Sunday 27th July 2025

 

Autumn migration trickling on with 11 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler & Yellow Wagtail. Little visibly moving with southbound 5 Black-headed Gull, 4 Oyk, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Gull, Swallow & Whimbrel. 2 Sanderling on the beach & juv Black Redstart on the reserve.

Oak Processionary first arrived in Suffolk thirty years ago with individuals then assumed to be primary migrants. Two today on light north-westerlies are probably individuals wandering from inland & are our first here for five years.

Ringing: 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock.

Saturday 26th July 2025

Yellow Wagtail circling high in the sky early morning and up to 93 Swallow South-bound. In amongst them a further 19 Sand Martin. 2 Black Redstart present although quite mobile and elusive. Offshore 9 Common Gull, 3 Common Tern, 21 Cormorant, 4 Sandwich Tern and a Gannet went North. Sanderling on the beach and a wandering young Green Woodpecker getting his bearings.

Quite a chunky moth, this Old Lady managed to find its way in to the kitchen over night. Although not really attracted to light they are renowned for hiding in buildings during the day.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

 

Friday 25th July 2025

Weather starting to feel more pleasant again. A couple Common Tern and 3 Sandwich Tern noted. Other migrants 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Willow Warbler. 3 Turnstone along the beach. Cetti's warbler rarely sing now but can heard rattling in the bushes - they are hard to count but we must be well in to double figures on site. At least 17 Juvenile Cetti's have been ringed so far this season.

Ancylosis oblitella is a nationally scarce species which we do really well for here.

Ringing: 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren.

Thursday 24th July 2025

The odd grounded warbler as we were met with fine drizzle pushing through from the Northwest again. These include 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler. Also of note 2 Grey Wagtail, 14 Sand Martin, 1 Sanderling, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow and 1 Turnstone. 2 Black Redstart on site today.

Lesser Common Rustic - this dark form is classic of this species.

Ringing: 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Wren.

Wednesday 23rd July 2023

 

Yesterday's Lesser Emperor

Gloomy start but the rain held off and a Hobby soon brightened up the day. It also managed to put up 14 Goldfinch - almost feels like a record this season! A young Black Redstart in the moat with a ring is most likely the bird we ringed 20 days ago. Other migrants 1 Juv Med Gull, 6 Oystercatcher, 7 Sand Martin, 5 Sandwich Tern, 7 Swallow, 4 Turnstone and 2 Willow Warbler.

With a moth list over 1000 species it gets tricky to add new ones but twice this year we have added 2 new ones in a day. These two must of wandered here overnight on the Northwesterly breeze.

Agonopterix ocellana lives on Willows.

Stathmopoda pedella lives on Alder.

Ringing: 1 Robin, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Recent turbulent and rainy weather seems to have given the signal to a few a birds its time to make a move. The first couple Willow Warbler for the Autumn dropped in. Also passing through were 1 Blackcap, 28 Black-headed Gull, 45 Sand Martin, 3 Whimbrel, 9 Swallow and 30 Swift. Wandering singles of Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker. Redshank on the point and Lesser Emperor Dragonfly by the mining station.

Agapeta zoegana was formerly non-existent here but has shown up in most of the last 10 years.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Woodpigeon.

 

Monday 21st July 2025

 

Deluge to mid-am followed by sunshine & showers. Immediately post heavy rain our first Arctic Skua of the year went north with southbound 12 Curlew, 7 Swift, 6 Cormorant, 3 Oyk, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Whimbrel, Common Gull & Great Crested Grebe plus northbound 2 Sandwich & a Common Tern. 2 Sanderling on the beach noted in a quick whiz round between showers.

First Garden Tiger for three years. Ubiquitous last century it is now on the IUCN Red List as "near threatened".

Ringing: nil.