Early November 2015

November 10th. Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, 650 Pink-footed Goose, 1000 Brent Goose, 2750 Golden Plover, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Corn Bunting, a Short-eared Owl and a Fieldfare. Moving south offshore were a Long-tailed Duck, a Velvet Scoter, 2 Scaup and 3 Black-throated Diver. Flying south over the West Dunes were 876 Siskin, 96 Goldfinch, 180 Chaffinch, 32 Brambling, 84 Redpoll, 122 Meadow Pipit, 51 Skylark and 3 late House Martin. Tennyson's Sands held 600 Teal, 4 Pochard, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Avocet and 4 Snipe. In the Plantation were 4 Goldcrest and a Bullfinch. A herd of 15 Whooper Swan flew south-east mid-morning.

 A short morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Goldcrest and 3 Blackbird; and a retrap Robin.

Corn Bunting, 10th November 2015
Photo - Nige Lound
November 9th. Strong south-westerly wind.
 On Croftmarsh was a Common Crane (briefly), on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spotted Redshank and 5 Avocet, on the Mere a Goldeneye, and on Fenland Lagoon a Kingfisher. Birds around included a Water Pipit, 3 Hen Harrier, a female Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 60 Pink-footed Goose, 52 Brent Goose, 2 Tundra Bean Goose (reported on Birdguides), 3500 Golden Plover, a Jack Snipe, 3 Lapland Bunting and a Goldcrest. Going south were 38 Whooper Swan, 70 Siskin and 2 Brambling.

November 8th. The Pallid Harrier was still present. Also around were 2+ Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Buzzard, 120 Pink-footed Goose, 10 Fieldfare, a Blackcap and 2 Stonechat. On the water bodies were 1015 Teal, 4 Pintail, 79 Mallard, 84 Shoveler, a Goldeneye, 8 Avocet, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Water Rail and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 19 Whooper Swan and 62 Siskin.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 3 Goldcrest and a Wren; and 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Blackbird.

November 7th. Strong south-westerly wind, with rainy spells in morning.
 The Pallid Harrier reappeared. Other birds around were a male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 350 Pink-footed Goose, a Stonechat and 100 Fieldfare. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and a Goldeneye, and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Water Pipit, 2 Water Rail, 3 Avocet and a Spotted Redshank. Flying south were 9 Whooper Swan and a Swallow.

Pallid Harrier, 7th November 2015.
Photo - Russell Hayes
November 6th. The juvenile Pallid Harrier was seen again. Also around were a Short-eared Owl, a male Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, 24 Fieldfare, 2 Brambling and 120 Pink-footed Goose. Heading south were 2 Bean Goose and 22 Whooper Swan.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in just 4 new birds: 3 Lesser Redpoll and a Redwing; and no retraps.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 5 new birds: a Wren, a Greenfinch, a Blackbird, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Robin, a Wren and a Long-tailed Tit.

November 5th. Occasional light rain.
 The juvenile Pallid Harrier reappeared several times. Other birds around included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 500 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing and 65 Pink-footed Goose. On Tennyson's Sands was a Cetti's Warbler, 5 Water Rail and 2 Spotted Redshank, on the Mere a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail, and on Fenland Lagoon a Water Pipit.

 A fairly short morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: 3 Goldcrest and a Blackbird; and a retrap Goldcrest.

Water Pipit, 5th November 2015.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Pallid Harrier in mist, 5th November 2015.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
Pallid Harrier in mist, 5th November 2015.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth
November 4th. Another foggy and soggy start, with rain from mid morning to early afternoon.
 Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwing and 350 Brent Goose.

 A short morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, 7 Long-tailed Tit and a Robin; and 7 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit, a Robin and 4 Goldcrest.

November 3rd. On Tennyson's Sands was a Cetti's Warbler, and on Fenland Lagoon a Water Pipit. Birds around included a Firecrest, a male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 350 Brent Goose, a Black Redstart and 3 Stonechat. Flying south were 670 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Whooper Swan, 120 Redwing, 110 Fieldfare, 80 Rock Pipit, 193 Siskin and 135 Goldfinch.

 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Wren, 3 Goldcrest and 2 Song Thrush; and 5 retraps: a Dunnock and 4 Goldcrest.

November 2nd. Foggy and soggy all day.
 Around were a male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart, a Woodcock, 84 Shoveler, 750 Teal, 60 Blackbird, 60 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing and a Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Avocet, a Spotted Redshank and a Water Rail, and on the Mere a Water Rail.

 A short morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Dunnock and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: singles of Robin and Dunnock.

November 1st. Foggy, soggy start.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Great Grey Shrike, 2+ Black Redstart, 2 Stonechat, a Snow Bunting, 350 Pink-footed Goose, a Short-eared Owl, a male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, 2 Ruff and a Blackcap. Flying south were 6 Whooper Swan, 132 Pink-footed Goose and a Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 14 new birds a Wren, 2 Dunnock, 2 Redwing, 8 Blackbird and a Woodcock; and 6 retraps: a Blackcap, 2 Robin, 2 Goldcrest and a Great Tit.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 20 new birds and 32 retraps. The new birds were 12 Greenfinch, 2 Wren, 2 Blackbird and singles of Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Brambling and Chaffinch. The retraps were 11 Great Tit, 6 Robin, 4 Dunnock, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, a Wren and a Chaffinch.
Various species, 1st November 2015.
Photos  - Philip Millns
Short-eared Owl, 1st November 2015.
Photos - Philip Millns