Saturday 5th July 2025

 

Jewel Wasp Hedychrum sp. photographed yesterday afternoon in the sun. 

Overnight showers and plenty of cloud cover made for a much cooler day. At least 19 Swift on the move and another Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker paid us a visit. Also 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow and 3 Whimbrel. A juvenile Med Gull too heading south with some adult birds on the sea - evidence of breeding likely not too far away.

The Sycamore failed to appear last year so it's good to get a couple today.

Ringing: 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Wren.  

Friday 4th July 2025

Yesterday's Southern Migrant Hawker - the first record here was only in 2021.

Still a steady trickle of Black-headed Gulls moving South this morning. Other notable sightings include 2 Black Redstart, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Peregrine (taking out a starling), 3 Med Gull, 4 Swallow and 1 Whimbrel. An unseasonal Brent Goose hanging around too.

Pempelia genistella is Nationally Scarce but does well on the Suffolk coast. They feed on gorse.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin.

 

Thursday 3rd July 2025

 

A much cooler start today but with no cloud cover Summer was quick to get back on form. 2 Black Redstart present as one ventured in the compound and another was located out on the point. Also of note 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Peregrine, 1 Reed Warbler and 2 Swift. 

A small influx of Emperor Dragonflies today brought with them 1 Southern Migrant Hawker. A quest to look for Spurge Hawk-moth Caterpillars was unsuccessful but it did turn up an Adonis Ladybird. 

First recorded here in 2020 Plumed Fan-foot has probably colonised.

Ringing: 1 Black Redstart, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Linnet.

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

The daily bird tally seemed a little lacking today primarily due to the three moth traps filled to the brim, stealing the spotlight. However a new Juvenile Song Thrush and Blackbird present this morning and 27 Black-headed and 6 Med Gull observed moving South. New Cetti's still being ringed.

It took 6 hours to sort through today's moth mania ultimately identifying 166 different species. The soaring temperatures of yesterday coupled with high humidity saw many species erupt in numbers for example Chrysoteuchia culmella of which only 8 were trapped yesterday now totaled 678. But here are a few stars of the show:

First site record of Light Crimson Underwing. A rare moth in the UK but known to breed in New Forest National Park.

Another first for Landguard Epiblema turbidana and second Suffolk record. Very striking green eye!

Perhaps the wildest yet - Israeli Tiger Moth. This is the second UK record with the first being trapped here 6 years ago. Given this species is extremely rare in its native range it really is a wonder how it ended up here at LBO.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush.  

 

Tuesday 1st July 2025

One for sorrow, two for joy and three for directions to the local ferry terminal.

Calm conditions with a bit of cloud cover ensured July's ringing total got off to a flying start. A young Kestrel appeared today and spent the day being mobbed by Linnets as it explored its new surroundings. 1 Black Redstart also present. Other migrants include 1 Curlew, 1 Lapwing, 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Swift and 1 Whimbrel. 

Juvenile Siskin ringed in the evening.

Six-belted Clearwing moths are out on the Birds-foot-trefoil. Much easier to find and count when you have a pheromone lure.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Linnet, 1 Magpie, 1 Robin, 1 Siskin, 1 Woodpigeon, 4 Wren.

JUNE RINGING TOTALS

 

155 birds of 20 species is in many respects a similar year to 2024 albeit 11 birds less. Cetti's Warbler have bred again for a second year running and have seen success on at least 2 broods so far. The Tits both Blue and Great have managed to carry the ringing total this month as we ringed less than half our usual Linnets. Not so many young House Sparrows around either which was expected with less adults being observed. Blackbird is another species which seems to have had an abysmal breeding year but there is still time. 

Species	No. Ringed
Blackbird	4
Blackcap	4
Blue Tit	22
Cetti's Warbler	5
Chiffchaff	9
Coal Tit	2
Dunnock	14
Goldfinch	2
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Great Tit	33
Grey Wagtail	2
House Sparrow	3
Lesser Whitethroat	6
Linnet	15
Reed Warbler	6
Robin	6
Starling	2
Whitethroat	5
Woodpigeon	2
Wren	12
Total	155

Monday 30th June 2025

Hot & humid start. A dispersing juvenile Wheatear near the point will have been bred not far away so good to know a pair has churned a brood out somewhere up the coast. An adult Lapwing on the reserve will be a post-breeder coming into the country to moult, probably from the Low Countries. Finally another Great Spot visited. 

In the evening around 250 Starling were feeding not far from the point and a single Shelduck possibly the last of the year yet to depart. 

Gypsonoma minutana is a nationally scarce species living here on the Poplars.

Ringing: 1 Woodpigeon.