A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 16 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 12 retraps: a Chiffchaff, 4 Great Tit, a Wren, 3 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird and a Goldfinch.
The early Cinnabar Moth was still present.
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| Short-eared Owl, 10th April 2017. Photo - Yves Gisseleire |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Robin, a Great Tit and a Blackbird; and a retrap Blue Tit.
An early Cinnabar Moth was of note.
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| Collared Dove, 9th April 2017. Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Peacock, 9th April 2017. Photo - Rob Watson |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 10 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 3 Linnet, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock and a Blackbird.
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| Blackcap, 8th April 2017. Photo- Garry Wright |
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| Green Woodpecker, Wash Viewpoint, 8th April 2017. Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Chiffchaff with pollen horn, ringed 8th April 2017. Photo - George Gregory
April 7th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Common Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 49 Avocet, 4 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap. Flying south were 3 Crossbill.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 18 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, a Goldcrest, 7 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Yellowhammer and a Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Blackbird, 2 Dunnock and a Great Tit.
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| Yellowhammer, ringed 7th April 2017. Photo - George Gregory |
April 6th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 7 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler (including one singing), 2 Coal Tit, a Green Woodpecker and 4 Common Buzzard. A Marsh Harrier flew north high.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 14 new birds: a Wren, a Coal Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit. a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: a Coal Tit, a Wren, a Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Robin and 3 Dunnock.
The Speckled Wood was still at Aylmer Avenue, and another was in the Plantation.
April 5th. Birds around included a Common Buzzard, a Water Pipit, 2 Redwing, and a Coal Tit singing in the Plantation.
Butterflies included an early Speckled Wood at Aylmer Avenue.April 4th. A Willow Warbler was heard singing in the Orchard briefly this morning. Also around were 2 Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Redwing, and 2 Blackcap in the Plantation.
In the afternoon a ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting along the seabank, a Buzzard was over Croftmarsh and a Great Crested Grebe was on Tennyson Sands. A Wheatear was seen on the saltings.
April 3rd. A quiet day on the reserve. Notable sightings were 5 Snipe, a Woodcock and a Brambling. On Tennyson Sands were 47 Avocet.
April 2nd. The Red Kite reappeared over Croftmarsh early morning before drifting towards the East Dunes. A female Marsh Harrier was also active over Tennyson's Sands. Around were 18 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, a Willow Warbler and 16 Corn Bunting. The Black Redstart was also refound. 4 Woodlark headed north over the East Dunes.
During a brief ringing session at Aylmer Avenue a new Great Tit was ringed.
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| Red Kite over Tennyson Sands, 2nd April 2017 Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Marsh Harrier, Tennyson Sands 2nd April 2017 Photo- Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Roe Deer, 2nd April 2017. Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Fox Moth caterpillar, 2nd April 2017. Photo - Rob Watson |
Heading south were 230 Redwing, a Brambling, 40 Jackdaw, 18 Rook, a Swallow and a White Wagtail. Birds around included the first Willow Warbler of the year, 4 Blackcap, 8 Goldcrest, an adult summer Mediterranean Gull and a Water Pipit. A Firecrest was found in the Plantation in the afternoon.
