Late June 2014

June 30th. The Spoonbill and 2 Greenshank were on Tennyson Sands. Heading south were 2 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Juvenile Goldcrest, ringed 30 June 2014.
 Photo - George Gregory
Privet Hawkmoths mating on Bamboo pole,  30 June 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
June 29th. Rain mid morning.
 On Tennyson Sands were the Spoonbill and the Grasshopper Warbler. A Grey Heron, a Swift and 45 Starling flew south. Two Barn Owls were seen on two separate occasions at the back of Aylmer Avenue.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes provided just a new Wren and a retrap Whitethroat.
 A rain-shortened ringing session at Aylmer Avenue this morning, by David and Liv Vincent, resulted in 17 new birds and 24 retraps. The new birds were 4 Great Tit, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap and a Dunnock. The retraps were 8 Chaffinch, 7 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and singles of Whitethroat, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tit.
 There have now been over 500 new birds ringed at Gibraltar Point this month, and this is the first time that over 500 birds have been ringed in June for at least 5 years. With a large proportion of these birds being juvenile it just goes to show what an incredibly successful breeding season we are having.

June 28th. Mostly cloudy.
 The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson Sands. Heading south were 4 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: singles of Wren, Linnet, Whitethroat and Cuckoo; and 3 retraps: singles of Wren, Great Tit and Sedge Warbler.


Cuckoo, ringed 28 June 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
June 27th. Intermittent rain.
 The Spoonbill and Grasshopper Warbler were still on Tennyson Sands. Going south were 15 Swift.
 No ringing was attempted.

June 26th. The Spoonbill and Grasshopper Warbler remained on Tennyson Sands. On Jackson's Marsh were a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper. Flying north were 220 Common Scoter and 6 Gannet.
 A brief, disappointing morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded just a retrap Dunnock.
 A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, was much more productive. The 34 new birds were 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Linnet, 3 Great Tit and 3 Dunnock. The 31 retraps were 6 Blue Tit, 6 Chaffinch, a Willow Warbler, a Wren, 4 Whitethroat, 7 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Coal Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Goldfinch.

June 25th. On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill, a Mediterranean Gull, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, an adult Little Ringed Plover and a Grasshopper Warbler.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: singles of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Linnet; and 2 retraps: singles of Whitethroat and Blue Tit.

June 24th. Birds around included 2 Cuckoo. The Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling on Tennyson Sands.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 5 Whitethroat, a Great Tit and 3 Blackcap; and 4 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Wren, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

June 23rd. An Osprey flew through at 0930hrs. Around were a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, a Peregrine, 2 Turtle Dove, a Grasshopper Warbler and 60 Sandwich Tern. Heading south were 1200 Swift and 32 Sand Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 3 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap and 5 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Whitethroat, 4 Great Tit and a Dunnock.

The Campion, trapped overnight 23rd June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound
Peach Blossom trapped overnight 23rd June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound

June 22nd. Around were a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Cuckoo and 36 Sandwich Tern. On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill and 4 Mediterranean Gull. Flying north were 95 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Wren, a Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 8 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wren, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Lesser Whitethroat.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent, which included the 6th CES session of the year, resulted in a very productive 68 new birds and 36 retraps. Of the CES nets the new birds were 6 Great Tit, 5 Wren, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Robin. The retraps were 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Greenfinch, a Great Tit and a Robin. Of the other nets the new birds were 12 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock and a Woodpigeon. The retraps were 7 Great Tit, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Coal Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat.
 Pyramidal Orchids are in full flower.

Pyramidal Orchid, 22 June 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
June 21st. Around was a Cuckoo. On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill, 4 Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 3 Whitethroat, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 13 retraps: 5 Great Tit, a Dunnock, 4 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat and 2 Wren.

Mid June 2014

June 20th. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Mediterranean Gull, a Little Gull and a Grasshopper Warbler. A female Montagu's Harrier was around.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was quite productive. The 30 new birds were 2 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, 6 Great Tit, 8 Chaffinch, a Linnet, 9 Dunnock and a Song Thrush. The 16 retraps were a Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, 7 Great Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Dunnock and a Chaffinch.

