Saturday 25th April 2015

Spells of light rain and heavy rain throughout the morning, with clear periods and a south south westerly wind, produced a few new migrants this morning.

A pair of Greylag Geese landed on the nature reserve early morning, not a common sight here, (see above picture).

Migrants came in the form of 11 Swallow, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Stock Dove and 1 Cuckoo.

Ringing: 14 birds ringed during the morning including 5 Linnet, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Wren and 1 Wheatear.

Friday 24th April 2015

Overnight mist and a south westerly wind throughout the night produced a decent arrival of migrants to the observatory this morning, continuing throughout the day.

Migrants included 1 Rook, 2 Jay, 1 Fieldfare (see above picture), 1 Yellowhammer, 11 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Wheatear, 34 Goldfinch, 56 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 9 Sand Martin,1 Brambling, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroat and 4 Lesser Whitethroat - a lovely spring days birding to be had.

Several butterflies around the observatory including Small White, Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell.

Ringing: 26 birds ringed this morning including 8 Blackcap, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Linnet, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Goldfinch.

April Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 25th April 0930hrs start. Further information on the events page on www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 23rd April 2015

Varying wind directions during this morning from dawn until lunchtime, very little wind and heavy cloud really did produce some migrants and several decent birds around the observatory.

Migrants included 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear, 1 Rook, 2 Jay, 1 Fieldfare and 11 Swallow.

During a short sea watch, 1 Fulmar, 4 Whimbrel and 13 Sanderling were seen.

A Cockatiel alighted briefly at the observatory before heading North.

Best of the rest came in the form of a female Serin, (see picture above), 1 Nightingale and 1 Whinchat late morning.

In the moth traps this morning was this Pale Tussock, (see picture below). Several Hebrew Character and Common Quaker also.

Ringing: 12 birds ringed this morning including 7 Linnet, 1 Nightingale, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock and 1 Woodpigeon.

Wednesday 22nd April 2015

A record number of 5 pairs of Magpie are currently nesting on the reserve.

Another cold, foggy morning saw little of note on-site, with the exception of brief visits by a Green Woodpecker and a Short-eared Owl, but neither stayed. There was a brief view of a Lesser Whitethroat at the butts end and 5 Wheatear near the point, plus a fleeting view of a crest, which was almost certainly yesterday's Firecrest still lurking around. Very little was noted offshore.

9 birds ringed, 3 Blackcap, 2 Linnet and 1 each of Whitethroat, Robin, Woodpigeon and Blackbird. 

Tuesday 21st April 2015

Still we are encompassed by this East North East / North East wind that is still halting much migration from the South. However, there were a few goodies on show this morning with 1 Little Egret (above) that headed North and 1 Jay (below) that spent a little time around the observatory, trying to work out which way to fly. 

Singles of Firecrest, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were seen albeit briefly and a female Bullfinch circled above the observatory before heading inland. 

Thanks to Rob Speirs for the pictures. 

A total of 7 Wheatear and 6 Swallows about this morning too.  

Ringing: 10 birds were ringed this morning including 6 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Firecrest, 1 Woodpigeon and 1 Blackbird. 

Monday 20th April 2015

The continued overnight northerly winds didn't prove to be any more beneficial for us today. Very quiet around the observatory and also on the ringing front.

A sea watch produced 16 Cormorant, 8 Black-headed Gull, 2 Greylag Goose and 1 Fulmar.

1 Rook, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and a single Jay dropped in briefly with just singles of Blackcap and Willow Warbler on-site. Although at least 6 Wheatear present out on the nature reserve.

A single Sandwich Tern drifted over the observatory later afternoon and headed North.

One of two Early Grey moths in the moth traps this morning (above). Formally quite common but in recent years only noted in small numbers.

Ringing: 4 birds ringed this morning including 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Linnet and 1 Wheatear.

Sunday 19th April 2015

The high pressure system centred over the UK is responsible for the northerly winds we are experiencing. However light they may be, they appear to have curtailed a lot of migration for the time being, so there is very little about to report. Just 10 Wheatear on the reserve along with around 100 Linnets and 7 Blackcap lingering, and that's it. Offshore its not much better with 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Brent Geese and 3 Whimbrel north and that's about it.

9 birds were ringed, they were 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Linnet.