September 28th (New Hythe)

Light overcast to start,clear later,light SW (0630-0930) 1X40ft West Scrub.

The sun reflecting on the net stopped play from about 0845

BIRDS RINGED

Long-tailed Tit  1

Blue Tit  1

Chiffchaff  2

Blackcap  20

TOTAL  24

A Kingfisher flew up from the stream which runs along the southern end of the East Scrub and a little while later Rooks and Jackdaws past over SW from their roost site.Which I believe is just across the river in the Eccles island area.There was also noticeably more Robins and Chaffinches about.

I had news today of the Blackcap I controlled at New Hythe (West Scrub on the 22nd.

S181910  (3) M Blackcap,ringed Icklesham,Sussex  17 09 2016, 0600 w.t 16.5g

controlled New Hythe (West Scrub) 22 09 2016,0700  w.t 19.5g. 49Km NNW

A number of birds move north in the autumn,before eventually turning south for the winter.

September 26th (Sandwich Bay and Oare Marshes)

(O600-1230)

BIRDS RINGED   68 Blackcaps,55 Chiffchaffs,1 Firecrest,1Tree Pipit,1 Willow Warbler and 2 Goldcrests.

On the way back to Snodland,I stopped off at Oare Marshes (Little Stints and Golden Plover)

September 22nd (New Hythe)

Chiffchaff

Clear overnight,light overcast first thing (0630-1000) 1X40ft.West Scrub

BIRDS RINGED

Robin  1

Long-tailed Tit  1

Reed Warbler  2

Great Tit  1

Chiffchaff  15

Blackcap  21 + 1 control

TOTAL  41 + 1 control

September 20th (Sandwich Bay)

Mistle Thrush (3) a young bird.Not many of these are ringed at the Bay during the year.

Heavy rain not long after dawn,dry later.(0600-1330).

If rain had not stopped play for an hour or more.We probably would have caught a lot more birds,as it was we ringed 122.The bulk being made up of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.Singles of Goldcrest,Mistle Thrush and Pied Flycatcher,along with two Lesser Whitethroats were also ringed.

September 18th (New Hythe)

Overcast,light NW (0700-1000) 1X40ft West Scrub.

BIRDS RINGED

Blackcap  13

Chiffchaff  2

Reed Warbler  2

TOTAL  17

Walking around the east Scrub this morning,it at last felt like autumn proper.There was a noticeable increase in Blackbirds,Song thrushes and Chaffinches and overhead there was a swirling flock of at least 150 House Martins.I was hoping to find a Redwing or two,but no luck there.

September 16th (Sandwich Bay)

Low cloud and rain just to the north.Brought a big movement of hirundines over the Bay just in front of the rain.One hundred and forty nine House Martins and one Swallow were ringed.Thirty one Blackcaps,nine Chiffchaffs,2 Willow Warblers and one Spotted Flycatcher were also ringed.

The change in the weather also saw large numbers of Meadow Pipits in the area,with hundreds passing over north and a nice Red-backed Shrike was also found.

September 14th (New Hythe)

Reed Warbler (3) young bird.

Clear and warm (2X40ft) West Scrub (0600-O930).

BIRDS RINGED

Chiffchaff  9

Blackcap  15

Long-Tailed Tit  2

Great Tit  2

Reed Warbler  2

TOTAL  30

On my return home,I found a Painted lady in the garden.

September 11th (Sandwich Bay)

Grasshopper Warbler

(0530-1200).

Although it was a clear night and a cloudless morning.There was a moderate number of birds in the bushes,55 were ringed.Blackcaps led the way with 22.There was a nice surprise mid day.When a Grasshopper Warbler turned up in a net in the White House bushes.Another young  male Common Redstart was caught and twelve new Long-tailed Tits were also ringed.

Low numbers of hirundines have been caught so far this autumn.The clear weather helps them pass over without stopping.

September 7th (New Hythe)

Willow Warbler

Humid,calm,overcast.(0600-0945) 1X40ft West Scrub.

BIRDS RINGED

Reed Warbler  2

Robin  1

Chiffchaff  7

Willow Warbler  1

Long tailed Tit  1

Blackcap  14

TOTAL  26

All were young of the year.Some of the Blackcaps have only just started their post juvenile moult.Whilst others have finished and are now storing fat reserves.

Long tailed Tit

September 6th (Sandwich and Oare Marshes)

Pied Flycatcher (3) young bird.

Humid and calm 0600-1200.

I spent the morning at Sandwich Bay ringing.Thirty five birds were ringed.The best of the crop being a Redstart and Pied Flycatcher.There was two two controls,a Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff .It the main it remains slow for this time of the year.

(3) young male Common Redstart.

Black-tailed Godwits,Ruff,Green and Common Sandpipers (Restharrow Scrape)

Little Stints (Oare Marshes)