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Saturday 4th November 2017

Barred Warbler ringed this morning at Landguard, a very worn juvenile.

Overnight rain had grounded migrating Redwing, the morning did remain dry but heavy showers came in at midday. The first Little Auk of the autumn for Landguard was seen going South offshore, a late Wheatear is on the reserve and a Barred Warbler was at the Observatory.
Noted on the reserve, 50 Redwing, 40 Blackbird, 20 Robin, 11 Linnet, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 1 Barred Warbler, 1 Brambling, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Snipe, 1 Wheatear & 1 Yellow-legged Gull.
Going out to sea East, 920 Cormorant. Offshore going South, 20 Common Scoter, 10 Brent Goose, 9 Shelduck, 5 Gannet, 5 Teal, 4 Knot, 3 Great Skua, 1 Goosander, 1 Little Auk, 1 Little Egret, 1 Shag, 1 Tufted Duck & 1 Wigeon. Going North, 8 Gannet & 3 Red-throated Diver.
Vismig going South, 113 Starling, 42 Chaffinch, 5 Meadow Pipit & 5 Skylark. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Song Thrush.

39 birds ringed: Blackbird 14, Redwing 12, Robin 4, Song Thrush 4, Barred Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Chiffchaff 1, Fieldfare 1, Starling 1.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Lesser Redpoll ringed Brandon, Norfolk 26th June 2016 retrapped 74km away Landguard 22nd October 2017. Lesser Redpoll ringed Chobham, Surrey 22nd October 2016 retrapped 148km away Landguard 14th October 2017. Chiffchaff ringed Newbourne 9th September 2017 retrapped 12km away Landguard 26th September 2017. Dunnock ringed Bawdsey Manor 7th July 2017 retrapped 8km away Landguard 4th October 2017. Great Tit ringed Landguard 6th October 2017 retrapped 3km away at Fagbury Cliff 26th October 2017.

Friday 3rd November 2017

Female Stonechat at Landguard today.

There was hardly a breath of wind and a complete coverage of cloud at dawn. An overnight arrival of thrush were audible in the half light and a Black Redstart was seen around the fort. Butterflies seen on the reserve during the morning while the sun was out, Clouded Yellow, Comma, Common Blue and Red Admiral.
Noted on the reserve, 120 Blackbird, 29 Starling, 21 Redwing, 15 Robin, 11 Linnet, 6 Song Thrush, 5 Fieldfare, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 Brambling, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stonechat & 1 Wheatear.
Going out to sea East, 1426 Cormorant & 8 Brent Goose.
Offshore going South, 16 Shelduck, 11 Brent Goose, 7 Teal, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Golden Plover, 1 Common Gull, 1 Dunlin & 1 Redshank. Going North, 8 Wigeon & 1 Red-throated Diver.
Vismig going South, 99 Goldfinch, 92 Starling, 32 Woodpigeon, 17 Chaffinch, 11 Skylark, 8 Siskin, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnet, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Redpoll & 1 Reed Bunting. Coming in off the sea going West, 65 Starling & 3 Blackbird.

109 birds ringed: Blackbird 80, Redwing 13, Song Thrush 5, Meadow Pipit 3, Chaffinch 2, Goldcrest 2, Robin 2, Brambling 1, Fieldfare 1.

Thursday 2nd November 2017

Short-eared Owl at Landguard this morning.

A crisp and clear start to the day but complete cloud cover by mid-morning.
Noted on the reserve, 63 Starling, 20 Blackbird, 10 Meadow Pipit, 10 Redpoll, 5 Brambling, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Linnet, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Redwing, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Snow Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Little Owl, 1 Merlin, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Wheatear.
Going out to sea East, 1948 Cormorant, going South, 87 Goldfinch, 17 Meadow Pipit, 15 Starling, 14 Linnet, 14 Skylark, 11 Chaffinch, 3 Siskin, 2 Brent Goose & 2 Rock Pipit. Coming in off the sea going West, 18 Starling & 6 Blackbird, going North, 1 Gannet.

13 birds ringed: Blackbird 6, Meadow Pipit 2, Redwing 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Bunting 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

November 1st 2017

This Purple Sandpiper was seen out by the point this morning before being ringed and released back there to hopefully stay for the winter.

