Monday 18th May 2026

 

Male Linnet (Linaria cannabina) out on the reserve. 

A bright morning with a gentle SW wind slowly increasing. A Black Redstart still calling frequently from the fort. Two different families of Great Tit with young flying around the reserve.    

Sea-watching produced a Canada goose north only. 14 Swallow observed flying south overland. 

Moth trapping: 1 new species for this year, among a catch of 30 species, our first Small Elephant Hawk-moth of the season, typically a fairly common species here late summer.   

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)

Bird ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler. 

Sunday 17th May 2026

 

Few new migrants in today with 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & a Mipit plus southbound 25 Swallow & a House Martin. An independent young Wren may well be from a brood in the cottage garden seen a few days ago that are now wandering.

Coronet was first noted here in 2004 & has become annual from 2016 onwards. Formerly on Elms it has, apparently, shifted its foodplant to Privet.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren

Saturday 16th May 2026

 

Three baby Great Tits first seen last Saturday are doing well still being fed by mum & Dad which they tend to do for the first couple of weeks out of the nest before they have to fend for themselves.

A slightly warmer morning with at least 6 Reed Warbler chuntering away. At least 22 Swallow, Sand Martin & a Yellow Wag flew south. A Cuckoo flew out of the Customs' House grounds over the caravan site. More baby Starling's are out & about which seems slightly earlier than recent years. Of interest a Whitethroat ringed last year at the end of June has returned.

Sea-watching almost non-existent with a Med Gull the only thing worth mentioning. 

Broad-bodied Chaser's are starting to emerge into the sunshine.

Oak-tree Pug is one of those pugs that can be confused with similar congerers.

Moth trapping: 24 Species present, with 3 new species for this spring, Cinnabar, Vines Rustic and Pale Mottled Willow. 

Bird ringing: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Willow Warbler

Friday 15th May 2026

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) seen near the point.  A little delve into the scientific name reveals Greek and Latin origins of the words: Haematopus - "blood-red footed" and ostralegus  - "oyster-gatherer". 

NW winds continue, however a small dose of migrants: 3 Reed Warbler and a small increase of Lesser Whitethroat. A Black Redstart continues to call from the roof of the fort. Our first 2 Juvenile Magpie were also spotted mobile around the reserve.  

Sea-watching produced: 6 Shelduck, 3 Black-headed gull, 2 Sandwich Tern and a Fulmar, all north. No south movement observed.

Moth trapping: 9 Species present across our 3 traps. No new species for this spring today. However our largest catch of Large Yellow Underwing, with 3 individuals, there will be more as we get into summer!. The Large Yellow Underwing is potentially the most abundant large moth in the UK.  

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

Bird ringing: 3 Willow warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch.  

Thursday 14th May 2026

 

Greater black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), a few pairs nest nearby on the docks annually.

Another somewhat slow day, with wind WNW, 2 new arrival Reed warblers heard calling from within the compound. Out on the reserve the first juvenile Dunnock was spotted. A single Swift was seen heading north and a Turnstone in near-full breeding plumage was seen near the tip of the peninsula.   

Sea-watching produced; 5 Gannet and 3 Scoter north. 3 Black headed gulls, a Cormorant and a Shelduck south.  

Moth trapping: A small catch once again with only 7 species present. However new for this year, 2 examples of the migratory Dark Sword-grass. The larvae feed at night on or below the ground on herbaceous plants and their roots, due to this there is no evidence of them breeding in the UK.    

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

Bird ringing: 1 Reed warbler, 1 Willow warbler.  

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.