Saturday 29th April 2017

Although remaining distant 2 Ring Ouzel have been showing well this morning. 9 Wheatear are present through the reserve, along with 7 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Yellow Wagtail. At 9am a Serin was heard singing but unfortunately was not located.
It was a busier day over the sea this morning, passage going South, 12 Swallow with 2 going North, 12 Oystercatcher with 1 going North, 4 Little Egret, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin. Seen going North 1 Fulmar, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 2 Med Gull and going East out to sea 5 Sand Martin. 3 Little Tern were feeding offshore.

Now that the bitterly cold nights are on the wane hopefully a few more moths will appear, like the first Tawny Shears for year this morning.

10 birds ringed: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat.

Friday 28th April 2017

5 pairs of Ringed Plover are on eggs at Landguard so far. A Ringed and Little Ringed Plover breeding survey 2017 is being undertaken in Suffolk this year. Some tetrads across the county still require surveyors, if you can help please email robin.harvey@rspb.org.uk

A Garden Warbler was a first for this year today and late news from yesterday with a Whinchat reported on the reserve in the afternoon being another. Unfortunately the Whinchat was not seen this morning. Wheatears continue to show well with 27 recorded and 3 Ring Ouzel were present too. Other migrants seen on the reserve were 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff. Passage going North 1 Swallow and 1 Cormorant, going South 7 Black-headed Gulls.

The Landguard moth list is roughly 940 species, so to get an addition is always welcome. Frosted Green can be common in mature oak woodland but has not managed to wander down here until today.

10 birds ringed: 3 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler

Thursday 27th April 2017

Shelduck are regularly seen on the reserve but usually disperse by mid morning, they appear paired even when they are grouped together and are defensive if other individuals get to close to their mate.

Slight fluctuations in numbers are an indication that some migration is occurring, seen on the reserve this morning 25 Wheatear, 5 Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Whitethroat, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler. No passage was noted over the sea.

7 birds ringed: 5 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin

Wednesday 26th April 2017

Another cold and frosty night, has curtailed spring migration again for the time being. The 2 Ring Ouzels are still here, and 27 Wheatears are still out on the common, + the Whimbrel was also still feeding out there first thing, but now appears to have gone. Precious little else to report, so here is a picture of one of the healthy population of House Sparrows, which are breeding around the cottage, an all too infrequent occurrence these days.

2 birds ringed:  1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 25th April 2017

This Whimbrel was showing well during the morning, seen chasing and feeding on insects. The 2 Ring Ouzel, presumed to be the same individuals, held the same positions as yesterday with one at each end of the reserve but remain distant for observing, good numbers of Wheatears still with 25 seen this morning. Also present 7 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler. Passage was quiet with only 11 Swallows going South noted.

Only 2 moths following a cold windy night with this Common Swift being one of them.

0 birds ringed:

Monday 24th April 2017

Pied Wagtail, above, is a resident at Landguard and they should typically start to nest from this last week in April onward, 5 Whitethroat are also singing and display flying to set territory for the coming breeding season. 2 Ring Ouzel are present again today and Wheatear numbers have increased to 25. Also seen 10 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap. Movement heading North included 5 Brent Geese, 4 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, going South 5 Whimbrel, 10 Swallow and 2 Goldfinch.

19 birds ringed: 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 1 Sparrowhawk

Sunday 23rd April 2017

A pleasant  day weather-wise, but little movements of birds, with the exception of 3 Ring Ouzels(one of which pictured) skulking on the common, along with 10 Wheatear and the now regular 5  Whitethroats on the butts end + 2 Lesser Whitethroats also. Offshore, 12 Whimbrel , 5 Sanderling , 5 Common Tern and 1 Sandwich Tern all going north, whilst 2 Sparrow Hawk went high south and a Little Gull was present offshore.

More moths are beginning to appear, like this Muslin moth(above) which appears to be having a good year on site.

6 birds ringed: 3 Blackcap and 1 each of Chiffchaff, Linnet and Blackbird.