Friday 8th May 2026

 

 

Greylag goose (Anser anser), near the tip of the peninsula first thing this morning. 

A sunny morning with a slight ENE wind. Once again opening nets to the sound of the Black redstart 1st year male, calling out from the walls of the fort, and continuing throughout the morning. A single Wheatear remains on the peninsula and a Whimbrel seen on the beach. Potentially a pair of swallow hanging around the observatory - maybe thinking about nesting?. Excitingly we also ringed our first fledgling Linnet. 

Sea watching slowing with: 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Sanderling, a Cormorant and a Shelduck north. No passage south observed. 

Overland migration included below 10 Swallow, and 3 Jackdaw south. A Peregrine was also observed flying east.     

Moth trapping: 21 species caught last night, with three new species for this year: Sandy carpet, Garden Pebble and the Vine moth, today’s focus species.    

The Vine is a nationally scarce species with landguard being its Suffolk stronghold, the larvae most likely living on the Ivy berries at this site. 

Vine moth (Eupoecilia ambiguella)

Bird ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch 

Thursday 7th May 2026

 

Linnet (Linaria cannabina), a little delve into the scientific name: Linaria is latin for Flax, one of the birds favorite seeds (Linseed), Flax is also used to make linen!, cannabina also means hemp which is another of the birds favourite seeds.    

A bright morning with a very slight N wind. Few migrants within the compound, with Linnets making most of the noise this morning. A Yellow wagtail and two Wheatear remaining near the tip of the peninsula.

Sea watching produced a Buzzard, 3 Gannet and 5 Cormorant north. 8 Oystercatchers towards the port (W).    

Overland migration included 9 Swallow south and 3 north, joined by one Sand martin also heading north.    

Plenty of Painted lady butterflies flying around and our 1st Hairy dragonfly sighting of the spring. 

Moth trapping: 9 species present across the 3 traps, slight reduction in species - owing to the damp and cold night last night. On first inspection of the trap a Cream-spot tiger was on the ground next to the first trap and inside the trap was a nice fresh example of a Buff ermine. The larvae of this moth feeds on herbaceous plants , the adult moth is present on the site in small numbers, occurring mostly annually since recording began in 1991.

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea)

Bird ringing: 1 Lesser whitethroat. 

 

Wednesday 6th May 2026

 

Northerlies has resulted in a bit of a migration hiatus. Apart from what lives here just 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear & a Mipit. 9 Swallow went north. Offshore still dismal with a couple of hours purgatory producing just 2 Common Scoter & 2 Gannet.

Low overnight temperatures not good for moths with this Lychnis the first of the year amongst a paltry selection which produced the second Small Mottled Willow of the spring but little else.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 5th May 2026

 

Spot the Purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima), very well camouflaged. 

A sunny morning with slight wind from the NE, produced a relatively quiet morning. Highlights included a Purple sandpiper hanging around the Jetty and unusual birds for the site: Jay and Mute swan. 

Just 3 Wheatear present near the tip of the peninsula, alongside a Yellow wagtail.     

Very little visible migration with just Swallows; 1 north, 31 south and a House martin also south.                                                         

Moth trapping: A little bit quieter than the previous night, owing to a clear night, with just 14 species recorded.  Phtheochroa rugosana is todays focus, this micro can be common here and the larvae feed on White bryony.

Phtheochroa rugosana

Bird ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin, 1 Spotted flycatcher, 1 Whitethroat. 

Monday 4th May 2026

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

A damp foggy morning following overnight rain. A slight breeze from the N turning more NE late morning. 2 Crossbill were seen calling close to the observatory late morning. A female Firecrest was extracted from a net, this individual had a nice pollen horn showing it had wintered in Southern Europe, formed of pollen from Eucalyptus and citrus plants. Outside of the compound a Reed warbler was calling on "Icky ridge" near the the car park. 5 Wheatear and a Yellow wagtail present around the tip of the peninsula and 7 Sanderling on the shoreline.    

Sea watching produced: 4 Greylag geese and an Oystercatcher north, 3 Barnacle geese and one Fulmar south. 

Overland: 21 Swallow and a Hobby north. A Yellowhammer and 62 Swallow south.

Moth trapping: 40 Species present this morning, with today's focus being the Waved umber moth, which has been annual for the past 10 years, with records infrequent prior. The larvae feed on privet and lilac so it will do well here.   

Waved  Umber (Menophra abruptaria) 

Bird ringing: 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap 2 Lesser whitethroat, 2 Willow warbler, 1 Firecrest. 

 Pollen horn on a female Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) 

Sunday 3rd May 2026

 

Handful of expected migrants plus a "brucie bonus" in the form of this 10th site record of Melodious Warbler with a supporting cast of a female Pied Fly & a Cuckoo plus a small handful of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser 'throat, Whitethroat & Willow Warbler. On the reserve 5 Wheatear & Yellow Wag. At least 36 Swallow & 4 Sand Martin flew south with offshore movements limited to a couple of Barwits & Whimbrel. 12 Sanderling were on the beach & a Black Red was singing on the Fort.

This Matthew's Wainscot is early on parade. Most authorities now consider this is just the saltmarsh form of Common Wainscot.

Ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Melodious Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

Saturday 2nd May 2026

 

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Hearing a Wood warbler singing around 6am whilst making a brew, was a nice morning treat. Efforts to find the Tawny pipit where in vain, following the drop in winds over night and a spell of rain, this spell of rain is likely the reason the first spring Wood warbler for six years dropped in.

6 Yellow wagtail near the tip of the peninsula, 4 Wheatear and a White wagtail. A Woodlark appeared late morning & a Spotted Flycatcher mid-day.

Seawatching produced 8 Dunlin and 5 Sandwich tern flying north and 2 Sandwich tern and 2 Cormorant flying south. 2 Whimbrel flying west over the port. A House martin and 27 Swallow south overland. 

Moth trapping: Milder night resulted in 31 species including the 2nd site record of Pammene gigantena, a nationally scarce species that feeds on oak- apple galls.                                                          

 

 Pammene gigantena

Bird ringing: 6 Lesser whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Willow warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Spotted Flycatcher.