Late July 2012

July 31st: Rain/drizzle most of day. On Croftmarsh were 2 Spoonbills, on Tennyson Sands 2 Ruffs and a Green Sandpiper, and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit. The escaped Crimson Rosella hung around the Field Station. A Golden Plover was on Croftmarsh.

July 30th: Waders were represented by a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ruffs, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Whimbrels and 16 Greenshanks. A Short-eared Owl, a Wheatear, a Goldcrest, 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, the escaped Crimson Rosella and a Peregrine were around. A leucistic Woodpigeon was accompanied by a wild-type one. Some Swifts and Swallows flew south. Offshore were 80 Guillemots, adults and juveniles, 2000 Sandwich Terns and 250 Common Terns.

July 29th: A total of 7 Spoonbills flew south and landed on the saltmarsh southeast of Wash Viewpoint. There was a good passage of Swifts and Swallows south. A Marsh Harrier soared very high up. Around were 3 Ruffs, several Whimbrels, 9 Greenshanks, 5 Common Sandpipers and a Cuckoo. Strange birds included the escaped Crimson Rosella perched on a solar panel and a leucistic Swallow being mobbed by wild-type Swallows.

July 28th: Interesting waders were 3 Ruffs, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpipers. 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Hobbys passed through, and a Wheatear and a Redstart were around. About 4000 Swifts flew south. Offshore were a Red-throated Diver, 2500 Sandwich Terns and 250 Common Terns.

July 27th: The water bodies produced 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 41 Sandwich Terns, 11 Common Terns, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Ruffs. There was a moderate southward movement of Swifts and hirundines, including a leucistic Swallow. A Marsh Harrier, a Wheatear, a Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler and a Redstart were around on land, and 300 Common Scoters offshore.

July 26th: South went 2 Little Gulls, 11 Snipes, a Hobby and a Cuckoo. On the water bodies were 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ruffs, 3 Common Sandpipers, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 11 Greenshanks. Around were a Short-eared Owl, 3 Willow Warblers and a Crossbill, and offshore were 1800 Sandwich Terns.
The ninth session of CES was done this morning, resulting in 7 new birds ringed and 2 retraps - there were few small landbirds around.

July 25th: Waders were represented by 13 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, 14 Greenshanks, 3 Whimbrels, 2 Ruffs, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Snipe south. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Garganeys and an adult Mediterranean Gull. A Kingfisher flew over the River Steeping. The escaped Crimson Rosella was in East Dunes.

July 24th: A Marsh Harrier and 2 Yellow Wagtails flew south, and 17 Crossbills west. Good waders were 3 Green Sandpipers, a Ruff, 17 Whimbrels, 4 Common Sandpipers and a Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Cuckoo, a Wheatear and 2 Peregrines. Offshore were 1400 Sandwich Terns, 250 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 24 Eiders and 12 Common Scoters.

July 23rd: Sanderlings increased to 2500. Tennyson Sands held 7 Sandwich Terns, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruffs, a Green Sandpiper, 10 Greenshanks, 90 Lapwings and 2 Knots, and Jackson's Marsh a Common Sandpiper. Around were a Green Woodpecker, 12 Whimbrels, 2 Snipes and 3 Yellow Wagtails. South went 5 Whimbrels, 2 Crossbills and 3300 Swifts. Offshore were 900 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua.

July 22nd: A Kingfisher flew over Tennyson Sands. A Marsh Harrier and a Whimbrel were around. At least 800 Swifts headed south. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Ruffs, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 5 Black-tailed Godwits, and on Jackson's Marsh a Common Sandpiper.

July 21st: A female Montagu's Harrier and 7 Little Terns were around. A Whimbrel and a Greenshank flew south, and 171 Common Scoters north. On Jackson's Marsh was a Green Sandpiper, and on Tennyson Sands were 120 Lapwings, 3 Ruffs, 6 Greenshanks and 2 Black-tailed Godwits.
In East Dunes the moulting adult female Redwing, ringed here on July 3rd, was retrapped. Also, a new spotty juvenile Redstart was trapped.

                                            3+CY female Redwing (George Gregory)

                                         Juvenile Redstart (George Gregory)

Mid July 2012

July 20th: Occasional rain. On Tennyson Sands were a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Greenshank and 80 Lapwings, and on Jackson's Marsh 3 Black-tailed Godwits. A Hobby was around. An escaped Crimson Rosella was in East Dunes.
A ringing session in East Dunes this morning yielded a Pied Wagtail, a species of which only a few are ringed here annually.

                                   Juvenile Pied Wagtail (George Gregory)

July 19th: An arrival of waders included 1500 Dunlins and 1000 Sanderlings. In East Dunes was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Good waders on Tennyson Sands were 3 Ruffs, a Green Sandpiper and 120 Lapwings.
A ringing session in East Dunes provided 31 captures, including 4 juvenile Chiffchaffs and 8 Blackcaps.

July 18th: Tennyson Sands held 3 Ruffs, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Greenshanks, and Jackson's Marsh 4 Black-tailed Godwits. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in East Dunes. About 300 Swifts flew south. Offshore were 2200 Sandwich Terns and 60 Little Terns.
In the moth traps was a Four-dotted Footman.