November is now upon us and migration is coming to an end, hopefully a few surprises are still out there to be found before we turn our attentions to winter birding, and whatever that may bring.
Todays offerings were meagre by recent standards, but still around 50 Blackbirds were on site, but not much else apart from 2 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear + 1 Bonxie hanging around offshore.
Overhead Finch numbers are much lower now with Goldfinch still making up the bulk of bird numbers, but even they are now down to less than 200 going past. Cormorant numbers coming out of the roost totalled 1784 this morning, much higher than in recent days.

17 birds ringed:  8 Blackbird, 2 Wren, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Purple Sandpiper.

October ringing total

901 birds of 30 species ringed during October. For the 10 year history this is an average year for the number of birds ringed.

Blackbird 218
Lesser Redpoll 187
Chiffchaff 70
Goldcrest 48
Robin 48
Redwing 43
Blackcap 40
Long-tailed Tit 38
Great Tit 30
Meadow Pipit 27
Song Thrush 24
Chaffinch 21
Wren 20
Blue Tit 16
Goldfinch 15
Brambling 10
Dunnock 8
Grey Wagtail 8
Firecrest 6
Starling 5
Woodpigeon 5
Greenfinch 3
Fieldfare 2
Wheatear 2
Willow Warbler 2
Great Grey Shrike 1
House Sparrow 1
Pied Flycatcher 1
Ring Ouzel 1
Yellow-browed Warbler 1

Tuesday 31st October 2017

Blackbird on Landguard today.

A strong breeze and on the cusp of rain during the morning today. The first Shag of the autumn from Landguard came into the harbour, a late Swallow going North and Blackbird moving through.
Noted on the reserve, 60 Blackbird, 10 Siskin, 8 Meadow Pipit, 5 Fieldfare, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Brambling, 4 Redwing, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Little Owl, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Woodcock & 1 Yellow-legged Gull.
Offshore going South, 37 Brent Goose, 31 Dunlin, 22 Knot, 22 Teal, 13 Shelduck, 11 Common Scoter, 6 Gannet, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Common Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe & 1 Little Egret. Going North, 3 Eider & 1 Swallow. Going out to sea East, 1356 Cormorant.
Vismig going South, 224 Starling, 94 Goldfinch, 62 Woodpigeon, 12 Chaffinch, 9 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redpoll, 6 Linnet, 6 Stock Dove, 3 Skylark & 1 Rock Pipit.
Coming in off the sea going West, 194 Starling, 22 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch & 1 Shag.

62 birds ringed: Blackbird 42, Goldcrest 4, Redwing 4, Starling 4, Brambling 2, Wren 2, Chaffinch 1, Fieldfare 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Song Thrush 1.

Monday 30th October 2017

Starling coming in off the sea.

A strong Northerly breeze and clear sky to start the day, the first at Landguard for the autumn Woodcock was seen this morning, 3 Snow Bunting were near the beach and a single Wheatear was very active around the seawatch hide. Starling and Thrushes were seen coming in off the sea and a Great Grey Shrike dropped in late afternoon.
Noted on the reserve, 120 Blackbird, 20 Meadow Pipit, 12 Snow Bunting, 5 Fieldfare, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Brambling, 2 Linnet, 2 Redwing, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Grey Shrike, 1 Siskin, 1 Snipe, 1 Wheatear & 1 Woodcock.
Going South, 1190 Woodpigeon, 53 Brent Goose, 38 Starling, 35 Black-headed Gull, 23 Skylark, 19 Redpoll, 13 Shelduck, 11 Common Scoter, 8 Stock Dove, 6 Gannet, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Dunlin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Knot, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Common Gull & 1 Snipe. Coming in off the sea going West, 902 Starling, 40 Herring Gull, 13 Chaffinch, 9 Black-headed Gull, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare & 3 Skylark. Going North, 11 Brent Goose, 10 Gannet, 6 Teal & 1 Red-throated Diver, going out to sea East, 915 Cormorant.

62 birds ringed: Blackbird 53, Lesser Redpoll 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Great Tit 1, Great Grey Shrike 1, Grey Wagtail 1.

Sunday 29th October 2017

Brisk north to north-westerly winds seem  to have curtailed autumn migration for the time being, so most activity was over the sea today, although this Stonechat (above) and the 2 Snow Buntings are still on site, but very little else of note. Out at sea we fared a little better with about 40 Gannet passing offshore with another 26 feeding around the sand bars, 3 Bonxie went north as did a late Common Tern and 4 Guillemot, whilst 2 Snipe came in off and landed briefly before moving on.

7 birds ringed: 5 Blackbird, 1 Wood Pigeon and 1 Wren.