Saturday 28th March 2026

Chilly, breezy morning with very few migrants to "upset the apple cart" included 2 Goldcrest, Black Red, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff plus the second Swallow of the spring. Southbound 89 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 5 Med Gull, 2 Rook, 2 Shelduck & Little Egret. Singing Skylark still with us.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch.

Friday 27th March 2026

 

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) seen near the point of the peninsular. The breakdown of the scientific name; Arenaria meaning sand loving and interpres is messenger, interpreted as between land and sea due to the birds habits of flitting around the shore. 

An overcast start to the morning with few migrants present at the observatory, even with a strong SW breeze!, bar one singing Chiffchaff. With sea watching once again producing the most interesting sightings until rain settled in around 11am, also bringing a swift end to ringing for the day.    

Flying North - 19 Brent geese, 10 Gannet - maybe making their way up to Bempton Cliffs and 3 Red throated diver.

Flying South - 37 Common gull, 7 Red throated diver,  5 Shovelar, 2 Brent and 2 Barnacle geese, a Mediterranean gull and an Oystercatcher.

Moth trapping produced a handful of species including a Grey Shoulder- Knot.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 1 Woodpigeon

Thursday 26th March 2026

 A bright but blustery morning, with wind coming from the NW. Provided us with a somewhat notable visitor in the shape of a Reed bunting, the first this year, with one not seen since November 9th last year. A not so common visitor due to only a few sparse areas of reedbed on site.  

Sea watching produced some interesting movements with clear visibility, North movements included 75 Cormorants and 2 Common scoter. South going birds included 166 Black headed gulls, 18 Common gull, 3 Carrion Crow, 3 Red throated diver, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Jackdaw. A Mute swan was seen flying up river - a less common visitor for this area. 1 adult and 2 first winter Mediterranean gulls where also spotted near the tip of the peninsular. 

A Black redstart was found towards the holiday park end of the peninsular and a Redpoll, 2 Siskin and a Fieldfare were seen around the observatory early morning, with a Chiffchaff heard calling in the early afternoon.   

No moths were found in any of our 3 moth traps, mainly due to some overnight showers and high wind. 

The fencing was also completed today to protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora, many thanks to all involved and fingers crossed for some successful fledging this year!

Ringing: 2 Robin, 1 Goldfinch. 

Wednesday 25th March 2026

 Cold westerly gale not ideal. This didn't prevent a Swallow quickly flying through which equals our third earliest date with the first ever on the 14th March 2017. Starling numbers built up to 150 as they gather up before contemplating crossing the North Sea back to mainland Europe. Other spring migrants limited to 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing single Fire & Goldcrest. Offshore southbound 16 Common Gull, 14 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Scoter, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Med Gull, Red-breasted Merganser & Red-throated Diver with the gulls mostly on their way back to the continent having wintered in Britain.

Ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest.

RINGING RECOVERIES

Lesser Redpoll ringed Hockai, Liege, Belgium 28th January 2024 was retrapped 363 km away at LBO 22nd October 2025 is probably a bird from Northern Britain that was wintering in Belgium then caught on migration heading towards the continent the following year.

Blackbird ringed LBO 27th October 2023 was retrapped 20 km away at Witnesham 4th March 2026. This would have been on autumn passage here although difficult to know whether it has settled in Suffolk or is a wintering bird from the continent heading back out this spring.

Tuesday 24th March 2026

A cloudy morning with strengthening SW wind produced our 2nd earliest ever ringed Willow warbler. The record still stands with the 23rd March 2024. Last year our first was 18 days later. 

Species like the Willow warbler can pass through undetected without ringing as these individuals are not signing, as these birds won't be holding territories on site, with their beautiful song being the easiest identification to tell them apart from the somewhat similar Chiffchaff. 

Less mist at sea provided some sea watching, with a Red-throated diver seen flying south, other birds moving south included a Heron .... uncommon for this site, 3 Brent geese, 2 Cormorant and an Oystercatcher. North movements included 5 Greylag geese and 5 Brent.   

Early morning there were multiple Redwing and Fieldfare passing through with other migrants on site including 15 Chiffchaff, 5 Siskin, 4 Firecrest and interestingly another sighting of a Yellowhammer.    

Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) Which has likely just emerged from hibernation. 

 

Ringing: 11 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Willow warbler.

SEASONAL FENCING - CHANGE OF DATE

CHANGE OF DATE FROM WEDNESDAY TO THURSDAY THIS WEEK

It is now planned to erect the temporary fencing to help protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora on Thursday 26th March 0930 hrs start. Please meet at the old seawatch hide and wear sensible footwear, gardening type gloves & clothing for the task in hand. Many hands make light work so the more people who can turn up the better.

Monday 23rd March 2026

 

Blossom Underwing, (Orthosia miniosa), found in one of our light traps this morning, this being the fourth record for Landguard (A scarce species for Suffolk) and is most likely a migrant. 

A hazy day with a slight SSE wind, producing our first small influx of Chiffchaff this spring. The mist lingered preventing any good sea watching. A Black redstart was seen flying around the fence line of the fort and a white wagtail was seen on the peninsular. Lingering migrants included Siskin, Goldcrest and a Redwing. 

A Yellowhammer was drawn to our nets, an uncommon visitor for the site and was a treat to ring, with the previous individual ringed in 2020, and only 5 ringed since the millennium. Between 1983 to 2000.... 17 years... 161 Yellowhammer where ringed at this observatory, highlighting the quite dramatic decline of this species in this area.      

Ringing: 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin (both continental), 2 Song thrush, 1 Blue tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Wood Pigeon.    

SEASONAL FENCING LANDGUARD NATURE RESERVE

It is planned to erect temporary fencing to help protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora on Wednesday 25th March 0930 hrs start. Please meet at the old seawatch hide and wear sensible footwear, gardening type gloves & clothing for the task in hand. Many hands make light work so the more people who can turn up the better.

Sunday 22nd March 2026

 

Almost a migrant free zone until late morning when 4 Fieldfare showed up plus 2 Redwing early afternoon. 3 Curlew flew north, 2 Mipit & a Chaffinch on the reserve.

Ringing: 1 House Sparrow, 1 Redwing.