Thursday 20th August 2026

 

Less offshore but slightly better on land with 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, Lesser 'throat & Reed Warbler. Southbound 41 Swallow, 14 Teal, 11 Oyk, 7 Turnstone, 3 Great Black-backs, 3 Whimbrel, Barwit & Knot. Sanderling on the beach & 2 Black Red still with us.

Centre-barred Sallow is an autumnal species that wanders down here occasionally from areas with Ash tree.

Ringing: 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler.

Wednesday 19th August 2026

 

Winters coming when an adult Common Gull has returned to the Dock Viewing area.

Bit more on the move with southbound 118 Oyk, 34 Swallow, 23 Sand Martin, 16 Redshank, 10 Med Gulls, 10 Ringos, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Great Black-backs, 7 Sanderling, 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Shelduck, & Turnstone with northbound 8 Barnacles. Grounded migrants still in paltry numbers with 6 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser 'throat, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatear & Sedge Warbler. 2 Black Reds still with us.

Common Wave is not rare in Suffolk but it just don't come to visit very often.

Ringing: 1 Linnet, 1 Robin, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Ringing Recoveries

 Blackcap ringed Noain, Navarra, Spain on 30th September 2024 was caught at LBO 1044 km away on 14th April 2025. This bird will have been on autumn passage in northern Spain & spring passage here. Only took 16 months to get the ringing details !

Reed Warbler ringed Trimley 19th August 2024 was at LBO 19th July 2026 is, presumably, a Trimley breeder which wandered around here prior to it's autumn departure.

Tuesday 18th August 2026

 

First Purp of the autumn gave it a real autumnal feel. Southbound 74 Oyk, 18 Barnacles, 9 Dunlin, 6 Teal, 5 Swallow, 4 Barwit, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern, 2 Great Black-backs, 2 Turnstone & Redshank with northbound 13 Sandwich Tern, 3 Dunlin & 2 Common Tern. Very poor numbers of grounded migrants although 2 Wheatear & a Golden Plover worth a mention. Still 2 Black Reds wandering around and about.

Getting regular Sandhill Rustic in low numbers. It's a nationally scarce species that lives on salt-marsh.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Reed Warbler.

Monday 17th August 2026

 

Hard work, again. Migrants consisted of southbound 8 Oyk, 5 Swallow, 4 Ringo, Barnacle Goose, Marsh Harrier & Yellow Wag with northbound 13 Barnacle & an Oyk. On site 5 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser 'throat, 3 Willow Warbler & Wheatear + 2 loitering Black Reds.

New to Suffolk five years ago Blastobasis vittata has found its way down here this year. It's an adventive species originating in Madeira.

Ringing: 1 Linnet, 1 Robin.

Sunday 16th August 2026

 

Warehouse in Harwich going up in flames this morning.

Small handful of migrants included 8 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Swallow & Wheatear. 2 Black Reds are currently wandering around the site & a Great Spot visited. Offshore movements very basic with a Fulmar flying over the docks then north worth a mention as they have been scarce all summer.

Pyrausta purpuralis has become more infrequent down here over the years. It lives on Self-heal which does better in neglected urban gardens than with us.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Reed Warbler.
 

Saturday 15th August 2026

 

The odd Common Tern is feeding offshore & along the riverbank with the Sandwich Terns.

Considering the easterly influence to the weather plus overcast conditions its poor with grounded migrants limited to 5 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler & Wheatear plus a Snipe coming in off the sea  pitching onto the reserve. Southbound single Heron, Marsh Harrier, Swallow, Teal & Yellow Wag plus a Swift north.

Orange Swift are now appearing as the autumn advances.

Ringing: 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.