Saturday 22nd October 2011

Weather consisted of a south south-easterly wind. There was very little cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 1 Sooty Shearwater, 9 Brent Geese, 3 Pintail, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 16 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Curlew, 5 Kittiwake, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 4 Great Skua, 22 Skylark, 539 Starling, 3 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 450 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin and 10 Redpoll. 13 birds ringed today; 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Robin, 1 Brambling, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow and 1 Fieldfare. Also of interest found today was a Pomarine Skua and 2 Purple Sandpiper. A Dutch ringed Blackacp was found whilst undertaking the daily bird ringing.

Friday 21st October 2011

Weather consisted of a light to gentle south-westerly wind. There was not much cloud cover. Highlights today were 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Merlin, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Brambling. Also recorded were 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush and 5 Redwing.

Thursday 20th October 2011

Weather consisted of a west north-westerly wind, there was very little cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 28 Brent Geese, 8 Eider, 10 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Cormorant, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Oystercatcher, 168 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Woodpigeon, 17 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 56 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Grey Wagtail, 15 Pied Wagtail, 23 Meadow Pipit, 59 Chaffinch, 48 Greenfinch, 747 Goldfinch, 56 Siskin, 33 Linnet, 35 Redpoll and 2 Reed Bunting. Other birds of interest seen that were grounded were 1 juvenile female Hen Harrier, 2 Turnstone, 2 Common Tern, 1 Little Owl, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 9 Redwing, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Rock Pipit and 4 Brambling. 24 birds ringed today; 1 juvenile female Hen Harrier (new species for the Landguard Ringing List), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Robin, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 1 female Blackcap, 2 Blackbird, 1 female Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing and 1 Woodpigeon.

EASYFUNDRAISING

If you are the sort of person who shops on line may i draw your attention to a way of raising funds for the observatory via "easyfundraising". Please see the link at the base of the home page on http://www.lbo.org.uk/ if you are willing to help us each time you shop on line. Many thanks.

Wednesday 19th October 2011

Bright n' breezy. On the move 1155 Goldies, 193 Redpolls, 84 Chaffs, 64 Linnets, 63 Greenies, 53 Siskins, 18 Skylarks, 14 Mipits, 11 Pied Wags, 3 Reed Bunts, 3 Swallows, 2 Jackdaws & singles of Rock Pipit, Grey Wag, House Martin, Crossbill & Woodlark going south. Fairly quiet in the bushes with the usual mid-October fare in very small numbers. Just 2 Wheatears on the reserve today. Offshore the only thing worth a mention is a solitary Eider going north. 2 immature male Peregrines hammered through calling to each other late morning may be youngsters from the Orwell bridge. Finally just outside our recording area was a Yellow-browed Warbler by the Customs House.

Tuesday 18th October 2011

A small arrival of new birds today with a couple of new Chiffs & Blackcaps in the bushes plus 9 Wheatear on the reserve. Vis mig not spectacular following the overnight rain that cleared around dawn with 231 Goldies, 45 Lesser Redpolls & everything else in low numbers. Offshore 17 Eiders south was unusual (they normally go north here at this time of the year) & an Arctic Skua chasing a small wader (dunlin ?) that hopefully escaped it's grasp, 4 Arctic & 1 Common Tern - but little else. A Little Egret went south and inland with a Merlin putting in a brief appearance. Finally 2 Purps and 2 Rock Pipits were on the point.

Monday 17th October 2011

Migrants observed passing through were 11 Brent Geese, 3 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 6 Cormorant, 53 Black-heaed Gulls, 10 Skylark, 7 Swallow, 268 Starling, 1 Dunnock, 15 Pied Wagtail, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 138 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 162 Greenfinch, 689 Goldfinch, 42 Siskin, 52 Redpoll and 3 Reed Bunting. 29 birds ringed today; 15 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blackbird, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Meadow Pipit.

Sunday 16th October 2011

Booted Warbler - 1st site record enjoyed by about 500 punters. A good selection of the expected common migrants for the time of year present today in small numbers plus of note a Yellow-browed Warbler (that at one point was in the same field of view as the Booted), a late Tree Pipit, Common Redpoll & 2 Arctic Terns south offshore. Vis mig not over busy with 362 Goldies the dominant species & everything else in counts under 30. Over 50 birds ringed so far. An all round cracking day.