Saturday 18th July 2015

Heading south 22 Sand Martin, 21 Swift, 11 Swallow & 9 Siskin. Juvenile Nightingale from a couple of days back is still with us but nowt else of note. Plenty of insects about including several Humming-bird Hawk-moths & a Clouded Yellow.

3 birds ringed: 1 Song Thrush, 1 Greenfinch, 1 House Sparrow.

Friday 17th July 2015

A strong westerly wind built up overnight and with clear skies at dawn, a few new migrants were on the move this morning.

Migrants today included 8 Siskin, 42 Swift, 17 Swallow, 9 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 3 Cormorant, 3 Common Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 10 Common Scoter, 1 Pochard, 15 Curlew, 8 Whimbrel, 6 Oystercatcher, 6 Dunlin, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 1 Grey Heron.

Small Mottled Willow is an immigrant that has been appearing in above average numbers so far this year. We have only noted it on 6 of the previous 25 years.

Ringing: 6 birds ringed during the morning including 2 Starling, 1 Linnet, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Robin.

July Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 18th July 0930hrs start. Further information on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 16th July 2015

Palpita vitrealis, (above) caught last night in a moth trap on site, is a scarce migrant usually appearing in late autumn, although as is the case with this individual it can be found as early as June or July.

The winds today have gone easterly, so hopes will be high for something special to turn up, unfortunately it hasn't happened for us today. The first wandering young Green Woodpecker of the year did put in a brief appearance, but that and a Yellow Wagtail flying south overhead was about it for today.

4 birds only ringed, 1 each of Dunnock, Chaffinch, Linnet and Blackcap.

Wednesday 15th July 2015

Light drizzle and a south westerly wind seemed to have halted our recent Siskin passage, so today more migrants were on offer with a few niceties.

New migrants today included 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Nightingale, 4 Goldfinch, 14 Curlew, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Dunlin, 7 Oystercatcher, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Golden Plover,  8 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 15 Sand Martin, 11 Swift and 1 Swallow.

Heading South - 63 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard and 1 Grey Heron.

Linnets are looking good at the moment in-and-around the observatory and the nature reserve with some stunning males.

Ringing: 5 birds ringed during the course of the morning including 2 Greenfinch, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Blackcap and 1 Nightingale.

Tuesday 14th July 2015

The continuing wind from the West, a slight breeze and heavy cloud made for some good conditions for some early, quite interesting visual migration today at the observatory. 

The last 14 days up until today, we have had a considerable amount of Siskin passage through the observatory, with totals now exceeding 400 Siskin in 2 weeks. A total of 201 Siskin passed though over the observatory today heading south, some in nice groups. 

Migrants today included 73 Swift, 9 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Tern, 3 Curlew and 201 Siskin.

This Oncocera semirubella is an attractive nationally scarce moth whose food plant is Bird's-foot-trefoil which is common on the southern end of the reserve.

Ringing: 5 birds ringed during the morning including 1 Starling, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Siskin and 1 Kestrel.

Monday 13th July 2015

A rather quiet day today at the observatory, notable movements of Siskin and several waders now moving through as the Autumn migration season begins.

New migrants today included 10 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Common Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 31 Siskin, 4 Goldfinch, 38 Swift and 5 Swallow.

Ringing: 3 birds ringed during the morning including 1 Starling, 1 Dunnock and 1 Greenfinch.

Sunday 12th July 2015

After a very warm night, the moth traps were somewhat full of moths, with over 100 species caught  including the 2 species above, which were both new for the site. Purple Clay (top) and Homeosoma nebulella.

Bird wise it is still relatively quiet, but it is beginning to pick up as migrants are starting to appear again. Wader movements are increasing with 26 Curlew and 5 Whimbrel south today, along with 8 Teal and a lone Grey Heron, also heading south, whilst on site "Sylvia Warblers" are starting to turn up as the youngsters start to disperse, with 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap all put in appearances.

14 birds were ringed, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat,1 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush and 2 each of Greenfinch, Linnet, Dunnock and House Sparrow.