Wednesday 13th May 2026

 

Windy with showers making birding difficult although a slight relief from the tedium with the first couple of Willow Warbler for over a week. Chiffchaffs are still battling through despite the adverse conditions with other migrants including a Yellow Wag but little else. Offshore northbound 12 Barwit, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet & a Fulmar with southbound 15 Oyks & a Shelduck. Turnstone near the point should be departing for the far north soon.

White-point was first noted here in 1996 & has since colonised over the past 30 years with this year's first showing up this morning.

Ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Tuesday 12th May 2026

A Juvenile Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), which must have ventured from the town as the ones on the cottage have only hatched in the last 2 days. This one appears to be quite recently fledged, so quite surprising to be on its own. 

W winds today, producing a new Reed Warbler only migration-wise within the compound. The Black Redstart was calling once again from the fort and a visit from a Chaffinch. 4 Swallow south over the reserve.

Plenty of butterflies on the wing around the site with: Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Small and Green-veined Whites.     

Seawatching produced 4 Gannet and a Cormorant north. An Oystercatcher only south.

Moth trapping: 6 Species present following another cold night. Today's pick of the small catch is the Heart and Dart moth, this is a common moth right across the country and can be found in most garden moth traps. The larvae feed on variety of herbaceous plants. 

Heart and Dart moth (Agrotis exclamationis). A little delve into the scientific name reveals Agrotis is relating to farming/rustic association of the moth and exclamationis refers to the exclamation like "dart" on the wing. 

Bird ringing: no new birds. 

Monday 11th May 2026

 

House sparrow (Passer domesticus) enjoying some somewhat brief early morning sun. 

Waking up to a brisk NW wind is not the most promising conditions for any remaining migration on the east coast at this time of the year. 2 Swift and 2 Swallow were seen flying north and 3 Swallow south. Perhaps today's highlight being the news of our first fledged Goldfinch chick of spring this year out on the reserve. A small number of Lesser whitethroats dotted around Landguard peninsula.  

Seawatching produced small movements of 7 Black-headed gull and 6 Oystercatcher south. 5 Cormorant north. A Common gull and Mediterranean gull were seen feeding on the waves. 

Moth trapping: 5 Species present across our 3 traps, 31 moths in total, owing to a cold somewhat windy night. Today's pick of the bunch is the Treble lines moth, our second for this spring, this moth is abundant across England and Wales with some populations also in northern Ireland. However that said this moth still remains an infrequent visitor to our traps.  

Treble lines (Charanyca trigrammica)

Bird ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff. 

Sunday 10th May 2026

 

Just the one Red-leg remains singing his heart out.

Cold with a northerly wind. Offshore the first Spring Pomarine Skua for six years flew north although little else moving with 5 Kitts & 3 Gannet as good as it got in several hours observation. On site 2 Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & an elusive male Pied Fly although birding not at all pleasant in the cold wind.

The first Suffolk record of Toadflax Brocade was here in 2001 since when it has colonised urban areas where it's foodplant occurs. This is the first one here for three years despite it now living & thriving in Felixstowe.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler.

Saturday 9th May 2026

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), 6 present on site today, with 3 new and 3 hanging around that were ringed here recently. 

Strengthening N winds again preventing anything too unusual today migration wise, the young male Black redstart continues to sing from the fort and a Buzzard headed south. Lesser whitethroat and Whitethroat remain around 3 individuals of each. The forts Great tit nest fledged over the course of this morning, 3 were ringed, a typical brood size for habitat fringe sites compared to the more average 7 - 9 sometimes produced in optimal habitats.       

Sea watching produced: 11 Oystercatcher, 7 Gannet, 5 Shelduck,  4 Black-headed gull, 3 Common scoter 2 Fulmar, 2 Whimbrel and a Cormorant north. No passage south. 

Moth trapping: 2 new species present: Thistle Root-borer (Epiblema scutulana) and Setaceous Hebrew Character, in all 21 species present. We had a nice example of the Yellow belle so this is todays focus. 

The First Yellow Belles are starting to appear, which can be found during the day as well as coming to light, with one being seen on net round disappearing into the Nettles.

Yellow Belle (Aspitates ochrearia)

Bird ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Great tit  (all Juvenile), 1 House sparrow, 1 Linnet (Juvenile). 

1st Great tit (Parus major) fledged this year, part of a brood of 3, young last year fledged on 25th May, so 16 days earlier this year. This bird has only recently fledged perhaps this morning or yesterday, decision to photograph was only chosen as this individual was very calm and was then taken back to the area in which it entered the net. 

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.