Mid November 2017

November 20th. Rain until late morning.
 Around were 900 Pink-footed Goose, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Stonechat, 16 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Blackcap and a Bullfinch. On Jackson's Marsh were a Juvenile Whooper Swan and 4 Pintail; on Tennyson's Sands 8 Water Rail and 3 Black-tailed Godwit; on the Mere 54 Gadwall and a Water Rail; and on Fenland Lagoon a Water Rail.

November 19th. In the West Dunes were 2 Firecrest. Birds around, including those trapped, were 1500 Pink-footed Goose, 552 Brent Goose, 456 Cormorant, 2 Common Buzzard, 5 Snipe, 2 Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, a Kingfisher, a Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 6 Siskin, a Bullfinch, a Snow Bunting and 11 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were a juvenile Whooper Swan and 2 Pintail; and on Tennyson's Sands 51 Shoveler, 9 Water Rail, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Kingfisher. Flying south were a juvenile Iceland Gull (over the beach late morning) and 15 Whooper Swan; north 5 Collared Dove; and north-east a Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 14 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinch, a Bullfinch, 4 Greenfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 8 retraps: a Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Robin, a Blackbird, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Goldcrest.

Bullfinch, ringed 19th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Firecrest in West Dunes, 19th November 2017.
Photo - Nigel Taylor
Firecrest in West Dunes, 19th November 2017.
Photo - Nigel Taylor
Pink-footed Geese, 19th November 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
Sunset, 19th November 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
November 18th. Around, including birds trapped, were 1200 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Goldcrest, a Brambling and a Bullfinch. On Jackson's Marsh was a juvenile Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 13 new birds: a Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 3 Greenfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Wren, a Robin, a Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

November 17th. Frosty start, gradually thawing out.
 The Bittern flew between Jackson's Marsh and Tennyson's Sands. On Jackson's Marsh were the juvenile Whooper Swan and 4 Water Rail; on Tennyson's Sands 14 Water Rail; on the Mere 2 Water Rail; and on Fenland Lagoon a Water Rail. Birds around, including those trapped, were 1500 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Shelduck, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 500 Redshank, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit and 15 Corn Bunting.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 8 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and 3 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Blackbird, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Dunnock.

A new record count of Water Rail today, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan  
Blackbirds on Sykes Farm track, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Bittern in flight over Tennyson's Sands, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Bittern in flight over Tennyson's Sands, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Rising tide from Millennium Ridge, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Rising tide from Millennium Ridge, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
Rising tide from Millennium Ridge, 17th November 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
  November 16th. On Jackson's Marsh were a Bittern and a juvenile Whooper Swan. Around, including birds trapped, were 30 Pink-footed Goose, 6 Brent Goose, a Coal Tit and a Brambling.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 14 new birds: a Goldcrest, 5 Goldfinch, a Brambling, a Blue Tit, 4 Greenfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 13 retraps: a Robin, 2 Blackbird, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch, a Dunnock, 3 Great Tit and a Coal Tit.

Brambling, ringed 16th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
Coal Tit, retapped 16th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
November 15th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 1150 Pink-footed Goose, 16 Water Rail, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Firecrest (West Dunes), 6 Goldcrest, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, 60 Siskin and 11 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, 20 Black-tailed Godwit and 154 Lapwing; and on Jackson's Marsh a juvenile Whooper Swan and 2 Pintail. Heading south were 59 Siskin.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 13 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Lesser Redpoll, a Cetti's Warbler, a Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and 3 Blackbird; and 9 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Blue Tit and a Wren.

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 15th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
November 14th. A Black Brant or hybrid was near the Shorebird Hut. In East Dunes was a Siberian Chiffchaff. Around, including birds trapped, were 1150 Pink-footed Goose, 300 Brent Goose, a Spotted Redshank, a Snipe, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 5 Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit, 7 Siskin, 4 Bullfinch, a Twite and a Lapland Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were a juvenile Whooper Swan and 2 Pintail. Flying south were 40 Siskin; and north an Eider and a Guillemot. In off the sea came a male Hen Harrier.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 21 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Wren, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Bullfinch, a Greenfinch, a Redwing, 7 Blackbird and a Mistle Thrush; and 10 retraps: 3 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch and 2 Great Tit.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 14th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
November 13th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 300 Pink-footed Goose, 450 Canada Goose, 30 Brent Goose, a Woodcock, a Firecrest, 200 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 2 Brambling and 3 Bullfinch. On Jackson's Marsh was a juvenile Whooper Swan. Going south was a Long-tailed Duck; and south-east 8 Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 16 new birds: a Firecrest, a Bullfinch and 14 Blackbird; and 10 retraps: 2 Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit and a Wren.

Firecrest, ringed 13th November 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
November 12th. Around, including birds trapped, were 180 Brent Goose, a Water Rail, 2 Woodcock, 2 Snipe, 2 Fieldfare, a Goldcrest and 3 Snow Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a juvenile Whooper Swan; and on the Mere a Water Rail. Heading south were 7 Whooper Swan, 9 Wigeon, an Eider, a Goldeneye, a Red-necked Grebe, 6 Pomarine Skua, 15 Great Skua, a juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2500 Kittiwake; north 25 Teal, a Pintail, 2 Goosander and 2 Guillemot; and west off the sea 4 more Whooper Swan.
 The final morning ringing session of the year in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest and a Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock and 2 Blackbird.

Muntjac, 12th November 2017.
Photo - Nige Lound
November 11th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 400 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Brent Goose, a Snipe, a Bearded Tit (East Dunes), 6 Redwing and a Goldcrest. On Jackson's Marsh were a juvenile Whooper Swan and 7 Snipe. Flying south were 22 Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 27 new birds: a Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chaffinch, a Song Thrush and 13 Blackbird; 2 retrap Blackbirds; and a control Wren.