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Saturday 28th May 2011

The day consisted of south-westerly winds with complete cloud cover. Migrants passing through were 3 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 1 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 27 Swift, 2 Swallow and 5 House Martin. 1 Spotted Flycatcher was present early morning within the bird observatory compound. There were 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Common Whitethroat found out on the reserve. 10 birds ringed today; 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Swallow and 1 Greenfinch.

Friday 27th May 2011

The weather conditions consisted of a west north-westerly wind; again it was fairly breezy but become less windy throughout the morning. There was very little migration, 11 Swallow went south, as did 12 Swift and 4 Gannet. 49 Little Tern were seen fishing offshore along with 66 Common Tern. 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen flying over the Bird Observatory calling. 8 birds ringed today, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Dunnock, 3 Linnet and 1 Woodpigeon.  Probably the most interesting sighting of the day was a Muntjac Deer seen late evening walking around above the kitchen within the Bird Observatory compound!

Thursday 26th May 2011

The day consisted of a fairly breezy to occasionally strong south-westerly wind. Migrants moving through were 5 Tufted Duck, 6 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 41 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow and 11 House Martin. A Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff were found early morning. 11 birds ringed; 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Swallow, 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird and 1 Collared Dove. In the moth traps of note were Ethmia bipunctella. A RDB 1 species that lives on Vipers Bulgloss that we last recorded here in 2004. Also of note Spatacistis bifasciana only seen here previously in 2003. Many species of moth have emerged earlier than expected this year. Lunar Yellow Underwing is a nationally scarce species that we only see occasionally that is out early as were a couple of Anarestia lotella.

Wednesday 25th May 2011

Thankfully the wind subsided this am for the first time in days - even went SSE as the morning went on. Migrants today included 3 Willow & a Reed Warbler plus a fine Whinchat on the reserve. A new female Wren was presumably a failed breeder from elsewhere that has lost its nesting site and been forced to find a new home. Still a trickle of Swallows going south with 2 Turnstone & a Whimbrel going north. Apart from this its the usual birds in the usual places. In the moth traps a Pale Tussock was the first of its kind here since 2004. A day flying micro moth around the Privet in fairly large numbers is Adelia croesella - new to the Landguard list. As a day flyer that has never turned up in the moth traps is this a species that we have previously overlooked or has it recently colonised ?

Tuesday 24th May 2011

The day consisted of a fairly breezy west south-westerly wind and very little cloud cover. Migrants on the move were 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Common Tern, 14 Swallow and 6 House Martin. The highlight of the day was 2 Hobby heading south. Up to 8 Mediterranean Gulls were counted, 6 adults and 2 2nd-summer birds. Offshore there were Little Terns observed fishing, 25 in total were seen. 4 birds ringed today; 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird and 1 Goldfinch. Butterflies found included Common Blue and 2 Green Hairstreak. A Hornet was seen on the prowl.

Monday 23rd May 2011

Another rather windy day with the wind direction staying in the south-west, the day once again became more windy as it continued. Not much of interest seen with the highlight being 8 Crossbill heading south early morning. Also moving through were 5 Swllow, 1 Curlew and 1 Turnstone. 53 Little Tern and 14 Common Tern were obsered fishing close offshore. A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was seen. 4 Common Whitethroat and 3 Lesser Whitethroat were found within the recording area. Only 3 birds were ringed today; 2 Linnet and 1 Greenfinch.

Sunday 22nd May 2011

A rather breezy day becoming even more windy into the late afternoon. There were a couple of spots of rain at approx 07:30hrs. Migrants on the move today were 3 Tufted Duck, 8 Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 13 Swift, 27 Swallow and 12 House Martin. 4 Mediterranean Gulls were observed out on the resereve, 2 were adults, 1 was a 1st summer bird and the other a 2nd summer. An impressive number of Little Terns were seen feeding offshore, 90 were counted in total, also offshore fishing were 33 Common Tern. Warblers found were 5 Common Whitethroat and 3 Lesser Whitethroat. 11 Birds were ringed today; 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin and 3 Blackbird. Butterflies found included Green Hairstreak. A Grey Squirrel was seen within the Bird Observatory compound.