossbills, possibly the same group as yesterday. On Tennyson Sands were 8 Little Gulls.

June 13th: Better weather. Only 1 Little Gull was on Tennyson Sands. Other notables included 14 Crossbills. The first juvenile Shelducks appeared.
Ringing on East Dunes resulted in the first juvenile Whitethroats being caught.

June 12th: Still a bit windy. There were still 5 Little Gulls on Tennyson Sands, and 8 more headed north offshore, as did 38 Gannets and 21 Sandwich Terns . A Short-eared Owl and a Hobby were around.

June 11th: Rainy again. On Tennyson Sands were 7 Little Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull. A Peregrine flew over.