Saturday 21st June 2014

A few migrants about this morning including 1 Hobby north,  2 Sand Martin south and a Little Egret south offshore. Good numbers of butterflies are about including 2 Ringlets by Icky Ridge.

13 Birds ringed; 5 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Starling, 1 Chiffchaff.

Friday 20th June 2014

Today's migrants are a Reed Warbler, female Blackcap & a dispersing juv Great-spotted Woodpecker. A solitary Canada Goose flew south with no other offshore movements. Loads of baby birds about at the moment including the Skylark from recent days. Plenty of insects also on the reserve including a Ringlet (notable here) with Essex Skippers now also coming out in force. Stinking Goosefoot has put in an appearance.

21 birds ringed: 7 linnet, 6 greenfinch, 3 wren, 1 blackcap, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 dunnock, 1 house sparrow, 1 goldfinch.

June Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 21st June 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements - please see the events page on www.lbo.org.uk for further info.

Thursday 19th June 2014

A red letter day with the star attraction being the first White-throated Sparrow to be recorded at the Observatory, after it was ringed it was released by the Mine Station, this was the last thing on our minds today with clear skies over night and few birds about. Other birds of note today was the young Skylark that has been about found a net (this was the first ringed since 1997), the first young Little Owl of the year put in an appearance and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a brief visit to the site.

14 Birds ringed; 3 Blackbird, 2 Linnet, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Starling, 1 Dunnock, 1 Skylark, 1 White-throated Sparrow.

Wednesday 18th June 2014

Nothing much to report bird wise so insects took centre stage today. These 2 Clearwing moth species being the highlights.   Hornet Clearwing( upper ) and Six-Belted Clearwing.

Ringing total 10 birds, all juvenile. 4 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

Tuesday 17th June 2014

A breezy overcast morning becoming sunnier as the day progressed. There are still plenty of young birds about including the Skylark from yesterday.

11 Birds ringed; 4 Linnet, 4 Greenfinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Wren, 1 Goldfinch.

Monday 16th June 2014

An overcast day with heavy drizzle early morning. The arrival of the first dispersing young Skylark on the reserve was the highlight of the morning, other birds of note were 2 Curlew and a Whimbrel south offshore.

6 Birds ringed; 2 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 1 Starling, 1 Ringed Plover (pullus).

Sunday 15th June 2014

 Highlight of the day was this Drake Eider sitting close inshore in harbour entrance. Apart from this not much else to report other than a flock of 15 Common Scoter south offshore.

Ringing total of 22 birds, all of which were juveniles, comprising of 11 Linnet, 9 Greenfinch, 1 Wren and 1 Blackbird.