Wednesday 4th May 2025

 

Despite the chilly conditions a few Large Red Damselflies are appearing.

Today's paltry selection of migrants include Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Ring Ouzel for her 10th day, Wheatear & some new Lesser 'throats continuing to arrive. Offshore northbound 7 Gannet, 3 Oyk, 3 Whimbrel & 2 Sandwich Tern.

Moth trap interest was picking up but with cooler northerly conditions prevailing it's resorted to low numbers & variety. Living on St. John's Wort Treble-bar is starting to come out.

Ringing: 4 Starling (pulli), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch.

Tuesday 6th May 2025

 Who put Summer on hold? At least today didn't stop this Wall Brown from coming out. Once a common sight it is now rare but would be excellent to see it return to the Landguard. Second record this month. 

On the bird front still 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Wheatear. Offshore 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Sandwich Tern, 8 Common Tern and 4 Sandwich Tern. 

Our first Large Yellow Underwing of the season - sometimes our most common macro moth.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff.

Also colour ringed two more Blackbirds - please keep an eye out.

Monday 5th May 2025

Gusty Northerly winds brought an all round much colder feel today. The Gulls were still doing their thing close offshore and seemed to have spread the word as more has joined the feeding mob. Herring Gull now numbering over 600. Also offshore 1 Fulmar, 2 Gannet, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Med Gull, 3 Common Tern, 6 Sandwich Tern and 8 Common Scoter. 

Despite a lull in passerine movement migrants include 1 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Ring Ouzel still. Also 1 Hobby North.

Colder temperatures so no surprise; only two species of moth. The usual Shuttle-shaped Darts and this Tawny Shears.

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet, 1 Willow Warbler.

Sunday 4th May 2025

A few decent birds today. Highlight being an adult male Red-Footed Falcon in the morning flying North offshore. Large amounts of gulls also on the sea today provided an opportunity for a little count. 340 Herring, 43 Black-headed, 2 Great Black-back, 8 Lesser Black-back and 13 Common. Also joined by a 12 feeding Common Tern - perhaps something was spawning? Also at sea 28 Dunlin North, 4 Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel. 

The female Ring Ouzel has been with us for a week now. Also of note today 1 Tree pipit along with Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and 1 Hobby. 

Chocolate-Tip today is a resident in small numbers here on the poplar trees.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet

Saturday 3rd May 2025

 

Glorious morning, weather wise, Migrants less so included 8 Swallow, Blackcap, Grey Wag, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel still with us & Wheatear. 4 Jackdaw visited. Amongst the Lesser 'throats settling in was one originally ringed here two years ago with a couple of the Whitethroats on site the last couple of days being returning juveniles from last year.

We used to call this Ash Pug, with it's vernacular name now Angle-barred Pug. Some authorities used to split it as Tamarisk Pug as that is it's foodplant. Confused ? - then join the club. Either way the site it is most commonly seen in Suffolk is Landguard, although the fact that we are trapping daily next to it's breakfast/lunch/dinner & tea probably distorts this bias.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler.

Friday 2nd May 2025

 

Another pleasant morning with both Hobby & the fifth site record of Red-footed Falcon flying in off the sea. This mornings other migrants include 14 Swallow, 10 Lesser 'throat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Black Red, Blackcap, Curlew, Jackdaw, Mipit, loitering Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Whimbrel & Yellow Wag. 23 Sanderling & 2 Turnstone on the beach. Offshore movements negligible. A Wall Brown butterfly is worthy of a mention as they are scarce/rare here in recent times.

Caloptilia cuculipennella arrived here for the first time five years ago & is clearly enjoying the Wild Privet.

Ringing: 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Thursday 1st May 2025

 

Pleasant morning with a handful of migrants including a total of 16 Whimbrel (+ one freshly dead on the reserve), 8 Lesser 'throat, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Ring Ouzel (for 4th day), Willow Warbler, Yellow Wag & a new Robin. 26 Sanderling, single Dulin & Turnstone were on the beach.

Our only previous record of Streamer was on the last day of April a couple of years ago so 2 in the same trap was unexpected. Feeding on Dog Rose there is no reason why it can't live here.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.