Late April 2016

April 30th. Around were a Spoonbill, 5 Short-eared Owl, a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Wheatear, a Reed Warbler, 2 Swallow and 3 Whimbrel. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spotted Redshank. Going south were 5 Yellow Wagtail.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, 4 Linnet and a Blackbird; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock and 2 Linnet.

Ring Ouzel, 30th April 2016.
Photo - James Siddle
 
Whitethroat, 30th April 2016.
Photo - Paul Johnson
Cuckoo, 30th April 2016.
Photo - Paul Johnson
April 29th. Fairly strong south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included 67 Brent Goose, 14 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Red-legged Partridge, a Peregrine, 600 Oystercatcher, 15 Avocet, a Ruff, 2000 Dunlin, 8 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 15 Little Tern, 4 Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Sedge Warbler and 2 Corn Bunting. Flying south were 7 Yellow Wagtail and 4 Swallow. Moving offshore were 125 Sandwich Tern and a Kittiwake.
Robin fledglings at the feeding station, 29th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
Wheatear, 29th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
April 28th. Frozen, foggy start, then sunny, then rainy.
 Around the reserve were 45 Brent Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 650 Oystercatcher, 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Wheatear and 6 Swallow. Offshore were 7 Little Tern.
 A visit to the outer ridges at the north end of the Reserve was productive this morning with three Cuckoo, presumed recent arrivals in the outer dune scrub, probably feeding on the numerous Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars. Also here were two reeling Grasshopper Warbler about 500m apart, either new arrivals or birds on territory. It was difficult to know when so few visits are made to this remote location. Linnet were the only migrant moving south in any numbers – about 70, with 3 Yellow Wagtail also south. A Marsh harrier and  a Buzzard were circling high and off to the north together.

Reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 28th April 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson
April 27th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 500 Oystercatcher, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 25 Whitethroat, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, 10 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff and a Cuckoo.
 The first Green Hairstreak of the year was seen.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin and 2 Linnet; and a retrap Linnet.
 An unexpected snow shower fell during the day with some snow still present next day.
Roe Deer stag at Syke's Farm, 27th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
Sedge Warbler in the West Dunes, 27th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
Ringed Plover, 27th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
Snow shower, 27th April 2016
Photo - Kevin Wilson
April 26th. Strong north-westerly wind, with occasional showers, some wintry.
 Around were 2 Egyptian Goose, 30 Brent Goose, 3 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, a Fieldfare, a Wheatear, 2 Cuckoo, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine (pair), a Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Corn Bunting. Heading north offshore were 6 Fulmar and 4 Sandwich Tern. A female Brambling was at the feeding station. Flying south were 6 Swallow and 2 Rook.
Rain storm over Tennyon's Sands at dusk
Photo - Richard Doan 
Common Cornsalad in the East Dunes, 26th April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
April 25th. Birds around included a Ring Ouzel, 4 Fieldfare, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Egyptian Goose, 11 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 5 Little Tern, 3 Rook, a Cuckoo, 15 House Martin, 12 singing Sedge Warbler, 12 Corn Bunting and a Yellow Wagtail. Flying south over land were a Tree Sparrow, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a House Martin and 2 Sand Martin. Flying north at sea were 3 Fulmar, 5 Commic Tern and 12 Sandwich Tern, and south 3 Fulmar and 4 Sandwich Tern.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit and 2 Lesser Whitethroat.

April 24th. Around were 4 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Ring Ouzel, 18 Snipe, 20 Sandwich Tern, 3 Fulmar, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Yellow Wagtail, 6 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Rook, a Siskin, a Cuckoo, 8 Corn Bunting, a Short-eared Owl, and 2 House Martin. Over the Mere were 8 more House Martin. Heading south-west was a Buzzard.
 A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler.

April 23rd. Birds around included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel, 15 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Bullfinch.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, produced 13 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Linnet, a Blackcap, a Robin and a Song Thrush; and 3 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and a Wren.

