Saturday 19th August 2023

With a shift in wind direction and strength, some of yesterdays great birds moved on, though others have trickled down, presumably from further up the coast. Another 9 pied flycatchers were in the observatory compound and a lucky few observers also found a wryneck out on the reserve. Wheatear numbers have increased to 6, hopefully not the peak we see this autumn. A male Crossbill was seen by the boardwalk in the afternoon.

Gold Spot has only been recorded here on 6 previous occasions.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Linnet 1, Pied Flycatcher 7, Willow Warbler 2.

Friday 18th August 2023

Eastern promise this morning delivered the second site record of Booted Warbler (top) & the third site record of Blyth's Reed Warbler with a fine supporting cast of 12 Pied Fly, 6 Lesser 'throat, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Redstart, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Whinchat. One of the local Black reds is still about the Forts environs. Offshore southbound 60 Teal, 3 Whimbrel & 3 Wigeon.

Haven't seen a Channel Islands Pug since a run of them in the last week of June so was surprised to get this one this morning although in areas in southern Britain where they have already colonised they can still be out at this time. All a big learning curve for us when we get new kids on the block (so to speak).

Ringing: 7 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Blyth's Reed Warbler, 1 1 Dunnock, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

 

Thursday 17th August 2023

East-north-easterly wind made birding difficult with on site migrants including 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Hobby, Pied Flycatcher & Reed Warbler. Offshore southbound 65 Teal, 8 Cormorant, 6 Shoveler & 3 Gadwal.

We do quite well for Satin Wave that lives mostly in the Brecks & along the Suffolk coast.

Ringing: 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Wednesday 16th August 2023

Warmer calm conditions (for a change) delivered a few migrants including 12 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, Blackcap plus the first Pied Fly & Tree Pipit of the autumn. A dispersing Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a visit & 2 Black Red were in the moat. Southbound 36 Swallow with offshore movements almost non-existent. Plenty of birds on the reserve at the moment including 350 Starling, 200 Linnet, 80 House Sparrow & 25 Goldfinch with counts on some recent days slightly larger than todays so plenty of birds to look through on a visit.

What we thought was Dusky Thorn was first recorded here just four years ago and has been annual in very small numbers since. A blog reader has since pointed out our error in that it is actually our first site record of September Thorn a species with very few Suffolk records this century. Oops !

Ringing: 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Linnet, 3 Robin, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Pied Flycatcher.

Tuesday 15th August 2023

A marsh harrier flew south midmorning adding a splash of variety to our observations. Hirundines still trickling through in small numbers, and willow warbler numbers slowly building up again, along with lesser whitethroats. Finch numbers are slowly increasing also and attracting sparrowhawks daily currently. A grey heron flew south, along with 22 dunlin and 4 grey plover, pretty much the highlights of the passage at sea. 

Landguard does well for Marbled Green, a species that lives on lichens, and has the perfect camouflage for it.

Birds Ringed: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 5, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 8, Woodpigeon 1.

Monday 14th August 2023

A few spots of rain stopped play briefly, as did a stiff southerly wind. Most of the regular suspects were present, with a pleasant increase in robins after the spring and summer dearth. A few migrant warblers moved around, though in smaller numbers than at the weekend. Waders continue to pass in small numbers, grey and golden plover, whimbrel and curlew amongst others. The ringed plover chicks are still surviving, the herring gulls despite the convenient perches seem to prefer easier targets, such as chips. 

Tawny-barred Angle lives in conifers, and as such, is an infrequent visitor here.

Birds Ringed: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1. 

 

Sunday 13th August 2023

Breezy. At least 20 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser 'throat, 2 Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat & Yellow Wag in the migrant department. Offshore southbound 18 Common Tern, 4 Dunlin, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Oyk, Arctic Tern, Common Gull, Grey Plover & a juvenile Gannet with northbound 14 Sandwich Tern & Gannet.

Plumes are not the easiest to photograph. This one is Stenoptilia zophodactylus a species only infrequently recordrd in Suffolk.

Ringing: 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler.