Saturday 19th September 2015

A cold start today first thing and clear skies meant that most migrants had left overnight, but several were still on the move during the day in smaller numbers.

Migrants included 30 Black-headed Gull, 4 Cormorant, 122 Meadow Pipit, 10 Pied Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 38 Goldfinch, 34 Siskin, 10 Chaffinch, 1 Redpoll, c.200 Swallow, 16 House Martin, 3 Wheatear, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 19 Blue Tit, 12 Robin, 20 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Sparrowhawk and 1 Hobby.

Ethmia bipunctella is a nationally scarce species that is either a rare migrant or a species that exists here in low numbers.

Ringing: 9 birds ringed during the morning including 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Friday 18th September 2015

Calm conditions today proved good for yet another great autumnal day today at the observatory with many birds on the move with several in very good numbers.

Migrants today included 26 Grey Wagtail, 14 Pied Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 420+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Common Redstart, 6 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 8 Blackcap, 7 Common Whitethroat, 9 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1,230+ Swallow, 135 House Martin, 1 Swift, 24 Sand Martin, 87+ Goldfinch, 90+ Siskin, 13 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 3 Redpoll, 8 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern, 3 Common Gull, 7 Cormorant, 1 Brent Goose, 2 Rook, 2 Jackdaw and 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker.

A group of 3 Spoonbill headed South early morning.

Migrant moths are doing OK at the moment with the Delicate (below), and two Scarce Bordered Straws today.

Ringing: 37 birds ringed today which included 8 Grey Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 3 Swallow, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Wren, 1 Firecrest, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker. 1 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Redpoll.

September Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 19th September 0930hrs start - usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 17th September 2015

The recent deluge of rain and bad weather overnight and the last few days brought quite a variety of migrants to the observatory today, a rather busy day.

To start with an impressive passage of Meadow Pipits with 400 birds moving South, 30 or so North, 50 spending a bit of time on the nature reserve and some birds heading inland up river.

Other migrants on land and migrating involve 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Robin, 3 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Common Redstart, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 9 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 28 Siskin, 8 Goldfinch, 4 Redpoll, 369 Swallow, 51 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, 11 Grey Wagtail, 10 Common Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Sandwich Tern and 1 Common Sandpiper.

In the moth traps this morning, albeit unusual was this Painted Lady.

Ringing: 36 birds ringed throughout the day which included 7 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Robin, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Wednesday 16th September 2015

Heavy cloud and rain greeted us this morning which soon persisted into a rather wet and windy afternoon, not the best for observations. Albeit several migrants on-site sheltering from the weather.

Migrants today came in the form of 1 female Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 18 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Redstart, 55 Meadow Pipit, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 6 Goldfinch, 12 Swallow and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Sea watching produced 7 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cormorant and 2 Oystercatcher.

This aberrant Yellow Belle made us refer to the internet in case it was something else, but an on-line search reveals it is Ab.conjuncta.

Ringing: 2 birds ringed today including 1 Woodpigeon and 1 Chiffchaff.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

A couple of recent recoveries of note are a Tree Sparrow ringed as a pullus at Little Livermere, Suffolk retrapped here 57km away on 17th August 2015 will be a dispersing youngster looking for a home of it's own. A Lesser Redpoll ringed here on 5th October 2012 was seen 713km away in a garden at Treshnish, Argyll & Bute from 15th to 29th June 2015 which is presumably it's breeding area. Other recent recoveries are all fairly local movements within Suffolk.

Tuesday 15th September 2015

If we haven't got enough cranes here they are delivering some more ! Bird wise a bit "same old same old" with the only visible movements 51 Swallow & 7 Siskin southbound. Offshore movements very poor despite several hours of observation in the drizzle during the morning. On site worth a mention are 5 Wheatear, 2 Redstart & a Pied Fly plus a very very small number of expected mid-September fare.

Moth traps a lot quieter due to the deteriorating weather conditions - it feel's more like the end of October rather than mid-September. Feathered Brindle is a nationally scarce species with a coastal distribution that occurs here in good numbers some autumns.

2 birds ringed: 1 redstart, 1 chiffchaff.

Monday 14th September 2015

Starting early with a south-easterly wind, swinging around to a south-westerly wind, the observatory had a few new migrants on-site throughout the morning.

Migrants today included 52 Meadow Pipit which is our highest count so far this Autumn. Also, 191 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Common Redstart, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Common Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Gull, 8 Wigeon, 1 Turnstone and 1 Merlin.

This stunning male White Wagtail was out on the nature reserve during the course of the morning.

Ringing: 8 birds ringed during the morning including 3 Robin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 1 Goldcrest.

Sunday 13th September 2015

This Convolvulus Hawkmoth was the pick of the migrant moths in the traps overnight.

This Osprey was probably the highlight of a great mornings birding on site before the rain came and brought it all to a sudden halt.

With very light westerly winds and overcast conditions, a good migration day was in prospect, and sure enough we were treated to one. At least 3 each of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, plus Firecrest, White Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, Great-spotted Woodpecker and an amazing 16 Grey Wagtails as well as the above Osprey and a Common Buzzard being the pick of the migrant raptors.

21 birds were ringed; 6 Grey Wagtail, 3 each of Chiffchaff and Robin,2 each of Redstart and Chaffinch and singles of Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Dunnock.