Early September 2014

September 10th. On Tennyson Sands were 10 Spoonbill, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Kingfisher and 5 Greenshank, and on Jackson's Marsh a Spotted Redshank and 13 Greenshank. The lagoon at the north end of the reserve held 11 Common Sandpiper. Around were 3 Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher and a Marsh Harrier.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint produced 58 new birds: 7 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, 35 Meadow Pipit, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Swallow and 2 Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: a Blackcap, 3 Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Wren.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Anthony Bentley, produced 14 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, 5 Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 2 Greenfinch; and 10 retraps: 3 Robin, 3 Great Tit, a Dunnock, a Blue Tit and 2 Goldfinch.
10 Spoonbill on Tennyson Sands, 10th September 2014.
Photo - Nige Lound
September 9th. On Tennyson Sands were 5 Spoonbill, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint, 15 Avocet and 3 Greenshank, and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Spotted Redshank. Around the reserve were a Spotted Flycatcher, a Wheatear, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier. Over Croftmarsh were 500 Golden Plover and 250 Lapwing.
A high tide wader watch this evening yielded 70911 Knot, 1986 Grey Plover, 93 Curlew, 3657 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2517 Oystercatcher, 10274 Dunlin and 3115 Sanderling. Flying north offshore were 10 Fulmar, 15 Gannet and a juvenile Kittiwake.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint resulted in 62 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Robin, 43 Meadow Pipit, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and 3 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Reed Warbler.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Anthony Bentley, resulted in 17 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 12 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 2 Wren, a Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

September 8th. The Red-breasted Flycatcher remained in East Dunes. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Whinchat and 2 Redstart. Going south were 1600 Meadow Pipit, 250 House Martin, 150 Swallow and a Common Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint. A group of 5 Spoonbill arrived from the east this evening and were later found on Tennyson Sands.
The evening high tide event was attended by 15 visitors who were treated to an amazing arrival of 58000 Knot at the roost. Also, a light phase adult Pomarine Skua flew north, the first of the year.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint yielded 101 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 6 Robin, 9 Blackcap, 64 Meadow Pipit, a Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Chaffinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whinchat, a Redstart, a Swallow, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kingfisher; and 4 retraps: 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, yielded 17 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 4 Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 14 retraps: 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinch and 3 Goldfinch.
 A rare American non-avian migrant was discovered in South Car Park.

1958 Buick Roadmaster in South Car Park, 8 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
September 7th. The Red-breasted Flycatcher was still in East Dunes. Around, including birds trapped, were 7 Wheatear, 6 Whinchat, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Redstart and a Peregrine. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank, and on Fenland Lagoon 12 Greenshank. Flying south were a Spoonbill, 400 Meadow Pipit, 10 Tree Sparrow, a Swift, 500 Swallow and 40 House Martin.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint provided 50 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Robin, a Redstart, 43 Meadow Pipit, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Archer was not very productive. The 9 new birds were a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Reed Warbler, a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock. The 4 retraps were 2 Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock.

Red-breasted Flycatcher in East Dunes, 7 September 2014.
Photo - Gary Wright

Whitethroat showing suspended moult, ringed 7 September 2014.
Photo - Nigel Judson
September 6th. The Blyth's Reed Warbler was seen again in the East Dunes and a Red-breasted Flycatcher was found close by. A Barred Warbler was along the track to Sykes Farm. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whinchat, a Redstart, a Kingfisher and a Hobby. On Jackson's Marsh were 6 Curlew Sandpiper. Heading south were 55 Swallow.
 A long ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint produced 26 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting, 3 Whinchat, a Blue Tit, a Linnet, a Reed Warbler, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Wheatear, a Goldfinch, a Whitethroat and 2 Song Thrush; and 8 retraps: a Linnet, 5 Dunnock, a Wren and a Blackcap.
 A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue with Mike Archer and Jenni Godber produced 36 new birds: 2 Wren, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, a Redstart, 7 Goldfinch, 3 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Robin, a Blue Tit, 4 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch and a Magpie; and 58 retraps: a Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 15 Great Tit, 9 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Blackcap, 10 Greenfinch, 9 Goldfinch, a Whitethroat and a Coal Tit.

