A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 10 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, a Goldfinch and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock and 2 Wren.
Meanwhile at Aylmer Avenue, Mick Briggs was ringing again and with fantastic results. Firstly, late morning a text message was received from Observatory team member Mark Grantham, who lives down in Cornwall, and was ringing at Nanjizal, Cornwall. He had just controlled HPY702, the second Yellow-browed Warbler that we ringed at Aylmer Avenue last Saturday morning. All the way to the other end of the country in a week! On the very next net round after this had happened, Mick was amazed to find a Little Bunting caught in one of the nets. This is the first one ever ringed by the Observatory and certainly the highlight of the observatory year so far. It was quickly processed and then released into the hedge along the roadside near Beach Car Park where it quickly did a disappearing act, flying down towards the farm area.
There was a total of 110 new birds for the day, as follows: 72 Greenfinch, 14 Goldcrest, 6 Goldfinch, 5 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and singles of Wren, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Little Bunting. There were also 10 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Greenfinch and singles of Robin and Chaffinch.
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| Little Bunting, ringed 10th October 2015 - 1st for the Observatory ever Photo - Mick Briggs. |
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| Little Bunting, ringed 10th October 2015 - 1st for the Observatory ever Photo - Mick Briggs. |
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| Lapland Bunting, 10th October 2015 Photo - Russell Hayes |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 30 new birds: 12 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Linnet, 3 Robin, 5 Reed Bunting, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 4 Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: singles of Blackcap, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldcrest and Dunnock.
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| New Visitor Centre being built, 9th October 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 28 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wren, 2 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting, a Tree Pipit, a Lesser Redpoll, a Great Tit, a Robin, 4 Dunnock and 3 Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Robin and Wren.
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| Lesser Whitethroat, 8th October 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Buzzard, 8th October 2015. |
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| Buzzards, 8th October 2015. |
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| Tree Pipit, ringed 8th October 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Spotted Redshank, 8th October 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Ruff, 8th October 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Grey Plover, 8th October 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
Birds around included 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzel, 6 Redwing, 2 Ruff, 7 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, a Jack Snipe, 200 Golden Plover, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Rook and 30 Siskin. Heading south were 11 Great Skua, a Kestrel, 3 Barnacle Goose and 4 Sandwich Tern.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 16 new birds: 8 Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: singles of Dunnock, Blackcap and Blue Tit.
October 6th. Around, including birds trapped, were the 2 Richard's Pipit around the Spit area, 7 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 40 Siskin, 25 Redwing, 13 Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 3 Brambling, a Tree Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, 8 Ruff, a Greenshank and a Jack Snipe. Flying south were 260 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare and 32 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 32 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 9 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, 7 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing and a Ring Ouzel; and 4 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren and a Goldcrest.
The Lesser Whitethroat appeared to be too pale for a British bird, but determining subspecies can be difficult.
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| Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 6th October 2015. Photo-George Gregory |
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| Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 6th October 2015. Photo-George Gregory |
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 6th October 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Ring Ouzel, ringed 6th October 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Tree Pipit, 6th October 2015. Photo - Nige Lound |
On the Spit/on nearby saltmarsh were 2 Richard's Pipit. Other birds around were 5 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Swift, a Ring Ouzel, a Ruff, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Jack Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Tree Pipit, 40 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat and a Brambling. On Tennyson's Sands were 72 Golden Plover, a Kingfisher, 4 Spotted Redshank and a Ruff. South went 22 Pink-footed Goose, a Fieldfare, 37 Sandwich Tern, 3 Great Skua, 8 Shoveler and 120 Redwing, north 4 Great Skua, and west 34 Pink-footed Goose. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Greenshank.
October 4th. An Olive-backed Pipit flew calling over North End along the golf course edge and was seen to land somewhere near Greenshanks Creek late afternoon, but fading light meant the bird was not relocated. Mid afternoon a Richard's Pipit was seen flying over North Building and was relocated briefly on Greenshanks Creek late afternoon. The Great White Egret was rediscovered at North End during the day but was only seen sporadically, whilst at the Mere a Cetti's Warbler (presumably the bird ringed yesterday) was heard calling late afternoon briefly. There were still 6+ Yellow-browed Warbler (at least 3 in the roadside Sycamores around Aylmer Avenue, 2 at Shovelers Pool and 1 at the Yacht Club) whilst to the North of the reserve towards Skegness, there were at least a further 7 birds found by birders during the day.
Around, including birds trapped, were a 2 Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 3 Tawny Owl, 180 Brent Goose, 2+ Pink-footed Goose, 2 Jack Snipe, 10 Ruff, a Kingfisher, 2 Stonechat, a Redstart, a Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 150+ Goldfinch, a Lapland Bunting, a Green Woodpecker, a Ring Ouzel, 12 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling, 25+ Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat. Flying south were a Grey Wagtail, 25 Lesser Redpoll, 15 Siskin and 4 Swallow (11 more roosted at the Mere in the evening). There were also 3 Brambling (two at Aylmer and one at Sykes Farm) and a Ring Ouzel discovered along the roadside near the pumping station track very late afternoon, presumably having just arrived? On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 9 Ruff, a Yellow Wagtail and 26 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and James Siddle, produced 16 new birds: 2 Wren, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Redstart and a Reed Bunting; and 6 retraps: a Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Wren, a Dunnock and a Great Tit.
Meanwhile over at Aylmer Avenue, Mick Briggs carried out a lengthy ringing session, resulting in 101 new birds. The breakdown was 30 Goldcrest, 12 Greenfinch, 12 Goldfinch, 9 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Wren, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Robin, 2 Blackbird and singles of Dunnock, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Siskin.
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| Redstart, ringed 4th October 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 43 new birds: 20 Goldcrest, 4 Wren, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Robin, a Goldfinch and a Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Blackcap and a Dunnock.
A lengthy ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs resulted in a impressive 123 new birds. They included a remarkable five Yellow-browed Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler, both new birds for the Observatory ringing list for the year. The breakdown was 32 Goldcrest, 30 Greenfinch, 11 Blackcap, 10 Goldfinch, 8 Dunnock, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Wren, 4 Robin, 4 Great Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Chaffinch and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Blue Tit.
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, the 4th of the day ringed 3rd October 2105. Photo - Mick Briggs. |
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| Cetti's Warbler, ringed 3rd October 2015. Photo - Mick Briggs. |
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, the 5th of the day ringed 3rd October 2015. Photo - Mick Briggs. |
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, the 5th of the day ringed 3rd October 2015. Photo - Mick Briggs. |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Robin, 3 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and a retrap Robin.
A Long-winged Conehead was probably the first for the reserve.
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| Long-winged Conehead, 2nd October 2015. Photo - Sam Wilson |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 12 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch, a Robin, a Swallow and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Blackbird, Blackcap and Wren.
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| Merlin, 1st October 2015 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Kingfisher, 1st October 2015. |
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| Kingfisher, 1st October 2015. |
