Saturday July 30th 2011

Weather started off with a gentle south-easterly wind changing to north-westerly. There was complete cloud cover. Migrants passing through were 1 Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, 11 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 4 Crossbill and 17 Common Tern. A Common Sandpiper and juvenile Green Woodpecker were found. Warblers present were 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 2 Common Whitethroat. 2 adult Med Gull were also seen. 10 birds ringed today; 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Linnet, 2 Common Whitethroat and 3 Greenfinch. A Common Seal was recorded offshore.

Friday 29th July 2011

Weather consisted of a gentle northerly wind and complete cloud cover, by late morning it was flat calm. Migrants seen passing through were 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 3 Common Tern, 7 Sandwich Tern, 111 Swift, 25 Swallow and 8 House Martin. Grounded migrants found were 10 Willow Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler. 1 adult Med Gull was present. 25 birds ringed today; 7 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Collared Dove, 5 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet and 1 Wren. A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was recorded. 2 Harbour Porpoise were seen offshore.

Thursday 28th July 2011

Weather consisted of a very light north north-westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Not much seen moving through, 1 Greenshank was heard calling as it went south and a Swift was seen passing overhead. 5 Sandwich Tern and 28 Common Tern were recorded. 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Common Whitethroat were present. 9 birds ringed today; 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Linnet and 6 Greenfinch.

Wednesday 27th July 2011

A juv Peregrine was possibly one of the offspring from the Orwell Bridge going walkabout - it certainly gave one of the local Wood Pigeons a fright when it went for it. Offshore over 50 Common Terns are feeding joined briefly by singles of Sandwich, Little & Med Gull. The first juv Common Gull of the autumn was noted. 5 Common Scoter went north & 2 Whimbrel, a Gannet plus a Yellow Wag south. In the bushes the Willow Warbler from a couple of days ago is still with us and considering the cool northerly airflow it's surprising it hasn't been joined by any more.

Tuesday 26th July 2011

Weather consisted of a gentle to moderate north westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants seen moving through were 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Tern, 2 Swift and 6 Swallow. There were 8 Common Whitethroat found and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. 5 birds ringed today; 1 Robin, 3 Linnet and 1 Goldfinch. In the moth traps was a Silky Wainscott, it is a reed bed species that we have only noted once before in 2003; also found was Rhyacionia pinicolana, a species that lives in coniferous forests, it put in it's first appearance since 2006. Close offshore a Harbour Porpoise and Common Seal were seen.

Monday 25th July 2011

Weather consisted of a very light west north-westerly wind with much cloud. Black-headed Gulls were on the move today with 81 seen heading south and 368 recorded as present. The first Willow Warbler of the autumn was recorded and ringed. Also moving through were 4 young Shelduck, 5 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Tern. 18 birds ringed today; 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Starling, 6 Linnet, 5 Greenfinch, 1 Blackbird and 1 House Sparrow. An Emperor Dragonfly was found. Many of the familar Landguard butterflies were seen.

Sunday 24th July 2011

Two flocks of Crossbills totalling 38 birds south was this mornings highlight. Also on the move 13 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 2 Yellow Wags & a handful of common waders. A juv Hobby is early(ish) for one to be out on its own. In the bushes yesterdays Reed Warbler is still with us and out on the reserve plenty of Greenies, Linnets & Spadgers. Still blowing a gale isn't helping but out of the wind a good selection of butterflies are on the wing. The plume moth Platyptilia pallidactyla showed up for the first time since 2003.