Saturday 26th September 2015

Flat calm conditions this morning and throughout the day produced a rather busy observatory today with many migrants on-site.

New migrants today were 39 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Chiffchaff, 30+ Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, 52 Siskin, 13 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 10+ Chaffinch, 5 Redpoll, 30+ Blue Tit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 28 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Skylark, 3 Jackdaw, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Coal Tit, 4 Dunnock, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cormorant and 17 Teal.

Plenty of Blackcaps around the observatory and nature reserve this morning with 19 being trapped and ringed including this female.

Ringing: 58 birds ringed today including 19 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, 5 Goldcrest, 4 Dunnock, 4 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Song Thrush.

Friday 25th September 2015

A cold and clear night with a stiff breeze from the West gave a rather productive day at the observatory today with quite a few new migrants present.

Migrants involved 315 Meadow Pipit, 210 Swallow, 10+ Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 23+ Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied flycatcher, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 1 Woodlark, 74 Siskin, 62 Goldfinch, 21 Chaffinch, 2 Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Coal Tit, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Shelduck.

It was rather interesting to catch a control Blue Tit. (A bird that has been ringed elsewhere other than here at Landguard). Look forward to seeing where it was originally ringed soon.

A small arrival of Chiffchaff appeared throughout today so it was rather nice to see so many juveniles, including 23 being trapped and ringed.

Ringing: 53 birds ringed throughout the day including 23 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 8 Blue Tit, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 3 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Wren.

Thursday 24th September 2015

Heavy cloud overnight and into the morning with sunny spells throughout the rest of the day produced a little selection of birds today.

Migrants came in the form of 82 Siskin, 19 Goldfinch, 7 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 14 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 76 Swallow, 11 House Martin, 66 Meadow Pipit, 2 Brent Geese, 9 Common Gull, 7 Mediterranean Gull, 9 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Grey Plover, 18 Cormorant, 10 Common Scoter, 3 Gannet, 7 Wigeon and 1 Red-throated Diver.

Pied flycatcher still around the observatory which has been here for at least two weeks, feeding up before it's long migration to warmer climes.

Ringing: 9 birds ringed during the day including 5 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest and 1 Great Tit.

Wednesday 23rd September 2015

A strong north-westerly wind throughout most of the morning with heavy cloud soon dispersing into bright sunshine brought a lovely autumnal feel to the observatory today.

New migrants included 8 Cormorant, 16 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 2 Common Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Snipe, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, 91 Goldfinch, 42 Siskin, 8 Chaffinch, 75 Swallow, 44 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Kingfisher and 3 Long-tailed Tit.

Still getting ''dark'' Bordered Straws. These are the progeny of the ''pale'' ones that arrive as primary immigrants earlier in the year.

Ringing: 10 birds ringed during the morning including 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin and 1 Little Owl.

Tuesday 22nd September 2015

A flat calm start to the morning where several migrants were on the move, soon followed by persistent rain throughout the rest of the day putting a stop to any observations.

The only migrants of note were 16 Brent Geese, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Pomarine Skua, 8 Dunlin, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Turnstone, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 31 Siskin, 12 Goldfinch, 29 Meadow Pipit and 2 Grey Wagtail.

A few more autumnal species such as Beaded Chestnut (above) and Black Rustic (below) are starting to show up.

Ringing: 7 birds ringed during the morning including 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Song Thrush.

Monday 21st September 2015

The south-westerly wind today brought several new migrants to the observatory which included 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 53 Goldfinch, 14 Siskin, 8 Chaffinch, 120 Meadow Pipit, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 283 Swallow, 126 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin,1 Swift, 1 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 28 Brent Geese, 3 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Gannet, 26 Dunlin, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Knot, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 28 Teal, 13 Wigeon, 2 Common Scoter and 1 Hobby.

Devil's Coach Horse Beetles are becoming more evident at the moment with a few seen at the observatory daily.

Ringing: 32 birds ringed during the morning including 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and best of all 1 Kingfisher.

Sunday 20th September 2015

The Sallow, a moth not often seen on site, this was the highlight of last nights mothing.

A busy day today, with lots of birds about, including around 500 Swallows moving south, along with the odd House Martin. Meadow Pipits are also on the move, but in fewer numbers at present. On site numbers of Tits are turning up, including 10 Long-tailed Tits and a Coal Tit. 8 Grey Wagtails went over, and the odd Siskin and Redpoll are starting to move. The highlights on site today were the Kingfisher seen on the point, and 2 Pied Flycatcher still plus Redstart and Firecrest. 

Ringing total for today was 51 birds.  10 each of Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 3 each of Chaffinch, Blackcap and Great Tit, 2 each of Robin, Dunnock and Willow Warbler, and singles of Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet and Goldfinch.