Saturday 29th March 2025

 

Numbers of passage birds seemed to ease up today and who can blame them with the cold Northerly winds over night. That didn't stop the first Swallow from coming through however, and a handsome male Wheatear. (Photo) 

Other species of note today were 2 Black Redstart, 2 White Wagtails, 7 Redwing, 2 Buzzard, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Meadow Pipit, 13 Shelduck, 1 Sanderling and 1 Song Thrush. On sea 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Brent Geese both heading North.

As the day warmed up the some of the sandy banks in the observatory seemed to suddenly erupt with buzzing mining bees. Species noted were Grey-patched Mining Bee, Yellow-legged Mining Bee, Trimmers Mining Bee (photo), Hairy-footed Mining Bee and Gwynne's Mining Bee.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Redwing

Friday 28th March 2025

 

A breezy warm morning enticed a steady trickle of migrants throughout the day. 2 Chaffinch and a Brambling calling first thing was a good start. More Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs found the nets today thankfully, because we probably wouldn't of recorded them otherwise! 1 Firecrest still around the obs and a surprise unringed female Cetti's warbler. 

Out on the reserve, 1 Black Redstart, 2 White Wagtails, 3 Wheatear, 3 Redwing, 6 Shelduck, 4 Turnstone, 10 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover and 6 Meadow pipit. However the stars of the show are a pair of Long-tailed Tits who have just finished building their nest. Only the third breeding record for Landguard Bird Observatory.

On sea 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 8 Brent Geese, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Common Gull, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 9 Common Scoter.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet

Thursday 27th March 2025

 

Today's migrants included 45 Starling, 15 Redwing, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 White Wag, 3 Mipit, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Black Red, 2 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear, Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Skylark & Woodcock. Southbound 26 Black-headed Gull, 9 Jackdaw, 6 Common Gull & 5 Barnacle Geese. 2 Egyptian Geese flew north early morning. On the beach 4 Turnstone & Sanderling.

Ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Linnet, 1 Redwing.

Wednesday 26th March 2025

 

7 White Wagtail on the reserve equals are previous day record count 38 years ago on 25th March 1987. Also today 5 Mipit, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Firecrest, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Redwing, first Blackcap of the year, Black Red, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting & Wheatear. On the beach 4 Turnstone, 3 Sanderling plus a Fulmar heading north.

A few more moths are finally starting to appear including March Moth.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet.

Tuesday 25th March 2025

 

60+ Redwing at dawn with today's other migrants 7 Mipit, 3 White Wagtail, 2 Black Red, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, Brambling, Fieldfare, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wheatear, Woodcock & a couple of new Blackies. Collared Dove are becoming more infrequent in recent years despite being just up the road.

Small Quaker is common in Suffolk but barely makes it onto the LBO year list.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, 1 Magpie, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin.

Monday 24th March 2025

A Northerly shift in the wind left us feeling just a few degrees chillier today however that didn't stop a few Chiffchaffs and Robins from dropping in. Over night the Redwings seemed to be buzzing with activity with many heard calling but soon moved off as the day brightened up. 

A Knot was photographed today hanging out with 25 Sanderlings. Still 3 Black Redstarts hopping around the bramble bushes occasionally joined by 3 White Wagtails and 1 Woodlark present. Up to 9 returning Shelduck now. 1 Red Kite drifted South (surprisingly only the 19th record for the observatory). 

Other migrants featured 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch, 6 Meadow Pipits, 7 Turnstone, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Sparrowhawk.

In the trap first Diurnia fagella of the season which in some years can fairly common.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 1 Redwing

 

Sunday 23rd March 2025

Plenty of Spring migrants to keep us on our toes today such as this stunning adult male Black Redstart. By the end of the day we had counted 4. Still around 15 Redwing heard calling early morning but they move off pretty quickly. Another 1st year Grey Wagtail bodes well as a good year for them. A little fall of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs around the observatory and 1 new Firecrest appeared. These closely followed by 1 Sparrowhawk in the area. Up high in the docks the Peregrine still casting a watchful eye. 

On the reserve plenty of migrants aside from the Black Redstarts. 2 Egyptian Geese and 1 Barnacle Goose made an appearance very early on. 3 White Wagtail picked out amongst several Pied Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 3 Song Thrush and a Sanderling. 

Ringing:  2 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 3 Great tit, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.