Saturday 5th April 2025

 Migrants are very slowly filtering through as we continue with similar weather systems throughout the week. North Easterlies! A noisy Ring-necked Parakeet raised a few eyebrows early in the day. The Linnets seemed to move in to the observatory today which kept the ringing room busy. They are now prospecting new nesting sites with some seen carrying material already. 

A Rock Pipit spotted on the Reserve today. Other migrants today include 1 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Cormorant and 6 Brent Geese North.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Linnet, 1 Long-tailed tit.

Friday 4th April 2025

 While there was little change in the winds birds have to move eventually and today saw a small fall of Chiffchaffs amongst a few other visitors. A Snipe flew around the obs a couple times before disappearing early morning. 2 Goldcrest also present. 

We estimate 3 pairs of Great Tit here now whose favorite game is forever 'mimic the rare bird.'

Out on the Reserve 1 Male Wheatear still out by the point, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 7 Ringed Plover and 1 Swallow North. 

The Herald Moth is a species we record hibernating in the buildings every Winter but we don't usually expect to find them in the Moth Traps.

Ringing: 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest

RINGING RECOVERIES

 Blackbird ringed LBO 22nd November 2023 found freshly dead 89 km away at West Thurrock, Essex 12th March 2025. Presumably a migrant at both locations.

Lesser Redpoll ringed LBO 6th November 2023 was retrapped 11 km away at Newbourne 16th March 2025.

Chiffchaff ringed Charlston, Sussex 12th September 2024 retrapped 151 km away at LBO 20th March 2025. Presumably a migrant at both locations.

Blackbird ringed LBO 13th August 2024 & retrapped here a week later was photographed 8 km away at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex on 20th March 2025. This is quite possibly a dispersing juvenile when at LBO that has emigrated to Essex.

Thursday 3rd April 2025

 

Weather not conducive to grounded migrants with today's paltry selection including 3 Mipit, single Chiffchaff & Wheatear all of which are probably the same individuals that have been here for days. 3 Rook flew south. On the beach a Grey Plover early morning, 2 Turnstone + the Sanderling with a dodgy leg that has been around for a while that maybe destined to remain here as its feeding ability is compromised by its disability.

Moth numbers & variety are currently pathetic although the first Angle Shades of the year is always good to get.

Ringing: nil.

Wednesday 2nd April 2025

 

Crab for breakfast anyone ?

Clear high pressure with a chilly wind not ideal. Migrants were 4 Mipit, 3 Song Thrush, 2 White Wagtail, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Rook & Wheatear. Offshore movements almost non-existent except for a single Fulmar.

Ringing: nil.

Tuesday 1st April 2025

 Everything appeared to come to a bit of a stand still today with chilly North Easterlies. The highlight today was a new pair of Collared Doves which confirmed this theory. Nevertheless there were still 2 White Wagtails out on the reserve and 1 Male Wheatear. Also now up to 16 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 30 Starling, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Brent Goose, 7 Common Gull and 2 Oystercatcher. Very quiet around the observatory for migrants. 

Ringing: Nil

March Ringing Total 2025

 

140 birds of 22 species leaves us round about on par with last years total of 142 birds and 21 species. We did particularly well for numbers of Redwings and Robins this year but were down on Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

Please keep an eye out for our colour ringed Blackbirds. Sightings can be reported to landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk and help us to study survival rates of the local population. 

Monday 31st March 2025

The last day of March and according to the radio it's 'probably the sunniest on record.' Today was indeed very sunny. In the early morning light a Coal tit was spotted but it didn't hang around to find out if it was a continental or not. Later on 1 Swallow South and 1 Sand Martin North. Still Chiffchaffs coming through some singing here and there. Other migrants included 1 Collared Dove, 1 Reed bunting, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 3 Meadow Pipit and 2 Med Gull.

 A new record for LBO was a female Minotaur Beetle in the moth trap. She is in fact a Dung Beetle and lacking the three front horns you would find on a male beetle. There sure is plenty of rabbit and fox feces about. 

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren

Sunday 30th March 2025

A gusty yet bright day today on the Suffolk coast. Although most of the avian fauna hunkered down we did manage to record some migrants around the reserve. 3 Black Redstart, 1 Stonechat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Sanderling and a Stock Dove present. 

On sea 16 Common Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver and 10 Cormorant recorded. 

We were starting to get concerned about the wellbeing of our amphibious friends but thankfully they have arrived at the butts pond - albeit a few weeks later than normal.

It's not uncommon to get a year without this Grey Shoulder-knot moth in the trap.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff