Sunday 15th February 2026

 Wet n' windy. Please cut & paste any recent blogs to find out what may, or may not, be here !

2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This years AGM will be held on Saturday 14th March 2026. Members should have received an agenda plus minutes of last years meeting. If not please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com for details.

Saturday 14th February 2026

Some pleasant sunshine for a change after a dull chilly start. 415 Cormorant went out fishing plus another 450 came in from the north. Very little moving offshore. 3 Skylark & a Curlew northbound are today's migrants. 70 Common Scoter offshore, 2 Sanderling & 2 Turnstone on the beach with 3 Snow Bunts still with us.

Friday 13th February 2026

 

350 Cormorant went out early with at least 160 coming in from the north later. Southbound 18 Red-throated Diver, 4 Teal & 2 Shelduck with northbound 20 Red-throats, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet, 3 Velvet Scoter, 2 Brent, 2 Shelduck & Curlew. February is not a good month for Velvets here with only five previous records for this month on file. 50 Common Scoter offshore & 3 Snow Bunting on back beach.

Thursday 12th February 2026

 

Catkins on the Hazel is a sign of the impending spring. Another sign of spring is 2 Skylark, one of which was singing his cotton socks off. Several pairs of Skylark used to nest here last century but, alas, no more. Southbound 8 Brent, 7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Canada Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebe & 3 Shelduck with northbound 14 Brent, 3 Red-throats, 2 Shelduck & Oyk. 3 Fieldfare came out of roost in the compound early doors, 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit on the point, Mipit on the reserve, 70 Common Scoter offshore & 3 Snow Bunts still on the back beach.

Wednesday 11th February 2026

 

Even Phil the elusive Pheasant is getting jarred off with the ongoing damp, murky conditions.

70 Common Scoter offshore, 3 Snow Bunts back beach, Fieldfare on the reserve & Woodcock in compound. 31 Starling is worth a mention considering how scarce they have been recently.

Tuesday 10th February 2026

 3 Snow Bunting in usual place. That's your lot.

Monday 9th February 2026

 Another damp dull morning. 483 Cormorant went out fishing, Common Scoter flock has increased to 90, 27 Brent went north & 3 Snow bunting again on back beach.

Sunday 8th February 2026

 

Magpies are undergoing nest repairs. They don't seem to worry about the larval nests of Brown-tail moths which are looking a bit manky & some may be terminated out by all the soaking wet weather we have been enduring recently.

880 Cormorant headed out fishing. Southbound 37 Knot, 6 Oyk, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Brent, 2 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 2 Wigeon & Curlew with northbound 72 Brent, 13 Red-throats & Common Scoter plus the regular 50 Scoter sat offshore. 3 Snow Bunting still here.

Saturday 7th February

 A slightly dryer morning.

3 Snow Bunting still here, singing Song Thrush on the Butts & Woodcock in the compound.

5 Ringed Plover and 4 Pied Wagtails on the reserve and beach.

2 Kittiwakes following a boat

30 Starlings north was the first sizeable flock of the year.

Ringing - nil.

Friday 6th February 2026

The unpleasant inclement wet conditions with poor visibility persists. 1,440 Cormorant went out fishing early, 3 Snow Bunting still here, single Redwing, Song Thrush & Woodcock in the compound.

Ringing Recoveries

Chiffchaff ringed LBO 7th October 2025 was retrapped 692 km away at Plaisance, Saint-froult, Charente-maritime, France 6th November 2025 on its way south for the winter.

Goldcrest ringed LBO 8th October 2025 was retrapped 126 km away at Holme, Norfolk on 13th October 2025 will have been on migration at both sites.

Goldcrest ringed LBO 19th October 2025 killed itself flying into a glass window 248 km away in Sheffield, South Yorkshire on 3rd February 2026 will have been on migration here before, surprisingly, moving north to spend the winter.

Thursday 5th February 2026

Wet 'n windy with poor visibility. 3 Snow Bunting still here.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

2025 ANNUAL REPORTS + UPDATED LISTS

 

2025 Bird, Butterfly, Dragonfly Mammals, Moths & Miscellaneous reports are now on https://www.lbo.org.uk/lbo-archive/ or via HOME PAGE above.

2025 Ringing statistics & updated Recoveries Report on https://www.lbo.org.uk/ringing-totals/

Updated Systematic lists of rare birds, escapes, butterfly, dragonfly, mammal & moths on https://www.lbo.org.uk/systematic-lists/

Wednesday 4th February 2026

 

Far more pleasant, weather wise. 1,100 Cormorant went fishing, 50 Common Scoter offshore, 3 Snow Bunts on back beach, 7 Sanderling, 5 Ringo & 4 Turnstone on the beach, Curlew flew out to sea, Rock Pipit on the point & Woodcock whizzed around. Offshore northbound 25 Red-throated Diver, 4 Brent & Shelduck with southbound 5 Red-throats & 2 Shelduck.

SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

  SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

Applicants need to be competent birdwatchers and have a BTO bird ringing ‘C’ permit with a mist net endorsement as a minimum requirement. An interest in other aspects of natural history and biological recording is also needed.

The position runs from Mid-March until mid-November 2026. A job description is available on request. If you require any specifics, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesday 3rd February 2026

 

Another dreich day. 336 Cormorant went out fishing as it was barely getting visible. Southbound 32 Wigeon with northbound single Common Scoter, Gannet & Red-throated Diver. 4 Turnstone & 2 Sanderling on the back beach & usual Common Scoter flock offshore. New young male Blackbird caught was a real porker probably wandering in search of a vacant territory. A new adult Robin was more unusual at this time of the year & roughly a month early for the start of spring migration in this species.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin.

Monday 2nd February 2026

 

Dull, misty, murky, mizzly morning. Southbound 12 Teal & 3 Shelduck with northbound an adult Little Gull. Usual 50 Common Scoter offshore, 3 Sanderling on the beach, 3 Snow Bunting on the back beach with today's visitors single Fieldfare & Woodcock. Cetti's Warbler on the Butts is only our second record so far this year as they can be very unobtrusive in the winter.

Sunday 1st February 2026

 

Dull old morning. 531 Cormorant went out fishing early. Southbound 30 Teal, 2 Brent, 2 Oyk, 2 Red-throated Diver & Shelduck with northbound 28 Red-throats & a Brent. 50 Common Scoter & 3 Snow Bunt still with us. Stock Dove visited & a Mipit flew south.

LBO MEMBERSHIP 2026

Thank you to existing members for the support you gave to Landguard Bird Observatory over the last 12 months. It is through your continued membership and donations that the Observatory is able to continue the important work it does.

Membership for 2026 is now due. Members should have received an email reminding them - if not we may have an incorrect email on file & if this is you please email the membership secretary on landguardbomembership@gmail.com so details can be updated.

Please can I ask you to continue to support the important work and renew your membership at your earliest convenience. The preferred payment method is by BACS transfer as the banks charge us a fee for each cheque processed.

New members who wish to support the observatory and its work are always welcome with further details on www.lbo.org.uk

Saturday 31st January 2026

 

This female Ringo was originally ringed as an adult here in 2014 & has returned to it's breeding site.

550 Cormorant went out fishing early, 50 Common Scoter offshore, good to see Mr. & Mrs. Kestrel cavorting together, 26 Linnet shows signs of upcoming spring, 3 Snow Bunts on back beach and, as it's a pleasant calm morning, the 2 elusive overwintering Firecrest were rounded up.

Friday 30th January 2026

Wet n' windy morning. 595 Cormorant went out fishing, 35 Common Scoter & 34 Kitts offshore, southbound 6 Shelduck, 5 Common Scoter & 3 Brent plus 3 Snow Bunts in favourite spot.

Thursday 29th January 2026

 

480 Cormorant went out + 644 flew south, 192 Common Gull, 50 Common Scoter & 35 Kitts offshore, northbound 9 Red-throated Diver & southbound 5 Brent. Single Skylark & Starling worth a mention as is a first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull which is a bit odd for the time of year. 3 Snow Bunting still with us.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Wednesday 28th January 2026

 

3 Snow Bunts still attracting visiting toggers with this one probably drying out after yesterday.

Flat calm morning. 3 Skylark on the reserve that headed north are either birds relocating after recent cold weather, flooded out inland in yesterdays deluge or the start of spring passage as the males in this species are keen to get back to their breeding grounds at the mere hint of longer days. Apart from this fairly predictable with 702 Cormorant going out fishing, 70 Common Gull, 57 Red-throated Diver relocating south following yesterdays gale, 50 Common Scoter, 5 Sanderling, 2 Egyptian Geese flying north, 2 Turnstone, Peregrine, Woodcock & only the second sighting of Collared Dove this year. 

Tuesday 27th January 2026

SE 6 - 8 gale with torrential rain. Difficult to look out in these conditions. with a short stint revealing 3 adult Little Gull feeding fairly close inshore north of the point. Also of note were 2 Starlings which were the first ones we have seen since before Xmas.

