Mid June 2017

June 20th. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Spoonbill. Birds around included a Brent Goose, 118 Shelduck, 80 Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover, a Siskin, 30 Sandwich Tern, a Cuckoo and 8 Rook. Going north were 65 Common Scoter.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Linnet, a Great Tit, a Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Linnet, a Dunnock and a Willow Warbler.

June 19th. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill, and on Tennyson's Sands a Wigeon. Around were a Marsh Harrier, a Sand Martin and a Siskin. Heading south were 6 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: 2 Blackcap and a Sedge Warbler; and 8 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Chiffchaff and a Long-tailed Tit.
 In the East Dunes were 18 Six-spotted Burnet and 2 Painted Lady.

June 18th. The 2 Spoonbill remained on Tennyson's Sands. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Cuckoo and a Kingfisher. Over the Mere was a Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Linnet, 10 Starling and a Kingfisher; and 10 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, a Wren, a Whitethroat and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

Bee Orchid, 18th June 2017.
Photo - Rhianna Wilson
Bee Orchid, 18th June 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
Broad-bodied Chaser, 18th June 2017.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
Kingfisher. ringed 18th June 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
June 17th. A Common Crane flew south onto the Wash. Also flying south were 2 Swift; and north a Wood Sandpiper. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill and a Little Ringed Plover. Around were 113 Shelduck, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 65 Little Tern, 4 Grey Heron, a Cuckoo and a Kingfisher.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: 2 Wren, a Reed Warbler, a Blue Tit, a Linnet, a Dunnock and 6 Starling; and 4 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler and Dunnock.
 Butterflies included a Painted Lady.

Common Crane south over The Wash, 17th June 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
June 16th. On Jackson's Marsh was a Great White Egret; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Spoonbill. Birds around included a Wood Sandpiper and 3 Rook. Going south were a Hobby, a Grey Heron, 2 Sand Martin and 600 Swift. A three hour sea-watch from dawn produced 5 Manx Shearwater, a Fulmar, 52 Auk spp, 58 Gannet, 6 Shoveler, 19 Canada Goose, 34 Common Scoter and 4 Kittiwake. A Red Kite was seen over Seacroft Golf Course early morning.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 8 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock and 3 Starling; and 8 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit and a Chaffinch.

Great White Egret on Jackson's Marsh, 16th June 2017
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Spoonbills, 16th June 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound

Great White Egret, 16th June 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound
June 15th. On Tennyson's Sands were up to 3 Spoonbill, a Little Ringed Plover and a Ruff. Around, including birds trapped, were 166 Shelduck, 2 Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a Cuckoo and a Bullfinch. Heading south were 2000 Swift and 2 Siskin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 18 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Bullfinch, a Robin, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and 4 Starling; and 9 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and a Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 23 new birds: a Wren, 13 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 9 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Dunnock.
 A Water Shrew was found in East Dunes.

Bullfinch, ringed 15th June 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
June 14th. A Willow Tit (first record since 30th June 2011) was discovered by the Plantation feeder station. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Spoonbill and a Little Tern. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Cuckoo and a Kingfisher. Going south were 5 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 24 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 8 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, a Robin, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit, 8 Starling and a Kingfisher; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit.

Kingfisher, ringed 14th June 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
June 13th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill and a Little Ringed Plover. Around were 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Cuckoo, a Kingfisher and a Turtle Dove. Flying south were 4 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 14 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Great Tit, a Starling, a Blackbird and a Mistle Thrush; and 8 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 3 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.

Spoonbill (bird 1), 13th June 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Spoonbill (bird 2), 13th June 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Moulting adult Mistle Thrush, ringed 13th June 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
June 12th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill in the evening; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Tern. Birds around included 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Rook and a Siskin. An afternoon sea-watch provided 18 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar, 50 Little Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern and 6 Auk Spp. Going south were an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Hobby and 750 Swift.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 21 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit, 13 Starling and a Wood Pigeon; and 16 retraps: 6 Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, a Dunnock, a Blackbird and 5 Great Tit.

Woodpigeon, ringed 12th June 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
June 11th. In from the north came 2 Spoonbill, of which 1 flew off to Norfolk. Around were 2 Cuckoo, a Kingfisher and 4 Rook. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby and 140 Swift.
 The fifth session of CES was done this morning. The 20 new birds were 2 Wren, 8 Chiffchaff, a Robin, 3 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Carrion Crow. The 10 retraps were 2 Wren, 2 Great Tit, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Dunnock, a Chiffchaff and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Carrion Crow, ringed 11th May 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Speckled Wood, 11th June 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
Pyramidal Orchids, 11th June 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson