Late September 2017

September 30th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was near Mill Hill. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill (briefly) and a Little Stint. Birds around, including those trapped, were 80 Brent Goose, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Jay, a Ring Ouzel, 4 Coal Tit, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Redstart, a Stonechat, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Willow Warbler. There was a very heavy southward passage of finches, buntings, larks, hirundines and other species, including 2 Great Skua, a Black Tern, 2 Sparrowhawk, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Kestrel and a Woodlark. Heading north-west were 160 Pink-footed Goose.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, provided 62 new birds: 22 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 7 Goldfinch, 7 Reed Bunting, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, a Stonechat, a Great Tit and 4 Song Thrush; and 8 retraps: 3 Robin, a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, a Dunnock and a Redstart.

Grey Wagtail, 30th September 2017.
Photo - Chris Cullen

Spotted Redshank, 30th September 2017.
Photo - Chris Cullen

Spoonbill and Avocet, 30th September 2017.
Photo - Chris Cullen

Grey Wagtail, 30th September 2017.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 30th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 30th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Stonechat, ringed 30th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 29th. Some rain until early morning.
 In East Dunes was a Yellow-browed Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill and 9 Spotted Redshank. Around were 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, a Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher, 200 Goldcrest and 2 Grey Wagtail. Flying south were 2 Kestrel and 25 Redpoll.

Pied Flycatcher, 29th September 2017
Photo - Ben Ward

September 28th. Rain until mid morning, then soggy.

 There were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 by Gibraltar Road side, and 1 in Plantation). On Tennyson's Sands were a Scaup, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Warbler. Other birds around, including those trapped. were a Common Buzzard, a Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 15 Snipe, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Redstart, a Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Treecreeper, 2 Grey Wagtail, 9 Siskin, 40 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Brambling. Going south were a Marsh Harrier, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Swallow and a Tree Sparrow; and south-east 105 Pink-footed Goose.
 A rain-delayed long ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 32 new birds: a Wren, 3 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Linnet, a Robin, a Redstart, 19 Lesser Redpoll, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Linnet and 2 Robin.
 A rain-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Keith Collett, produced 23 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Redstart, 3 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and 10 retraps: 2 Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Blackcap, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit, a Chiffchaff and a Robin.

Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 28th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

September 27th. A Little Bunting was discovered near Wash Viewpoint. There were 3 Yellow-browed Warbler present (2 in East Dunes of which 1 was trapped and ringed, 1 in Plantation). Around, including birds trapped, were a Hobby, a Greenshank, a Redstart, a Whinchat, a Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Brambling. Heading south were 2 Common Buzzard,  2 Tree Pipit and a Lapland Bunting.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint, Carole Lunn and Jenni Godber, yielded 49 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, a Wren, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Redstart, 14 Robin, a Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, a Whinchat, 3 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, 2 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock and 4 Song Thrush; and 6 retraps: a Robin, 2 Dunnock, a Great Tit, a Goldfinch and a Wren.

Redstart, ringed 27th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Brambling, ringed 27th September.
Photo - George Gregory

Whinchat, ringed 27th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Lesser Whitethroat, ringed 27th September 2017.
Photo - Carole Lunn

September 26th. There were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler present (1 by Hump/Plantation, 1 by Gibraltar Road side). On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Stint. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Spoonbill, 2 Grey Heron, a Common Buzzard, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, 500 Golden Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Kingfisher, 2 Ring Ouzel, a Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 2 Redstart, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Jay, a Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Treecreeper. Flying south were 25 Wigeon, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Siskin and a Brambling.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, produced 42 new birds: 9 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 3 Great Tit, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 4 Dunnock, 3 Song Thrush, a Redwing and 2 Jay; and 13 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren, 7 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Ring Ouzel, 26th September 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

Jay, ringed 26th September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Redwing, ringed 26th September 2017.
Photo - Carole Lunn

September 25th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. Near Shovelers Pool was a Common Rosefinch. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill and a Ruff; on the Mere a Water Rail; and on Tennyson's Sands a Pink-footed Goose and a Curlew Sandpiper. Around were 5 Brent Goose, a Common Buzzard, 9 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 10 Snipe, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Treecreeper, a Fieldfare and 2 Ring Ouzel. Offshore was a Manx Shearwater. Heading south were 2 Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, resulted in 21 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Great Tit, 4 Dunnock, 4 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Wren, a Robin and 2 Great Tit.

Ring Ouzel, 25th September 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 25th September 2017.
Photo - Carole Lunn

September 24th. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Spoonbill and a Water Rail. In the Plantation was a Yellow-browed Warbler. In the north of the reserve was a Red-backed Shrike. Birds around included 15 Pink-footed Goose, a Common Buzzard, a male Marsh Harrier, 6 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, a Snipe, a Hobby, a Green Woodpecker, a Reed Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, a Whinchat, 5 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Treecreeper. Flying south were 9 more Spoonbill, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Swallow and 2 Redpoll.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 17 new birds: 7 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Long-tailed Tit, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Coal Tit and a Blue Tit; and 9 retraps: 5 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit and a Wren.

September 23rd. A Yellow-browed Warbler was by Gibraltar Road side, and a Red-backed Shrike was near Beach Car Park. Around were 5 (possibly 6) Spoonbill, a Grey Heron, 3 Pintail, an Egyptian Goose, a Water Rail, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 103000 Knot, 5 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 15 Snipe, a Ruff, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, a Treecreeper, a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Grey Wagtail and a Brambling. Going south were a Pomarine Skua, a Black Tern and 16 Swallow; and north 23 Pink-footed Goose.
 A fairly long ringing session in East Dunes with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn produced 19 new birds: 14 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin and a Wren.
 A Harvest Mouse was found dead on South Marsh Road.

Harvest Mouse found dead on South Marsh Road, 23rd September 2017.
Photo - George Gregory

Turnstone, 23rd September 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson

September 22nd. Birds around included 3 Spoonbill, 3 Pintail, a Grey Heron, 6 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a juvenile Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, a Ruff, 5 Snipe, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, 10 Chiffchaff and a Lesser Whitethroat. Heading south were 2 Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Swallow, 6 Redpoll and 2 Siskin; and north a Grey Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 19 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 4 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Dunnock, a Woodpigeon and a Magpie; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock and 2 Goldcrest.

Goldcrest, 22nd September 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale

September 21st. Around were 3 Yellow-browed Warbler (2 near Aylmer Avenue, 1 in Plantation), a Red-backed Shrike (in the north of the reserve), 4 Spoonbill, a Great Skua, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 15 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Pintail, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Hobby, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a Brambling. Flying south were a Swift, 200 Swallow and 15 House Martin. In off the sea came 62 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 12 new birds: 2 Wren, 5 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting; and 6 retraps: a Robin, 3 Goldcrest and 2 Long-tailed Tit.