April 22nd. Around were a Whimbrel and a Yellow Wagtail. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard singing on Mill Pond Road early morning. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Egyptian Goose. The 15 Pink-footed Goose remain on Croftmarsh.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Alex Tozer and Pippa Disney, resulted in 10 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Linnet, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Lesser Redpoll, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Woodpigeon; and 4 retraps: 2 Wren, a Dunnock and a Blue Tit.
Shoulder Stripe, 22nd April 2016
Photo - Kevin Wilson
Cowslips, 22nd April 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
April 21st. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, a Swift (first of the year), 3 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Brambling, a Whimbrel, 8 Avocet, a Whitethroat, 2 Siskin, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear and 50 Brent Goose.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Blackcap and a Goldfinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Wren and a Blue Tit.
Peacock, 21st April 2016
Photo - Bryony Baxter

Mid April 2016

April 20th. Around were 2 Brambling, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Whimbrel and 3 Yellow Wagtail. In the Plantation were 5 Blackcap. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spotted Redshank and 15 Avocet.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: a Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit and a Song Thrush; and 7 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a WillowWarbler, a Robin and a Chaffinch.

April 19th. Birds around included 2 Short-eared Owl, 3 Whimbrel, a Wheatear, a Cuckoo, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Firecrest (singing by the feeders), 4 Siskin and 2 Brambling.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: 2 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch and a Great Tit; and 5 retraps: a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 2 Linnet.

April 18th. Around were 2 Little Tern (first of year), 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Siskin, a Yellow Wagtail, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Great Crested Grebe. Flying south were 2 Common Redpoll.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 14 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Reed Bunting, a Blue Tit and 2 Dunnock.

April 17th. Birds around included a Brambling, 6 Fieldfare, a House Martin, 16 Willow Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, a Yellow Wagtail and a Cuckoo. Flying north were 2 Fieldfare, south a Yellow Wagtail and northeast 35 Curlew.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Wren, 3 Dunnock and a Goldfinch.

April 16th. On Croftmarsh were 15 Pink-footed Goose, 25 Teal and a Spotted Redshank. Around were 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, a Short-eared Owl, a Hen Harrier and 3 Brambling.

April 15th. The first Cuckoo of the year was recorded. An adult Little Gull was seen briefly over the Mere and it then flew out to sea.

April 14th. Around were a Short-eared Owl, 2 Marsh Harrier (including an adult male), 2 Ruff, a Woodlark, a Firecrest, 9 Goldcrest, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 19 Chiffchaff, 9 Willow Warbler, 2 Brambling, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Sedge Warbler and a House Sparrow. A Spotted Redshank was on Tennyson's Sands and a pair of Garganey were on Jackson's Marsh.

Garganey, 14th April 2016.
Photo - Nige Lound
April 13th. An Osprey and a Red Kite flew through the reserve in the afternoon, as did several Common Buzzard throughout the day. At the feeding station were 4 Brambling. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Corn Bunting, a Song Thrush, 15 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat (first of the year), a Peregrine, 3 Blackcap, a White Wagtail, 8 Fieldfare, 6 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Redshank and 10 Chiffchaff. Flying south were 15 Rook, 4 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin and 6 Yellow Wagtail. A Pied Flycatcher was discovered near the Betty Alan Hide in the evening.

Pied Flycatcher, 13the April 2016.
Photo - Richard Doan
April 12th. A walk through the East Dunes early morning produced a Ring Ouzel, 2 Song Thrush and 10 Redwing. Around were 9 Brambling (feeding station), a Short-eared Owl, a Firecrest (Sykes Farm track), a Spotted Redshank, 2 Whimbrel (first of the year), a Grey Partridge, 5 Chiffchaff, 26 Corn Bunting, a Green Sandpiper and a Sandwich Tern. A dark Common Buzzard flew high south-west. Other birds on the move included a House Martin, 10 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail. A male Black Redstart was in the Visitor Centre Car Park in the evening.
 An early morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling yielded 16 new birds: 5 Goldfinch, 3 Brambling, 6 Great Tit, 5 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch (including a bird with a well developed brood patch); and 22 retraps: 6 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch and a Chaffinch.

April 11th. In the Plantation were 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling and a Firecrest. Singles of Short-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Whitethroat (first of the year) and Common Buzzard were around. The 15 Pink-footed Goose were still on Croftmarsh. Offshore were 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1+ Fulmar, 2 Common Scoter and an ider. A Manx Shearwater flew north offshore.

Brambling, 11th April 2016.
Red-breasted Merganser, 11th April 2016.

Early April 2016

April 10th. On The Wash were 37 Brent Goose, 6 Avocet, 1795 Oystercatcher, 3200 Grey Plover, 51 Ringed Plover, 46 Curlew, 300 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Turnstone, 6700 Knot and 493 Redshank. A Firecrest was seen along the Syke's Farm track. Around were 2 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 3 Brambling and a Siskin. 2 Ring Ouzel reported in the East Dunes. 

