Saturday 2nd July 2011

Three Little Owl babes out with mum & dad this morning to the delight off all those who came to the "Moth Morning". Bordered Straw was the highlight for me with an Eyed Hawk-moth the highlight for the punters.

Friday 1st July 2011

Redshank south was the first of the autumn. Otherwise migrants are basically dispersing juvs. Baby Wheatear still on the reserve - it looks to young to be away from its parents already ! plus several new Chiffchaffs in the bushes today. Another Langmaid's Yellow Underwing this morning plus a Bordered Straw & the first Phlyctaenia perlucidalis to put in an appearance for several years. Also worth a mention are Roesel's Bush Crickets on the Butts (although they live here we don't always get round to looking for this nationally rare species only found in coastal meadow areas).

JUNE RINGING TOTALS

181 new birds of 24 species ringed with the top three:

1st     Great Tit 24     2nd     Greenfinch 23     3rd     Dunnock 21

This is over a hundred down on last year and out lowest June ringing total for twenty years.   

Thursday 30th June 2011

Migrant birds a bit non-existent but getting on with other jobs meant something might have been overlooked. A Langmaid's Yellow Underwing in the moth trap is notable.

Wednesday 29th June 2011

Weather consisted of a fresh to strong west north-westerly wind. There was no cloud cover. Migrants seen passing through were 1 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 3 Cormorant, 6 Curlew, 9 Swift, 6 Swallow and 1 House Martin. A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was found. A Cuckoo was present out on the reserve, possibly the same bird that has been seen here recently. A juvenile Northern Wheatear was also seen out on the reserve, the first juvenile to be seen here at Landguard this year. There were 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Common Whitethroat also found. 7 birds ringed today; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock and 1 Greenfinch. Butterflies found included 4 Comma and Small Heath. The first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year was recorded showing very well at the top of the Bird Observatory, within the compound.

Tuesday 28th June 2011

Adult Cuckoo again this am. A Lapwing on the reserve will be a failed breeder moving to its wintering grounds to moult. Offshore a few terns including 10 Sandwich moving out of the river and north and 5 Curlew south. A Grey Wagtail going south will be a dispersing juvenile. Moth traps very busy today following a warm muggy night. Dotted Border, Cream Wave & Scota adelphella are all good moths for Landguard and the first of their kind seen for several years. On the down side butterfly numbers have been poor this year despite the warm weather although the first Essex Skipper of the year appeared today.

Monday 27th June 2011

Bit devoid of migrants so far today. Another adult Cuckoo put in an appearance early afternoon. A run of Cuckoos over the past week or so is notable for the fact that the bulk of them are seen from late morning onwards - are they doing the migration thing in the mornings and plonking themselves down here for a feed after flying a few miles first ? Apart from this its a case of the usual birds in the usual places. A Mother Shipton was good to see on the Butts as we don't record this species every year.

Sunday 26th June 2011

The weather consisted of a light south-westerly wind with much cloud. It was a warm day. Migrants observed passing through were 1 Mallard, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Curlew and 2 Sandwich Tern. 5 Little Tern and 2 Common Tern were seen fishing close offshore. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was found after it was heard calling. A Reed Warbler was also heard calling and was later trapped and ringed. Another new Blackcap was also recorded. 10 birds ringed today; 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Woodpigeon.

Saturday 25th June 2011

The weather consisted of a strong south south-westerly wind and complete cloud cover. There was rain and drizzle early in the morning. Migrants seen passing through were 1 Common Scoter, 21 Gannet, 2 Dunlin, 41 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit (this species is uncommon here at Landguard), 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Tern, 1 Common Tern and 1 Swift. 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap were found within the compound. Also recorded were 2 Common Whitethroat and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. 5 birds ringed today; 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Linnet and 1 Goldfinch.