Saturday 22nd March 2014

The Iceland, Glaucous and one Yellow-legged Gull were still present this morning. Otherwise there were few birds about apart from 8 Wheatear and a Black Redstart on the Common and a Shag heading north offshore.

Ringing; 2 Chiffchaff

Friday 21st March 2014

A wet start, but as the rain started to clear a male Serin called from the Holm Oaks but remained elusive. Other birds of note today included a Black Redstart, 8 Wheatear, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and the Glaucous Gull.
 PM update - in addition to the adult Glaucous an adult Iceland Gull, Caspian & another Yellow-legged Gull present in the dock viable from the car park behind the bus stop. To have both Glaucous & Iceland present on the same day is exceptional at Landguard.

10 Birds Ringed; 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear & a Blue Tit

Litter Pick

Litter pick this Saturday 22nd March 0930hrs start. Further info on the events page of www.lbo.co.uk

Thursday 20th March 2014

A few migrants were about today with a Blackcap & 10 Chiffchaffs in the compound, whilst 4 Wheatear, a Black Redstart, 2 Rock Pipits and 18 Meadow Pipits were on the Common. The Glaucous Gull was still present and was first seen behind the ferry as it pasted the point, also a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull was still present on the docks.

Ringing; 5 Chiffchaff and single Blackcap, Robin & Greenfinch. A control Chiffchaff was also caught.

Wednesday 19th March 2014

Oak Beauty - photo by Tim Bagworth

Not much on site today apart from a 2cy Caspian Gull and 3ad Yellow-legged Gulls on the dock viewable from the car park. Most interest came from looking out to sea or overhead. Good numbers of Red-throated Divers heading mainly south which included 3 Black-throated Divers.Also 1 Bonxie 24 Barnacle and 7 Greylag Geese south. Waders on the move included 2 Bar-tailed Godwit,49 Knot,3 Curlew and 2 Grey Plover also going south. Passerine movements in off the sea or overhead included 27 Meadow Pipit , 1 Woodlark, 3 Linnet, 1 Rook and 1 Siskin.

Moths included an Oak Beauty, and other insects included our first Lesnes Earwig of the year.

6 birds ringed; singles of Blackbird, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.

Tuesday 18th March 2014

The Glaucous Gull remained on the near part of the docks along with 4 Yellow-legged Gulls. Offshore 21 Red-throated Divers, 27 Dunlin, 10 Shoveler & 7 Common Scoter headed south whilst 70 Barnacle Geese headed north. A summer plumaged Black-throated Diver was gradually drifting north on the sea. Otherwise a quiet day.

Ringing; 3 Chiffchaff and single Robin, Dunnock & Woodpigeon.

Monday 17th March 2014

A calm overcast start to the day saw a small arrival of birds in the compound with a Firecrest, 7 Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat noted. On the near part of the docks were an adult Glaucous Gull and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls all of which departed for a brief time to follow the ferry out before returning to the same area. Offshore 2 Pintail, a Common Scoter, 3 Brent Geese and 8 Red-throated Divers headed south.

12 Birds ringed; 6 Chiffchaff and single Blackbird, Chaffinch, Firecrest, Blue Tit, Dunnock & Stonechat.

Sunday 16th March 2014.

A quiet day on site.The best birds being black redstart , brambling 2 chiffchaff goldcrest and the pair of peregrines on dockside cranes and lighting towers. also 2 grey wagtails north over. Offshore there were small numbers of birds moving with 5 red-throated divers south and a fulmar and gannet north. plus a small flock of 6 little gulls passing northwards and a woodcock in off .

Butterflies are now beginning to make an appearance with small numbers of both small tortoiseshells and peacocks on site and an early hawthorn shieldbug for good measure.

Ringing is beginning to pick up with singles of both great and blue tit plus singles of song thrush. brambling. and chiffchaff.