April 9th. On the reserve were 15 Pink-footed Goose, 35 Brent Goose, a Merlin, 150 Ringed Plover, 1500 Dunlin, 400 Redshank, 3500 Knot, a Sand Martin, 3 Swallow and 4 Brambling. A Red Kite flew south through the reserve at 1350hrs.  

April 8th. At the feeding station were 4 Brambling and 10 Siskin. A Hooded Crow was seen in the West Dunes on the Lonesome Pine. The 15 Pink-footed Goose remained on Croft Marsh. A single Chiffchaff and Short-eared Owl were also of note.
Chiffchaff, 8th April 2016
Photo - Paul Johnson
Short-eared Owl, 8th April 2016
Photo - Paul Johnson
April 7th. A Red Kite was seen early in the morning. Around were 16 Avocet, a Pintail, 10 Siskin and a Marsh Harrier. On Croft Marsh were 15 Pink-footed Goose. The first Yellow Wagtail of the year flew south.
 The Wood Forget-me-nots are now flowering in the Plantation.
 A Grey Seal pup was found on the beach in the afternoon, the pup had sustained an eye injury and was under weight. It was later recovered by Natureland and taken away for treatment.
Grey Seal pup on the beach, 7th April 2016
Photo - Bryony Baxter
Wood Forget-me-not, 7th April 2016
Photo - Bryony Baxter
April 6th. At the bird feeding station were 7 Brambling (5 cracking males) and 10 Siskin. On The Wash at high tide were 400 Redshank, 38 Brent Goose, 5000 Knot, 1800 Oystercatcher and 86 Ringed Plover. The 15 Pink-footed Goose remained on Croft Marsh. A Woodcock was observed on the verge near Mill Hill.  
Woodcock on the verge by Mill Hill, 6th April 2016
Photo - Bryony Baxter
Blackcap, 6th April 2016
Photo - Kev Wilson
April 5th. A probable Serin flew over the East Dunes early morning. Around were singles of Ring Ouzel and Redstart. Other birds of note were 500 Redshank, 2000 Dunlin, 1800 Oystercatcher, 2 Goosander, 2 Grey Partridge, 5 Firecrest, 2 Short-eared Owl, 4 Wheatear, 36 Corn Bunting and 4 Goldcrest. A Woodlark, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 10 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and a House Martin flew south. A Red Kite was seen just north of the reserve at Seacroft.
 A ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling and Jenni Godber resulted in 12 new bird: 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 3 Greenfinch; and 11 retraps: 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch and 4 Great Tit.
Male Wheatear, 5th April 2016
Photo - Nige Lound
April 4th. Frequent heavy showers throughout the day.
 On the reserve were 5 Corn Bunting, a male Hen Harrier, 10 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Brambling and 2 Siskin. A Firecrest was again seen by the Yacht Club. A small arrival of thrushes was evident mid-morning with 84 Redwing and 12 Fieldfare new-in at the Plantation. Flying south were 3 Swallow, a Brambling, 8 Linnet and 18 Chaffinch. A single Black-tailed Godwit was on Jackson's Marsh. The 15 Pink-footed Goose remained on Croftmarsh.

April 3rd. An excellent day with plenty to see.
 Around were 2 Wheatear, a Black Redstart, a Willow Warbler, a Red Kite, 4 Brambling, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 2 Blackcap and 7 Avocet. A Woodlark was singing near RAF Ridge. Singles of Grey Wagtail and Swallow south, meanwhile a Hawfinch flew north-east calling.  
Bombus lapidarius (Red-tailed Bumblebee), 3rd April 2016
Photo - Rob Watson
Red Kite high over Croftmarsh, 3rd April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
 
1 of 4 Brambling at the feeding station, 3rd April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
April 2nd. Around were 15 Corn Bunting, a Black Redstart, a Red Kite, 10 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Firecrest (1 East Dunes and 1 presumed new bird singing near the Yacht Club) 3 Swallow and a Pintail. An early Tree Pipit flew south over Mill Hill. In off the sea came 2 Common Buzzard. A male Brambling was at the Sykes Farm feeders this morning.
Brambling at Sykes Farm feeding station, 2nd April 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
April 1st. A slight frost overnight.
 Around were 30 Corn Bunting, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff and 238 Redshank. The first Sandwich Tern of the year noted offshore this morning.