Wednesday 9th April 2025

 

Black Red on the skip at the cottage.

Overcast for a change but still a nagging cold northerly airflow with the high pressure. Battling through on migration, despite the weather conditions were 12 Chiffchaff, 7 Mipit, 3 Black Red, 2 Blackcap, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush (continental type) plus the first Sedge Warbler of the spring (our 4th earliest on record). Single Sanderling on the beach. Offshore movements are currently pathetic with this mornings offerings being southbound 7 Oyk, 2 Meds with northbound 3 Brent & a Red-throated Diver. A pair of secretive Song Thrush's at the north end of the reserve are doing a sneaky on us & are now collecting food.

The number & variety of moths so far this month is lamentable. Only two moths this morning did include the first Muslin moth of the year, a male with females only seen very occasionally.

Ringing: 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Song Thrush.

Tuesday 8th April 2025

Fine weather and a few birds to accompany it. More Chiffchaffs have been coming through keeping the ringing room busy. Species of note around the reserve include 1 Black Redstart, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Kestrel, 1 Redwing, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 1 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail and 1 Woodlark. 

On the sea 27 Brents North, 2 Med Gulls, 2 Oystercatcher and 1 Red-breasted Merganser up the estuary

A wandering Rook today showing off a very flashy white primary feather on his right wing.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Woodpigeon

 

Monday 7th April 2025

A calmer and all round pleasant day for birding in Suffolk today. Plenty of Chiffchaffs and some Blackcaps showing face; one Blackcap with a short burst of song! 1 Black Redstart has reappeared around the practice guns and 1 male Wheatear still in the fenced area by the point. A new Song Thrush showing 'greyer' tones suggesting continental origin. Other migrants include 2 Sanderling, 2 Med Gull North, 2 White Wagtail and another new Cetti's warbler!

 5 Turnstone today in Winter plumage can usually be spotted on the beach.

Today also saw the first Shuttle-shaped Dart of the year. This is about when we expect to start seeing them and will potentially become our most numerous moth.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, 1 Song Thrush 

Sunday 6th April 2025

A gusty yet sunny day at Landguard. While migration is feeling slightly underwhelming we are still seeing familiar faces pass through. Among those 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fulmar North, 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Shoveler, 1 Siskin and 4 Turnstone. 

We have been recording up to 8 pairs of Shelduck back on the reserve but we should expect to start seeing less as females find suitable nesting holes to incubate their eggs. 

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff