Saturday 1st October 2011

Weather consisted of a south south-westerly wind turning south-easterly. It was foggy early morning. Migrants observed passing through were 13 Brent Geese, 3 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 5 Goldfinch and 3 Siskin. Highlight of the day was a Richard's Pipit seen heading south at 10:25 hours. Also seen today was 1 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear. 1 bird ringed today; 1 Chaffinch. In the moth traps the 2nd site record of Pale-lemon Sallow, also of note a Cypress Pug, Palpita vitrealis and Bordered Straw. 2 Hawthorn Shield Bugs were found.

September 2011 Ringing Totals

In September 2011 467 birds were ringed, this is a lower figure than the last two years. On a good note though a record number of Chiffchaffs were ringed this month and more have now been ringed at Landguard this year than in any previous year!

Top 3 species ringed in September 2011

1. Chiffchaff     117        2. Blackcap     80        3. Meadow Pipit     50

Friday 30th September 2011

Weather consisted of a light to gentle south-easterly wind, there was no cloud cover, once again it was very warm, especailly for the time of year! Migrants observed passing through were 22 Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck, 11 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 1 Mallard, 1 Fulmar, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 2 Skylark, 14 Swallow, 6 Grey Wagtail, 11 Pied Wagtail, 22 Meadow Pipit, 15 Chaffinch, 16 Goldfinch, 4 Redpoll and 1 Reed Bunting. 1 Northern Wheatear was found out on the reserve. Warblers present were 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Whitethroat. 14 birds ringed today; 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Linnet, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Robin and 2 Great Tit. In the moth traps Palpita vitrealis is a noteable migrant having come up from southern Europe. Butterflies seen included Small Heath, Small Copper and Common Blue. 3 Migrant Hawker Dragonflies were found and 1 Common Darter.

Thursday 29th September 2011

Weather consisted of a south-easterly wind, there was no cloud cover. It was misty and warm. Migrants observed passing through were 11 Brent Geese, 1 Teal, 1 Cormorant, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 25 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10 Pied Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, 49 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin and 3 Reed Bunting. A Whinchat and Wheatear were found out on the reserve. 5 birds ringed today; 1 Song Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock and 1 Starling.

Wednesday 28th September 2011

Weather consisted of a light south-easterly wind and there was no cloud cover. It was another very warm day for the time of the year. Migrants observed passing through were 336 Brent Geese, 18 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 3 Eider, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 6 Curlew, 2 Jackdaw, 45 Swallow, 4 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 28 Meadow Pipit, 10 Chaffinch, 25 Goldfinch, 8 Siskin and 8 Linnet. Grounded migrants found were 1 Ring Ouzel (the first of the autumn), 1 male Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 1 Northern Wheatear and 4 Redpoll. Warblers present were 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Common Whitethroat. 17 birds ringed in total today; 8 Chaffinch, 2 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Great Tit and 1 Blackbird. Butterflies found included a Clouded Yellow, Comma, Small Heath, Small Tortiseshell and Common Blue. 20 Red Admiral were seen moving south. Dragonflies seen were Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.

Tuesday 27th September 2011

Fog lingering until almost mid-day. An Osprey appeared out of the murk and flew low over the observatory - if it had been any further away than just over our heads then we wouldn't have known it was there. A Golden Plover was heard calling several times as was a Lapwing that departed inland. Visible migration non-existent in the conditions with sea watching impossible - in fact we couldn't see the sea until late morning. A few grounded migrants noted with Chiffchaff numbers just squeezing into double figures with low single figure counts of Wheatear, Whinchat, Garden Warbler, Lesser 'throat & Goldcrest. In the moth traps 2 Bordered Straw put in an appearance. No doubt if you pop down this pm you will manage more than we did this am as the sun is now out.

Car Parking on Wed 28th

Please note that this Wednesday the View Point car park & the "new" car parking area to the north-west of View Point Road opposite the fort will be closed. This only leaves a limited number of places in the car parking area alongside Left Battery (Icky Ridge to birders). The place will be crawling in police/security due to a visit by the Princess Royal to open the new dock extension. If you wish to avoid potential delays & organised chaos why not park in Manor Terrace car park or catch the bus which is running as normal throughout the days proceedings.

Monday 26th September 2011

Weather consisted of a light to gentle west south-westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 203 Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck, 89 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 3 Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 17 Common Scoter, 4 Gannet, 7 Cormorant, 1 Hobby, 2 Avocet, 5 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 11 Knot, 12 Dunlin, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Curlew, 46 Black-headed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Sand Martin, 327 Swallow, 121 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 34 Meadow Pipit, 22 Goldfinch and 7 Linnet. 2 Northern Wheatear were out on the reserve. There was 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Whitethroat recorded. 2 birds ringed today; 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Greenfinch. A Pink-barred Sallow is notable for us in the moth traps.

Sunday 25th September 2011

Weather consisted of a south south-westerly wind turning south south-easterly. It was a warm day for the time of year. Migrants observed passing through were 71 Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 1 Pintail, 13 Cormorant, 6 Knot, 2 Dunlin, 79 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 23 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Siskin and 1 Reed Bunting. Grounded migrants found were 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear, there were also 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. 3 Mediterranean Gulls were recorded. 9 birds ringed today; 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Robin. Butterflies present included Brown Argus and Small Copper. A Western Conifer Seed Bug was found at midday, a very good record for this species as not commonly seen.