Late August 2012

August 31st: The Pectoral Sandpiper reappeared on Tennyson Sands in the afternoon. Other notable birds around were a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatears, a Redstart, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and the escaped Crimson Rosella. Other wading birds on Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbills, a Spotted Redshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands 77 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruffs.
The catch this morning on East Dunes was modest, but the afternoon ringing session was productive, providing a Pied Flycatcher and a good number of Swallows, amongst others.

                                           1CY Pied Flycatcher (George Gregory)

August 30th: The 6 Spoonbills were still around the reserve. The water bodies and river held 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 78 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Greenshanks. Flying south over land were 28 Yellow Wagtails, 174 Swallows, 11 Snipes and 8 Swifts. Other notables were 2 Marsh Harriers, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Wheatears, a Redstart and 50 Golden Plovers. A seawatching session in the windy afternoon provided 17 Gannets and 19 Kittiwakes north, 18 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 3 Arctic Terns south, and 3 more Arctic Skuas and 9 Guillemots present offshore.
A ringing session on East Dunes this morning yielded few birds, mostly common warblers.

August 29th: Windy then rainy. A Pectoral Sandpiper was photographed during its brief stay on Tennyson Sands. Other waders around were a Little Stint, 77 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruffs, a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 7 Greenshanks. The 6 Spoonbills were still present. Other good birds were 6 Crossbills, a Red-throated Diver, a Garden Warbler, and a Spotted Flycatcher. Heading south were 8 Black Terns.
The wind reduced numbers of birds trapped for ringing this morning, but they included the usual warblers and a Swallow.

August 28th: A Greenish Warbler was discovered mid-morning in the Plantation. A ringtail Hen Harrier passed through. On the water bodies and around were 6 Spoonbills, a Garganey, 22 Greenshanks, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 51 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Stint, 2 Ruffs, a Green Sandpiper, and 9 Common Sandpipers. Landbirds present included a Whinchat, a Redstart, 2 Garden Warblers, a Willow Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher. A Mediterranean Gull went south to roost.
It was too sunny for a good catch, but a morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded a Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and several Swallows, amongst others.

August 27th: Windy, then also a bit rainy. Around were 3 Spoonbills, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Peregrine, a Pied Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, 3 Whinchats, a Redstart and a Wheatear. Flying south were 5 Crossbills and 55 Teals.
The weather reduced the catch in this morning's ringing session, but a Pied Flycatcher, a Goldcrest, a Yellow Wagtail, a Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Swallows were new.

August 26th: The 6 Spoonbills and the Little Stint were still present. Other notables included 2 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, a Redstart, a Short-eared Owl, a Buzzard, 2 Crossbills, a Tree Pipit, 12 Tree Sparrows and 20 Golden Plovers. South went 45 Yellow Wagtails, hundreds of Swallows and 3 Swifts. A Garganey was on the Mere. Offshore were 19 Guillemots, 16 Eiders and 6 Arctic Skuas.
The last simultaneous morning sessions of the Ringing Weekend were at East Dunes and Aylmer Avenue. 151 birds were processed, including a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Grey Wagtail, a Sparrowhawk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, the usual warblers and finches, 8 House Martins, a Sand Martin and 85 Swallows. Of the latter 1 was a control.

August 25th: Good birds around included 6 Spoonbills, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpipers, a Whinchat, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Mediterranean Gull and a Jay. The usual waders were on the water bodies, and additionally a Little Stint was on Jackson's Marsh.
The Ringing Weekend continued with simultaneous morning sessions on East Dunes and at Aylmer Avenue, providing 139 captures despite interruptions caused by rain. New birds ringed included a Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 7 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers, a House Martin and 70 Swallows.

August 24th: Around were 6 Spoonbills, 6 Greenshanks, 4 Green Sandpipers, a Short-eared Owl, 26 Crossbills, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears and a Hobby. Other waders on Tennyson Sands were 75 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover, and on Croft Marsh another Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 24 Yellow Wagtails and 5 Tree Sparrows.
The Ringing Weekend started. An afternoon session in East Dunes resulted in a Pied Flycatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat and a moderate number of Swallows, amongst others, being caught.

