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Saturday 2nd September 2017


This Woodpigeon with a solid blue backdrop is an indication of just how warm and clear the weather is today.
The highlight of what was shaping to be a quiet morning was an Ortolan Bunting which showed briefly on the reserve near the old seawatching hide, it was unfortunately very brief as all the birds in the vicinity flew and the Bunting was not relocated once everything settled.
Migrants noted on the reserve, 12 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Whinchat, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Going South over the reserve, 3 Swallow & 2 House Martin.
Offshore at the point 48 Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern & 2 Little Tern.


Celypha rufana not only should not be here, but if it should, it should not be at this time of year, unless it has been misidentified!

9 birds ringed: Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 2, Dunnock 1, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 1

Friday 1st September 2017


A chilly start developed into a cloudless sky during the start of the morning, 3 Grey Wagtail went South over the Observatory, the first individual just after sunrise, 4 Tree Sparrow were in the House Sparrow flock and 12 Wheatears were around the tank blocks. Other migrants noted on the reserve, 8 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Warbler & 1 Sparrowhawk. At the point 8 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern & 1 Med Gull. Passage going South, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Swallow & 1 Yellow Wagtail.


Chinese Character has the classic "bird poo" disguise!

5 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Garden Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Robin 1, Willow Warbler 1.

August 2017 ringing total

402 birds of 30 species ringed during August. This is the second highest August individuals ringed total over the previous 10 years, the average is around 300 during this period.

Willow Warbler 169
Linnet 49
Whitethroat 24
House Sparrow 22
Robin 22
Goldfinch 15
Lesser Whitethroat 14
Starling 11
Wheatear 10
Reed Warbler 8
Blackbird 7
Blue Tit 7
Dunnock 7
Greenfinch 6
Wren 6
Blackcap 3
Grey Wagtail 3
Woodpigeon 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Sedge Warbler 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Chiffchaff 1
Garden Warbler 1
Great Tit 1
Magpie 1
Nightingale 1
Pied Wagtail 1
Redstart 1
Ringed Plover 1

Thursday 31st August 2017


A dry and bright start today on Landguard, this Willow Warbler was looking fine in the morning sun.
Meadow Pipit and Goldcrest were the first recorded on reserve for autumn, other migrants noted on the reserve, 10 Wheatear, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest & 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Going South over the reserve 2 Grey Wagtail.
At the point 30 Common Tern, 4 Sandwich Tern & 1 Turnstone on the beach.
Offshore going South 2 Little Egret, 2 Redshank plus 1 on the beach & 1 Dunlin.


Large Wainscot is an autumnal wanderer from reed beds.

9 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 2, Wheatear 2, Whitethroat 1

Wednesday 30th August 2017

This Purple Sandpiper (above), photographed today out at the point feeding on the jetty amidst the sea spray along with 3 Turnstone.

The expected heavy rain didn't arrive till mid morning, with just a few spots early on. This gave us a chance to have a quick look around, and on site, just a sprinkling of migrants, the best of which were 6 Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail and a fine male Redstart. Offshore 5 species of Terns were mostly feeding at the point and included at least 18 Common, 17 Sandwich and 2 Little terns, whilst both an Arctic and Black Tern were seen feeding but did not linger.
The moth traps were reasonably busy with this L-album Wainscot(1 of 2 today) being the highlight. A migrant that has colonised Britain in the last 60 or 70 years, and has spread into Suffolk in the last 20 years, the first record for here was at the start of this millennium.

9 birds ringed: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Great Tit and 2 Linnet.

Tuesday 29th August 2017


The warm and humid weather with very little wind continued today, noted during the morning on the reserve 250 Linnet, 12 Pied Wagtail, 11 Wheatear, 8 Whitethroat, 4 Kestrel, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail plus 4 going South, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker & 1 Whinchat.
At the point 6 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern & 2 Turnstone on the beach.
Passage going South 48 Swallow & 11 House Martin.


The first Delicate of this autumn for Landguard today.

5 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Sparrowhawk 1

Monday 28th August 2017


We only have a handful of records for Red-veined Darter on Landguard, this female looks freshly emerged.
Another clear and warm day with very little wind, although quiet, migration is just about ticking over. The Linnet flock has increased to 220 foraging on the reserve, up to 15 Pied Wagtail are also on the grass & 4 Wheatear & 1 Sparrowhawk near the point. Other migrants noted were seen around the observatory, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat & 1 Willow Warbler.
Passage going South over the reserve 6 Swallow plus 2 around the Observatory, 5 Grey Wagtail & 5 Yellow Wagtail plus 4 on the reserve.
Offshore 14 Common Tern & 6 Sandwich Tern were feeding at the point & 1 Purple Sandpiper flew in from the North and landed on the beach. Passage offshore going South 1 Whimbrel.


Cypress Pug. is a recent colonist to Suffolk, the ones that occur here are presumably migrants as we are not blessed with ornamental Conifers.

5 birds ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Wheatear 1, Willow Warbler 1

Sunday 27th August 2017


Hard graft with a bit of a case of the Bank Holiday blues when the highlight is a flock of 6 Blue Tits. Not quite that bad as there are 6 Wheatear and a very small handful of warblers only just reaching double figures on the reserve. Up to 45 Common Terns & 5 Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore but next to nothing going past or overhead.


Nyctegretis lineana is a rare moth noted for only the second time here with the previous one being 12 years ago. Moth traps are fairly busy in recent days with calm conditions and mild nights.

4 birds ringed: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Blue Tit.