Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Humid from the outset with only a slight breeze and a slight haze to make it slightly colder. However an interesting morning of observations with a Spoonbill flying north over the observatory and a pair Little Tern flying along the river towards the port. 1 Lapwing was present on the reserve.
Seawatching produced 4 Black-headed Gull and 1 Curlew south. 2 Sandwich Tern and a Mediterranean Gull north. 1 Oystercatcher south and then towards the port.
Moth trapping: 126 Species of moths caught in our 3 traps last night, once again a warm night, less wind. Today's moth of the day is the Poplar Lutestring despite all the poplar trees here, the moth has only occurred on a handful of occasions, as the name suggests the caterpillar feeds on poplar. There are three races of this moth in the UK.
Poplar Lutestring (Tethea or)
Bird Ringing: 3 Blue Tit, 2 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redstart.
First summer male caught today in our mist nets, this individual had commenced its post breeding moult, which is unexpected at this location, suggesting could have bred/attempted to breed in the local area and the bird might possibly hang around the area with a reduced flight capability for the duration or part of its moult. Our first autumn record is the 3rd July onwards. Very few pairs nest in Suffolk with the closest confirmed breeding areas being in the heathland around Woodbridge ministry of defence.
Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)