Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Morston

Saturday, 20 September 2025

Morston - 20th September 2025

After a spell of windy weather we took a chance on Morston this morning. We were expecting the gusts to pick up quite quickly, but the presence of a sea fret also seemed to influence the coastal wind flow and nets were more wind affected than we would have hoped from early on.

Meadow Pipit

We caught our first Meadow Pipits of the autumn. Dunnocks were moving through again, as were Stonechats, although whether they were heading south or on an extended feeding circuit is as yet unclear. Stonechats seem to peak in numbers at around 10am, then drop off again. We have darvic marked 10 at Morston this year and none have been seen or recaught so far.

3F Stonechat

The catch consisted of 11 species including departing summer migrants Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a Whitethroat with fat score 3, indicating it is preparing for a relatively lengthy flight, rather than a short hop along the coast.

Juvenile Whitethroat with fat score of 3, weight 18g.

For most of the morning there was a sustained movement westwards of Swallows.

Totals: 33 (2)

Blackcap - 6
Blue Tit - 5
Cetti's Warbler - 0 (1)
Chiffchaff - 4
Dunnock - 4
Linnet - 1
Meadow Pipit - 5
Reed Bunting - 3
Robin - 1 (1)
Stonechat - 3
Whitethroat - 1

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.