Monday 26th January 2026

Dull calm morning. 1,150 Cormorant went out fishing, 150 Common Gull, 50 Common Scoter  & 11 Kitts offshore, 3 Snow Bunting back beach, 3 Med Gull went south, 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit on the point plus, what we presume is the same, female Chaffinch visited.

Sunday 25th January 2026

Another dank & dreary day. Southbound 31 Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Red-throats, 2 Brent & Gannet plus 59 Kitts & 50 Common Scoter offshore. 3 Snow Bunting out the back.

Saturday 24th January 2026

 

Very low tides at the moment.

Glorious sunny morning for a pleasant change with 930 Cormorant heading out fishing the highest count of the year so far. A Jackdaw went south keeping going into Essex. Otherwise 50 Common Scoter, 11 Sanderling, 4 Ringos, 3 Snow Bunting, 2 Mipit & a Rock Pipit on the point.

Friday 23rd January 2026

Another dismal, damp & dreary morning. Southbound 13 Teal & Red-throated Diver. 3 Snow Bunting present & accounted for.

Thursday 22nd January 2026

Another wet day which is getting tedious. 420 Cormorant went out fishing early. Southbound 5 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail & Red-throated Diver. 13 Sanderling & Lapwing on the reserve with the usual 3 Snow Bunting on the back beach.

Wednesday 21st January 2026

Mostly wet morning. 420 Cormorant went fishing, 50 Common Scoter & 18 Kitts offshore, 18 Sanderling & a Dunlin on the beach, heading south single Red-throated Diver, Shelduck & Teal.

Tuesday 20th January 2026

 

496 Cormorant went out fishing early. The 3 Snow Bunting seem to prefer preening & tidying up on the railings on the short jetty out the back when they fly in in the morning from roosting overnight near the point.

Monday 19th January 2026

Calm overcast morning. Bit "same old same old". 240 Cormorant went out fishing, 50 Common Scoter & 21 Kitts offshore, 21 Sanderling, 3 Snow Bunting, Mipit & Songie singing north end.

Sunday 18th January 2026

 

An Egyptian Goose flew south, Woodcock dived into Left Battery, 16 Sanderling on the beach early morning & the 3 confiding Snow Bunting on the back beach.

SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

 SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

Applicants need to be competent birdwatchers and have a BTO bird ringing ‘C’ permit with a mist net endorsement as a minimum requirement. An interest in other aspects of natural history and biological recording is also needed.

The position runs from Mid-March until mid-November 2026. A job description is available on request. If you require any specifics, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 17th January 2026

 

The trickle of toggers snapping the 3 Snow Bunting for their gratification continues - no need for a big lens as they are tolerant enough to pic with a mobile phone.

Today's highlights are a Song Thrush singing pre-dawn at the north end plus the first 2 Collared Dove & Black Redstart of the year. Black Red is a tad unexpected as we haven't seen one since November 9th last autumn & no indication of one wintering locally (although big enough dock next door to go unnoticed in). Flock of at least 45 Common Scoter again offshore.

Friday 16th January 2026

 

Pleasant morning following yesterdays deluge. A tight flock of 50 ish Common Scoter diving & feeding not to far offshore just to the north of us was the best count of the winter by a long way. Southbound 2 Brent, Oyk & Shelduck whilst trying to count the Scoter. 18 Sanderling & 7 Ringo on the beach, 3 Snow Bunting present & accounted for plus an elusive overwintering Firecrest was seen on the reserve.

Thursday 15th January 2026

 

Yesterday's Dunlin.

209 Cormorant headed out fishing. 16 Common Scoter flew around offshore & a Great Crested Grebe went south. 17 Sanderling on the beach & 3 Snow Bunting out the back. Rain from 0930ish so that's it.

Wednesday 14th January 2026

 

Glorious calm, sunny, frosty morning. 221 Cormorant went out fishing early, 17 Sanderling, 6 Ringos & Dunlin on the beach, 3 Snow Bunting & Mipit still with us.

Tuesday 13th January 2026

Murky, foggy, then rain as predicted - not pleasant at all. 272 Cormorant went out fishing early. 11 Sanderling, 3 Ringos & 3 Snow Bunting on front beach early morning with the Snow Bunting resorting to favourite bit of back beach later. Guess that the Snow Bunts are quite possibly roosting in the shelter of the Marram Grass on the beach overnight ?

One of two Bloxworth Snout hibernating in the cellar. First noted here six years ago it now lives here but is still a major rarity, or non-existent, in counties to the north of us.

Monday 12th January 2026

 3 Snow Bunting still on the back beach is all I can offer you today folks.

Sunday 11th January 2025

 

Difficult to get the camera to focus on the Cormorants heading out into the pink early doors.

