July 31st. On Tennyson's Sands were 9 Spoonbill, 110 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Greenshank and a Little Ringed Plover, and on Jackson's Marsh a Spoonbill and 27 Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 500 Golden Plover, 10 Siskin, 13 Yellow Wagtail, 20 Willow Warbler, 2 Treecreeper, a Green Woodpecker, 150 Swallow, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Sandpiper and a Corn Bunting. Flying south were 6 Crossbill and 3 Whimbrel.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: a Meadow Pipit, a Linnet, 3 Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Dunnock, 3 Linnet, a Wren, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.July 30th. On Jackson's Marsh were 14 Spoonbill, and on Tennyson Sands a Little Ringed Plover. Birds around included a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Short-eared Owl, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and a Whimbrel. Heading south were 3 Swift, and north a Pomarine Skua.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 34 new birds: 3 Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 10 Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnet, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat, a Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Swallow, a Greenfinch and a Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Wren and a Woodpigeon.
The ninth session of CES was done by Mike Polling this morning. The 20 new birds were 4 Wren, 8 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Great Tit, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush; and 12 retraps: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird, a Great Tit, a Wren and a Dunnock.
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| Colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull with Black-tailed Godwits, 30 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Little Ringed Plover, 30 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Colour-ringed Redshank with Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, 30 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Multiple growth bars on the tail of a Meadow Pipit, ringed 30 July 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Yellow Wagtail, ringed 30 July 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, 6 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Skylark and 2 Woodpigeon; and 6 retraps: 2 Linnet, 3 Dunnock and a Chiffchaff.
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| Juvenile Skylark, ringed 29 July 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
On Jackson's Marsh were 13 Spoonbill, 70 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank, and on Tennyson's Sands a Little Ringed Plover and 9 Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around and offshore included 3500 Sandwich Tern, a Black Tern, a Green Woodpecker and a Short-eared Owl. Flying south were 35 Swift.
July 27th. Light rain on and off.
Around various sites on the reserve were now 13 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 26 Greenshank, 84 Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Ringed Plover, 530 Curlew and a Spotted Redshank. On Jackson's Marsh were a Green Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank, and on Tennyson's Sands a Snipe and a Mediterranean Gull. Offshore were 2000 Sandwich Tern, 29 Gannet and 13 Arctic Skua. Going south were a Raven (rare here), 25 Kittiwake, 47 Gannet, 22 Whimbrel, 70 Knot, 12 Turnstone, 3 Siskin and 2500 Swift.
July 26th. Flying onto the estuary were 8 Spoonbill. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Little Ringed Plover, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank and 8 Greenshank. Around were a Montagu's Harrier, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1500 Sandwich Tern and 4 Arctic Skua. An adult Grey Partridge accompanied 2+ small chicks on Storm Ridge. Heading south were a Siskin, 15 Sand Martin and 12 Swift.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 23 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 7 Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Goldfinch, a Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and 5 Greenfinch; and 14 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 3 Linnet, 3 Wren, a Great Tit, a Blackcap and 3 Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 49 new birds and 22 retraps. The new birds were 29 Greenfinch, 8 Chaffinch, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird and singles of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Wren, Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The retraps were 7 Great Tit, 6 Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Willow Warbler.
July 25th. Strong north-westerly wind with rain until early morning.
On Jackson's Marsh was a Green Sandpiper and 42 Black-tailed Godwit, and on Tennyson Sands 9 Black-tailed Godwit. Flying south were 2 Whimbrel.
Below are some photographs taken on the Bird Walk by Stuart Ainsworth.
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| Summering Pink-footed Goose, 25 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 25 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Little Stint, 25 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Spotted Redshank with Greenshanks, 25 July 2015. Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Fox with juvenile Moorhen. Fox activity on Tennyson's Sands has wiped out most of the breeding waders and gulls this year. Photo - Nige Lound |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 10 new birds: 3 Wren, a Blackcap, 4 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit and a Whitethroat; and 7 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Whitethroat and a Linnet.
July 23rd. On the water bodies were 13 Spoonbill, a Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshank. Around were a Marsh Harrier and a Cuckoo.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, a Robin, 2 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and a Kingfisher; and 8 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Linnet and 2 Dunnock.
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| Kingfisher, ringed 23 July 2015. Photo - George Gregory |
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 12 new birds: a Treecreeper, 3 Wren, 4 Linnet, a Reed Bunting and 3 Whitethroat; and 10 retraps: a Wren, 5 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Goldfinch, a Dunnock and a Linnet.
July 21st. On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Spoonbill, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 60 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Tennyson's Sands 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and 2 Common Sandpiper. On the shore were a Roseate Tern and a Black Tern. Around were a Montagu's Harrier, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Mediterranean Gull and 27 Greenshank. Going south were 44 Whimbrel, 460 Knot, 500 Sand Martin and 2000 Swift.
Numbers of Little Egret continue to build up on the Jackson's Marsh roost. A newly-arrived juvenile Spoonbill food-begged and was fed by an adult.
The eighth session of CES was done this morning. The 18 new birds were 5 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Wren, a Reed Warbler, 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Whitethroat and 4 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Willow Warbler, a Dunnock, 2 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and 2 Chiffchaff.
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| Roseate Tern, 21 July 2015. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Roost of Little Egrets (and 2 Grey Herons) on hedge near Jackson's Marsh, 21 July 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Food-begging juvenile Spoonbill being fed by adult, 21 July 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Food-begging juvenile Spoonbill being fed by adult, 21 July 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Food-begging juvenile Spoonbill being fed by adult, 21 July 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Food-begging juvenile Spoonbill being fed by adult, 21 July 2015. Photo - Paul Neale |
