Tuesday 24th March 2026

A cloudy morning with strengthening SW wind produced our 2nd earliest ever ringed Willow warbler. The record still stands with the 23rd March 2024. Last year our first was 18 days later. 

Species like the Willow warbler can pass through undetected without ringing as these individuals are not signing, as these birds won't be holding territories on site, with their beautiful song being the easiest identification to tell them apart from the somewhat similar Chiffchaff. 

Less mist at sea provided some sea watching, with a Red-throated diver seen flying south, other birds moving south included a Heron .... rare for this site, 3 Brent geese, 2 Cormorant and an Oystercatcher. North movements included 5 Greylag geese and 5 Brent.   

Early morning there were multiple Redwing and Fieldfare passing through with other migrants on site including 15 Chiffchaff, 5 Siskin, 4 Firecrest and interestingly another sighting of a Yellowhammer.    

Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) Which has likely just emerged from hibernation. 

 

Ringing: 11 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Willow warbler.

SEASONAL FENCING - CHANGE OF DATE

CHANGE OF DATE FROM WEDNESDAY TO THURSDAY THIS WEEK

It is now planned to erect the temporary fencing to help protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora on Thursday 26th March 0930 hrs start. Please meet at the old seawatch hide and wear sensible footwear, gardening type gloves & clothing for the task in hand. Many hands make light work so the more people who can turn up the better.

Monday 23rd March 2026

 

Blossom Underwing, (Orthosia miniosa), found in one of our light traps this morning, this being the fourth record for Landguard (A scarce species for Suffolk) and is most likely a migrant. 

A hazy day with a slight SSE wind, producing our first small influx of Chiffchaff this spring. The mist lingered preventing any good sea watching. A Black redstart was seen flying around the fence line of the fort and a white wagtail was seen on the peninsular. Lingering migrants included Siskin, Goldcrest and a Redwing. 

A Yellowhammer was drawn to our nets, an uncommon visitor for the site and was a treat to ring, with the previous individual ringed in 2020, and only 5 ringed since the millennium. Between 1983 to 2000.... 17 years... 161 Yellowhammer where ringed at this observatory, highlighting the quite dramatic decline of this species in this area.      

Ringing: 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin (both continental), 2 Song thrush, 1 Blue tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Wood Pigeon.    

SEASONAL FENCING LANDGUARD NATURE RESERVE

It is planned to erect temporary fencing to help protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora on Wednesday 25th March 0930 hrs start. Please meet at the old seawatch hide and wear sensible footwear, gardening type gloves & clothing for the task in hand. Many hands make light work so the more people who can turn up the better.

Sunday 22nd March 2026

 

Almost a migrant free zone until late morning when 4 Fieldfare showed up plus 2 Redwing early afternoon. 3 Curlew flew north, 2 Mipit & a Chaffinch on the reserve.

Ringing: 1 House Sparrow, 1 Redwing.

Saturday 21st March 2026

 

Shelduck, (Tadorna tadorna) on the peninsular, the scientific name originating from Celtic and French roots for "pied waterfowl".

A surprisingly clear morning producing a frost, with a bank of fog looming near the port. Few migrants, with a Siskin and Redwing present. Northbound where 4 Brent geese and 2 Gannet. Rare for this site a Red kite was seen heading south. A Grey wagtail was also seen which is the fist for spring.  

Ringing: 2 Redwing, 1 Blue tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Linnet, 1 Song thrush. 

Friday 20th March 2026

 

Deer Vomit Fungus (Fusicolla merismoides) - perhaps a first record for Landguard.

Starting misty and murky with a gentle NE breeze again, however feeling more northerly than easterly! With Redwings filtering high above first light. Once the fog cleared a group of 10 siskin where seen going south with 2 later seen heading north. The White Wagtail is still present around the tip of the peninsula.

 Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea), an occasional occurrence for Landguard, drifting down from a clump of Pine trees off-site.

Ringing: 2 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet