Saturday 10th June 2023

 

It's finally got warmer although the north-easterly wind is still with us. On site migrants include Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Wheatear. Offshore southbound 12 Teal, 3 Curlew & 3 Sandwich Tern with northbound 12 Oyk, 5 Sandwich Tern & Kittiwake. It seems a bit early for Teal to start going south as it's normally right at the end of the month before they get going. Visitations from dispersing juveniles included Greenfinch & Mistle Thrush. What is presumably the same Ring-necked Parakeet that has been audibly damaging our eardrums around Felixstowe over the past month or so spent some time squawking loudly from the Poplars mid-morning.

The first warm night of the year resulted in the moths perking up although it usually takes a couple of warmer nights for things to really get going. Landguard does well for Archer's Dart which likes sand and shingle areas along the coast.

Ringing: 6 Linnet, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch.

Friday 9th June 2023

Incredibly quiet today, even by recent standards. Starting to move into the breeding season proper, so birds are mostly back on territory or busy feeding young, so being a lot more elusive. Two reed warblers singing in the north of the reserve bucked that trend a little, as did a lone jackdaw heading down to the river mouth and back. Offshore a flock of 45 Common Scoter plus an adult male Eider flying north just offshore are worth a mention.

Large Nutmeg is on the IUCN Red List as "near threatened" due to declining numbers.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 1.

Thursday 8th June 2023

A strong chilly north wind took the edge off an otherwise sunny and warm day. The only avian migrant of note was a reed warbler singing from Icky Ridge. First juvenile blue tit was finally out of the nest, but seems to be the only survivor of the brood. 2 more young goldfinch were ringed, along with yet more young linnets. 

Wind didn't totally defeat the insects today, with a few butterflies, including the first small heath for the year and an emperor dragonfly battling the conditions.

We've had our first Treble Brown Spot of the year. Its difficult to know what the foodplant they exist on here is. 

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Goldfinch 2, Linnet 4.

Wednesday 7th June 2023

 

The Crows half way along View Point Road appear to have 3 little ones.

Last knockings for spring migrants with today's offerings including 8 Sanderling, 2 Brent, 2 Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Hobby & Sandwich Tern. More baby birds coming out including a brood of Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes opposite the Dog Compound.

Cream-spot Tiger in all its glory. The underwings vary from Orange to Yellow.

Ringing: 3 Great Tit, 3 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler.

Tuesday 6th June 2023

A day consistent with the previous, north wind, cloudy skies and few migrants, of insect or avian variety. A new spotted flycatcher and yesterdays singing reed warbler were the bird highlights. A new juvenile blackbird was one of the few we've encountered this spring, the local pairs don't seem to have had much luck so far this season. Two putative crossbill flew north, but were not confirmed. 

Considering the lack of migrant insect it was good to get a migrant Delicate this morning. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1. 

Ringing Recoveries

Chiffchaff ringed LBO 18th March 2023 was taken by a cat 135 km away on 23rd April 2023 at Trolliloes, East Sussex. Odd direction for a Chiffchaff to be going in spring.

Wryneck ringed LBO 19th August 2022 was photographed 166 km away on 24th August 2022 at Thursley Common, Surrey. As only a couple of the digits on the ring were photographed it has taken a while to prove that no other individuals could have been involved. This is good evidence of onward passage in autumn.

Blackcap ringed on autumn passage at Stanford Reservoir, Northamptonshire on 25th August 2022 was retrapped on spring passage 175 km away at LBO 29th April 2023.

Lesser Whitethroat ringed Hollesley on 4th September 2022 was retrapped 15 km away at LBO on several dates from 7th May 2023 suggesting that it has settled in to breed here.

Female Sparrowhawk ringed Hollesley on 30th August 2021 was retrapped 15 km away at LBO on 29th April 2023 at a time of the year when it should be settled down to breed not wandering down here.

Monday 5th June 2023

Some migrants trickled through today despite the hampering north wind. 2 willow warblers singing from different areas was not something we expected. A reed warbler also sung quietly in the observatory compound. A blackcap we ringed on 25th May was showing less migratory urges though it still has time if it moves on. A few swifts moved north early in the morning with the overcast skies. 

White Ermine is one of the otherwise common species that Landguard only records on occasions.

Birds Ringed: Black Redstart 1, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 4, Willow Warbler 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

Sunday 4th June 2023

 

Sunny breezy morning. Several of today's migrants are quite probably leftovers from recent days including 2 Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler & Whinchat. 4 Chaffinch are notable for the time of year although a male has been singing on several mornings in the past week. The Black Red still singing from the Fort with a male Pheasant strutting his stuff the first off his kind seen since early April.

We can do well for Small Elephant Hawk-moth some years although all species are in very low numbers so far this year.

Ringing: 2 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet.