Saturday 19th April 2025

 

A gusty and overcast morning as South Easterlies continue to turn up migrants in dribs and drabs. 2 Whimbrel dropped in early doors for an hour or so. Also 2 Black Redstarts still and up to 7 Wheatears around. There have been a couple new Song Thrush really belting it recently. Also 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Peregrine, 3 Med Gull, 2 Swallow and 1 Whitethroat.

At sea the first Tern of the year; a Common! Also 2 Brent Geese, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Dunlin, 1 Fulmar and 3 Gannet. 

In the trap this Brindled Pug - one of the earliest pugs on the wing. Failed to get one at all last year so here you go.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff

Friday 18th April 2025

 A little on the windier side today than originally expected. However, an early record of Painted Lady was a welcome find in the moat on the Green Alkanet. This migratory butterfly can cover up to 100 miles a day reaching speeds of 30mph. Unfortunately we can't ring butterflies but it's nice to wonder where this reasonably worn individual might of traveled from.

In the avian department we were today visited by 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 House Martin, 4 Jackdaw, 3 Med Gull, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Skylark, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Swallow, 5 Wheatear and 2 Whitethroat. 

Swallow Prominent Moth lives on the poplars in small numbers here.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat

Thursday 17th April 2025

 

Very pleasant morning with migrants including 15 Blackcap, 11 Wheatear, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush & the first Garden Warbler of the spring. Yet another new Cetti's turned up. Overhead southbound 20 Wood Pigeon & 2 Little Egret. Offshore some Med Gulls coming & going but, otherwise, dire.

The first Dark Sword-grass of the year, which is an immigrant species that is suspected of having permanent colonisation in mind.

Ringing: 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wren.

Wednesday 16th April 2025

 

Windy morning. Migrants include 5 Wheatear, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Song Thrush & a Marsh Harrier flying south.

Ringing: 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap.

Tuesday 15th April 2025

 

 

Finally a few April showers to break the dry spell and even a couple cracks of thunder for added effect. Today marked the first Lesser Whitethroats of the year of which we had 4. Plenty of other migrants to accompany; 15 Blackcap,1 Black Redstart, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Brambling, 1 Chaffinch, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Swallow, 8 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat and 6 Willow Warbler. 

Numbers of moths and diversity of species is still really poor this year. The Light Brown Apple Moth is considered an invasive species from Australia and probably colonised here around the 1930s. 

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 6 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren

Monday 14th April 2025

With the winds still in our favour we were visited by yet another first for the year; a singing Common Whitethroat. 3 Peregrine spotted mid morning above the docks - two females looked to be battling it out for territory. Other notable sightings were plenty of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Common Redstart, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Med Gull, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Song Thrush, 15 Swallow, 3 Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Around the beach and on the water 2 Curlew, 15 Sanderlings, 2 Turnstone and 1 Whimbrel went South 

This Sanderling had clearly been feeding a lot.

One of the last birds trapped today was Blackcap with a Spanish ring on it! While we have historically had two Landguard Blackcaps go to Spain this is the first time we've recorded one here. More details to follow at a later date.

Ringing: 5 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 9 Willow Warbler

Sunday 13th April 2025

 With the sun not even yet visible, a distant Nightingale could be heard singing somewhere in the gloom. Sure enough there were more migrants to be had throughout the day. An elusive Ring Ouzel was located not too long after. Other thrushes around included 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, and at least 1 Song Thrush heard. Also on move 7 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinch, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Swallow, 4 Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 6 Willow Warbler and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Some notable movement on the sea too; 4 Brent Geese, 5 Common Gull, 22 Dunlin North, 13 Med Gull and 3 Oystercatcher. The Drake Eider still here and easily viewed on the river. 

Ethmia bipunctella in the trap today is a nationally scarce species. This exceptionally early record isn't usually expected till Mid-May. It is mostly found in the South where it's food plant Viper's Bugloss is more common. 

Ringing: 6 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 9 Linnet, 1 Nightingale, 1 Robin, 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren