October 30th. Mostly clear, with light south-westerly to south-easterly wind.
A Firecrest was trapped in East Dunes. Around were 31 Brent Geese.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, produced 12 new birds: a Firecrest, a Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 6 Blackbird and a Fieldfare; and 9 retraps: 6 Blackbird, 2 Robin and a Goldcrest.
October 29th. Cloudy, with rain for most of day.
Visible migration was again evident although the rain made it difficult to get any meaningful counts. Blackbirds seemed to much in evidence and the Ring Ouzel was again at the North end of the West Dunes.
October 28th. Mostly cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind.
Highlights of another busy morning of visible migration over the East Dunes were 2 Lapland Bunting and a Twite. On New Saltmarsh were 18 Brent Geese and 2 Merlin were hunting together.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 29 new birds: 9 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Song Thrush and 14 Blackbird; and 2 retrap Blackbird.
Ringing Control: A Goldcrest, ringed Billingford, Norfolk 10 October 2025, controlled at the Observatory 20 October 2025. A movement of 58km in 10 days in a North-westerly direction. Another presumed migrant going further North into the UK after presumably arriving from the continent further south.
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| Fieldfare, 28th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Song Thrush, 28th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Water Pipit on the Mere, 28th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Buzzard, 28th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
A sea-watch provided 16 Whooper Swan, 2 Eider, 3 Common Scoter, 7 Pintail, a Goosander, 2 Razorbill, 2 Red-throated Diver, 37 Gannet and a Pomarine Skua, all South, and a Little Auk north close in along the beach. Also about the beach environs were 3 Arctic Tern, 1 Common Tern and 136 Cormorant (Greenshanks Creek).
A Twite flew south during a light passage of Finches and Larks. The Ring Ouzel was seen again and a Cetti's Warbler was re-trapped in the West Dunes. A Water Pipit was on the Mere. Also around the reserve were a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Brambling 1 Kingfisher (Fenland Lagoon), and 5 Stonechats.
A brief morning ringing session in the West Dunes provided 2 new Blackbird; and 9 retraps: a Wren, a Blackbird, a Cetti's Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Robin and 4 Long-tailed Tit.
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| Grey Plover on Fenland Lagoon, 27th October 0225 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| A wind swept Curlew, 27th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Water Pipit on the Mere, 27th October 2025 Photo - Ste Taylor |
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| Rock Pipit on Fenland Lagoon, 27th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Dunnock, 27th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Reed Buntings, 27th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Stonechat, 27th October 0225 Photo - Mike Watts  Ring Ouzel 27th October 2025. Photo - Kev Wilson  Ring Ouzel 27th October 2025. Photo - Kev Wilson |
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| Brown Rat on the Mere, 27th October 2025 Photo - Ste Taylor |
A morning sea watch started well with a close Pomarine Skua heading south and later, a Long-tailed Skua flew south and returned north 30 mins later. Multiple groups of Whooper Swans totalling 157 flew south during the morning as did 435 Pink-Footed Geese. A Common Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Goosander and 3 Red-breasted Merganser flew south over the sea. On the beach over the high tide were 9 Turnstone, 1000 Grey Plover, 3000 Knot, 250 Sanderling and 300 Dunlin.
Migrant Blackbirds and Redwings had arrived in the East Dunes overnight in good numbers and slowly made their way high inland, completely missing the West Dunes in small groups throughout the morning accompanied by 20+ Fieldfare. A Hawfinch flew south down the West Dunes as did 50+ Redpoll. A male Ring Ouzel was eating berries at the North end of the West Dunes late morning and 4 Crossbills were feeding in the pines in North Car Park.
Tennyson's Sands held 6 Whooper Swans, 200+ Teal and 20 Shoveler. Other birds around included a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Stonechat (around the Visitor Centre), a Swallow (South), 5 Brambling, 8 Siskin, 3 Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler and a Water Pipit.
A busy morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 85 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Song Thrush, 18 Redwing, 41 Blackbird and 2 Fieldfare; and 4 retraps: a Wren, 2 Blackbird and a Long-tailed Tit.
In complete contrast, a ringing session in the West Dunes produced just 10 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Tit and 1 Robin.
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| Whooper Swan, 26th October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Whooper Swans on Tennyson's Sands, 26th October 2025 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Brent Goose, 26th October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Male Shoveler, 26th October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Male Ring Ouzel eating berries in the West Dunes, 26th October 2025 Photo - Sam Wilson |
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| Crossbills hanging around in North Car Park pines, 26th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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| Crossbill in North Car Park, 26th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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| Crossbill in North Car Park, 26th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
The morning tide saw a minimum of 30,000 waders come up to roost, but it was another day with attention focused mainly at sea where 8 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 small Skua species, a Manx Shearwater, a Sandwich Tern all flew south with 5 Arctic Terns blogging up and down the coast and a 1st winter Caspian Gull was on Greenshanks Creek.
Flocks of high flying Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll and Skylark were also moving south with 42 Whooper Swans, a Hen Harrier and a Merlin - another Merlin arrived off the sea and a regular bird remained around the foreshore throughout. A Peregrine hunted the wader roost early and birds arriving off the sea included several Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares.
Other birds around included a Caspian Gull (On the beach), 2 Stonechats (Visitor Centre), a Snow Bunting (On the beach) and a Bullfinch.
Ringing Controls: Two Long-tailed Tits, - "RHH014" and "RHH016" ringed together at Wicken Fen Gallops, Cambridgeshire on the 26 May 2025, were then controlled, still together at the Observatory on the 22 October 2025. A movement of 87km in 149 days, just 3 degrees off a nearly due North direction.
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| 1st Winter Caspian Gull on Greenshanks Creek, 25th October 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Shoveler, 25th October 2025 Photo - Jack Hood |
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| Kestrel over Tennyson's Sands, 25th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Sparrowhawk having had a bath in Sykes Farm, 25th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Long-tailed Tit, 25th October 2025 Photo - Jack Hood |
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| Goldcrest, 25th October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
Sea-watching revealed the following birds heading south - 129 Whooper Swan, 280 Wigeon, 170 Teal, 1 Velvet Scoter, 31 Curlew, 22 Kittiwake, 3 Auk species, 1 Black-throated Diver (at 8.30am) and 4 Gannet. Also heading south were various passerines including 42 Rock Pipit, 64 Chaffinch, 38 Linnet, 22 Redpoll, 224 Goldfinch, 12 Siskin, 14 Reed Bunting, 19 Stock Dove and 770 Woodpigeon.
Also seen or on the beach were 18 Turnstone, 310 Cormorant, 3 Merlin (including one south over the sea), 7 Rook and 330 Pink-footed Geese. The Yellow-browed Warbler was again around the Pole Barn. On Tennyson's Sands were 56 Shoveler, 3 Greenshank, a Jack Snipe that showed well at times and 2 Water Rail briefly.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in the West Dunes resulted in 28 new birds: 16 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, 3 Blackcap, a Dunnock, 2 Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 2 Blackbird, 4 Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit.
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| Jack Snipe from Harvey's Hide, 24th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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| Jack Snipe from Harvey's Hide, 24th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
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| Redwing, 24th October 2025 Photo - Steve Clipperton |
The terrible weather today of Storm Benjamin meant that little birding was done on the Reserve today but the northerly wind brought promise of seabirds - unfortunately, the sea was barely visible until mid morning due to the thick cloud and moderate to heavy rain.
During some moderately clear spells some good seabirds were seen: 4 Arctic Skuas, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 2 small unidentified Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and a Black-throated Diver along with a few small flocks of Kittiwakes. Later, a trio of Terns offshore included two juvenile Arctic Terns and a juvenile Common Tern blogging, and a group of 8 Whooper Swans moved south.
A small number of migrants were also seen arriving off the sea including Redwings, Blackbirds, Bramblings and a Water Rail that pitched down in the dune on arrival. On the New Saltmarsh were 150 Brent Geese. Tennyson's Sands held 400+ Teal, 50 Shoveler, 20 Mallard and 1 Pintail. Other birds around included a Snow Bunting, a Lapland Bunting, a Ring Ouzel, a Crossbill, a Hen Harrier and a Merlin.
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| Water Rail, tired on the beach after flying in off the sea, 23rd October 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Merlin at a distance on the sand dunes having probably just arrived, 23rd October 2025 Photo - Nigel Lound |
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| Teal, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jack Hood |
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| Shovelers, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Teal, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Moorhen, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jack Hood |
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| Moorhens, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Robin, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Goldcrest, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Muntjac Deer, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jeremy Eyeons |
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| Muntjac Deer, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Jack Hood |
Visible migration again was much in evidence with hundreds of Finches, Pipits and Larks heading south prior to 10 o'clock. Another Twite passed south with a single late House Martin and Swallow. Sea-watching was fairly quiet with the highlights being a Sandwich Tern and a party of 9 Goosander. Several groups of Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans passed through heading south.
Four Yellow-browed Warblers were about today with the regular and vocal bird still around the Pole Barn in Sykes Farm. Four Stonechats were in East Dunes and another 4 were around the rear of the Visitor Centre. Later 4 Buzzards circled south. Elsewhere around the reserve was a Green Woodpecker, a Water Rail, a Firecrest (West Dunes). Also noted today was a late Clouded Yellow Butterfly.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes by Chris Routh and Phil May provided 83 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, 22 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, 39 Lesser Redpoll, a Common Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, a Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Blue Tit, a Redwing, a Song Thrush, 7 Blackbird and a Fieldfare; 7 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, a Chiffchaff, a Long-tailed Tit, a Lesser Redpoll and a Robin; and 2 control Long-tailed Tit.
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| Whooper Swans, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Black-tailed Godwit on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Sanderling, 21st October 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Curlew - 21st October 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Rock Pipit, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Buzzard on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Dunnock eating berries, (Notice the buds coming out at the wrong time of year) 22nd October 2025, Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Reed Bunting, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Roe Deer, 22nd October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
A very impressive migration was underway over the East Dunes, featuring large flocks of Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Redpoll and Linnet with a supporting cast of Woodpigeons, Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, Siskins, Bramblings, Starlings and Skylarks. The highlights were a Woodlark, a Twite and 2 Swallows. Recording the intense passage left no opportunity for sea-watching or checking the dune scrub but a Ring Ouzel was heard.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was still around Sykes Farm and yet another Firecrest trapped and ringed at Aylmer Avenue. Elsewhere a Hen Harrier was over the Old Saltmarsh, 3 Whooper Swans went south east over the Wash View Point and 2 Goosanders flew south over the Visitor Centre. 17 Crossbills were around North Car Park briefly before heading south. A Woodcock was flushed in Measures West.
A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Chris Routh and Phil May produced 89 new birds: 8 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 39 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Goldfinch, a Dunnock, 6 Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 32 retraps: 3 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 17 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and a Blackcap.
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| Dawn over the beach, 21st October 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Ring Ouzel, 18th October 2025 Photo - Paul Neale |
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| Redwing, 21st October 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Blue Tit, 21st October 2025 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Crossbill, 21st October 2025 Photo - Mike Watts |
