Thursday 17th October 2024

Much calmer weather today saw a lot more movement, and the return of some species we haven't seen for a while. 3 black redstarts were the first of these, flying together past the observatory. It's been a poor year for this species here in general, and autumn in particular, so it's nice to see them. 2 merlin were a notable highlight of the day, with one sitting on the beach eating an unforunate passerine, possibly a skylark. 7 Cetti's warblers were noted around the reserve, which is a significant leap from the 2-3 usually recorded, though hardly any wind and reasonable conditions make it a little easier for recording. 774 goldfinch flew south, our best number of the autumn so far, along with 40 skylark, 2 woodlark, 16 chaffinch and 39 meadow pipits.

Out to sea 97 brent geese flew south along with  a single goldeneye, 2 red-breasted mergansers, 105 wigeon, 94 cormorant and a great crested grebe. 

Thrushes were still some of the most active of migrants, with 24 redwing, 18 song thrush and 20 blackbird present just around the observatory. 

First Dark Chestnut of the autumn which is a species that flies all winter. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 5, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2, Firecrest 1, Great Tit 1, Robin 5, Song Thrush 4, Woodpigeon 1, Wren 2. 

 

Wednesday 16th October 2024

South-easterlies delivered a few migrants including 23 Song Thrush, 10 Redwing, 8 Chaffinch, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, the first Black Redstart & Woodcock of the autumn plus a handful of new Blackies & Robins. Southbound 67 Goldfinch, 47 Mipit, 21 Chaffinch, 8 Swallow, 4 Skylark, 2 Rook & Woodlark. Offshore southbound 434 Brent, 54 Black-headed Gull, 13 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon, 10 Teal & 2 Greylags.

The Gem is a classic autumnal migrant in small numbers with five this morning probably a day record catch.

Ringing: 8 Robin, 4 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 15th October 2024

With a strong south easerly and cloudy, though dry conditions, we finally had a typical October morning here. 108 redwing, 25 song thrush and 15 blackbird swirled above the obs and the peninsula, along with a scattering of chaffinch, 2 brambling and 45 goldfinch. Some of the thrushes moved off through the morning, though many stayed throughout the day, feeding in the observatory compound. The bramblings and chaffinches also seemed to be exhausted and fed behind the observatory kitchen most of the day. A new firecrest and a couple of goldcrest were new in, as were two chiffchaffs. A yellow-browed warbler called briefly mid morning, for one observer, but despite much searching it wasn't relocated. 

Out to sea a sooty shearwater and an arctic skua headed north, whilst a pink-footed goose flying south with a brent goose flock was an unusual sight here. 4 goosander flew over the observatory upriver, and 36 wigeon and 14 teal joined 318 Brent geese heading south. 

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Firecrest 1, Goldcrest 2, Goldfinch 1,  Robin 5, Song Thrush 3.

Monday 14th October 2024

A wet and blustery morning was predictably quiet for migrants, both insect and bird. A few duck flew south, 21 teal and 2 wigeon, along with 18 Brent geese, with 8 common scoter heading north. On the reserve a turnstone was still on the jetty, 2 Cetti's warblers were still singing around the observatory and singles of firecrest and goldcrest were in the compound also. 2 red-throated divers headed south, with another 2 sitting on the sea, and singles of gannet went both north and south. 

Rusty-dot Pearl is a migrant whose numbers vary hugely year to year. 

Birds Ringed: Nil. 

Sunday 13th October 2024

Hard work with disapointingly few migrants for mid-October. On site migrants included 2 Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting & Rock Pipit plus a visit from a Jay. Southbound 30 Goldfinch, 18 Mipit, 12 Skylark, 9 Chaffinch, 7 Swallow, 3 Grey Wag & a House Martin. Offshore southbound 4 Common Scoter, 3 Wigeon, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck, Brent & Curlew with northbound 3 Gannet. 2 Purps on the point early morning moved off north, presumably, to groynes along the Felixstowe seafront. 

Moth numbers & variety have plummeted in recent nights.

Ringing: 1 Wren.

Saturday 12th October 2024

A very quiet morning, despite a brief thrush rush as the sun rose. The rest of the mornings observations were hard work, with a lot of the interesting records being out to sea. A few duck passed, with a tufted duck heading upriver, 3 pintail and 7 shelduck south and 14 common scoter north. A red-throated diver was present on the sea in the afternoon, and a snipe was on the reserve in the morning, along with 2 purple sandpipers on the jetty, 2 ringed plover and 3 sanderling. 

7 redwing and 10 song thrush were a nice sign of some passerine movement, as was a fresh blackbird and robin in the observatory compound. 2 chaffinch flew south and another was present in the observatory compound. 33 goldfinch flew south along with 19 swallows and 10 meadow pipits. A few new great tits have ventured down from the town and a solitary goldcrest was on site.

Red-green Carpet is another mid-October specialist in low numbers this year.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Goldcrest 1, Great Tit 2, Redwing 3, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1. 

Friday 11th October 2024

Woodpigeons have had a dire breeding season, this
being one of a handful of juveniles encountered all year 

A much quieter morning, with little movement. The brief highlight of the morning was a Lapland Bunting flyover that was heard by a few observers, though never seen. Amongst a movement of 41 skylarks a single woodlark headed south along with 32 meadow pipit and 155 goldfinch. 1 brambling was noted during the morning as was a somewhat late reed warbler. 2 blackcaps, 6 chiffchaff and 4 Cetti's warblers were the only other warblers noted through out the day. Another buzzard headed south and a peregrine made one of their irregular visits, heading towards the docks. A rock pipit was on the jetty, along with 3 turnstone.

Birds Ringed|: Chiffchaff 4, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Wren 1.