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.