Saturday 14th July 2012

Rain all morning, heavy at times. A reasonable number of hardy souls turned up for this mornings litter pick but the number of ornithological sightings they have reported back for the log is insignificant. The rain has even prevented any meaningful offshore wader movements. A late sighting for yesterday is of a Ringlet on the Butts which is quite possibly only the 4th site record.

Friday 13th July 2012

On the move this morning 2 Gannets north & going south 17 Swifts, 16 Curlew, 14 Whimbrel, 12 Gadwal, 11 Oyks, 6 Barwits, 5 Black-heads, 4 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 3 Common Terns, 2 Tufteds, 2 Sand Martin & singles of Ringed Plover, Knot, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern and, most unexpected, a Goldeneye. The number of summer records of Goldeneye we have had over the years can be counted on one hand. A Common Sand headed inland over the obs and up river. A young juv Black Red suggests successful breeding in the docks nearby with another new young Chiffchaff this morning also, presumably, from not to far away. Finally the Serin is still with us - if you still haven't seen it yet then wash your ears out and don't be prepared for a flying visit to Landguard as, although it calls a lot in flight to draw attention to itself, it obviously isn't here all the time.

JULY LITTER PICK

Litter pick this Saturday 14th July 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements. Further info on the events page of http://www.lbo.org.uk/

Thursday 12th July 2012

Nice to see the currant bun out this morning - although the overnight temperatures had dropped down into single figures giving it a distinctly autumnal feel first thing. Bird wise 4 Kittiwakes headed inland over the docks was a bit odd & a Great-spotted Wood was in the Holm Oaks. A Redshank went south, but to be honest very little time was spent staring out to sea this morning. The Ringo chick first hatched on 2nd June is still with us and, like all teenagers, appears reluctant to leave the security of mum & dad despite being nearly 6 weeks old. The other pair that hatched out their young on 27th June still have at least one chick remaining. Unfortunately both males off these two pairs seem to believe that the biggest threat to them is the opposing male Ringed Plover rather than the multitude of potential threats out there to them. Finally in the butterfly department a few more Essex Skippers are appearing on the Butts & the 1st Gatekeeper of the year put in an appearance.

Wednesday 11th July 2012

Adult Reed Warbler new in this morning. Is this a late spring arrival or an early autumn departing bird - with Reed Warblers at this time of the year you never know ? Going south 47 Swifts, 7 Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Redshank, single Oyk, Dunlin, Kittiwake & Swallow. A Skua piled into the big gulls behind a distant fishing boat well offshore eluded identification. Finally the first juv Black-headed Gull of the autumn was noted & the female Serin still with us.

Tuesday 10th July 2012

Going south 14 Whimbrel, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Oystercatchers, 6 Swifts, 5 Common Terns, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew, 3 Sand Martins, 2 Redshank, single Sandwich Tern, Dunlin & Kittiwake. On the Butts a Pyramidal Orchid has appeared in a new spot. Over the last few days slightly more migrant moths have been noted in the form of Silver Y & Diamond-backs. A single Rush Veneer yesterday was followed by three more today plus the first Dark Sword Grass of the year. Also of note a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing that may, or may not, be a migrant ?

Monday 9th July 2012

Serin still with us. 119 Swifts, 11 Curlews, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Oyks, 2 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Siskins, Common Tern, Little Tern, Whimbrel & a Redshank all went south. Apart from that it's baby bird time with a dispersing young Chiffchaff presumably having come from not far away as this species has never been proved to have bred here. One bird i will mention is the Song Thrush by the reserve entrance who has been singing his head off since late January & has still not found a mate - ten out of ten for effort !

Sunday 8th July 2012

Flat calm & lots of rain up to 0930ish & guess wot ? Yep it's started raining again. In between the deluge a brief walk round the reserve produced lots of what living here at the moment plus the Serin (that also appears to be semi-resident and may well be the same bird that was first noted on 30th April). A Grey Wagtail flew south then back north is probably a dispersing juv from not to far away. In the moth traps a European Corn-borer, another Sand Dart & Calybites phasianipennella - a species only noted here previously in 2008.