Early October 2017.

October 10th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 26 Brent Goose, 3 Merlin, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Little Stint, a Coal Tit and 3 Goldcrest. Going south were 4 Swallow; and north 9 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Blue Tit, a Blackcap, a Robin, a Coal Tit, a Reed Bunting and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap, a Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

Coal Tit, ringed 10th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 9th.  On the reserve were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 North Building Ridge, 1 Gibraltar Road side). Around, including birds trapped, were 35 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 70000 Knot, a Spotted Redshank, a Jack Snipe, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 2 Merlin, a Ring Ouzel, 41 Redwing, 30 Song Thrush, a Cetti's Warbler, 40 Goldcrest, 90 Robin, 5 Stonechat and 2 Brambling. On Jackson's Marsh were 16 Snipe; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Greenshank and 2 Ruff. Heading south were 7 Whooper Swan, 4 Scaup, 18 Pintail, and many finches, pipits and other species; and west 80 Redwing.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, resulted in 17 new birds: 3 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Goldfinch, a Blackcap, a Dunnock, 2 Song Thrush and a Blackbird; 2 retraps: a Song Thrush and a Blackcap; and a control Reed Bunting.

Brambling, ringed 9th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 8th. There were 4 Yellow-browed Warbler present (2 trapped and ringed at Observatory, 1 calling near Mill Hill, 1 Gibraltar Road side). Birds around, including those trapped, were 60 Brent Goose, a Snipe, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, a Merlin, a Hobby, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Jay, 8 Stonechat, a Ring Ouzel, 70 Redwing, 6 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Brambling. Flying south were 220 Pink-footed Goose, a Sandwich Tern and 3 Brambling. In off the sea came a Mandarin Duck, which then landed on the Mere.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 71 new birds: 7 Wren, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, a Brambling, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Redpoll, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 21 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush and 12 Blackbird; and 9 retraps: 4 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest and a Great Tit.
Brambling, 8th October 2017.
Photo - Russell Hayes
Mandarin Duck on the Mere, 8th October 2017.
Photo - Russell Hayes
Yellow-browed Warbler, 8th October 2017.
Photo - Russell Hayes

Mandarin Duck, 8th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Mandarin Duck, 8th October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 8th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 8th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Brambling, ringed 8th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 7th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 A Yellow-browed Warbler was by Sykes Farm track. On Tennyson's Sands was a Little Stint. Around, including birds trapped, were 60 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Greenshank, a Kingfisher, a Jay, a Whinchat and 3 Stonechat. Offshore were 3 Razorbill. Heading south were 12 Whooper Swan, 290 Pink-footed Goose, 12 Eider, a Woodlark, 20 House Martin and 17 Swallow; west 110 Pink-footed Goose; and north 130 Pink-footed Goose. In off the sea came 33 Snipe.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 34 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, a Stonechat, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Blackcap, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Jay; and 6 retraps: 2 Wren, a Robin, 2 Goldcrest and a Goldfinch.

Stonechat, ringed 7th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Jay, ringed 7th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 6th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 60 Brent Goose, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, a Sedge Warbler, 7 Redwing, 14 Stonechat and a Brambling. Flying south were 200 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Sandwich Tern, a Great Skua and 29 Redpoll; west 30 Pink-footed Goose; and north 50 Common Scoter, 9 Gannet and an Arctic Skua.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 64 new birds: 11 Wren, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 8 Robin, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, a Tree Sparrow, 9 Dunnock, a Greenfinch, 5 Song Thrush, a Redwing, a Blackbird and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 12 retraps: 2 Wren, 4 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, a Robin, a Blackcap, a Great Tit and a Chiffchaff.

October 5th. Strong north-westerly wind, slowly decreasing.
 There were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (1 in Plantation, 1 by Gibraltar Road side). On Jackson's Marsh was a Ruff. Around were 2 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, 2 Merlin, 4 Jay, 18 Redwing and a Whinchat. Going north were a Brent Goose, a Manx Shearwater, 84 Gannet, a Great Skua, a Sandwich Tern and a Peregrine; and south 48 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Great Skua, a Sandwich Tern, 12 Gannet and 5 House Martin.

October 4th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
 A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. Birds around included 149 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 9 Spotted Redshank, 10 Stonechat and a Grey Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Greenshank and 10 Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh a Ruff and 130 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 85 Pink-footed Goose and numerous finches, pipits and other species; and north 168 Pink-footed Goose.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, provided 38 new birds: 9 Chiffchaff, 16 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest and a Robin.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 51 new birds: 18 Chiffchaff, 19 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 3 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Blackcap and 2 Great Tit; and 15 retraps: 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, a Goldcrest, a Great Tit and a Blackcap.

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 4th October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 3rd. Increasing westerly wind; later decreasing.
 A Yellow-browed Warbler was in West Dunes. On Jackson's Marsh were a Ruff and a Wood Sandpiper. Around, including birds trapped, were a Common Buzzard, 2 Merlin, a Kingfisher, 2 Redstart, 13 Stonechat, a Whinchat, a Cetti's Warbler and a Firecrest. Flying south were numerous finches, pipits and many other species, including 584 Pink-footed Goose (plus 5 more north-west), a Manx Shearwater, 18 Great Skua, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Woodlark, a Tree Pipit, 3 Sand Martin, 41 Swallow, 141 House Martin, 102 Tree Sparrow and a Crossbill.
 A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 59 new birds: 7 Wren, 6 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 6 Robin, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Blackcap, 7 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, 2 Stonechat, 3 Great Tit, a Lesser Redpoll and 9 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Goldcrest, a Wren, a Redstart and a Dunnock.

Firecrest, 3rd October 2017.
Photo - Paul Neale
Stonechat, ringed 3rd October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Redstart, retrapped 3rd October 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
October 2nd. Strong south-westerly winds, but slowly decreasing.
 Birds around included 2 Spoonbill, 6 Marsh Harrier and 2 Green Sandpiper. On Jackson's Marsh were 125 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 4 Spotted Redshank. Going south were an Osprey, and numerous finches, pipits, buntings and other species.

October 1st. Quite strong southerly winds.
 By Gibraltar Road side was a Yellow-browed Warbler. Around were a ringtail Hen Harrier and 4 Marsh Harrier. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill, 3 Ruff and 4 Spotted Redshank; on Tennyson's Sands 3 Water Rail, 6 Greenshank, 150 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Croftmarsh a Curlew Sandpiper.