Saturday 30th April 2011

A fairly breezy day with a strong east north-easterly wind. Much of the morning was spent seawatching. Highlight of the day was a Spoonbill seen coming in at 09:20hrs. This is only the 7th Landguard record. Throughout the morning an impressive 270 Common Terns were counted heading north; also on the move were 3 Fulmar, 1 Gannet, 31 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew and 11 Greenshank. 8 Swallow were also recorded moving through. The Shorelark remains present out on the reserve along with 10 Wheatear. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing in front of the observatory and 4 Common Whitethroats were also found. A Grass Snake was found within the compound along with a Hairy Dragonfly.

Friday 29th April 2011

The Shorelark was still once again present out on the reserve, for many more birders to see. Migrants on the move were 1 Cormorant, 2 Fulmar, 1 Shelduck, 4 Little Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 8 Common Tern, 3 Curlew, 6 Dunlin, 9 Swallow, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch and 1 Chaffinch. 15 Wheataer were recorded out on the reserve. Warblers found throughout the recording area were 1 Blackcap, 6 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff. Also of interest seen today was a Greenshank. There were 7 birds ringed in total today; 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear and 1 Chaffinch.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Amongst the recent batch of recoveries received from the BTO are a male Chaffinch ringed here on 2nd March 2010 re caught by a Norwegian ringer at Vest-Agder 786km to the NNE of us 30 days later & a Firecrest ringed here on 31st March 2008 caught again by a ringer in Southampton on 25th January 2011. Also in the recent batch a couple of oldies. An Oystercatcher ringed as an adult at Fagbury (prior to the dock being built over it) on 23rd February 1986 was taken by a raptor 25 years later on Friesland, The Netherlands on 25th March 2011 & a Black-headed Gull ringed as an adult on 6th December 1986 was re trapped by a ringer in Ipswich 24 years later on 7th December 2010.

Thursday 28th April 2011

The day began with a fairly breezy northerly wind only to become even more strong, still from the north! Migrants moving through were dominated by large numbers of Common Terns, 107 were recorded heading north throughout the course of the morning. Other species on the move were 2 Gannet, 1 Fulmar, 1 Whimbrel and 21 Bar-tailed Godwit. The highlight of the day was a Red-necked Grebe seen heading north. Also present was the Shorelark and 8 Wheatear out on the reserve. Warblers recorded were 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff. 2 birds ringed today; 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Common Whitethroat.

Wednesday 27th April 2011

Very poor for the time of the year probably due to the northerly winds. Shorelark & 11 Wheatears on the reserve with a handful of Whitethroats & Lesser Whitethroats singing in the usual places. Offshore a selection of Gulls & 14 Common Terns feeding for the first couple of hours. 3 Fulmars, 2 Kitts, 1 Gannet & 3 Whimbrels moving offshore plus a second-summer Med in the river mouth. Change in the weather needed - please !

Tuesday 26th April 2011

The highlight of the day was an immature Montagu's Harrier seen from the top of the Bird Observatory. The Shorelark was still here out on the reserve; 14 Wheatear were present too. Warblers recorded were 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler (the 1st of the year). 7 Common Tern and 3 Swallow were seen passing through. 5 birds ringed today; 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler. A Small White butterfly was seen.

Monday 25th April 2011

The Shorelark remains ever present and showing very well. Other birds of note were 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Common Whitethroat, a stunning adult male Black Redstart and a Tree Sparrow. Migrants on the move were 1 Brent Goose, 3 Barnacle Geese, 2 Common Tern, 3 Swallow and 2 Goldfinch. 9 birds ringed today; 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Robin. Butterflies found were Small White, Small Copper, Small Tort, Large White, Holly Blue and Red Admiral. A Hairy Dragonfly was spotted behind the kitchen in the Bird Observatory compound. The Weasel was seen once again.

Sunday 24th April 2011

A small arrival of new Lesser throats, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warbler plus a new Wren & a new Chaffinch turned up this am. 13 Goldfinchs and 13 Swallows flew south with 2 Yellow Wags north, 4 south plus one on the reserve. The Shorelark is still with us plus at least a dozen Wheatears on the reserve. Apart from this migrants are in short supply with as much interest on insects in this warm weather as on birds at the moment.