Saturday 17th October 2015

Another cloudy and windy today at the observatory but still a few birds moving through in smaller numbers than previous days.

Migrants today included c.38 Redwing, c.20 Blackbird, c.10 Song Thrush, c.7 Fieldfare, 40 Robin, c.50 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, c.40 Goldcrest, 2 Sparrowhawk, 29 Cormorant, 4 Brent Geese, 3 Common Gull,1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, c.90 Goldfinch, 37 Siskin, 15 Greenfinch, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Brambling, 4 Redpoll, 4 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow, 12 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 Short-eared Owl.

Our daily male Kestrel still seems to be hanging around the observatory, occasionally harassing our local Magpies.

Ringing: 34 birds ringed during the day which included 12 Goldcrest, 7 Robin, 4 Blackcap, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling, 2 Blackbird, 2 Wren, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Recent Recoveries

Female Blackcap ringed here 01/06/2015 retrapped 239km away at Westdown Plantation, Wiltshire 13/09/2015. Grey Wagtail ringed here 13/09/2015 killed by a Sparrowhawk 43 km away at Stradbrooke, Suffolk almost due north of us 03/10/2015. Chiffchaff ringed 14/07/2015 454km away at Bamburgh, Northumberland retrapped here 03/10/2015.

Friday 16th October 2015

A northerly wind with a combination of thick and heavy cloud, plus continuous spells of rain called for a day for very little on the bird front. However, the weather did show up a few niceties.

New-in today came in the form of c.305 Fieldfare, c.225 Redwing, c.48 Blackbird, c.30 Song Thrush, c.50 Robin, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, c.50 Goldcrest, c.40 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Skylark, 2+ Reed Bunting, 5 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 25 Linnet, 12 Goldfinch, 10 Greenfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 5 Siskin, 3 Brambling, 2 Redpoll, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Cormorant, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Woodcock (in-off the sea).

At least 1 Short-eared Owl seen today put on the nature reserve, slightly less than yesterday's high count.

Ringing: 3 birds ringed during the day including 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock and 1 Grey Wagtail.

October Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 17th October 0930hrs - usual arrangements on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 15th October 2015

Heavy/thick cloud with spells of drizzly rain produced a rather decent day at the observatory with several notable birds being seen.

Migrants today came in the form of 60+ Robin, 50+ Goldcrest, c.20 Blackbird, c.14 Song Thrush, c.12 Redwing, c.5 Fieldfare, 57 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 63 Goldfinch, 13 Redpoll, 7 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 7 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Skylark, 7 Swallow, 2 Tree Sparrow, 10 Brent Geese, 5 Cormorant, 4 Common Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Gannet, 1 Common Scoter and 2 Sparrowhawk.

An amazing 7 Short-eared Owl on-site today throughout the day including another short staying Great Grey Shrike.

Several Brambling on-site today which are always nice to see here, stunning birds.

Ringing: 69 birds ringed throughout the day from dawn until dusk which include 21 Goldcrest, 19 Robin, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Wren, 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 2 Brambling, 2 Dunnock, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blue Tit amd 1 Great Tit.

Wednesday 14th October 2015

One of the 2 Tree Sparrows that are still around the cottage.

Goldcrests and Robins made up the bulk of the birds on site today, with at least 100 of the former and 40 of the latter. Most of the Thrushes that were on site first thing quickly moved on as it got light, with a Ring Ouzel, 8 Fieldfare, 29 Redwing, and small numbers of both Blackbird and Song Thrush along with 3 Brambling. and a Short-eared Owl briefly.

Insect-wise 1 Clouded Yellow was seen today.

65 birds ringed, 50 Goldcrest, 10 Robin and 1 each of Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Blackcap.

Tuesday 13th October 2015

A colder feel to the outside world today with chilly and windy weather, but despite this a few birds still managed to make an appearance for us.

Arrivals new-in today include 15 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 1 Ring Ouzel, 15 Robin, 11 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Swallow, 35 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 40+ Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 72 Brent Geese, 4 Cormorant, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Gannet, 1 Common Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 1 Common Scoter and 2 Tree Sparrow.

Still getting a few migrant moths, like this Pearly Underwing, despite the falling overnight temperatures.

Ringing: 9 birds ringed during the morning including 7 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Monday 12th October 2015

Cloudy and calm overnight with intermittent patches of clear sky provided a rather productive day at the observatory today. A few niceties around today.

New arrivals throughout the day included 60+ Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 15 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 4 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 45 Goldfinch, 20 Chaffinch, 15 Greenfinch, 10 Siskin, 10 Redpoll, 7 Brambling, 1 Reed Bunting, 8 Skylark, 2 Wheatear, 27 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Tree Sparrow, 14 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 1 Coal Tit, 13 Cormorant, 11 Brent Geese. 4 Common Gull, 2 Meditterranean Gull, 1 Guillemot and 6 Lapwing.

A Great Grey Shrike was found early morning and watched flying inland and into Essex.

Ringing: 81 birds ringed during the day including 43 Goldcrest, 13 Robin, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 1 Firecrest and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Sunday 11th October 2015

A day record for the number of Goldcrests ringed today with an estimated 130 on site. Brent Geese also on the move today with 1561 counted moving south. Other offshore movements include south bound 99 Black-headed Gull, 15 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 2 Eider, 2 Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher plus north bound 4 Wigeon, 3 Eider, Red-throated Diver, Sooty Shearwater & Greenshank (i.e. take the Brents out then very little offshore). A few land birds were seen to come in off the sea including 3 Fieldfare & a Jack Snipe with a handful of Skylark, Siskin plus a Brambling heading south over the obs. In the bushes a selection of commoner mid-October migrants as evidenced by the ringing totals including 2 Firecrest and a handful of continental race Songies worth a mention (song thrush passage so far this autumn has been very poor).

Plenty of fungi around following the damp autumn including what looks like the first site record of Common Earthball Scleroderma citrinum.

123 birds ringed: 100 goldcrest, 7 robin, 5 song thrush, 2 goldfinch, 2 chiffchaff, 2 firecrest, 1 blackbird, 1 redwing, 1 grey wagtail, 1 chaffinch, 1 house sparrow.