Saturday 1st November 2025

Still the odd Red Admiral on the wing.

Winter thrushes two a penny at first light likely grounded by the over night rain. Migrants on this breezy day included 1 Blackcap, 30 Blackbird, 10 Chaffinch, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Merlin, 50 Redwing, 12 Song Thrush, 6 Siskin, 2 Sparrowhawk, 28 Skylark, 209 Starling and a single Swallow.

It's been a while since we've had any substantial wader passage but offshore 193 Dunlin headed South alongside 74 Knot. Also 3 Avocet, 3 Curlew, 24 Brent Goose, 163 Cormorant, 11 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Guillemot, 2 Pintail, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Diver, 69 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler and 120 Wigeon.

Ringing: 9 Blackbird, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk.

OCTOBER RINGING TOTALS 2025

 

The 4th Jack Snipe ringed at LBO since 1983.

Well September was a tough act to follow but we've had a good stab at it and hopefully generated a few recoveries! Last time we hit over 1000 birds in October was in 2020. Of all 29 species ringed this month numbers seem to be up across the board in comparison to the last three years. Good movement of Redpoll yielded a Brussels ringed control. 24 Firecrest ringed appears to be a monthly record with the last highest count being 18 in October 2004. Chiffchaff numbers have been exceptional! This month also saw Landguard's 47th Yellow-browed Warbler ringed. 

 

Oct-25
Species	No. Ringed
Goldcrest	153
Redpoll	119
Chiffchaff	110
Blackbird	109
Blackcap	93
Long-tailed Tit	73
Blue Tit	64
Song Thrush	62
Robin	57
Great Tit	42
Meadow Pipit	41
Firecrest	24
Redwing	21
Chaffinch	21
Wren	16
Grey Wagtail	6
Dunnock	6
Cetti's Warbler	6
Linnet	4
Goldfinch	4
Woodpigeon	3
Sparrowhawk	2
House Sparrow	2
Whitethroat	1
Magpie	1
Jack Snipe	1
Greenfinch	1
Yellow-browed Warbler	1
Pied Wagtail	1
Total	1044

Friday 31th October 2025

 

Arctic Terns have been quite frequent this October.

Newly arrived crests tinkling in the bushes this morning accompanied by at least 4 Firecrest. Starlings have began to move despite the Southerly winds resulting in an end of morning count of 1244. Less finches moving today but other migrants include 2 Blackcap, 41 Chaffinch, 19 Goldfinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 5 Robin, 6 Skylark, 36 Song Thrush and a Coal Tit spotted on the feeder.

Offshore 66 Shelduck South a reasonable count for this year. A pair of pioneering Mute Swan seen heading out towards Holland. Also 24 Brent Goose, 16 Common Scoter, 196 Cormorant, 3 Curlew, 27 Dunlin, 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Knot, 2 Pintail, 5 Red-throated Diver, 13 Wigeon. 

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 15 Goldcrest, 1 House Sparrow, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush.

Thursday 30th October 2025

Just one Little Auk today - but at least this stopped briefly to say hello.

A bit breezier than forecast but new birds coming through nonetheless. A Snow Bunting south over the reserve set the day off. There was clearly a small arrival of new Blackbird over night while later in the day more new Firecrest began to spring up. 11 Woodlark is quite notable only being topped once with 17 birds back in 2021. Other migrants 2 Blackcap, 35 Chaffinch, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Fieldfare, 167 Goldfinch, 36 Meadow Pipit, 21 Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Redwing, 7 Siskin and 3 Song Thrush. 1 Purple Sandpiper on the point.

Offshore 3 Arctic Tern, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shelduck and 2 Wigeon.

Quite surprised we managed to catch a Pied Wagtail today! For a species that is recorded daily we don't ring many.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, 1 Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Redpoll.

Wednesday 29th October 2025

The first of three Little Auk to whizz past South along the beach - it is one, promise!

Day began with the usual 136 Cormorants heading out to sea. Thankfully the rain held off till around 10:00 which gave us time to spot a bit of stuff on the move. A couple Brambling and 3 Crossbill noted moving South alongside other finches. Those being 231 Goldfinch, 56 Chaffinch, 49 Redpoll, 56 Siskin and a Greenfinch. Other migrants include 4 Blackbird, 2 Firecrest, 46 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redwing, 6 Skylark, 2 Snipe and 2 Swallow.

The 3 Little Auk offshore naturally caused a bit of excitement. Also 3 Brent Goose, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Purple Sandpiper on the point.

Chestnut is scarce here but can be seen on the wing from now onwards throughout the Winter.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 13 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.

Tuesday 28th October 2025

 

Another 'Finchy' type of morning as we observed 591 Goldfinch heading South. Among them 9 Brambling, 25 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 49 Lesser Redpoll and 25 Siskin. A single Snow Bunting was seen in/off and late morning a female Hen Harrier was moving South at sea. Other migrants 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 9 Fieldfare, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 54 Meadow Pipit, 9 Redwing, 1 Rock Pipit, 34 Starling, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, 27 Skylark, 1 Stonechat and a Purple Sandpiper on the point. 

Offshore 21 Brent Goose, 128 Cormorant, 3 Common Gull, 4 Gannet, 15 Great Black-back, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Med Gull, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Red-throated Diver, 18 Shelduck and 6 Wigeon.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Blackbird, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Robin.

Monday 27th October 2025

 

Westerly gale getting "worser & worser" as the morning progressed. Vis mig & offshore movements almost non-existent with birding in the bushes very difficult although 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest & 2 Goldcrest noted.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

RINGING RECOVERIES

Blackcap ringed Slapton, Devon 1st October 2025 was retrapped 392 km away at LBO 13th October 2025 is a classic example of late autumn wanderings in random directions that this species is prone to in recent times.

Lesser Redpoll ringed Thorpe Marsh, South Yorkshire 27th September 2025 was retrapped 244 km away at LBO 18th October 2025 on it's autumn migration.

Also a couple of Blue & Great Tit ringed at Trimley Marshes  this autumn have hedge hoped around the dock to visit us on their autumnal wanderings.

Sunday 26th October 2025

 

Decent vis mig on a sunny cold morning included southbound 4,225 Wood Pigeon, 594 Goldfinch, 118 Redpoll, 69 Stock Dove (at least as they were mixing in with the Woodies), 40 Siskin, 37 Mipit, 35 Black-headed Gull, 31 Linnet, 26 Chaffinch, 9 Skylark, 7 Crossbill, 2 Grey Wag, 2 Reed Bunting, Red Kite & Woodlark plus a Buzzard came in off the sea. On site at least 9 Firecrest, 9 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Rock Pipit, Fieldfare, Purple Sand, Song Thrush, Turnstone, Wheatear & an additional Woodlark. Elusive male Pheasant is still with us has never been heard to call which is odd for this species.

Ringing: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren.