Saturday 12th November 2011

Weather consisted of a southerly wind, it was very cloudy. A very interesting and productive day with much movement offshore. There was very good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers seen heading south with well over 100 recorded; some of the other species observed on the move were Great Northern Diver, Goldeneye, Rook and Skylark. The highlight of the day was 3 Slavonian Grebes seen resting on the sea, this is a very rare bird at Landguard with the last record here being in the early 1990s. One of yesterday's Firecrests was still present along with yesterday's Chiffchaff, there were 5 Goldcrests also present. Also recorded today was a Woodcock. 43 birds were ringed today, mainly Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.

Friday November 11th 2011

Weather consisted of a moderate south-easterly wind, there was complete cloud cover. It was much cooler today than it had been in recent days. Migrants observed passing through were 8 Brent Geese, 58 Wigeon, 275 Teal, 10 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 8 Pintail, 11 Common Scoter, 8 Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Cormorant, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Sanderling, 1 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Skylark, 11 Starling and 55 Goldfinch. Also present today were 2 Firecrests, 1 male Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap. A Woodcock, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Fieldfare and 1 Song Thrush were also recorded. 13 birds ringed today; 2 Firecrest, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blackbird, 1 male Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch and 1 Goldfinch. A Birch Shield Bug was recorded in one of the moth traps.

Thursday November 10th 2011

Weather consisted of a light south-easterly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 29 Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Short-eared Owl, 32 Skylark, 124 Starling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 18 Meadow Pipit, 78 Chaffinch, 29 Greenfinch, 687 Goldfinch, 26 Siskin, 78 Linnet and 49 Redpoll. 2 Northern Wheatear were found out on the reserve. There were 4 Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrush and 3 Redwing also seen. 7 Mediterranean Gulls were recorded. 34 birds ringed today; 1 Fieldfare, 7 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Robin, 3 Wren and 2 Greenfinch. A Red Admiral butterfly was recorded.

Wednesday 9th November 2011

Another dose of interesting birds today. Another Puffin continues the exceptional run of records of this species. 3 Black-throated Diver went south and a Pomarine Skua was harassing Herring Gulls offshore late morning. Also worth a mention are 256 Brents, 67 Wigeon, 13 Eider, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Gannet, 3 Guillimot, Bonxie, Little Egret & Little Gull. In the area a handful of thrushes & finches, 3 Chiffchaff, Merlin & a different Wheatear to the one seen the last couple of days. Overhead another 300 Goldies plus a handful of other finches & Mipits went south. The entertaining spell continues.

Tuesday 8th November 2011

Not a good start to the day. Intruders overnight had damaged 6 mist nets to varying degrees, attacked 2 moth traps & indulged in various other acts of petty vandalism and criminal damage. On the bird front an adult White-fronted Goose spending the bulk of the day on the reserve was an unusual sighting as nearly all (or possibly all ?) previous records are of birds in flight. In the bushes a healthy arrival of Robins for this late in the season with 50 present. Also of note 80 Blackies, 15 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Woodcock, Mistle Thrush, Brambling, Chiffchaff & a pale looking Siberian type Chiffchaff. On the reserve 9 Snow Bunts and the male Wheatear still with us plus a Sanderling on the beach. Offshore records included 5 Little Auks, 267 Brents, 16 Eider 6 Gannets, 3 Goosanders, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Bonxies, Little Gull & Puffin (rare here with 2 records in quick succession remarkable). Another 50ish new birds ringed today.

Monday 7th November 2011

Weather consisted of a gentle to moderate north north-easterly wind, there was complete cloud cover. There was some light drizzle throughout the morning. Migrants observed passing through were 3 Whooper Swans, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 175 Brent Geese, 59 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 15 Eider, 22 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 27 Lapwing, 1 Great Skua, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Puffin, 1 Little Auk, 7 Guillemot, 6 Skylark, 2 House Martin, 1 Meadow Pipit and 3 Siskin. 9 Snow Buntings were found on the beach. There were 6 Mediterranean Gulls recorded. 2 Woodcock were seen, one within the Bird Observatory compound and one on the point. 66 birds ringed today; 1 Woodcock, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Starling, 1 Wren, 13 Robin, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 37 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Blackcap and 3 Goldcrest.

Sunday 6th November 2011

Blackbird Central today with 1,000+ going through along with at least 830 Starling, 150 Redwing, 120 Fieldfare, 200 Songies, 2 Rouzels & a Mistle Thrush. Also of note 7 Woodcock, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Brambling, Short-eared Owl, Swallow, House Martin, Wheatear & a "tristis" Chiffchaff. Offshore apart from all the thrushy type things coming in 342 Brents, 10 Pink-feet, 80 Wigeon, 43 Teal, 99 Lapwing, 22 Eider, 12 Mergs, 12 Gannets & a Goosander. It's one of those sort of days when stuff kept arriving. Evening update: 284 birds ringed today including 262 Blackies - when the fact that we only had 2/3rds of the nets open today due to the winds one can appreciate how many birds actually passed through the site today.