Saturday 28th November 2015

Clear cold start plus the highest tides of the autumn & good early morning views of the moon. Autumn migration is rapidly grinding to a halt with south bound a few laggards in the form of 48 Siskin, 9 Goldfinch, 2 Skylark, 2 Mipit & 2 Stock Doves southbound. In the bushes a handful of new Blackies on site plus another late migrating Goldcrest. Offshore barely bothered with due to the glorious early sunshine in one's eyes but either side of the "currant bun" movements looked lamentable. The gull numbers behind shipping is picking up if the light would be kind enough to allow us to go through them properly.

9 birds ringed: 4 blackbird, 1 chaffinch, 1 goldfinch, 1 greenfinch, 1 house sparrow, 1 goldcrest.

Friday 27th November 2015

A small arrival of about 40 Blackies, 26 Fieldfare & 16 Redwing this morning mostly fairly quickly moved inland. The bushes otherwise typically quiet although a Blackcap was noted. Offshore at least 21 Gannets following shipping with the gulls, a "ringtail" Hen Harrier went south, Bonxie north and a Shag was sat on the sea for a while. Other offshore movements were paltry.

18 birds ringed: 13 blackbird, 2 greenfinch, 1 redwing, 1 house sparrow, 1 chaffinch.

Thursday 26th November 2015

After a cold start the morning warmed up nicely into a sunny day, and the birding improved as the morning went on also, as this stunning adult male Waxwing, that appeared just before mid-day shows. Other birds of note were 61 Siskin south along with 3 Brambling, 2 Fieldfare and 8 Lesser Redpoll, whilst the Short-eared Owl again put in an appearance along the beach and butts.

On the insect front, this male Winter moth appeared in the moth traps overnight and, although common and widespread in Britain is exceptional at Landguard. Also a Red Admiral butterfly was seen around the Buddlejas at the southern end of the compound.

10 birds were ringed including the Waxwing, also 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch,2 Blackbird, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Wren.

Wednesday 25th November 2015

Still small numbers of finches are on the move, with 36 Goldfinch south, some of which dropped in to feed up on the remaining teasel seed heads. Also passing through were 105 Siskin,17 Chaffinch, with about 10 lingering and 7 Lesser Redpoll, all of which were heading south. The only other species of note were Skylark, with 4 south and 5 in off, plus 2 Chiffchaff on the Icky ridge.

10 birds were ringed, including 5 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch and 1 each of Chaffinch, Goldcrest and Blackbird.

Tuesday 24th November 2015

How on earth one can swallow whole acorns plus the casing from Holm Oaks is beyond me but every year at this time the Wood Pigeons gorge on the Holm Oaks. You can tell not a lot happening when one resorts to waffling on about Wood Pigs - again ! Today it rained and drizzled up to 10am & again in the afternoon but at least it's a lot milder. Obviously a couple of new Blackies & Chaffinch on site but apart from that the highlight was 12 Gannet & 3 Kitts following a feeder container ship in then the Stenna Britannica back out.

5 birds ringed: 3 blackbird, 2 chaffinch.

Monday 23rd November 2015

A small arrival of late autumn migrants including a Dutch ringed individual amongst 40 Blackbird & a dozen Chaffinch. Both new Dunnock & Chiffchaff ringed is worth a mention as the last time new individuals of either of these two species was trapped was at the end of last month. Chiffchaff's at this time of the year can be more interesting but this one was a bog standard British race bird. Vis mig quietening off but included south bound 18 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin, Skylark & Mipit. Offshore 17 Gannet north plus one south and 2 Red-breasted Merganser south were the highlights amongst not a lot else.

26 birds ringed: 15 blackbird, 5 chaffinch, 2 song thrush, 1 chiffchaff, 1 lesser redpoll, 1 dunnock, 1 goldfinch.

Sunday 22nd November 2015

It looks like the Thrushes are finally beginning to arrive, as this female Blackbird (above) shows, with around 50 new birds, along with small numbers of both Redwing and Fieldfare having dropped in with the northerly gales of yesterday. Not much else on site, apart from a Blackcap, but offshore 6 Little Auks were noted along with around 80 Dunlin, 43 Shelduck and small numbers of other ducks and waders.

31 birds were ringed, 25 Blackbirds, 2 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Wren.