August 23rd: 2 Ospreys were seen over the reserve. More Willow Warblers arrived. Around were 2 Spoonbills, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 2 Tree Pipits and 16 Tree Sparrows. Waders were represented by 36 Greenshanks, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Ruffs and 6 Whimbrels. Heading south were 9 Crossbills. The Garganey moved to Tennyson Sands. The escaped Crimson Rosella hung around the Field Station.
A better ringing session in East Dunes provided 53 captures, including 14 Willow Warblers and 31 Swallows. It was still a bit sunny, however, for a big catch.

August 22nd: A Peregrine and a Merlin were at North End. Other raptors present were 2 Hobbys, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Short-eared Owl. There was a small arrival of Willow Warblers. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbills, on Tennyson Sands 72 Black-tailed Godwits, 27 Greenshanks and a Mediterranean Gull, and on the Mere a Garganey and a Pintail. Around were 3 Wheatears, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Ruffs and 70 Golden Plovers. Flying south were 6 Crossbills.
A ringing session in East Dunes this morning was too sunny and windy for a good catch, but 8 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a moderate number of Swallows were ringed.

August 21st: On the water bodies were 2 Spoonbills, 32 Greenshanks, a Little Stint, 8 Spotted Redshanks, a Garganey, a Pintail and 36 Little Egrets. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 3 Crossbills and 11 Tree Sparrows.
A morning ringing session on East Dunes resulted in 158 captures, including 6 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Tree Pipit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin and 144 Swallows. The latter included 3 controls with different sequences and a very rufous new bird.

                                          1CY Yellow Wagtail (George Gregory)


                                Variation in amount of rufous in Swallows (George Gregory)

Mid August 2012

August 20th: Waders on the water bodies included 6 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruffs and a Little Stint. In East Dunes were 2 Redstarts, on the Mere a Garganey and on Rock Ridge 3 Wheatears. Around were a Peregrine and 12 Common Sandpipers.
Another productive ringing session on East Dunes this morning provided 145 captures, including 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Sand Martins, 3 House Martins and 126 Swallows. One of the Swallows was a control, with a different sequence to the other controls in the last few weeks.

August 19th: On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbills, a Little Gull, 32 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Wood Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpipers, and Tennyson Sands 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruffs, a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpipers. Around were 2 Redstarts, a Green Woodpecker, a Buzzard, 3 Wheatears, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, 29 Little Egrets and the escaped Crimson Rosella. Knots increased to 65000.
Simultaneous ringing sessions in East Dunes and Aylmer Avenue resulted in 139 captures, including 3 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Sand Martin and 102 Swallows. At one point the tape-lure had to be switched off for 30 minutes until the main Swallow flock had moved on, to avoid the possibility of too many birds in the nets.

August 18th: Decreasing wind. Around were up to 5 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart, 3 Garden Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Spoonbills, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Hobby, a Greenshank and 2 Whimbrels. Offshore were 40000 Knots and 2 Arctic Skuas. Jackson's Marsh held 2 Greenshanks, 9 Green Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Black-tailed Godwit, and Tennyson Sands 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruffs and a Common Sandpiper. South went 53 Crossbills, 2 Buzzards, 21 Yellow Wagtails, 250 Swifts and 9 Snipes.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was productive, involving 81 new birds ringed and 6 retraps. The new birds included a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Kestrel, 69 Swallows and a House Martin.

                                         Juvenile Kestrel (Joanne Wong)

August 17th: Fairly windy most of day. On Tennyson Sands were 33 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Ruffs, and on Jackson's Marsh a Wood Sandpiper and 8 Little Egrets. Around were 5 Spoonbills and a Black Tern.
The eleventh session of CES was done this morning, resulting in 8 new birds ringed, including a Sparrowhawk, and 3 retraps. There was little around the site.

