Early October 2016

October 10th. Birds around included 2+ Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Ring Ouzel, a Reed Warbler, 7 Spotted Redshank, a Kingfisher, a Merlin and a Peregrine. Going south were 185 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 73 new birds: 2 Wren, 9 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, 25 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Lesser Redpoll, a Dunnock, 8 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush and 6 Blackbird; and 12 retraps: 6 Goldcrest, 4 Robin, a Blackcap and a Chaffinch.

Yellow-browed Warbler, 10th October 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale
Yellow-browed Warbler, 10th October 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale
October 9th. Soggy start after heavy early morning rain.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Great Grey Shrike, a Spoonbill, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Merlin, a Water Rail, a Woodcock, a Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, a Jack Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, 20 Ring Ouzel, 11 Fieldfare, a Redstart, a House Martin and a Lapland Bunting. Heading south were 2 Whooper Swan, 40 Tree Sparrow, 20 Rock Pipit and 5 Swallow; and north a Little Gull.
 A rain-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 106 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 33 Goldcrest, 4 Wren, 14 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Brambling, 20 Reed Bunting, 7 Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Wheatear, a Dunnock, 4 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, a Starling, 6 Blackbird, a Fieldfare and a Jack Snipe; and 7 retraps: 4 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Blackcap and a Dunnock.
Spoonbill (adult), 9th October 2016
Photo - Joanne Goodman
Fieldfare, ringed 9th October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy, 9th October 2016.
Photo - Rob Watson
October 8th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 5 Yellow-browed Warbler, a male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 10 Pintail, 3 House Sparrow, 13 Swallow, a House Martin, a Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 35 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcap, 250 Goldcrest, a Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 23 Ring Ouzel, 30 Fieldfare, 400 Redwing, 80 Blackbird, 140 Song Thrush, 300 Robin, 30 Brambling, 60 Reed Bunting, a Snow Bunting and a Lapland Bunting. Flying south were 52 Pink-footed Goose. A Great White Egret was seen in flight from North Building Ridge.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 75 new birds: 20 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Chaffinch, 15 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 6 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, 2 Dunnock, 12 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 9 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Blackbird and 2 Robin.

Ring Ouzels at Mill Pond, 8th October 2016
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
 
Ring Ouzel at Mill Pond, 8th October 2016
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
 
Stonechat, 8th October 2016.
Photo - Paul Johnson
Stonechat, 8th October 2016.
Photo - Paul Johnson
October 7th.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a male Scaup, 11 Pintail, 180 Brent Goose, 2 Water Rail, a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern, a Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 6 Ring Ouzel, 2 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, a Pied Flycatcher, 15 Brambling and 2 Siskin. In off the sea came a Woodcock. Going south were 120 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Redpoll, 2 Siskin and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes, with Kevin Hemsley, Mick Pearson and Duncan Hooton, provided 105 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 20 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, 18 Robin, 13 Reed Bunting, 9 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 7 Blackcap, 3 Dunnock, 6 Redwing, 14 Song Thrush, 8 Blackbird, a Ring Ouzel and a Sparrowhawk; 24 retraps: 6 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush, a Blackbird, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Long-tailed Tit; and a control Robin with a HELGOLAND GERMANIA ring.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent provided 121 new birds: 50 Goldcrest, 16 Robin, 16 Goldfinch,7 Blackcap, 7 Greenfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Great Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird, a Wren, a Woodcock and a Green Woodpecker; and 22 retraps: 5 Goldcrest, 5 Great Tit, 3 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, a Wren, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and a Greenfinch.

Ring Ouzel, ringed 7th October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Green Woodpecker, ringed 7th October 2016.
Photo - David Vincent
Woodcock, ringed 7th October 2016.
Photo - David Vincent
October 6th. Fresh easterly wind.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Ring Ouzel, 10 Spotted Redshank, a Kingfisher, 13 Pintail, 162 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, a Merlin, 10 Rook, 3 Brambling, a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail and 9 Chiffchaff. Heading south were 3 Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 115 new birds: 35 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 8 Blackcap, 22 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 11 Goldfinch, a Meadow Pipit, a Reed Bunting, 11 Redwing, 18 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; 9 retraps: a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Robin, a Chaffinch, a Great Tit and a Song Thrush; and a control Robin with a ZOOL MUSEUM DENMARK ring.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent produced 68 new birds: 23 Goldcrest, 15 Robin, 7 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackbird, a Chiffchaff and a Wren; and 4 retraps: 2 Chaffinch and 2 Great Tit.

