Wednesday 20th November 2024

 

Chilly, bright n' breezy morning with a slight frost brought a small handful of migrants & some refugees from snow cover inland. 423 Cormorant headed out fishing pre dawn plus 22 more in from the north later on. On site a handful of new Blackies, 9 Lapwing, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Skylark, 2 Song Thrush & Woodcock. Southbound 83 Teal, 40 Common Scoter, 11 Knot, 7 Black-headed Gull, 4 Goosander, 3 Brent, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, Goldeneye & Ringed Plover plus northbound 27 Common Scoter. 4 Kitts are, hopefully, a sign of wintering birds starting to appear offshore. Finally a Purp on the point.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird.

Ringing Recoveries

Black-headed Gull ringed LBO 15th January 2010 and seen every winter either at LBO or Felixstowe Pier up to 25th February 2023 was at several sites in Gdynia, Poland from 18th January to 26th March 2024, has now been seen 1,504 km away at Talska (ereras), Siauliai, Lithuania on 29th October 2024. Having wintered in Felixstowe for 13 years, Poland last winter & now seen in Lithuania one wonders where its going to go this winter ? 

Blackbird ringed Sandwich Bay, Kent 14th January 2024 was retrapped 74 km away at LBO on 16th November 2024. Presumably a continental bird that winters in the UK coming in via a different route this winter ?

Tuesday 19th November 2024

Cold wet morning dampened the enthusiasm levels some what not helped by nothing moving offshore. 402 Cormorant headed out fishing in the gloom early on. From a sparse selection of records worth a mention are 3 Song Thrush, 2 Woodcock, Little Egret plus Purp & Rock Pipit on the point.

A visit into the rooms under the observatory produced this Bloxworth Snout. First noted here five years ago it is probably now got itself established in Felixstowe.

Monday 18th November 2024

 

Wasn't expecting a juvenile Red-rumped Swallow that stayed for c.10 minutes - one would have thought that we were used to expecting the unexpected by now ! Otherwise migrants were 2 Chaffinch, Brambling, Redpoll, Woodcock plus a new Blacky. Offshore very quiet. 3 Turnstone, Purp & Rock Pipit on the point. 196 Cormorant went out fishing early on with another 320 coming in from the north to the offshore feeding grounds suggesting that persecution at the roost inland continues this winter.

December Moth just about makes it onto the year list in most recent years.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Sunday 17th November 2024

 

193 Cormorant headed out fishing early on. 13 Mipit, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, couple of new Blackies, Siskin, Songie plus 8 Starling in off are today's meagre offerings in the migrant department. Offshore movements almost non-existent. Late Common Darter & Red Admiral are starting to get notable.

Ringing: 5 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.

Saturday 16th November 2024

 

Fungi knowledge very poor. This is Blackening Waxcap, also known as Witch's Hat.

Handful of new Blackies, Songies plus 2 Lesser Redpoll was as good as it got around the observatory. Offshore movements sparse with southbound 9 Black-headed Gull, 7 Brent, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Snipe, Little Egret & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Gannet, 4 Brent & a Red-throat. Those togger friendly 3 Purps were at the point although the English Dictionary is yet to catch up with the current usage of this term.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Song Thrush.

Friday 15th November 2024

A relatively quiet morning as the observatory bade farewell to its seasonal warden for the year. Still blackbirds arriving off the sea, some coming in with the container ships going into the docks. A woodcock on the beach was clearly fresh in and there was a small movement of red-throated divers off the beach, with 8 heading south and 4 heading north. 3 purple sandpipers, 4 turnstone and a rock pipit were on the jetty and 242 cormorants headed out of the river to feed. 

 

It's very unusual to see Lathronympha strigiana on the wing this late in the year. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 8, Wren 1.