                                     Juvenile male Sparrowhawk (George Gregory)

August 16th: Windy morning then decreasing somewhat. Tennyson Sands held 3 Spoonbills, 51 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and 14 Snipes, and Jackson's Marsh 25 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper and 10 Little Egrets. Around were a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, 31 more Snipes, a Spotted Redshank, 23 Whimbrels, 342 Redshanks, 374 Curlews, 10 Crossbills and 2 Wheatears. A Red-throated Diver flew north, and a Black Tern and 135 Swifts south. In the Shorebird Sanctuary was a Brent Goose. Offshore were 25 Eiders, 53 Gannets, 78 Common Terns and a Kittiwake. Going to roost were 3 Mediterranean Gulls.
The Feeding Station has been restarted and an afternoon ringing session yielded the usual tits and finches.

August 15th: On Jackson's Marsh were a Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper, on Tennyson Sands 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshanks and a Ruff, and on Croftmarsh 50 Golden Plovers. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Wheatears. Sea-watching produced 40 Gannets, 2 Wood Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers south, 8 Common Scoters north, and 4 Arctic Skuas, a Kittiwake and a Guillemot present.
The catch improved in East Dunes, and the wind-shortened morning session yielded a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat and 20 Swallows, amongst others.

August 14th: Raptors were represented by a Merlin, an adult male Marsh Harrier and 5 Kestrels. The best waders were 467 Curlews, 9 Whimbrels, 43 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Greenshanks, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Ruffs and 29 Snipes (including 16 south). Little Egrets on Jackson's Marsh increased to 17. Other good birds were 2 Wheatears, a Redstart and 39 Sand Martins south. The escaped Crimson Rosella arrived back in the Field Station area.
Ringing in East Dunes continued to be poor following the change in wind direction, with just a few Swallows and a Blackcap netted.

August 13th: Tennyson Sands provided 2 Spoonbills, a Garganey, 3 Snipes, 52 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff, and Croftmarsh 7 Whimbrels and 5 Golden Plovers. South went 3 Buzzards and 20 Snipes, while other waders around were 3 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 7 Common Sandpipers, 100 Ringed Plovers and 2 Green Sandpipers. Adult males of Marsh Harrier and Peregrine hunted over New Saltmarsh, and a ringtail Montagu's Harrier appeared later. Also present were 2 Wheatears, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Crossbill and 7 Kestrels.
Tape-luring Swallows resulted in 10 new birds netted, but there was little sign of landed migrants in East Dunes.

August 12th: Still no obvious arrival of migrant landbirds from the east, or perhaps from anywhere. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spoonbills, 15 Little Egrets, 5 Greenshanks, a Spotted Redshank, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruffs, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrels and 16 Snipes, and on Jackson's Marsh 4 Green Sandpipers, 10 Greenshanks and 4 Black-tailed Godwits. A Marsh Harrier flew over. Around were 3 Wheatears.
Too windy for a ringing session.

August 11th: Cloudy conditions with easterly wind, in autumn. However, not much sign of eastern arrivals. The usual 2 Wheatears, a Marsh Harrier and a Willow Warbler were around. On Tennyson Sands was a Garganey, a Spotted Redshank and the usual other waders. Croftmarsh held 35 Golden Plovers. A Great Skua, an Arctic Skua, a Wood Sandpiper and 16 Snipes flew south, and a Sooty Shearwater and 8 Arctic Skuas north.
Little was caught in a ringing session in East Dunes, apart from a Willow Warbler and some Swallows.

Early August 2012

August 10th: Good birds around were a Pied Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, a Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the escaped Crimson Rosella. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbills and a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands 28 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruffs, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.
Due to sunny conditions the catch on East Dunes was reduced, but a reasonable number of Swallows, a Song Thrush, a few warblers and other birds were trapped.

