Saturday 24th August 2013

Mild, muggy, drizzly, damp, murky sort of morning - but with plenty of interest. 2 Dotterel came in from the north, dropped in briefly then departed back north again at 0730hrs was the 10th site record. Even rarer here were 3 Wood Sands going north calling which is only the 8th site record. Of note was a Green Sand that came in off the sea & landed briefly on the obs pond & 7 Black Terns north. On site not a huge number of migrants but including !0 Willows, 8 Wheatear, 5 Pied Flys, 3 Whinchat, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden W.,Black Red, Redstart, Spot Fly, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wag, Swift, Common Sand & Golden Plover. Going past in the murk in a southerly direction 145 Teal, 25 Common Terns, 16 Oyks, 3 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling, 2 Barwits , Shoveler plus going north 35 Teal, 13 Shoveler & a Pom Skua. Of note in the moth traps was a Clouded Yellow ! Evening update - at least 4 Wryneck on the reserve.

Ringing: 19 - 7 willows, 5 pied fly, 2 garden w., 2 wryneck, robin, spot fly, blackbird.

Friday 23rd August 2013

A light easterly breeze. Few migrants were about apart from a Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Golden Plover that spent a while on the Common. Viz mig produced only a Yellow Wagtail and 3 Swallow heading south. Offshore 276 Teal, 9 Whimbrel, 20 Wigeon & a Shoveler headed south and 4 Arctic Skua headed north.

Ringing; single Blackbird, Song Thrush & Wheatear.

Thursday 22nd August 2013

A wet day with the occasional dry spell. Despite the rain 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Tree Pipit, 6 Wheatear and a Pied Flycatcher were located. At midday an Osprey flew out to sea over the Butts being pursued by the local gulls. Offshore southerly passage included 6 Redshank, 2 Grey Plover, 5 Turnstone, 12 Teal, 33 Common Scoter, 93 Common Tern, 3 Whimbrel and single Bar-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose and Great Crested Grebe.

Ringing; 1 Lesser Whitethroat

Wednesday 21st August 2013

Warm & sultry sort of morning with not to many migrants to bother us. On site 4 Lesser 'throats, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Willows, Chiffchaff & at least 20 Clouded Yellows. Going south 31 Swallows, 20 Teal, 14 Golden Plover, 5 Yellow Wags, 4 Common Gulls, 4 Sand Martin, 3 Redshank, 2 House Martin, 2 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Black-wits & a Heron. Blackwits are always notable here despite being common just up the estuaries behind us. The Chiff maybe the start of autumn passage proper for this species which normally gets under way at the end of August.

Ringing: single Sparrowhawk, Wood Pig, Robin & Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 20th August 2013

A calm day, overcast to begin with but becoming hot and sunny as the morning progressed. Fairly quiet around the bushes today with 4 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler and single Nightingale, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Black Redstart the only migrants, on the Common 4 Wheatear were seen early on. Viz mig produced 4 Yellow Wagtail & 21 Swallow south and 16 Goldfinch west. Offshore southerly passage involved 3 Golden Plover, 3 Curlew, 5 Shelduck, 3 Grey Plover, 8 Med Gulls in one flock, 17 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 103 Teal and 34 Common Scoter. Good numbers of Clouded Yellows about today again.

Ringing; 3 Willow Warbler and single Robin, Linnet, Greenfinch, Blackcap & Garden Warbler

Monday 19th August 2013

A sunny & warm day with a westerly breeze. A good selection of migrants about with 1 Wheatear, 1 Wood Warbler, 9 Willow Warblers and 4 Pied Flycatchers. Viz mig included 637 Swallows, 13 Sand Martins, and single Crossbill, Grey & Yellow Wagtail, all heading south. Offshore southerly passage involved 2 Canada Geese, 2 Turnstone, 7 Redshank, 3 Avocet, 4 Grey Plover, a Little Egret and a Great Crested Grebe.

Ringing; 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Linnet and single Linnet & Wood Warbler.

Fence Removal

It is planned to remove the temporary fencing for the ground nesting birds on the reserve on Tuesday 20th August. Please meet at the cottage at 0930hrs and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Many hands make light work. For further info please email landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 18th August 2013

A breezy & sunny day. A few migrants were about with 7 Willow Warbler, 4 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and single Reed Warbler & Black Redstart of note. Viz mig produced 33 Swallow, 9 Sand Martin and 9 Swift heading south. Offshore the only notable southerly movement involved 13 Oystercatcher, 9 Teal, 3 Mallard and single Grey & Golden Plover, 3 Gannets were the only notable movement north.

Ringing; 7 Greenfinch, 2 Willow Warbler and single Lesser Whitethroat & Reed Warbler.