July 17th: On Jackson's Marsh were 12 Black-tailed Godwits, and on Tennyson Sands an adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Ruffs, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Elsewhere were a Redstart, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2000 Sandwich Terns and 3 Common Sandpipers.
The eighth session of CES was done this morning, resulting in 16 new birds ringed and just 1 retrap. The new birds included a Treecreeper, a Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs, all juveniles.

July 16th: Rain from mid morning. Flying south were 8 Whimbrels and several Swifts. On the water bodies were 2 Ruffs and 12 Black-tailed Godwits.

July 15th: Around were a Redstart, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Montagu's Harrier, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Sanderlings and a Greenshank. Tennyson Sands held 3 Ruffs. North went 103 Common Scoters, 30+ Gannets and 5 Auk Spp. A Harbour Porpoise was offshore.
A ringing session on East Dunes yielded 31 captures, mostly new young birds, including 2 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff.
On the Moths and Butterflies Course the moth traps produced 30+ Crescent Stripeds, a Crescent, 6+ Starworts, 2 Rosy Waves and a Green Arches (3rd reserve record).

July 14th: On Tennyson Sands were 2 Common Sandpipers. A Buzzard Spp was seen briefly near Aylmer Avenue. Around was a Yellow Wagtail.

July 13th: 5 Arctic Skuas went south. Good waders were 6 Greenshanks, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and 6 Whimbrels. On Tennyson Sands were a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Sandwich Terns.

July 12th: Waders were represented by 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Whimbrels, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ruffs and 4 Black-tailed Godwits. A Grey Wagtail, 80 Common Scoters, a Sand Martin and a Great Crested Grebe flew south, while 8 more Sand Martins arrived in off the sea. Offshore were 2 Little Terns, 13 Common Scoters, 600 Sandwich Terns and 2 Arctic Skuas. Around were a Grasshopper Warbler, a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, a singing male Yellowhammer and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

July 11th: A female Redstart in East Dunes was early. Heading south were 5 Golden Plovers. A Merlin appeared over New Saltmarsh at dusk.

Early July 2012

July 10th: Occasional rain. On Tennyson Sands were 6 Little Gulls, 2 Ruffs and 10 Sandwich Terns. Elsewhere were 4 Common Sandpipers, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 600 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua.

July 9th: Drizzly morning. Tennyson Sands held 5 Little Gulls and 3 Greenshanks. A Yellow Wagtail and 4 Siskins flew south.

July 8th: Rainy. On the water bodies were 10 Little Gulls, 6 Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull. Around were a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, 400+ Sandwich Terns, 236 Curlews, and 132 adult Shelducks with 18 chicks.

July 7th: Sunny then rainy. Tennyson Sands held 11 Little Gulls, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank. A Hobby and a Siskin were around.
The seventh session of CES was done this morning, resulting in 6 new birds ringed and 6 retraps. This was a low total, but it was sunny and there were few young birds around, no doubt partly due to the recent weather.

July 6th: Rainy, soggy. Birds on Tennyson Sands included a Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Little Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns. A ringtail Harrier Spp was viewed distantly.

July 5th: Humid, then rainy. Heading south were a Whimbrel and 6 Black-tailed Godwits. On Tennyson Sands were 5 Little Gulls, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank and 2 Little Ringed Plovers. Around were a Grey Wagtail, 2 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Tern and 15 Crossbills.

July 4th: Quite rainy. On the water bodies were 12 Little Gulls, 5 Sandwich Terns, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Little Ringed Plovers. A few Swifts flew south.

July 3rd: Occasional rain. Tennyson Sands held 17 Little Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. At Beach Car Park were 21 Crossbills. Around was a Short-eared Owl. There was a light passage of Swifts south.
Birds ringed on East Dunes this morning included a moulting adult female Redwing with a brood patch code 5. This is an unusual record for July this far south.

                                    Moulting 3CY+ female Redwing (George Gregory)

July 2nd: Rainy, windy. The King Eider was not present. If it should reappear, a decision would be made about allowing it to be viewed by birders, subject to the welfare of the nesting shorebirds not being compromised in any way. Hundreds of Swifts, 72 Gannets and 2 Auks Spp went south. Offshore were 300 Sandwich Terns and 2 Harbour Porpoises. On Tennyson Sands were 12 Little Gulls.

July 1st: Quite windy. A Cetti's Warbler was found just south of Beach Car Park. On Tennyson Sands were 32 Little Gulls, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers. Around were 2 Whimbrels, 3 Yellow Wagtails and an adult Mediterranean Gull. A Grasshopper Warbler reeled on Rock Ridge early morning. Over 1000 Swifts, 4 Crossbills and 2 Siskins flew south over land. Sea-watching produced a Great Northern Diver, a Hobby, 9 Auks Spp, 4 Teals, 23 Common Scoters, 112 Black-tailed Godwits, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Redshanks and a Harbour Porpoise south, 18 Gannets and 80 Common Scoters north, and an Arctic Tern offshore. Late in the day a King Eider was found just offshore the Shorebird Sanctuary, where there were late-nesting Little Terns and Ringed Plovers. Entry by birders into this sanctuary, especially in the windy/wet conditions, was not allowable, and a decision was made not to publish the news on this day.