Friday 12th June 2026

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

A cloudy morning with a moderate breeze from the W. 14 Swift flying south low over the observatory early morning and 3 Swallow also south. Inside the compound 2 Collared Dove, a young Coal Tit that visited our nets eventually and a Blackcap singing. 3 young Crows seen in our on site nest. Out on the reserve the Ringed Plover have one chick remaining and one nest appears to have been abandoned, 6 Adults total. 

Seawatching produced: 7 Black-headed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Curlew, all south. 2 Cormorant and a Gannet north. 

Moth trapping: 33 moth species across our 3 traps. Today's moth of the day is the Archer's Dart, a moth that regularly occurs along the Suffolk coast and in the Brecks. This moth can be abundant at this location as the summer progresses with adults on the wing from now till september as a single generation. The larvae feed on Ragwort and Heathers.  

Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis)

Bird ringing: 3 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 House Sparrow.  

Thursday 11th June 2026

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) sitting next to some Narrow-leaved Ragwort, which is an invasive weed from South Africa. 

Starting sunny but later clouding over and raining for the rest of today. Few additions to the compound with 2 Blackcaps arriving new. Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat present also and the Ring Plover were still present on the reserve with a chick. 

Seawatching produced a small number of movements with 5 Black-headed gulls flying south and 2 east. 1 Cormorant was also seen flying south. 

Moth trapping: A colder night, so once again a smaller catch with 21 species present across our 3 traps. Todays moth of the day is the Heart and Club, a moth now classified as nationally common with the moth preferring sand dune habitat in the south east. Once not recorded here in the previous century, it is now a regular visitor to our traps in summer. 

Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis).

Bird ringing: 3 Linnet,  3 Blue Tit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 House Sparrow.

Wednesday 10th June 2026

 

Carrion Crow have nested within the compound for the first time ever - only one begging youngster on view so far.

A singing Garden Warbler is getting late in the spring, although they do nest in the far north of Europe so it may well be a tardy migrant. Grey Wag was an adult female so when one considers how many actually nest in Suffolk, it's intriguing as to know where it has attempted breeding this year. Other migrants largely insignificant although southbound 3 Swift, Little Egret & Swallow.

First Lackey of the year. It is a declining species with Landguard bucking this trend noting more over the past ten years than ever before.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 9th June 2026

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti)
                  

A bright morning with increasing wind from the W. A handful of migrants with a new Chiffchaff and some young Whitethroat around in the compound. A Black Redstart re-appeared on the fort. 8 Swallow passing over the course of the morning, 4 W and 4 S. Norfolk Hawker dragonfly and Broad-bodied Chaser seen out on the reserve. 

Seawatching produced; 3 Black-headed Gull, 3 Cormorant, 3 Swallow, an Oystercatcher and a Curlew all South. 

Moth trapping: 41 species across our 3 traps. Today's moth of the day the Shore Wainscot. This is a nationally scarce species associated with Marram grass, which has expanded its range here over the last few year. Prior to this, we had only recorded the moth in two years during the last century. 

Shore Wainscot (Mythimna litoralis) 

Bird ringing: 2 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 1 Cetti's, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat

Monday 8th June 2026

A Bunny (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in some nice evening light.

An overcast morning with spells of rain, so no mist netting. A Reed Warbler was calling from near the 'Icky ridge'. Our Red-legged Partridge made a welcome return after not being seen for a couple days. We also still have our two Ringed Plover chicks present, becoming ever more like their parents, 4 pairs on nests also. 

Seawatching produced a small number of observations; 8 Black-headed gulls and a Curlew both south. 2 Greater Black-backed gull flying out to sea. 

Moth trapping: 36 Species present across our 3 traps. Moth of the day is the Barred Yellow, a widely distributed moth but occurring locally as the larvae feed on Dog Rose. 

Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata)

Bird ringing: 1 Blue tit.  

Sunday 7th June 2026

 A Knot on the beach is a bit unseasonal. 

Also unexpected today were 2 adult Sedge Warblers as we haven't seen one since 26th April. Presumably wandering failed breeders, we only have ten previous June records in total. Southbound 6 Oyk, 5 Black-headed Gull, 3 House Martin, 3 Med Gull, Common Tern, Curlew, Fulmar, Sand Martin & Swallow with northbound 5 Common Scoter & Sandwich Tern. A Coal Tit turned up with a marauding flock of Blue & Great Tit late morning.

We do ok for Cream-spot Tiger which is a species largely confined to the Brecks & along the coastal belt.

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit.

Saturday 6th June 2026

Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)

A good day to be a snail, a wet morning with strong winds up to beaufort scale 6 (25-30mph). Most interesting observations coming from the shelter of the observatory with 2 Curlew, 9 Swift, 5 Gannet and a Cormorant south. 29 Common Scoter north. 

Moth trapping: 37 Species across our 3 traps last night, with strong winds owing to a slightly smaller catch once again. Today's colourful pick of the bunch is the Elephant Hawk moth, on the wing from May to early August, seen across the uk in gardens, scrub and sand dunes. Caterpillars feed on willowherbs, fuchsia and bedstraw, and the adults feed on nectar. The number we get each year varies greatly.

Elephant Hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Bird ringing: 1 Dunnock (Young caught in our Heligoland trap).