October 5th. Fresh easterly wind.
 Around, including birds trapped, were 7 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher, 4 Stonechat, 50 Robin, 15 Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare, 80 Song Thrush, 40 Blackbird, a Wheatear, a Brambling, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 2 Jack Snipe, 10 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 2 Pintail and 50+ Brent Goose. Flying south were 40 Gannet, 3 Eider, a Great Skua and a Grey Wagtail; and north 19 Gannet and an Arctic Skua.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 43 new birds: a Wren, 7 Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 15 Robin, 5 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Kingfisher; and 6 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren, a Dunnock and 2 Long-tailed Tit.
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 5th October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Kingfisher performing head-turning defensive display, ringed 5th October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Stonechats, 5th October 2016.
Photo - Ben Ward

Spotted Redshank, 5th October 2016.
Photo - Ben Ward
Lesser Redpoll, 5th October 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 4th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Marsh Harrier, 50 Brent Goose, 6 Pintail, 69 Shoveler, a Merlin, 34 Stock Dove, a Greenshank, 9 Spotted Redshank, 3 Woodcock, 3 Water Rail, 2 Ring Ouzel, 50 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 2 Wheatear, a Stonechat and 2 Willow Warbler. Flying west were 70 Pink-footed Goose; north a Sooty Shearwater; and south 14 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 21 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Redstart, 5 Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: singles of Robin, Wren and Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent provided 15 new birds: 9 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Great Tit and 2 Robin; and 5 retraps 4 Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

Redstart, ringed 4th October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Song Thrush, 4th October 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
October 3rd. Damp, misty start.
 At least 17 Yellow-browed Warbler were on site today, even with two sites that held birds yesterday not checked. Fewer birds were on the east side of the reserve (although one new bird was trapped and ringed there) with more accumulating around Sykes Farm and the Plantation during the day, resulting in a total of 6 there by late afternoon, with a further 4 along Road Edge Sycamores. The day total included 2 at Boundary Sycamores. Also around were a Peregrine, a Water Rail, 4 Greenshank, 4 Ring Ouzel, 56 Redwing, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 16 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 25 Goldcrest, 5 Brambling and 2 Siskin. Going south were a Lapland Bunting, a Grey Wagtail, a Rook, 22 Tree Sparrow and a Brambling; and north-east 2 Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 31 new birds: a Goldcrest, 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Robin, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Tree Sparrow, a Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock, 2 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Wren and a Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 31 new birds: 8 Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 2 Brambling, 2 Blackbird and singles of Willow Warbler, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Song Thrush and Redwing; and 14 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 2 Robin, 2 Blue Tit and singles of Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit and Yellowhammer.

Tree Sparrow, ringed 3rd October 2016.
Photo - David Vincent.
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 3rd October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Brambling, ringed 3rd October 2016.
Photo - GeorgeGregory


October 2nd.
There was a major arrival of Yellow-browed Warbler, with 24 present on the Reserve, at many different sites, with 6 trapped and ringed in East Dunes. The previous highest daily count was 10. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Spoonbill, a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 40 Goldcrest, a Brambling, a Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 4 Ring Ouzel, 60 Redwing, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 35 Pink-footed Goose, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Greenshank. Heading south were 2 Lapland Bunting, 20 Brambling, 20 Rock Pipit, a Pomarine Skua, a Sooty Shearwater, a Puffin, 55 Pink-footed Goose; and north 3 Long-tailed Skua, 14 Great Skua, 8 Arctic Skua, 35 Sooty Shearwater and 5 Manx Shearwater.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 64 new birds: 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Wren, 11 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 7 Robin, a Brambling, 8 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Goldfinch, 9 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing and 5 Blackbird; 4 retraps: a Robin, 2 Dunnock and a Wren; and a control Kestrel. The Lesser Whitethroat was quite brownish on the back. The Kestrel bore a Museum Sciences Brussels 1000 ring.

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 2nd October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Belgian-ringed Kestrel, controlled 2nd October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 2nd October 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
October 1st. Around were 3 Spoonbill, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 9 Ruff, 30000 Knot, 4000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3500 Oystercatcher, 5000 Dunlin, 800 Sanderling, 2 Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 3 Whinchat and a Stonechat. Flying south were 4 Whooper Swan, a Marsh Harrier, 94 Reed Bunting, 220 Meadow Pipit, 200 Goldfinch, 210 Goldfinch, 4 Rock Pipit, 6 Grey Wagtail, 74 Tree Sparrow and a Swallow; north a Manx Shearwater; and north-west 38 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Sam Edwards, provided 46 new birds: 4 Wren, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 4 Reed Bunting, 6 Blackcap, 3 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, 8 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren and a Dunnock.