Saturday 25th August 2012

New migrants in today seem to be limited to a couple of Robins, Willow Warblers & a solitary Wheatear. Moving south offshore or overhead 126 Knot, 26 Ringed Plover, 15 Redshank, 13 Swifts, 12 Teal, 8 Oyks, 7 Greenshank, 6 Dunlin, 5 Grey Plover, 2 Sand Martins, Golden Plover, Ruff, Turnstone & Yellow Wag. 2 Common Scoter & a Bonxie went north. A juv Peregrine put in an appearance which is more than could be said for yesterdays Spanish Sparrow that has quite probably disappeared into one of the adjoining housing estates & as such could take some re finding.

Friday 24th August 2012

A fairly predictable sort of end of August morning until at mid-morning a report that a visitor had photographed a Tree Sparrow.When a couple of our members had a look at the photo it appears not to be a Tree Sparrow but a Spanish ! Bit frustrating as up to early afternoon it has not been re found. Apart from this just routine fare for the time of year in the bushes but with migrants in low numbers. The highlights were 3 Whinchat on the reserve, a control Reed Warbler, Great-spotted Woodpecker & an earlyish autumn Merlin. Offshore a range of stuff going south including 57 Teal, 48 Oyks, 17 Shelduck, 8 Dunlin, 3 Gadwal, 3 Redshank, 2 Ringos, 2 Barwits, 2 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, Golden Plover, Black Tern, Little Egret & Marsh Harrier. Overhead 3 Yellow Wags & a Swift went south. In the moth traps a selection of migrants included Cydia amplana & the first Rusty-dot Pearl of the autumn.

Thursday 23rd August 2012

A few odds and sods around today, with 7 new Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat being the highlights of the mornings ringing. Elsewhere 2 Wheatear, a Whinchat, Garden Warbler, Nightingale and a trickle of Swallows passing through. Still the odd Dragonfly hanging around with at least 3 Migrant Hawker and a Common Darter.

Wednesday 22nd August 2012

A selection of the commoner migrants here today in small numbers including 16 Willows, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Tree Pipits, 4 Lesser throats, 3 Wheatears, Whinchat, the regular Nightingale & the first Spot Fly of the autumn. 36 Swallows, 8 Yellow Wags & 2 Crossbills went south. 12 Stock Doves also going south is an unusual record for this time of the year. Plenty of Linnets, Greenies, Starlings & Spadgers are feeding on site at the moment which should hopefully pull something in to join them because, as we all know, birds attract birds !

Tuesday 21st August 2012

A muggy morning with a few odds and ends around to entertain observers. A Short Eared Owl is a very early record for the site, with 2 each of Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martin and Black-tailed Godwit over as well as a Tree Pipit. Just shy of 100 Swallows also passed through and our almost resident Nightingale was retrapped exactly a month after ringing. 21 Birds ringed, which were:

10 Linnet, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Whitethroat.

Monday 20th August 2012

A good fall of Willow Warblers today with at least 40 on site, accompanied by A Redstart, 2 Nightigales, Tree Pipit, Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat, 7 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Grey Wagtails. A Common Lizard was seen out on the reserve, with at least 5 Migrant Hawker, Emperor, and 2 Southern Hawker in the compound. Ringing totals:

Willow Warbler 30; Linnet 6; Nightingale 1; Tree Pipit 1; Redstart 1; Chiffchaff 1, Pied Wagtail 1 = 41

Sunday 19th August 2012

A Common Buzzard going south at 0515hrs is a Landguard scarcity. A half decent arrival of Willow Warblers today with at least 25 present. Also new in a couple of Whitethroats & a Reed Warbler. On the reserve singles of Whinchat & Wheatear. A Nightingale may or may not be the one from recent days. A good selection of butterflies & dragonflies are on site at the moment with the hot sunny weather.