Red-breasted Flycatcher in East Dunes, 6 September 2014.
Photo - James Siddle
Wheatear, ringed 6 September 2014.
Photo - Nigel Judson
September 5th. Around were a Wryneck, a Wheatear, a Greenshank and 2 Whimbrel. On Fenland Lagoon were a Kingfisher and a Greenshank, and on Tennyson Sands another Greenshank. Flying south were 150 Swallow.
 An interesting Acrocephalus was found in East Dunes by Kevin Wilson and Richard Doan. It had a bold face pattern, and showed plumage and structural features consistent with Blyth's Reed Warbler. It was seen for over 90 minutes from late morning, but would not pose for photographs and did not call. It fed continuously in Sallow trees, showing much agility, and regularly adopted the 'banana posture'. However, a definite identification could not be clinched.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, followed by a brief afternoon session there by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint, resulted in 33 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 4 Blackcap, a Redstart, a Linnet, 2 Whinchat, 10 Swallow, 5 Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat and a Great Spotted Woodpecker; 13 retraps: a Whitethroat, 9 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Great Tit; and a control (ringed elsewhere) Barn Owl.
 A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Archer resulted in 22 new birds: a Treecreeper, a Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, a Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, a Blue Tit and 4 Dunnock; and 47 retraps: 2 Wren, 13 Great Tit, a Whitethroat, 7 Dunnock, a Robin, 4 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit and 8 Greenfinch.

Whinchat, ringed 5 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
Barn Owl, controlled 5 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
September 4th. Birds around, excluding those trapped, were a Barred Warbler, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Pied Flycatcher, 12 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, a Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest and 2 Marsh Harrier. On Fenland Lagoon were 7 Greenshank and a Kingfisher, and on Tennyson Sands 2 Curlew Sandpiper. Going south were 75 Swallow and 6 Buzzard.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, provided 15 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Goldcrest, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Robin, a Swallow, 3 Great Tit, a Whitethroat, a Coal Tit and a Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Garden Warbler, 2 Great Tit and a Blue Tit.
 An afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Archer was productive. The 44 new birds were 2 Wren, 14 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, a Tree Pipit, 2 Great Tit, a Robin, 16 Greenfinch, a Dunnock and a Magpie. The 37 retraps were 13 Great Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 9 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch and a Robin.
Spotted Flycatcher in East Dunes, 4th September 2014.
Photo - Nige Lound
Coal Tit, ringed 4 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
September 3rd. Light easterly wind.
 On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Kingfisher, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 4 Greenshank, on Jackson's Marsh 3 Greenshank, and on Tennyson Sands 2 Ruff. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Buzzard. Flying south were 55 Swallow, 4 House Martin and 5 Sand Martin.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, produced 16 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Robin, a Pied Flycatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Swallow, a Garden Warbler and 4 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 4 Dunnock and 2 Wren.

September 2nd. Light north-easterly wind. Misty start, soon burnt off, then sun and clouds.
 Birds around included 2 Black Tern, a Pied Flycatcher, a Wheatear, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 8 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Goldcrest. On Fenland Lagoon were 3 Curlew Sandpiper and a Kingfisher. Heading south were 45 Swallow.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 11 new birds: 3 Blackcap, a Robin, 4 Swallow, a Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 8 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 4 Dunnock, a Wren and a Lesser Whitethroat.
 In recent days some Sylvia warblers have increased weight significantly, with Elder berries apparently forming a major part of their diet. Some weights recorded today were a Blackcap at 22.3g, a Whitethroat at 17.1g and a Lesser Whitethroat at 13.6g.

Elder berries, a major source of stored energy for some terrestrial migrants, in East Dunes on 2 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory
September 1st. Rainy spells from mid morning.
  On Jackson's Marsh was a Greenshank, and on Tennyson Sands were 2 Ruff, 6 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 250 Golden Plover and a Kingfisher. Around were 2 Wheatear, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Greenshank and a Ruff. Flying south were 400 Swallow, 2 Swift and 16 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Redstart and 5 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: a Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
Dawn over East Dunes, 1 September 2014.
Photo - George Gregory