Saturday 2nd July 2016

Yet another blustery day at the observatory with very little of note.

Migrants thin on the ground with 12 Swift, 2 Cormorant, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Great spotted Woodpecker is the best of the rest.

Carrion Crow with a brood of four youngsters being fed very well with a young Rabbit. Despite being a brood of five, perhaps one of the youngsters has decided its time for early dispersal?

Friday 1st July 2016

Yet another wet n' windy morning - whoever has been doing that rain dance out there could they please stop ! A flock of roughly 25 Redshank plus two separate Curlew went south during limited sea watching. A Reed Warbler chuntering away to itself on the Icky ridge is today's grounded migrant. There are still a few terns collecting around the point as the tide starts falling but apart from what's breeding here that's your lot.

No Ringing.

June Ringing Totals

182 of 31 species ringed. Highlights include 2 Turtle Dove, Treecreeper, Serin & an unseasonal Fieldfare.

Linnet	46		Song Thrush	2
Dunnock	24		Blackbird	2
Greenfinch	11		Turtle Dove	2
House Sparrow	10		Serin	1
Chaffinch	9		Lesser 'throat	1
Goldfinch	9		Reed Warbler	1
Blackcap	7		Redstart	1
Wren	6		Grey Wagtail	1
Robin	6		Garden Warbler	1
Ringed Plover	6		Fieldfare	1
Great Tit	6		Magpie	1
Whitethroat	5		Treecreeper	1
Starling	5		Wood Pigeon	1
Chiffchaff	5		Coal Tit	1
Blue Tit	4
Spotted Flycatcher	3
Pied Wagtail	3

Thursday 30th June 2016

Migrants conspicuous by their absence. Little Owls still out & about - if they have any young they should put in an appearance any day soon.

No birds ringed.

Wednesday 29th June 2016

We are now in a bit of a lull as far as migration is concerned, but autumn wader passage is well underway, as this flight shot of a passing Curlew shows, one of 12 seen heading south today. Apart from those and the Serin again briefly, 1 Sanderling south along the beach was about as good as it got.

 On the insect front the moth traps were much quieter than yesterday, but Archers Darts are beginning to emerge as this fresh specimen shows.

5 birds ringed: 3 Linnet and 1 each of Wren and Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 28th June 2016

The Smooth Newts in our ponds are getting on with the process of breeding as this displaying male shows.
Breeding is also in full swing in our bird community, with lots of baby birds being fed by their parents and fledged youngsters beginning to wander away from the nests. As you can tell not much else on the bird front is going on, but 2 Meadow Pipits flew over and a dispersing baby Coal Tit turned up, but thats about it.

Ringing: 11 birds, 3 Dunnock, 2 House Sparrow, and 1 each of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Pied Wagtail.  

Monday 27th June 2016

This faded Wheatear with a dicky wing is the first of it's kind noted here since 21st May. Is it a late spring migrant or a failed breeder ? Either way it's wing issues didn't stop it getting here ! Heading south 15 Curlew, 13 Swift, 2 Swallow, Redshank, Oyk & Siskin.

The first Bordered Straw of the year in the moth trap is worth a mention.

5 birds ringed: 2 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Greenfinch.

Sunday 26th June 2016

A quiet day today, livened up by a Serin going over mid-morning, was it newly arrived or the same as a few days ago still hanging about. Not a lot else apart from 22 Swift south. On the insect front, the day flying Mother Shipton moth (above) has been seen regularly on the butts.

Ringing: 2 birds ringed. 1 Whitethroat and 1 House Sparrow.