5 Red-crested Pochard (2 drakes) in off at 1003 hrs was most unexpected with our only previous record being of a female/juvenile flying south close inshore on 5th September 1990. Southbound 17 Brent, 3 Shelduck & 2 Red-throated Diver with northbound 10 Brent & 9 Red-throats. 13 Kitts were offshore & a single Brent sat on the reserve for a short while. 3 Snow Bunting & Mipit on the back beach.

Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon.

Saturday 10th January 2025

 

550 Cormorant heading out fishing is a lot higher count than recently presumably due to birds wintering inland in the UK being frozen out of their fishing sites & resorting to the coast. Southbound 61 Brent, 17 Lapwing & 3 Wigeon. Woodcock on site with an additional bird coming in off the sea. 3 Snow Bunting & 2 Mipit still on the back beach. 

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Woodcock.

Friday 9th January 2026

 

Cold & wet. 245 Cormorant went fishing early, single Dunlin & Little Egret flew south, Mistle Thrush was new in & 3 Snow Bunting still on back beach. Muntjac with tiny fawn is worth a mention.

SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

Applicants need to be competent birdwatchers and have a BTO bird ringing ‘C’ permit with a mist net endorsement as a minimum requirement. An interest in other aspects of natural history and biological recording is also needed.

The position runs from Mid-March until mid-November 2026. A job description is available on request. If you require any specifics, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 8th January 2026

 

Sitting on the fence is a good idea when there are two foxes in the cottage garden eyeing one up for breakfast. Another fox on Darrell's Battery may, or may not, be one of these two individuals.

224 Cormorant went out fishing early, 3 Snow Bunting remain on the back beach, Peregrine over the dock, both single Fieldfare & Rock Pipit were 'firsts' of the year & 4 Long-tailed Tits visited. The Lotti's conveniently went into the Helgoland trap with one of them originally ringed here in November 2024 that was one of the pair that bred here successfully last year with the other three birds ringed here last autumn, but not the offspring of this individual.

Wednesday 7th January 2025

 

Belt of overnight rain has shifted the snow although the ground underneath is still mostly frozen. 182 Cormorant went out fishing early. On site 3 Snow Bunting, 2 Oyk, 2 Ringo, Mipit & Sanderling. Almost an hour starring out to sea produced seagulls & just a single Red-throated Diver sat offshore. 

Tuesday 6th January 2025

 

Plenty of fox prints in the snow.

Sunny & cold. 3 Snow Bunting & Mipit again on the back beach.

Monday 5th January 2026

 

Light dusting of snow at dawn. 192 Cormorant went out fishing. Only sign of any cold weather movements were southbound 30 Lapwing & 14 Teal plus a Golden Plover along the beach. 3 Sanderling were on the riverbank & a Firecrest was along the front.

Sunday 4th January 2026

 

Sharpest frost of the winter so far, glorious sunshine & an unpleasant wind chill. Meadow Pipit the mornings highlight! Turnstone along the riverbank but nowt else to report.

Saturday 3rd January 2026

 

Sunny & frosty with a wicked wind chill. Total of 74 Lapwing headed south but no sign of any other cold weather movement. 3 Snow Bunting on the back beach.

Friday 2nd January 2026

 

Moon about to collide with the Shotley peninsula early this morning.

232 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. Southbound 8 Shelduck, 2 Lapwing, Little Egret & Marsh Harrier will be heading south for warmer climes. Good to see one of the local adult Peregrine sitting out of the wind on the nearest dock crane. 4 Snow Bunting along the back beach were the first for a while.

LBO MEMBERSHIP 2026

Thank you to existing members for the support you gave to Landguard Bird Observatory over the last 12 months. It is through your continued membership and donations that the Observatory is able to continue the important work it does.

Membership for 2026 is now due. Members should have received an email reminding them - if not we may have an incorrect email on file & if this is you please email the membership secretary on landguardbomembership@gmail.com so details can be updated.

Please can I ask you to continue to support the important work and renew your membership at your earliest convenience. The preferred payment method is by BACS transfer as the banks charge us a fee for each cheque processed.

New members who wish to support the observatory and its work are always welcome with further details on www.lbo.org.uk

All the best to blog readers for 2026.

Thursday 1st January 2026

Cold start to the new year with an unpleasant wind chill. On the move southbound 2 Marsh Harrier who have decided it's getting colder & maybe wise to move to milder climes. Apart from these southbound 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shelduck, 2 Common Scoter & 2 Mallard with northbound 11 Brent & 11 Red-throats.