Temporary Fencing

It is intended to put up the temporary fencing and signs for ground nesting birds on the nature reserve on Tuesday 22nd March. Many hands make light work so if you are available to help please wear appropriate clothing & footwear for the task in hand and meet at the cottage at 0930hrs. Up to 7 Ringed Plover have been on site in recent days despite the cool conditions and plenty of time for more to arrive.

Saturday 19th March 2016

A bleak feel yet again, shrouded in heavy cloud with short spells of drizzle during the morning. A scattering of new arrivals moving through.

Sightings include 3 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Chaffinch and 2 Goldfinch.

Seawatching this morning produced 30 Gannet, 25 Red-throated Diver, 24 Brent Geese, 12 Cormorant, 5 Shelduck, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Gull and 1 Mediterranean Gull. 

A stunning male Yellowhammer dropped in briefly early morning, sang briefly and then headed North. 

Still a few Blackbirds on-site, soon getting themselves ready for the forthcoming breeding season. 

The Red Legged Partridge is still here, out on the nature reserve. 

Ringing: No birds ringed this morning.

Friday 18th March 2016

Thick and heavy cloud with a real murky feel to the morning, was rather fruitful with further signs of Spring appearing throughout the day.

In the early hours and at dawn, Redwing were evident on-site with around 23 around. Totals of 3 Goldcrest for the day revealed a few new arrivals. Woodcock rather busy too with 3 individuals seen, along with 2 Skylark, 1 Redpoll, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 Rook. 

Spring migrants appeared with singles of Firecrest and Black Redstart, both ringed. 

Seawatching produced 147 Black-headed Gull, 108 Brent Geese, 9 Cormorant, 9 Oystercatcher, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Dunlin, 3 Shelduck, 2 Common Gull, 2 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Gannet and 1 Grey Plover.

Ringing: 14 birds ringed during the morning including 4 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Firecrest and 1 Black Redstart.

March Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 19th March 0930hrs start. Further information on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 17th March 2016

A clear frosty morning turned into a beautiful sunny day with a few birds making the most of the early spring-like weather.

Birds on the move today included 11 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Ringed Plover, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Turnstone and 1 Oystercatcher, along with a mixed group of 75 Cormorant and 6 Brent Geese heading out of the river. Early morning 3 Goosander flew out of the river mouth and headed North, shortly followed by a Marsh Harrier. A Red-legged Partridge on the nature reserve this morning was a good record.

Chris, our Warden from last year is back with us from today onwards.

The warmth of the sun this morning brought the first two species of butterfly of the year out in the form of this Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell.

Ringing: 4 birds ringed this morning including 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit and 1 Woodpigeon.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Group of Gannets heading north close inshore this morning, part of the 61 seen heading back to their breeding grounds.

Also seen in the early morning murk were 2 Fulmar, 1 Green Sandpiper north, along with a Grey plover and a Curlew, as well as small numbers of Red-throated Divers still. On site still 2 Fieldfare and 3 Goldcrest, plus Rock Pipit south and Reed Bunting north.

2 birds were ringed, 1 each of Blackbird and Chaffinch.

Tuesday 15th March 2016

Hard work. On the move heading south 3 Siskin, 2 Mipit & 2 Grey Wagtail with on site a couple of new Blackies, 2 Redwing, Woodcock & the Fieldfare that has been loitering. A single Rock Pipit went north with a couple of Canada Geese going that way before a quick change of mind and going south. Offshore barely worth a mention with just a couple of Red-throated Diver & a Gannet.

Ringing: 2 blackbird, 1 grey wagtail

Monday 14th March 2016

Cold north-easterly conditions is not conducive to much migration. A Red-breasted Goose heading south with a flock of Barnacle Geese is probably the same individual as seen a couple of weeks back. Very little offshore movement with south bound 30 Barnacles & 2 Brent with north bound 11 Gannet, 4 Brent, 4 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Greylag & 2 Oyks. 6 Stock Dove went north low over the obs but very little of note in the migrant department in and around the site although the overwintering Goldcrest is still lingering despite several spring migrants of its kind having passed through the site in recent days.

Ringing: 1 blackbird, 1 song thrush

Sunday 13th March 2016

The high pressure we are encountering at present is allowing a trickle of migrants through, but not the hoped for rush. Most noteworthy today was a Yellow hammer and Reed Bunting south, along with 3 Redwing, 2 new Fieldfare, on top of the 2 still on site, a Woodcock first thing and brief visits from 7 Siskin and a Brambling. Offshore 42 Barnacle Geese and a Red-throated Diver south.

Ringing produced only 2 Blackbird, and a controlled Great Tit.