Early August 2014

August 10th. Increasing south-westerly wind. Rain from mid morning.
 The Spoonbill was still on Tennyson Sands along with 2 Mediterranean Gull, 118 Sandwich Tern, 16 Common Tern, 3 Little Tern and a Kingfisher. An adult female Montagu's Harrier flew south.
 No ringing was attempted.

August 9th. Rain until early morning. Increasing south-westerly wind.
 The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson Sands, and then 2 more Spoonbill arrived on the estuary. Birds around included 12 Mediterranean Gull, 1400 Sandwich Tern, 5 Arctic Skua, a Wood Sandpiper, a Marsh Harrier and 5 Greenshank. South went 35 Swift, 45 Sand Martin and 12 Swallow.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, provided 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Sparrowhawk; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Dunnock.

Female Sparrowhawk, ringed 9 August 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
August 8th. Increasing easterly wind. Some light early morning rain, then very rainy afternoon.
 On Tennyson Sands were the White-rumped Sandpiper, the Spoonbill, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Little Ringed Plover. Around were a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Arctic Skua and a Greenshank. Heading south were 1065 Sand Martin and 100 Swallow.
 A restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: singles of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet and Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Wren, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and a Whitethroat.

August 7th. On Tennyson Sands were the Spoonbill, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. Flying south-west were 1000 Sand Martin and 150 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in just 2 new birds: a Wren and a Willow Warbler; and a retrap Whitethroat.

August 6th. Rain early morning.
 In the afternoon a White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered on Jackson's Marsh. Later,it flew onto Tennyson Sands. The Spoonbill was still on Tennyson Sands, as were 2 Little Ringed Plover. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Greenshank. Going south were 35 Sand Martin and 6 Swallow.
 A brief, restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and a control (ringed elsewhere) Kestrel.

White-rumped Sandpiper, 6 August 2015.
Videograb - Kevin Wilson
Kestrel, controlled 6 August 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
August 5th. The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson Sands along with 16 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Mediterranean Gull. Around was a Marsh Harrier. Heading south were 2000 Sand Martin, 950 Swallow and 5 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, a Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 2 Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Wren.

August 4th. Around were a Montagu's Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2500 Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and 3 Yellow Wagtail. On Tennyson Sands was the Spoonbill, and on Jackson's Marsh were a Spotted Redshank and 3 Green Sandpiper. Flying south were 5000 Sand Martin, 6000 Swallow and 4 House Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin and 2 Linnet; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Wren and a Linnet.
Shore Wainscot, trapped overnight 3rd August 2014.
Photo - Nige Lound
August 3rd. Strong south-south-westerly wind.
 The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson Sands. Around were 22 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 9 Arctic Skua, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Montagu's Harrier. Going south were 8000 Sand Martin, 50 Swallow, 3 Swift, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Grey Heron.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Wren.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent, which included the 10th CES session of the year, resulted in a total of 18 new birds and 17 retraps. Of the CES nets the new birds were 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, a Dunnock and a Blackbird. The retraps were 2 Wren, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Whitethroat and a Robin. Of the other nets the new birds were 3 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler. The retraps were 6 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit and a Robin.
 A Banded Demoiselle was in the Plantation.


Montagu's Harrier, 3rd August 2014
Photo - Garry Wright

Montagu's Harrier, 3rd August 2014 
Photo - Garry Wright

August 2nd.
 Birds around included a Peregrine, 2 Hobby, a Cuckoo, 2 Bullfinch and 9 Arctic Skua. On Tennyson Sands was a Spoonbill. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, 6 Turnstone, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 25 Golden Plover, 50 Swallow and 350 Sand Martin. A Kingfisher was on Jackson's Marsh. A ringtail Montagu's Harrier flew low, north over Croft Marsh.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Wren, Whitethroat and Dunnock.

Tree-lichen Beauty, the 2nd for the reserve and Lincolnshire, trapped overnight 1st August 2014.
Photo - Nige Lound
August 1st. Around were 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Hobby, a Cuckoo and 23 Greenshank. On Tennyson Sands were a Spoonbill, a Ruff, 8 Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper. Flying south were 3 Arctic Skua, 500 Swallow, 1500 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin and 6 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Wren, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Robin and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit and 3 Wren.
 2 Painted Lady were seen.

Male Sparrowhawk, ringed 1 August 2014.
Photo - George Gregory