Saturday 8th July 2017

A Common Sandpiper along the riverbank is the only migrant of note bird wise. Moths taking up a fair amount of time. Leopard Moth was last noted here 10 years ago.

No birds ringed.

Friday 7th July 2017

Moth madness with over 2,000 moths of 140 species. What takes up ones time is not just remembering scientific names of species not seen for the previous 50 weeks since last July but sorting out some of the common ones that are similar to others. Spindle Ermine is one such beastie that is very similar to its congerers and, like all the ermines, causes me grief - or is it not a Spindle after all ? Migrant moths almost non-existent and migrant birds almost the same with just a handful of Black-headed Gull, Curlew & hirundines on the move.

We see a lot of Willow Beauty throughout the moth seasons but Mottled Beauty only puts in odd appearances and its one of those species I have difficulty getting my head around every year despite knowing the exact features to look for.

No birds ringed.

Thursday 6th July 2017

Purple Hairstreak has only been recorded once previously at Landguard with one in 2003.
A warm but breezy start to the day, plenty of activity on the reserve with the flocks of Goldfinch and Linnet bustling about, passage is very quiet though. New birds noted this morning were on the beach with 2 Sanderling and 1 Redshank, with offshore movement going south 98 Black-headed Gull, 1 Curlew.

10 birds ringed: Linnet 4, Goldfinch 2, Great Tit 1, Greenfinch 1, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 1

Wednesday 5th July 2017

Yet another incredibly warm night, giving rise to another hot day, means that bird activity is minimal. But the up side of that is that insect life is in full flow, especially the moths. Both day flying, as with the Six-belted Clearwings (above) out near the point, or in the traps overnight, when a large number of species, both big and small put in an appearance. Including 2 Oncocera semirubella. (below) a spectacular micro that occurs mainly on the chalk downs of southern England.

Ringed 5 birds: 2 Linnet, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Wren.

Tuesday 4th July 2017

An increase of juvenile Starling over the last few weeks has grown the roost to over 600 individuals, they are also increasing in volume as they settle into the Holm Oaks at the end of the day.
A warm start today with very little wind, there were 2 new juvenile Chiffchaff and an adult female Lesser Whitethroat around the Observatory, offshore 19 Curlew and 8 Cormorant were noted going South and 5 Little Tern were just off the beach.

Doing well for moths that don't visit us very often at the moment including varied Coronet.

40 birds ringed: Starling 26, Linnet 4, Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 2, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Whitethroat 1, Woodpigeon 1

Monday 3rd July 2017

Plenty of pollen on the insects on the Teasels at the moment but if your a messy eater one gets covered in it. On the move southbound 57 Black-headed Gull, 32 Swift, 7 Curlew, 6 Sand Martin, 5 Oyks, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Common Gull & Little Egret plus northbound a Sandwich Tern. Fresh brood of Great Tit out today could be a pair that failed on their first attempt and tried again or a pair churning out a second brood. Two Muntjac were on beach early on which is the first time more than a single has been recorded here.

Nut-tree Tussock is another one of those species common inland but rare here.

8 birds ringed: 5 Great Tit, 1 Swallow, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin.

Sunday 2nd July 2017

Plenty of Comma's around at the moment. 22 Sand Martin & 24 Black-headed Gulls went south but no other migrants noted.

Buff-tip only crops up in our traps once or twice a year but it always enlightens trap emptying.

Ringing: 2 Wren.