June 19th. A Spoonbill flew from Tennyson Sands out over the Wash towards Norfolk. Remaining on Tennyson Sands were a first-summer Little Gull and a Grasshopper Warbler. Around were a ringtail Montagu's Harrier by the Wash Viewpoint, 6 Turtle Dove and 20 Little Tern.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: singles of Blue Tit, Linnet, Great Tit and Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

June 18th. Intermittent drizzle early morning, then soggy.
 On Tennyson Sands was a Spoonbill. Around was a Cuckoo. Flying north offshore were 2 European Storm Petrel and 3 Kittiwake.
 A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in just 3 new birds: singles of Blue Tit, Linnet and Dunnock.

June 17th. A Spoonbill was on Tennyson Sands. South went a Grey Heron, and 6 north Kittiwake. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Grasshopper Warbler and 1100 Starling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was disappointing. The new birds were a Blue Tit and a Linnet; and the retraps were 4 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit (from 2010).

June 16th. Occasional brief light rain in morning.
 Around were a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Cuckoo in pursuit flight. Flying south were 4 Gannet.
 A morning ringing session, with Jenni Godber, provided 12 new birds: 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blue Tit, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Turtle Dove; and 10 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Wren.

Turtle Dove, ringed 16 May 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
June 15th. Occasional drizzle in morning.
 On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spoonbill.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 2 Linnet, 7 Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 8 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and a Dunnock.
 The 5th session of CES was done this morning by David Vincent at Aylmer Avenue, resulting in 16 new birds and 12 retraps. The new birds were 6 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, a Wren and a Chiffchaff. The retraps were 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler. As it wasn't very busy this morning, bird ringing wise anyway, the opportunity was taken to carry out some much needed maintenance on the CES net rides.

June 14th. Occasional rain in morning.
 Birds singing included 2 Turtle Dove and a Cuckoo.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Linnet and 4 Dunnock; and 2 retrap Dunnock.

June 13th. Generally very warm.
 A GLOSSY IBIS was picked up in fight mid morning, it was observed flying west towards Jackson's Marsh/Tennyson's Sands, a follow up visit revealed nothing. The Glossy Ibis was airborne again at 1900hrs, seemed to be loosely associating with the godwit flock, presumably all flushed off Croft Marsh. The Glossy Ibis flew over The Wash and headed off towards Norfolk for about 3km then u-turned, heading towards Wainfleet, up the sea bank and over the visitor centre and presumably dropped onto Jackson's Marsh. Also present were a Spoonbill, the Honey Buzzard, a Temminck's Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: 2 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Coal Tit and 3 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: singles of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Linnet, Dunnock, Wren and Sedge Warbler.
 A longer ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling was much more productive. The 51 new birds were 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 13 Chaffinch, 6 Great Tit, a Robin, 7 Whitethroat, 7 Blue Tit, a Reed Warbler, a Coal Tit, a Linnet, a Goldfinch, 4 Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch and a Blackbird. The 41 retraps were a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, 6 Whitethroat, 11 Blue Tit, 5 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Robin, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Blackbird.

Glossy Ibis, 13th June 2014
Photo - Richard Doan
June 12th. A Jay was in Measures. Going south were 35 Starling and 4 Swift, and east 6 Grey Heron. The same Honey Buzzard passed through again.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable. The 11 news were 2 Wren, 3 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Reed Warbler and 2 Dunnock. The 6 retraps were singles of Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Linnet, Whitethroat and Blue Tit.


Honey Buzzard, 12th June 2014
Photo - Richard Doan

June 11th. Flying south were 200 Swift. A Nightjar was in East Dunes in the evening.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: 2 Linnet, 4 Blue Tit, a Coal Tit and a Chaffinch; and 7 retraps: 2 Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, a Great Tit and a Chaffinch.
 A Beautiful China-mark (Nymphula nitidulata) trapped overnight was a reserve first.

