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. 

 

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)