Birds around included a Woodcock. On Croftmarsh were 100 Lapwings and 35 Golden Plovers, and on the Mere a Jack Snipe and 2 Water Rails.
November 19th: Light to moderate north-westerly wind, frozen start, then slowly warmed up in the sun, then cloudy.
Around were 2 male Hen Harriers and a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Pintail, and on the Mere 2 Jack Snipe.
A much-delayed ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 9 new birds: 3 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinches and 3 Blackbirds; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Blue Tit.
November 18th: Light westerly wind, cloudy, misty start.
Birds around included a Hen Harrier, a Brambling and 9 Fieldfares. On Fenland Lagoon were a Redshank, a Grey Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 30 Pink-footed Geese, 60 Lapwings and 25 Redwings.
November 17th: Light variable wind, cloudy.
Around were a Merlin, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and 3 Bramblings. On the Mere were 2 Jack Snipe and a Water Rail, on the Borrow Pits another Water Rail, and on Jackson's Marsh 100 Lapwings.
A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 26 new birds and 64 retraps. The new birds were 13 Greenfinches, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Blackbirds and singles of Wren, Brambling, Blackcap, Robin and Blue Tit. The retraps were 28 Greenfinches, 10 Great Tits, 8 Blue Tits, 5 Goldfinches, 4 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 2 Goldcrests and singles of Wren, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit.
November 16th: Light north-westerly wind, cloudy, misty start.
Birds around included 800 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Bramblings, a Goldcrest and a Merlin. On the Mere were 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Water Rail, on Fenland Lagoon a Redshank, and on Tennyson Sands a Pintail. On the beach was a Snow Bunting. Flying south was a Lapland Bunting.
A ringing session at Alymer Avenue resulted in 31 new birds and 25 retraps. The news were 2 Chaffinches, a Brambling, 6 Goldfinches, 19 Greenfinches and 3 Blackbirds.
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| First-year male Brambling, ringed on 16th November 2013. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| First-year male Brambling, ringed on 16th November 2013. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| A retrap Blue Tit - nearly seven years since it was first ringed (as a second-year bird!) on 16th November 2013. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| A retrap Blue Tit - nearly seven years since it was first ringed (as a second-year bird!) on 16th November 2013. Photo - Mick Briggs |
Around, including birds trapped, were a Coal Tit, 2 Bramblings, 90 Lapwings and a Rook. On the Mere were 2 Water Rails, a Jack Snipe and a Pintail, on Jackson's Marsh 6 Stock Doves, and on Tennyson Sands 17 Black-tailed Godwits. Across the River Steeping were 1250 Pink-footed Geese and 9+ Whooper Swans.
The only bird caught in the final morning ringing session in East Dunes was a new Robin. Ringing operations have now ceased there for the winter.
A brief afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 27 new birds and 10 retraps. The new birds were 11 Greenfinches, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches and singles of Great Tit, Blue Tit and Brambling. The retraps were 4 Great Tits, 3 Greenfinches, 2 Blue Tits and a Dunnock.
November 14th: Quite strong north-westerly wind, generally clear.
At dawn about 700 Pink-footed Geese flew from their roost on the estuary over the reserve and across the River Steeping. Around were a Woodcock and 8 Fieldfares.
The catch on the penultimate morning ringing session in East Dunes was just a new Blackbird and a retrap Robin.
November 13th: Light south-westerly wind, mostly sunny.
At dawn about 1000 Pink-footed Geese took off from the estuary, and about 300 headed off north-west. The other 700 or so flew to fields across the River Steeping, or, in small numbers, flew around the reserve. At the same time 15 Whooper Swans went south from the estuary across the Wash. Birds around included a Merlin, 1500 Starlings, and 100 Blackbirds.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. The new birds were a Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush, 8 Blackbirds and 7 Starlings. The retraps were a Blue Tit, a Goldcrest, 2 Robins, 2 Wrens, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush.
November 12th: Light to moderate westerly wind, cloudy and soggy start, then mostly sunny.
Around were a Richard's Pipit, a Marsh Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Woodcocks, 3 Bramblings, a Redpoll, 1500 Starlings and 850 Blackbirds. Two Kestrels were fighting on the ground at Sykes Farm. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Grey Plovers and a Redshank, and on the Mere a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail. On the sea were 28 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goldeneye, an Eider, a Guillemot, 3 Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe. Flying south at sea were 2 Goldeneye, 26 Wigeon and 2 Long-tailed Ducks, and north 2 Teal, an Auk Spp, 5 Red-throated Divers and 5 Gannets. In off the sea came 38 Curlew. Across the River Steeping were 650 Pink-footed Geese, 3000 Golden Plovers and 250 Lapwings.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes was quite productive. The new birds were a Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 34 Blackbirds and 5 Starlings; and there was a retrap Dunnock.
A simultaneous ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 7 new birds: 2 Bramblings, a Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinches and a Blackbird; and 15 retraps: 5 Goldfinches, 2 Greenfinches, 2 Robins, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Blue Tits and a Chaffinch.
November 11th: Quite strong south-westerly wind, cloudy, light rain for most of day.
A miserable day for birds and birding. On the Mere were 2 Snipe, on Fenland Lagoon a Spotted Redshank, and on Tennyson Sands a Pintail. In the afternoon at least 300 Blackbirds were present, presumably having just arrived.
No ringing was attempted.