Coal Tit, ringed 11th June 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
Beautiful China-mark (Nymphula nitidulata), trapped overnight 11th June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound

Early June 2014

June 10th. Around were 400 Starling and a Green Woodpecker. Passing through was a Honey Buzzard. 2 Hobby were hunting in the East Dunes late evening.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Robin, a Blue Tit and 3 Starling; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.
Honey Buzzard, 10th June 2014.
Photo - Paul Neale
Honey Buzzard, 10th June 2014.
Photo - Paul Neale
Honey Buzzard, 10th June 2014.
Photo - Paul Neale
June 9th. Heading south were 4 Swift.
  In a morning ringing session in East Dunes there were 7 new birds: a Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit and 4 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: singles of Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Linnet and Dunnock.
 A Puss Moth and an Eyed Hawk-moth were trapped overnight.

Puss Moth, 9th June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound

Eyed Hawk-moth, 9th June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound
June 8th. Flying south were 154 Swift, 32 House Martin, 40 Swallow, 3 Grey Heron and 3 Yellow Wagtail. Birds around included a Goosander, a Greenland Wheatear, a Cuckoo, 400 Starling and a Peregrine.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Linnet, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit and a Whitethroat.
  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in a productive 52 new birds and 19 retraps. The new birds were 15 Chaffinch, 11 Blue Tit, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Robin, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chiffchaff and singles of Great Tit, Dunnock, Linnet and Yellowhammer. The retraps were 7 Whitethroat, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch and singles of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Sedge Warbler, Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff and Wren. Again, just the same as last Sunday, the majority of the birds processed were juveniles.

June 7th. Occasional rain from mid morning.
 On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spoonbill and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Around were 15 Swift.
 The 4th session of CES was done this morning. The 7 new birds were a Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock. The 19 retraps were 6 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 3 Willow Warbler, a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blue Tit and a Robin.
Adult Spoonbill on Tennyson Sands, 7th June 2014
Photo - Nigel Lound
June 6th. On Tennyson Sands was a Spoonbill. 2 Great Crested Grebe were on Tennyson Sands. Around was a Cuckoo. A Honey Buzzard drifted off west.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 5 Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Wren.

June 5th. Occasional very light rain in morning, fairly windy.
 Around were a Cuckoo and 40 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 150 Swift and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock; and 16 retraps: 9 Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch and a Dunnock.

June 4th. Dry start, then rain most of day.
 Around were an Osprey, a Honey Buzzard, a Montagu's Harrier and 25 Black-tailed Godwit.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes was reasonable, with more young birds emerging.The news were 5 Blue Tit, 2 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock. The retraps were a Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Linnet.
Montagu's Harrier, 4th June 2014. 
Photo - Paul Neale

Montagu's Harrier, 4th June 2014. 
Photo - Paul Neale

June 3rd. Around were 23 Black-tailed Godwit, a Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove and a Montagu's Harrier. Heading south were 25 Swift, 30 Swallow, 3 House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: singles of Blue Tit, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Blackbird and Mistle Thrush; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 3 June 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
June 2nd. Flying south over land were 13 Swift, a Yellow Wagtail and 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull. A male Green Woodpecker was in the East Dunes. Flying south over the sea were 60 Razorbill, 10 Gannet, 3 Little Gull and 4 Sandwich Tern
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat, a Linnet and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

June 1st. Misty then sunny.
 An adult female Red-backed Shrike was discovered alongside Gibraltar Road north of Aylmer Avenue.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Robin and a Meadow Pipit; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Dunnock.
  A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in a very productive 77 new birds and 24 retraps. The new birds were 24 Chaffinch, 15 Greenfinch, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Robin, 2 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 2 Linnet and singles of Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer and Blackbird. The retraps were 5 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Song Thrush and a Great Tit. Of the 101 birds processed, a large proportion of them were juveniles.

Red-backed Shrike, 1 June 2014.
Photo - Sam Wilson