Saturday 6th September 2014

A nice calm overcast day. Migrants are still about in good numbers with 3 Wryneck, including the one ringed yesterday, 25 Willow Warbler, 15 Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 9 Wheatear, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Redstart, 2 Garden Warbler and 1 Tree Pipit in addition to the good numbers of local birds. Overhead 22 Meadow Pipit, 21 Swallow, 6 Grey Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail flew south.

The moth traps were very busy with one addition to the site list, a well marked micro called Phyllonorycter geniculella that feeds on Sycamore.

61 Birds ringed; 16 Willow Warbler, 10 Meadow Pipit, 8 Blackcap, 5 Robin, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Wryneck, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Garden Warbler & 1 Sedge Warbler.

Friday 5th September 2014

The site felt like a bird observatory today with loads of migrants about. The star birds were 2 Wryneck, one being found on the reserve mid morning and the second was trapped and ringed in the afternoon whilst the first was still being watched. Other highlights were 25 Willow Warblers, 7 Pied Flycatchers, 7 Whinchats, 6 Blackcap, 5 Garden Warblers, 5 Wheatears, 3 Redstarts, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, and a Nightingale. Overhead 5 Tree Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail & a Hobby flew south and a Yellow Wagtail flew north. Late news concerns an Ortolan found in the evening on the reserve.

54 Birds ringed; 15 Willow Warbler, 7 Robin, 7 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Redstart, 1 Linnet, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Kestrel & 1 Wryneck.

Vegetation management

One of the tasks we have to do as part of our agreement with English Heritage to occupy the site is to clear the vegetation back in September on an annual basis 3 feet back from around the buildings & remove what they would class as weeds (& what we would class as wild flowers) growing out of the concrete wall & gun emplacements. If any of our members can spare a couple of hours to help with task then please can they get in touch either when they come down or on landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 4th September 2014

The only grounded migrants about this morning were 3 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap and a Whinchat. Overhead 7 Meadow Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Mistle Thrush flew south, whilst 2 Grey Heron and 2 Swallows flew north. Offshore single Arctic Skua and Great Crested Grebe flew south and single Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper flew up river.

9 Birds ringed; 5 Robin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blue Tit.

Wednesday 3rd September 2014

This morning saw light easterly winds and misty conditions, which in October would almost certainly bring about a fall of tired migrants, but not today. Just a few migrant Robins, and a few warblers, along with a Pied Flycatcher and 1 Tree Pipit south. 2 Whinchat and 2 Wheatear remain on site, presumably from the weekend, whist offshore the bird of the day was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua south, just offshore early morning, and a Marsh Harrier which came out of the river then went north. The only other interesting siting was 1 Purple Sandpiper on the point.

Todays ringing total was 13 birds. 6 Robin, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Great Tit, and 1 each of Pied Flycatcher, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.

Tuesday 2nd September 2014

A much quieter day with 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, a male Redstart and a Tree Sparrow the highlights. Offshore was also fairly quiet with 7 Shelduck, 5 Teal and 3 Fulmar heading south.

7 Birds ringed; 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Redstart.

Monday 1st September 2014

A nice selection of migrants about again today with 14 Robin, 14 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Tree Sparrow and 1 Sedge Warbler scattered around the recording area. Overhead southerly passage included 379 Swallow, 9 Meadow Pipit, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 House Martin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Tree Pipit and 1 Sand Martin.

22 Birds ringed; 5 Robin, 4 Great Tit, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Grey Wagtail.

August Ringing Totals

The lack of birds about in August is reflected in the months ringing totals with 242 birds of 27 species being ringed.

Sparrowhawk	4	Starling	41
Woodpigeon	1	Blackbird	6
Green Woodpecker	2	Robin	17
Blue Tit	4	Nightingale	1
Great Tit	2	Wheatear	3
Chiffchaff	3	Pied Flycatcher	2
Willow Warbler	75	Dunnock	5
Blackcap	4	Grey Wagtail	2
Garden Warbler	3	Pied Wagtail	1
Lesser Whitethroat	3	Tree Pipit	1
Whitethroat	16	Greenfinch	24
Sedge Warbler	2	Goldfinch	6
Reed Warbler	2	Linnet	7
Wren	5

Sunday 31st August 2014

Overnight cloud and a brisk west to north-westerly wind brought a good passage of migrants passing through. These included around 1700 Swallows south along with small numbers of both House and Sand Martins, plus 12 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 1 Swift, 1 Tree Pipit and the start of this years autumn passage of Meadow Pipits. On site good numbers of warblers are about including 25+ Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 8 Whitethroat and 4 Lesser Whitethroat + 4 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawk and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Also the Eastern Subalpine Warbler has been seen today around Customs House.

Ringing total was 14 birds, including 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, 2 Grey Wagtail,1 Great Tit and 1 Sparrowhawk. Also 2 Willow Warbler were controlled.(ringed elsewhere and retrapped).