Saturday 16th September 2017

The first Pink-footed Geese of this autumn to go over Landguard.

Noted on the reserve today, 35 Meadow Pipit plus 5 going South, 24 Pied Wagtail, 12 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Wheatear. Offshore 5 Common Tern, 4 Sandwich Tern & 2 Med Gull.
Going South 82 House Martin, 23 Swallow, 6 Oystercatcher, 4 Swift, 2 Jackdaw & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going North 11 Pink-footed Geese & 2 Tufted Duck.

19 birds ringed: Blackcap 5, Chiffchaff 5, Great Tit 4, Meadow Pipit 2, Blue Tit 1, House Martin 1, Reed Warbler 1.

Friday 15th September 2017

 The 3 Woodlark on Landguard today are probably our earliest ever in autumn.

A relatively calm and crisp clear morning following the last few windy days, a few migrants along too, on the reserve 32 Pied Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit, 12 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Woodlark, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Snipe, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Offshore 3 Common Tern & 1 Med Gull.
Going South 88 Meadow Pipit, 48 Swallow, 28 House Martin, 3 Grey Wagtail & 3 Jackdaw.

Patillus obscuriporus has been identified as only the second record for Suffolk.

26 birds ringed: Meadow Pipit 10, Chiffchaff 8, Blue Tit 3, Goldcrest 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 1, Wren 1

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Reed Warbler ringed at Landguard 5th August 2014 retrapped 1272km away at Embalse de San Jose, Castronuno, Valladorid, Spain on 3rd May 2017. Reed Warbler ringed Old Hall Marshes, Essex, 25th July 2017 retrapped 37km at Landguard 9th August 2017. Reed Warbler ringed Orfordness retrapped at Landguard 1st September 2017. Starling ringed Ipswich 27th February 2016 retrapped 18km away at Landguard.

September litter pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 16th September, 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements on Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 14th September 2017

Little Egret is normally seen passing offshore, possibly an onsite first as this individual has stopped off for a few moments.

On the reserve, 22 Pied Wagtail, 10 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Common Tern offshore at the point, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail plus 1 going South, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Egret, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whinchat & 1 Whitethroat.

Passage noted, going South 469 House Martin, 228 Swallow, 42 Meadow Pipit plus 25 on the reserve and 13 coming in East off the Sea, 20 Black-headed Gull plus 20 on the sea, 12 Sand Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Cormorant plus 1 going North, 2 Shelduck & 1 Merlin. Going North 1 Oystercatcher. Coming in East off the sea 1 Marsh Harrier.

Feathered Brindle is a nationally scarce species that we get here in reasonable numbers some years, at this time of year.

22 birds ringed: Blackcap 8, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 3, Grey Wagtail 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 1

Wednesday 13th September 2017

The arrival of storm Aileen, bringing with it winds gusting to storm force 10 for a time, meant birds were keeping a low profile. However, there were a few highlights, not least the juv Long-tailed Skua that drifted into view close inshore and promptly landed on the sea in front of the 3 lucky observers. Other highlights were the 5 Wheatear on site, along with 30+ Meadow Pipit and 5 Yellow Wagtail amongst the 20+ Pied Wagtail and this White Wagtail(above). Apart from that it was mostly a  southerly movement of Hirundines, comprising of 145 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin and 34 Swallow.
Insect wise, the first Feathered Brindle moth of the Autumn.

3 birds ringed: 2 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 12th September 2017

Despite the wind there are plenty of butterflies about, Comma, Common Blue, Painted Lady (pictured), Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small Heath, Small White & Speckled Wood on the reserve today.
Birds noted on the reserve during the morning, 30 Meadow Pipit plus 79 going South, 25 Pied Wagtail, 15 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Med Gull, 2 Sparrowhawk & 2 Whitethroat.
Passage going South 9 Swallow, 4 Common Tern plus 2 at the point, 3 House Martin, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Redshank & 1 Siskin. The Siskin is the first for the Autumn noted at Landguard.

6 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Monday 11th September 2017

Although it seems the end of the breeding season has passed this Goldfinch is still busy feeding young.

The strong wind this morning might be the theme for the week. On the reserve 120 Linnet, 25 Pied Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap & 1 Sparrowhawk.

Passage was fairly light noted going South 7 Meadow Pipit plus 1 on the reserve, 5 Goldfinch plus 11 on the reserve, 3 Sand Martin, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Grey Wagtail & 2 Swallow. Going North 12 Common Tern plus 2 at the point & 8 Sandwich Tern plus 2 South and 4 at the point.

0 birds ringed:

Sunday 10th September 2017

Dense fog overnight grounded lots of migrants, which included 2 Yellow Wagtails amongst the 22 Pied Wagtails, 30 Meadow Pipit and 2 Wheatear. Also, good numbers of both Swallows and House Martins on site until the sun cleared away the fog allowing them to depart. Warbler numbers were quite good with double figures of both Blackcap and Chiffchaff and smaller numbers of Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler + 1 Spotted Flycatcher was seen and 1 Swift went south.

Ringed 16 birds: 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap and 1 each of Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.