Saturday 26th August 2017

All sorts of critters turn up in the moth traps including this monster Caddis fly, Phryganea grandis.

A still humid night led into a hazy still morning. Migrants noted on the reserve, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk & the first Tree Sparrow for the Autumn. Passage noted going South, 29 Swallow, 4 Oystercatcher plus 3 going North, 3 Gadwall & 3 Grey Wagtail.

Yet another addition to the site moth list. This worn Evergestis limbata is presumably a migrant of a species only recorded for the first time ever as recently as 1994.

6 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 2, Blue Tit 1, Robin 1.

Friday 25th August 2017

This dispersing juvenile Grey Squirrel was at the point on Landguard today, the option of heading much further South from here is restricted, maybe it's time to swim?
A calm start to the day, very little wind and hazy sun, migrants noted on the reserve 12 Willow Warbler,  6 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Passage over the reserve going South, 33 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail & 1 Yellow Wagtail plus 3 Yellow Wagtail on the reserve. Offshore going South 2 Cormorant and coming in off the sea going West 2 Grey Heron.

A few more migrant moths present with increasing numbers of Rush Veneer occurring.

10 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 7, Blue Tit 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

Thursday 24th August 2017

The Starlings gathered to form a flock of approximately 500 birds this morning, they were feeding on an emergence of small insects.
A turnover of birds has taken place on the reserve, the Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat from previous few days have now moved on, Wheatears have reduced down to 3 but Willow Warbler have increased significantly with 35 seen during the morning. Other migrants noted, 1 Blackcap & 1 Sparrowhawk.
Offshore at the point 48 Common Tern, offshore passage going South 48 Swallow, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron & 2 Sandwich Tern.

32 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 27, Robin 2, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 1

Wednesday 23rd August 2017

We pray for south-easterly winds at migration time because they bring in lots of nice birds to the east coast. Unfortunately it didn't happen this time, apart from a Redstart and a Whinchat, both of which were very elusive. Offshore did fare a bit better with 36 Common tern south, along with 8 Sandwich and 1 Little Tern also south + 61 Teal, 17 Oyster Catcher, 30 Swallows and 1 Greenshank also all going south.

Migrant moth activity in the traps was not spectacular, but did produce another Scarce Bordered Straw and this Nephopterix angustella. a very localised species whose larvae feed on Spindle berries, mostly found growing in hedgerows.

13 birds ringed: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 each of Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, House Sparrow and Starling and 1 each of Robin and Linnet.

Tuesday 22nd August 2017

A still and humid night continued on into mid morning. Grounded migrants with the first Garden Warbler at Landguard for the autumn seen around the observatory, also noted 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler. A grey Wagtail was heading South over the reserve and towards the point 16 Pied Wagtail & 8 Wheatears.
Offshore going South 84 Swallow, 29 Oystercatcher plus 1 going North, 20 Redshank, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Common Gull, 1 Ruff & 1 Sand Martin.
Offshore going North 99 Common Tern plus 5 going South, 13 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet plus 1 going South.
The Fox pictured above was taking an early siesta, they are also indulging in the current fruit glut.

Considering the paucity of the commoner migrant moth recently, Scarce Bordered Straw is bucking the trend appearing in one's and two's most mornings.

33 birds ringed: Linnet 14, Goldfinch 5, Robin 4, Willow Warbler 4, Whitethroat 2, Blue Tit 1, Garden Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Wheatear 1

Monday 21st August 2017

A gentle breeze from the South West this morning, with it a few grounded migrants. Noted on the reserve the first Tree Pipit of this year at Landguard, seen briefly in front of the observatory. Also around the observatory 2 Spotted Flycatcher & 4 Willow Warbler. Towards the point were 2 Whinchat (pictured) & 8 Wheatear. There was also plenty of "tacking" from the bushes with 8 Lesser Whitethroat & 14 Whitethroat seen on the reserve.
Passage offshore going South 20 Common Tern, 11 Oystercatcher, 1 Kestrel & 1 Osprey.

When the Agripuila geniculea start to appear you know it's autumn proper - this species will become very common over the next couple of weeks.

13 birds ringed: Linnet 3,Willow Warbler 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 1, Robin 1, Wheatear 1, Woodpigeon 1

Sunday 20th August 2017

Autumn is on it's way as this Spotted Flycatcher shows, one of 2 on site today along with at least 20 Willow Warblers, 7 Whitethroat, 6 Wheatear, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Blackcap. Offshore several terns are still feeding around the river mouth with more heading south including 3 Arctic Terns.

The moth traps were much quieter with the cooler, fresher nights, but migrant moths are still appearing, including this Dark Sword-grass, a regular migrant at this time of year.

20 birds ringed: 12 Willow Warbler, 4 Wheatear and 1 each of Blackcap, Blackbird, Greenfinch and Whitethroat.