Thursday 2nd February 2017

A Black-necked Grebe off the point is only the ninth site record and the first one ever in winter. Unfortunately by the time we legged it down the point in an attempt to get closer views it had, rather annoyingly, done a bunk. 2,835 Cormorants went out fishing between 0716 & 0725 hrs - as its getting lighter earlier then they go out fishing earlier. A couple of milder days with a southerly breeze and some birds think its spring already with single Redwing & Fieldfare on site plus a Meadow Pipit flying south. Great Black-backed Gulls don't go in the car park so this individual is obviously not well as it sits right next to the car so you can't open the door. No other big gulls come this close and as its a bit dopey its in danger of getting run over.

Wednesday 1st February 2017

The Cormorants return with 1,960 going out fishing this morning but the fog has rolled in so will spend some time looking for gull rings in the car parks before abandoning ship.

January Ringing Total

For the sake of completeness just 4 birds of 3 species ringed in January 2017:

2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.

Although you might think that this is poor there have been eight January ringing totals lower than this during this century !

Tuesday 31st January 2017

Cool onshore breeze with southbound 31 Red-throated Diver, 9 Common Scoter, 4 Brent & northbound 12 Red-throats & a Common Scoter. Cormorant numbers low the last couple of mornings presumably due to human interference at the roost.

Monday 30th January 2017

3 Sanderling were on the beach by the point first thing but not for long. 2 Mallard south is the only other record of note. This Lithuanian ringed Black-headed Gull has frequented Manor Terrace for several winters now although it has never been seen at the View Point.

BOOK SALE

Landguard Bird Observatory library has duplicate copies of several books in order to make space & raise funds:

Landguard Conversation Trust – Books for Sale

Bids are invited for the following books.

All bids should be made through Dave Pearsons, Chairman of LCT via landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

Where to watch Birds in Spain – Birdlife International publication

The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain & Ireland – J T Sharrock (3 copies)

 The Atlas of Wintering Birds of Britain & Ireland –Peter Lock

The New Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain & Ireland -1988-1991

Important Bird Areas in Europe – 1989

Atlas of European Birds -1960

Atropos – issues 1 to 47

Tracks & Signs of the Birds of Britain & Europe –Roy Brown, John Ferguson etc

Birds of Britain & Europe –Bertel Bruun, Lars Svensson etc

Minsmere- Portrait of a Bird Reserve – Herbert Axel, Eric Hosking

Birds of the World – a Checklist – James F Clements

Birds of Australia – Graham Pizzey

Rare Birds of Britain – J N Dymond,  etc

A New Guide to the Birds of Essex – Simon Cox

The Orchids of Suffolk- Martin Sanford

Fungi & Slim Moulds in Suffolk

Grasses, Ferns, Mosses, & Lichens- of Britain & Ireland – Roger Phillips

Shorebirds – An Identification guide to the waders of the world – Peter Hayman, etc

Birds of the Middle East & North Africa – P A Hollom, etc (2 copies)

Where to watch birds in Britain & Europe – John Gooders issues 1984 & 1994

The Birds of Hungary – Gerard Gorman

An Atlas of the Birds of the Western Paleartic – Colin Harrison

A field guide to the Butterflies of Britain & Europe – L G Higgins & N D Riley

Suffolk Dragonflies – Howard Mendel

Birds of the World – Dr Christopher Perrins & Andrew Gosler

Flight Identification of European Raptors – R F Porter etc

Estuary Birds of of Britain – A J Prater (2 copies)

A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain & Europe – Peterson etc

Ticehurst – William H Payne 1962 edition & 1978 2^nd edition (Only sold after discussion with members of the committee)

The Big Bird Race- Bill Oddie & David Tomlinson

Peterson First Guides – Butterflies & Moths – Paul A Opler

Handbook of the Birds of the Middle East & North Africa volumes 1 to 9 

A Handbook of British Birds – Witherby etc volumes 1 to 5

Rare Birds of Britain & Ireland – J T R & E M Sharrock (2 copies)

Various Suffolk Bird Reports available

Sunday 29th January 2017

1,160 Cormorant headed out fishing this morning. Of greater note was a flock of 60 Linnet for the first hour which is an exceptional mid-winter total which are presumably mostly locals wintering not to far away paying a visit in the milder conditions. Single Red-throated Diver & Oyk headed south whilst gull watching but, apart from the usual Med Gulls, nowt odd seen (but not a lot of shipping movements to stir things up this morning).