August 9th: Waders on New Saltmarsh were 5 Greenshanks and 2 Whimbrels. The escaped Crimson Rosella, a Rook and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around. Tennyson Sands held 10 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff, and Jackson's Marsh a Spoonbill, 19 Greenshanks and 12 Black-tailed Godwits. Offshore were 5 Common Scoters and a Fulmar.
Trapping in East Dunes resulted in 74 Swallows, including 2 more controls, the second spotty juvenile Redstart of the autumn, 5 Willow Warblers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, amongst other birds. The 4 recent Swallow controls had different serial numbers, so probably came from different sites.

                                          Juvenile Redstart (George Gregory)

August 8th: On Jackson's Marsh was a Common Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands 43 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruffs, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover and a Curlew Sandpiper. Around were a Marsh Harrier and a Wheatear.
Birds trapped in a morning ringing session in East Dunes included 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers and 70 Swallows. Of the latter 2 were controls.

August 7th: Good birds on Tennyson Sands included 4 Ruffs, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Greenshanks, a Knot and a Mediterranean Gull, and on Jackson's Marsh 7 Greenshanks and 2 Green Sandpipers. Around were 4 Whimbrels, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, a Redstart, a Wheatear and a Crossbill. An early Brambling flew south.
The tenth CES session was done this morning, resulting in 36 new birds ringed and 9 retraps. The new birds included 11 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest in post-juvenile moult and a first-year Tree Pipit.


                                         Juvenile Goldcrest (George Gregory)

                        
                                          1CY Tree Pipit (George Gregory)

August 6th: On the water bodies were 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruffs, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover and 100 Lapwings. Offshore were 25000 Knots, 10000 Sanderlings and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Around were 2 Wheatears and a Hobby.
A ringing session in East Dunes produced evidence that autumn passage was getting going, with new birds ringed including 11 Willow Warblers and 121 Swallows. The escaped Crimson Rosella was apparently attracted to the Swallow tape-lure but was not netted.

August 5th: On Jackson's Marsh were 32 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshanks and a Sandwich Tern, and on Tennyson Sands a Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. Around were a Peregrine, 2 Wheatears, a Crossbill, 9 Whimbrels and the escaped Crimson Rosella. South went 7 Greenshanks. Offshore were 2 Arctic Skuas.
A ringing session produced more tape-lured Swallows, including a control, and another Pied Wagtail.

                                       Juvenile Pied Wagtail (Matthew Heaver)
                  

August 4th: Tennyson Sands held a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, a Snipe, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff, and Jackson's Marsh 5 Black-tailed Godwits. The Wheatear remained on Rock Ridge, while in East Dunes were 3 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Marsh Harriers increased to 3, and the ringtail Montagu's Harrier reappeared. The Crimson Rosella lingered around the Field Station. Another tape-luring session resulted in 2 House Martins and a Sand Martin being netted in addition to almost 50 Swallows.

August 3rd: Raptors over the saltmarsh included a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Short-eared Owl. Offshore Knots increased to 20000 and Oystercatchers to 4000. A Wheatear, 22 Crossbills and 4 Willow Warblers were around. On Tennyson Sands were a Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Ruffs, a Green Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit, and on Jackson's Marsh 19 Greenshanks, 2 Spoonbills and a Black-tailed Godwit. Tape-luring Swallows continued to be successful, with the occasional Sand Martin also netted.

August 2nd: On Jackson's Marsh again were the 2 Spoonbills. Waders on the water bodies featured 24 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruffs, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and a Little Ringed Plover. Birds around included a Crossbill, a Wheatear, a Redstart, 6 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and 3 Whimbrels. Offshore were an Arctic Tern, 15000 Knots and 30 Common Scoters. Little Egrets increased to 15.

August 1st: The 2 Spoonbills remained on Jackson's Marsh, where were also 23 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Ringed Plover. In East Dunes was a Cuckoo. Over New Saltmarsh flew a Merlin, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier. Good waders were 4 Whimbrels, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Ruff, 21 Golden Plovers and 2 Greenshanks. Around were a Crossbill, a Willow Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and the escaped Crimson Rosella.