Saturday 13th October 2012

An unexpectedly busy day today with over 100 birds ringed. Lesser Redpolls were the main visitors with 66 ringed, beating the previous day record of 44. 6 Ring Ouzels were on site with the usual thrushes, a Stonechat, 3 Brambling, with fly over Woodlark, Lapland Bunting and Tree Pipit. On the move 600+ Goldfinches, 10 Pied Wags, 2 Stock Dove, 17 Siskin, 100 Brents, 4 Grey Wags and 30 late Swallows.

Juvenile male Stonechat

Ringing totals: Lesser Redpoll 66, Chaffinch 10, Blackbird 6, Goldfinch 5, Grey Wagtail 3, Blue Tit 3, Chiffchaff 3, Robin 2, Wren 2, Great Tit 2, Stonechat, Blackcap, Sparrowhawk, Reed Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Greenfinch and Song Thrush.

Friday 12th October 2012

A good selection of birds around this morning, thrushes being the most evident early on with a few new Blackbirds, Redwing, Songys and a single Ring Ouzel. Wildfowl were definitely on the move with 1000 Brents, 380 Wigeon, 50 odd Teal, 6 Barnacle Geese a few Shoveler, Tufties, Pintal and Pochard and a single male Goldeneye. 7 Great Northern Divers and 2 Red-throated passed through along with 38 Skylark. Ringing amounted to 20 birds: Blackbird 6, Song Thrush 4, Robin 4, Chaffinch 2, Redwing 2, Coal Tit and a Goldcrest. The Coal Tit was the highlight being of the nominate continental race.

October Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 13th October 0930hrs start. All welcome. Further info on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 11th October 2012

A disappointing morning given the weather overnight with only 6 new birds ringed, a Mistle Thrush being the highlight, amongst singles of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Robin. A few bits and bobs out to sea including 520 Brents, 22 Pintail, a couple of Gannets and a Fulmar. On the reserve meagre offerings of a couple of Reed Bunting, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Skylark and yesterdays Firecrest. More surprising than the Mistle Thrush was a freshly dead adult Water Rail found on the path by a member of the public, with no obvious ailments it presumably collided with something overnight.

Water Rail

Wednesday 10th October 2012

Delicate

A glorious sunny morning with a trickle of fairly predictable early October migrants here including a handful of new Chaffs, Goldies, Goldcrests, Firecrest, Blackie, Redpoll, Reed Bunt, Goldcrest, Great spot, Brambling & a dozen Long-tailed Tits. Wheatear still on the reserve & Sandwich Tern offshore. Vis mig & offshore movements very poor. In the moth traps the Delicate. Also worth a mention that following the finding of a Woodland Grasshopper in the moth trap a week ago several more were found on the reserve yesterday - how long have they been here ?

Tuesday 9th October 2012

A bit more evidence of migrants today, the most obvious being a dose of new thrushes early AM. With half a dozen new Blackbirds ringed, 5 continental type Song Thrushes and the first Redwing of the Autumn. A couple of unexpected sightings amongst the usual suspects included a Barn Owl roosting in the Holm Oaks and a brief flyover Hawfinch which disappeared over the docks. 2 male Firecrests were on site, Yesterdays bird and a new one, a Great-spotted Woodpeckers passed through briefly as did half a dozen Redpoll, a Reed Bunting and a Jackdaw.

Firecrest

Ringing amounted to 43 Birds by 16:30: Meadow Pipit 17, Balckbird 7, Song Thrush 5, Lesser Redpoll 3, Chaffinch 2, Blackcap 2 Blue Tit 2, Firecrest, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Dunnock and Redwing.

Monday 8th October 2012

Despite a good first round which included a juvenile male Firecrest, passerines were a bit thin on the ground. Apart from a couple of Skylark and Pied Wagtails movement was restricted to the sea with: 700 Brent Geese, 170 Wigeon, 56 Teal, 80 Gannet, 5 Pintail, 2 Red-throated Divers, 13 Common Scoter 9 Arctic and  3 Great Skuas. Also kicking around was a lone Redwing, Goldcrest, half a dozen Chaffinches, a Black Redstart, 2 Wheatear and a Snipe.

Ringing: Blackcap 3, Robin 2, Goldfinch 2, Firecrest, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock and Wren = 14.

Sunday 7th October 2012

Chilly clear start but then the dreaded fog rolled in for a while which put the mockers on it. Vis mig & sea watching consequently poor but did include 8 Canada Geese south which is odd for the time of the year. 8 Stockies south is also worth a mention. Bird of the day was undoubtedly a Hooded Crow that came in from the north before departing across the river into Essex - this is only the 6th site record. A selection of new birds in today included 2 Redwing, 2 Black Reds, Jay, Great-spot plus a handful of new Redpolls, Blackies, Goldcrests, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Blackcaps, Reed Bunts, Chaffinch, Wren & Blue Tit. A flock off 22 Blue & 8 Great Tits is quite good for us. Single Wheatear & Lesser throat are still with us on the reserve.