Early July 2015

July 10th. Birds around included a Hobby, 6 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, a Corn Bunting, a Marsh Harrier, 1+ Arctic Skua, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Whimbrel. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill, and on Tennyson's Sands were a Spotted Redshank and 23 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 8 Crossbill, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Swift and 4 Curlew.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, a SedgeWarbler, a Reed Bunting and a Cuckoo; and 5 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Dunnock.

Cuckoo, ringed 10 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
Cuckoo, ringed 10 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
July 9th. Soggy start after overnight rain.
 On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Spoonbill, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Ruff. A lone Snipe was on Jackson's Marsh. Around were a Jay, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Cuckoo and a Whimbrel. Going south were 120 Siskin and 3 YellowWagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Wren, Whitethroat and Blue Tit.
 The seventh session of CES was done this morning by Mike Polling. The 32 new birds were 3 Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 4 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a SedgeWarbler, 8 Whitethroat, 4 Blue Tit, a Linnet, a Robin, a Reed Warbler and 2 Dunnock; and 12 retraps: 3 Wren, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, a Great Tit and a Dunnock.

July 8th. Birds around included a Green Woodpecker, a Jay, a House Sparrow (scarce here), a Whimbrel and a Greenshank. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Spoonbill, a Greenshank, 20 Black-tailed Godwit and a presumed first-summer ('portlandica') Common Tern. Going south were 146 Siskin, 24 Curlew and 30 Swift. Many Siskins are moving now, months earlier than usual.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: 4 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, a Siskin and a Linnet; and 5 retraps: a Linnet, a Wren and 3 Great Tit.

Presumed first-summer ('portlandica') Common Tern, 8 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale
Presumed first-summer ('portlandica') Common Tern, 8 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale
 
Spotted Redshank, 8 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale
Siskin, ringed 8 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
July 7th. Moderately strong south-west wind, with rainy spells.
 Around were a Greenshank, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and 2+ Whimbrel. Heading south were 1200+ Swift and a Curlew.
 A rain-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: singles of Wren, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Woodpigeon; and 6 retraps: 4 Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Linnet.

Woodpigeon, ringed 7 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on Ragwort, 7 July 2015. Almost all Ragwort is being pulled and burned here, since it is an invasive plant poisonous to livestock.
Photo - George Gregory
July 6th. Flying south were 2 Spoonbill, 41 Curlew and 67 Swift. On Tennyson's Sands was a Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshank.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Whitethroat and Wren.

July 5th. Birds around included 2+ Siskin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: a Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Dunnock and Wren.
 A very disappointing morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent produced just a new Dunnock and a retrap Blue Tit.

July 4th. Thunderstorm very early morning, then calmer, warmer and drier.
A Great White Egret flew over East Dunes towards the west. Around were a Montagu's Harrier, a Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spotted Redshank, a Ruff and a Kingfisher.
 A storm-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit and a Linnet; and 7 retraps: 5 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Wren.

July 3rd. Birds around included 3 Siskin, 3 Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, a Greenshank and a Grey Heron. Heading south were 7 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Wren, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 8 retraps: 5 Great Tit, a Whitethroat, a Wren and a Dunnock.

July 2nd. A Spoonbill flew onto Tennyson's Sands, where were 2 Spotted Redshank and a Ruff later. Around were a  Mediterranean Gull, 2 Hobby and a Treecreeper. A Whimbrel, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 265 Swift flew south.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, produced 23 new birds: 3 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 5 Starling; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.
 At a nest 5 pulli Swallow were ringed.

July 1st. Heading north were 35 Swift. Offshore were 11 Eider and an Arctic Skua. A Mediterranean Gull was on the beach late pm.
The sixth session of CES was done this morning. The 30 new birds were 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, a Blackcap, 10 Great Tit, a Linnet, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blackcap, a Barn Owl and 3 Whitethroat.

Barn Owl, retrapped 1 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory