Saturday 25th October 2014

A sunny day with a slight south-westerly breeze. Viz mig this morning included 514 Goldfinch, 400 Starling, 377 Woodpigeon, 39 Meadow Pipit, 34 Chaffinch, 32 Linnet, 27 Skylark, 11 Stock Dove, 4 Redpoll, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Tree Sparrow and a Swallow. Offshore 27 Brent flew south with another 23 north and a Great Northern Diver flew out of the river and then headed north.

The highlights amongst the insects today was the first Dotted Chestnut (above) to be recorded here and 3 Clouded Yellows were located on the reserve.

29 Birds ringed; 11 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Wren, 2 Blackbird, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit.

Friday 24th October 2014

A showery morning. A Wheatear was the highlight on the reserve, otherwise a few birds trickling south overhead including 127 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, 4 Swallow and 20 Chaffinch. Offshore was also fairly quiet with the only birds of note being 71 Brent, 2 Tufted Duck and 4 Gadwall south and 2 Great Skua and 10 Brent north.

8 Birds ringed; 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 23rd October 2014

A lot calmer today. Viz mig this morning included 158 Goldfinch, 39 Meadow Pipit, 31 Linnet, 15 Chaffinch, 10 Swallow and a Brambling. There were also a nice selection of birds passing by offshore including 244 Brent, 63 Dunlin, 29 Common Scoter, 11 Shelduck, 7 Gannet, 4 Knot, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Great Skua and single Red-breasted Merganser & Kittiwake south, whilst heading north were 9 Gannet, 2 Guillemot, 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Great Skua.

10 Birds ringed; 3 Blackbird, 2 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Redwing, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap.

Wednesday 22nd October 2014

Part of the large number of Wood Pigeons passing through Landguard this morning totalling some 8330.

The calm after the storm, apparently, although the wind was still near gale force so visible migration was again the order of the day. And we were not disappointed as large numbers of birds constantly went south all morning, including very large numbers of Wood Pigeons along with 267 Stock Doves,plus large movements of finches and other autumn migrants. These included 274 Goldfinch, 59 Chaffinch, 19 Brambling, 57 Meadow Pipit,13 Swallow, 31 Skylark, 1 Woodlark, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Rock Pipit and 2 Grey Wagtail, whilst on site were both Firecrest and Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and a female Bullfinch ( something of a rarity at landguard ).
Insect wise Clouded Yellows are still being seen and the third Merveille du jour in a week was caught in the moth traps.

5 birds only were ringed. They were singles of Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Firecrest and Goldcrest.

Tuesday 21st October 2014

A windy morning with alternating sunny periods and squalls. A handful of waders headed south offshore and a few passerines also headed south overhead, otherwise the only birds of note were 3 House Martins and single Wheatear and Whitethroat out on the reserve.

Monday 20th October 2014

Entertaining vis mig this morning with southerly bound 1010 Goldfinch, 435 Woodies, 274 Stock Dove, 116 Mipits, 85 Linnet, 79 Starling, 69 Chaffinch, 65 Skylark, 52 Greenies, 10 Pied Wag, 7 Brambling, 7 Swallow, 5 Reed Bunts, 4 Rock Pipit, Woodlark, Grey Wag & Redpoll. The Stocky numbers are notable for this stage in the autumn as most of them don't move until the end of the month or in November (or some years barely move at all). The Redpoll is the first since a couple back in September - what's happened to them this autumn ? Grounded migrants not numerous in numbers but include 4 Wheatear, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest & 3 Tree Sparrow flew in from inland somewhere & departed to the north. Offshore movements pathetic. At least 2 Clouded Yellow are still on the reserve with 2 Common Blues getting late in the season for them here. Finally with the autumn progressing more fungi are appearing including this impressive Brown Rollrim above.

11 birds ringed: 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Dunnock, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Grey Wagtail (that's 100 Grey Wag's ringed this autumn which is unprecedented).

Sunday 19th October 2014

Strong winds and overnight rain may have dropped in a few tired migrants, but most had moved on shortly after the rain stopped. Interesting migrants on the move were 14 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Brambling,1 Rock Pipit, 141 Goldfinch, 64 Chaffinch, 14 Skylark, 29 Lapwing, 1 Red breasted Merganser all going south, and several large flocks of Starlings coming in for the winter.On site very little was noted apart from 1 Ring Ouzel, 4 Wheatear , 1 Goldcrest and a mixture of  around 50 thrushes that mostly comprised of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds.
Moth wise saw our 2nd Merveille du jour in 3 days but little else.

Birds ringed today 6. 1 each of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Great Tit, Goldfinch and Blackcap.