Saturday 3rd May 2025

 

Glorious morning, weather wise, Migrants less so included 8 Swallow, Blackcap, Grey Wag, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel still with us & Wheatear. 4 Jackdaw visited. Amongst the Lesser 'throats settling in was one originally ringed here two years ago with a couple of the Whitethroats on site the last couple of days being returning juveniles from last year.

We used to call this Ash Pug, with it's vernacular name now Angle-barred Pug. Some authorities used to split it as Tamarisk Pug as that is it's foodplant. Confused ? - then join the club. Either way the site it is most commonly seen in Suffolk is Landguard, although the fact that we are trapping daily next to it's breakfast/lunch/dinner & tea probably distorts this bias.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler.

Friday 2nd May 2025

 

Another pleasant morning with both Hobby & the fifth site record of Red-footed Falcon flying in off the sea. This mornings other migrants include 14 Swallow, 10 Lesser 'throat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Black Red, Blackcap, Curlew, Jackdaw, Mipit, loitering Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Whimbrel & Yellow Wag. 23 Sanderling & 2 Turnstone on the beach. Offshore movements negligible. A Wall Brown butterfly is worthy of a mention as they are scarce/rare here in recent times.

Caloptilia cuculipennella arrived here for the first time five years ago & is clearly enjoying the Wild Privet.

Ringing: 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Thursday 1st May 2025

 

Pleasant morning with a handful of migrants including a total of 16 Whimbrel (+ one freshly dead on the reserve), 8 Lesser 'throat, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel (for 4th day), Willow Warbler, Yellow Wag & a new Robin. 26 Sanderling, single Dulin & Turnstone were on the beach.

Our only previous record of Streamer was on the last day of April a couple of years ago so 2 in the same trap was unexpected. Feeding on Dog Rose there is no reason why it can't live here.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.

APRIL RINGING TOTALS

284 birds of 25 species is 20 % up on last year partly helped by 3 times as many Chiffchaff. Another 5 Cetti's are worth highlighting as they have only colonised Landguard very recently.

Wednesday 30th April 2025

 

Just the one pair of Songies this year, with an extra male singing on occasions.

Fewer migrants this morning including 2 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, Goldcrest, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel (for 3rd day), Swallow, Yellow Wagtail & the Lesser 'throats & Whitethroats setting up territories. 9 Jackdaw visited. Offshore southbound 10 Kitts, 7 Oyk & 2 Barwit with northbound 13 Black-heads, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Great Black-backs, 2 Common Tern & Whimbrel.

Nice to see a few micro's coming out including Epiblema scutulana.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Reed Warbler.

Tuesday 29th April 2025

 

Sunny but breezier this morning. Migrants include 6 Lesser 'throat & 5 Whitethroat that are setting up territories to breed plus 3 Wheatear, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and yesterday's Ring Ouzel is still present. 8 Swallow & a Whimbrel flew south. A Hedgehog is worth a mention as it's a couple of years since we last had one. 

First Common Swift & Common Wainscot of the year.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

Monday 28th April 2025

 

Flat calm morning is rare here. Today's selection included 12 Lesser 'throat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Whitethroat, Firecrest, Hobby, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Whimbrel & yet another new Cetti's. Flying south 18 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin & Little Egret. Quiet offshore although the first 3 Little Tern of the year flew north.

Finally, a bit more variety starting to come out to play including this Knot Grass which is a species that failed to put in an appearance last year.

Ringing: 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Firecrest, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.

Sunday 27th April 2025

 

Very pleasant morning following a chilly start with migrants including 12 Lesser 'throat, 10 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Chaffinch & Reed Warbler with southbound 11 Swallow 2 Whimbrel & Sand Martin with northbound 8 Curlew, 8 Swallow, 2 Med Gull, 2 Whimbrel & Rook. Single Jay & Sparrowhawk visited.

Setaceous Hebrew Character doesn't normally appear until May - but that's only a couple of days away.

Ringing: 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Starling, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.