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Saturday 11th June 2016


Winds from the south east and cloud all morning produced a few new arrivals and birds on the move to the observatory.

These were 19 Canada Geese, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Swallow, 3 Barnacle Geese, 2 Cormorant, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Curlew, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Teal, 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Gull and 1 Swift.

Ringing: 12 birds ringed today including 4 Linnet, 3 Dunnock, 1 Starling, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and 1 Common Whitethroat.

Friday 10th June 2016



Very few migrants about although yesterdays Garden Warbler is still with us. 7 Swallow went south, 2 Avocet flew inland & an immature Eider flew north just offshore. A male Sparrowhawk paid a brief visit to the northern end - although they nest not far away they are only rarely recorded here in the summer months. Another brood of Chaffinch appeared from the two pairs we have on site. The two new Blue Tit ringed this morning are dispersing juveniles from elsewhere.

9 birds ringed: 3 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit.

Thursday 9th June 2016


The day started with thick and heavy cloud, slowly turning into a beautiful hot and sunny afternoon. Despite these conditions, very little of real note today..

Birds on the move today include 7 Goldfinch, 3 Canada Geese, 3 Cormorant, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Swallow, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Fulmar, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Swift and our local singing Chiffchaff.

Here, a baby Carrion Crow begging from it's parents.


A few more insects out and about including Cinnabar Moth.

Ringing: 8 birds ringed this morning including 7 Linnet and 1 Garden Warbler.

Wednesday 8th June 2016

This Ethmia terminella was one of 5 in the traps over night, it is a very rare moth in the UK only found in the south-east corner of England, on vegetated shingle where its food plant Vipers Bugloss occurs. It is however not uncommon here, possibly its best known site.  

At last weather we can be proud of, and with it hopefully more birds. This mornings fare although small in number, was good for a few migrants including, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. Also more young birds are beginning to fledge, so hopefully the masses of Diamond-backs are being put to good use. Incidently there were no fewer than 1682 of them in the moth traps last night.

Birds ringed 11:  3 Linnet, 2 Dunnock and 1 each of Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail and Chaffinch.

Tuesday 7th June 2016



A glorious sunny and hot day today at the observatory with a few species new-in and on the move.

A Serin, presumed female (above), turned up early morning and stayed for several hours. 

Other migrants include 4 Swallow, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Swift, 1 Redpoll, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Nightingale. 

Turtle Dove and Chiffchaff are still here from the last few days.


A recent colonist first noted in the UK in 1993 and here in 2013, Cochylis molliculana looks here to stay.

Ringing: 3 birds ringed today in the form of 2 Linnet and 1 Dunnock.

Monday 6th June 2016


Thick and heavy cloud greeted us this morning, but this soon cleared into being a bright and sunny day. A few new arrivals were noted..

These include 2 Blackcap which are rather interesting to us since one of the birds caught and ringed was a female with a brood patch. This could suggest that she has failed at breeding this year and is moving South earlier than normal. A question that will never accurately be answered. For the second day running a new Turtle Dove turned up in the afternoon.

Other arrivals include 23 Shelduck, 6 Swallow, 5 Oystercatcher, 4 Common Tern, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Fulmar.


So with the warmer conditions a few more insects such as this Blue-tailed Damselfly are starting to appear.

Ringing: 8 birds ringed including 3 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit , 1 Goldfinch & 1 Turtle Dove.

Sunday 5th June 2016


The weather seems finally to be relenting, and a very pleasant day was had today. Unfortunately this also means that very little is about to report on, but here goes any way. Grey Heron and 9 Swallow south, Jackdaw and Stock Dove north, Hobby through, (the first for some time). Also on site, the 2 long staying Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat, that have been keeping a low profile till the weather improved. Late afternoon a Turtle Dove turned up.


An array of moths overnight in the improved weather was topped by this Varied Coronet, a species rarely seen at Landguard. Also we are still getting very big numbers of Diamond backed moths that have recently migrated from the Continent.

Ringing: 1 Robin, 1 Turtle Dove