Saturday 21st July 2012

A Willow Warbler is a good sign that autumn passage has got going for passerines with an adult Reed Warbler also, presumably, on it's way out. Dispersing juveniles on site today included a Chiffchaff and both Green & Great-spotted Woodpeckers. 2 Black Reds were both sporting rings which suggests they are the individuals that turned up yesterday & last Wednesday. Not a lot moving offshore with 4 Common Scoter north the highlight. A Pheasant on site is a scarce Landguard visitor but with vast numbers released for shooting just inland of the docks it is surprising that more don't turn up. Finally a temeral Ruddy Darter was the first of the year.

Friday 20th July 2012

Calmer condition today allowed for full netting, though the birds were still thin on the ground. A control linnet and a second juvenile Black Redstart were welcome additions amongst the juvenile Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Blackcap. A juvenile Chiffchaff lingered and a Fulmar passed through right above the Obs. The smallest Ringed Plover Chick was again not located and with a lack of alarm calls from the adults is presumed lost. The moth traps were a bit busier due to the calmer night, though the main visitors were 100+ Browntails.

Thursday 19th July 2012

More wind today and only 3 new birds ringed, 2 Greenfinch and a Dunnock. Of interest in the moth traps was Small Ranunculus, a species thought to be extinct in the UK until recently. Avian movements included 3 Little Egret, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone and a Curlew offshore, with 5 Sand Martin and the daily smattering of Swifts heading south. An Emperor Dragonfly on the butts pond was the only Odonata on show in the sunshine.

Combination Locks

Will members of the Bird Observatory please note that the number on the combination locks has been changed. As a complete up to date contact list of all members is not to hand members are advised to get in touch with a committee member or someone at the observatory if they wish to gain access to the bird observatory compound.

Wednesday 18th July 2012

A couple of Arctic Skuas just off the beach was the highlight of the morning. Swifts seemed to be on the move with almost 300 noted heading South. Another Great-spotted Woodpecker was on site briefly but avoided acquiring a ring.. Also on the move were a few Turnstone, Curlew, Whimbrel, 3 Crossbill and 22 Common Scoter.

Tuesday 17th July 2012

No much excitement birdwise this morning, with a juvenile Whitethroat being the highlight of 11 birds ringed. Lepidoptera put on a good show in the warmer weather with small Copper, White, Heath and Tortiseshell, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth all seen out and about. A large Grey Seal was also seen just off shore.

Monday 16th July 2012

Another juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker hanging around briefly this morning. With brief visitors including a Hobby, a handful of Swifts and Swallows and more Curlews heading South. Offshore were 3 Dunlin, a couple of Gannets and Little Terns and the odd Oyk. A Bedstraw Hawkmoth in the traps is an immigrant with the only other site records being many years ago. Late news from Sunday included 2 Ringlets on the Butts plus the first record of Large Skipper since 1995.

Sunday 15th July 2012

It' not raining for a change - the Butts pond has never been this full even in the depths of winter. A dispersing Great-spotted Woodpecker early on with, probably, a different individual moving through late morning as individuals of this species don't tend to loiter long here. A moulting female Blackcap was new in - they are supposed to moult then migrate so i don't suppose it has come from to far away. Movers & shakers this morning included 73 Black-heads, 17 Sand Martins, 7 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 5 Oyks, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Meds & a Whimbrel going south plus 71 Common Scoter, 7 Common Terns, 5 Little Terns, 2 Gannets, 2 Brent Geese & a Sandwich Tern going north. The Brent Geese looked fit & well as individuals at this time of the year are normally tardy individuals that are not capable of going far. The small Ringo chick that is now 18 days old is still with us but the gargantuan one may well have left home as neither it or it's parents were obvious this morning. The male from this pair has been displaying a lot lately so if they are going to attempt another brood they had better get a move on. Finally the Ringlet from two days ago is still in the same spot on the Butts.