Sunday 21st July 2019

Southbound 6 Sand Martin, 4 Med Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Swallow, 3 Oyk, 2 Common Tern, 2 Curlew & Yellow Wag with northbound 11 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern & Med Gull. On site the 2 Tree Sparrow still here, a couple more dispersing Blackcap, Song Thrush plus 2 Mipit on the reserve.

Ground Lackey is a nationally scarce species on local saltmarsh that visits us each year at this time.

Ringing: 4 Great Tit, 3 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Saturday 20th July 2019

Stinking Goosefoot plants are out with some the size of dinner plates.

2 young Tree Sparrow is most unexpected as we only have five previous July records. Southbound 24 Black-headed Gull, 13 Teal, 8 Whimbrel, 4 Common Gull, 4 Oyk, 2 Swift, 2 Tufted Duck, Barwit & Curlew with northbound 13 Cormorant, 3 Sandwich Tern & 2 Common Tern. 10 Shelduck heading straight out to sea are probably off to the Helgoland Bight, Germany, to moult.

Migrant moths have been few and far between this year so hopefully a few more Dark Sword Grass will indicate more productive times ahead.

Ringing: 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow.

Friday 19th July 2019

Not sure why this Emperor Dragonfly was in one of the moth traps this morning as can't remember this species having done it before.

Migrants hard to come by but included southbound 23 Black-headed Gull, 14 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Oyk, Redshank & Whimbrel. On site single Skylark, Yellow Wagtail plus the Redstart ringed here 13 days ago which is now developing male features whereas these were not apparent when it arrived.

Euzophera pinguis is an infrequent visitor but as it lives on Ash this probably explains why.

Ringing: 2 Greenfinch, 1 Linnet.

July Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 20th July 0930 hrs start - more details on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 18th July 2019

Two part grown baby Oyks were in the car park early morning with the concerned parents constantly calling out.

Southbound 435 Black-headed Gull, 52 Swift, 21 Teal, 10 Sand Martin, 10 Whimbrel, 9 Common Gull, 8 Curlew, 3 Common Tern, 2 Greenshank, 2 Lapwing, 2 Med Gull, 2 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit & Gadwal. Another dispersing juvenile Blackcap was on site plus plenty of baby birds.

Marbled Green we do quite well for here as its larvae live on lichens.

Ringing: 5 Linnet, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Magpie, 1 Whitethroat.

Wednesday 17th July 2019

Very few young Songies have turned up this summer so to have 2 dispersing juvs was pleasing. Is a singing Reed Warbler a late spring bird or a returning autumn one at this time of the year ? Definite autumn is indicated by the first juv Sedge Warbler & a dispersing Great-spotted Woodpecker. Southbound 38 Black-headed Gull, 12 Oyk, 11 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, 2 Curlew & Whimbrel. Another Whimbrel & 5 Lapwing were on the reserve early morning.

Don'come much better than a freshly emerged male Oak Eggar.

Ringing: 9 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow, 3 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Great Tit, 1 Whitethroat.

Tuesday 16th July 2019

If its warm the butterflies are out to play with Teasel heads particularly in favour at the moment. Heading south 9 Black-headed Gull, 4 Swallow, 2 Little Egret & 2 Yellow Wagtail. A Black Redstart put in a brief appearance in front of the observatory but no other migrants noted.

The first Olive of the season - it occurs here in small numbers.

Ringing: 1 Greenfinch.