Suffolk BINS

Several people have asked me about what has happened to the Suffolk Bins website on line. Please note that you need to delete the shortcut that you may have on your computer and try:

http://suffolkbirding.webs.com

Saturday 11th November 2017

Are the Greylag Geese coming in off the sea and heading inland genuine "wild" birds or just part of the "feral" populations - one will never Know?

Light showers to start the day, brightening up after dawn. A quieter day on the reserve, 12 Robin, 9 Chaffinch, 7 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Woodcock, 1 Brambling, 1 Caspian Gull, 1 Chiffchaff (Tristis), 1 Fieldfare & 1 Goldcrest. 

Going North, 1 Brent Goose, going out to sea East, 1914 Cormorant. Going South, 16 Goldfinch, 15 Meadow Pipit, 4 Siskin, 1 Common Gull & 1 Little Egret. Coming in off the sea going West, 21 Greylag Goose.

9 birds ringed: Blackbird 3, Dunnock 2, Meadow Pipit 2, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 1.

Friday 10th November 2017

 Stonechat in the Butts pond area.

A milder morning with an increasing Westerly wind, noted on the reserve, 45 Starling, 8 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Brambling, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Skua, 1 Redwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Snow Bunting & 1 Sparrowhawk. Offshore 12 Gannet & 5 Common Scoter.
Going out to sea East, 1257 Cormorant. Going South, 301 Goldfinch, 52 Chaffinch, 28 Linnet, 21 Starling, 10 Brent Goose, 6 Dunlin, 6 Greenfinch, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Teal, 2 Reed Bunting & 1 Brambling. Coming in off the sea going West, 5 Siskin, 5 Starling & 1 Mute Swan. Going North, 2 Common Scoter.

Over the years, as a result of climate change, several species are making an appearance at times of the year when traditionally we would not see them. This includes Double-striped Pug which now has three periods of emergence during the year.

7 birds ringed: Singles of Blackbird, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Starling, Wren.

November Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 11th November 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 9th November 2017

Another new Barred Warbler only five days after the last one is a bit bizarre. Worth noting is the correct coloured eye with this individual compared with the paler iris with the previous bird.

A chilly and overcast morning with a Westerly breeze. Noted on the reserve, 40 Blackbird, 15 Robin, 9 Greenfinch, 8 Linnet, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redpoll, 4 Redwing, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Little Owl, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Snipe, 1 Snow Bunting & 1 Water Rail. Offshore, 500 Cormorant.
Going out to sea East, 25 Cormorant. Going South, 226 Teal, 77 Goldfinch, 76 Dunlin, 76 Wigeon, 25 Starling, 22 Knot, 20 Cormorant, 9 Brent, 5 Common Scoter, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 3 Skylark, 2 Redwing & 1 Curlew. Coming in off the sea going West & 40 Starling. Going North, 4 Brent Goose & 1 Oystercatcher.

29 birds ringed: Blackbird 20, Lesser Redpoll 3, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 2, Barred Warbler 1, Goldcrest 1.

Wednesday 8th November 2017

This is the time when certain groups of bird species come to Britain for the winter from the colder continent.  They include species such as these Black-headed Gulls(above), and Short-eared Owl, 2 of which were seen today, and of course Robins and Thrushes, many of which were seen coming in, with at least 60 new Blackbirds arriving today, along with 34 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush and 20+ robin. Apart from that little of note apart from 2 Little Auk north.

31 birds ringed: 18 Blackbird, 7 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Starling, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 7th November 2017

Fieldfare on the reserve during the morning.

A clear night that became overcast in the early hours and Southerly wind. An overnight arrival of Blackbird, Fieldfare and Redwing that dispersed during the morning and activity offshore today too. Noted on the reserve, 120 Blackbird, 30 Chaffinch, 20 Robin, 20 Starling, 14 Lapwing, 5 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Skylark, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Snipe, 1 Brambling & 1 Stonechat.
Going North, 3 Gannet, going out to sea East, 560 Cormorant. Offshore going South, 373 Teal, 286 Dunlin, 201 Wigeon, 52 Brent Goose, 49 Knot, 31 Pintail, 21 Lapwing, 17 Shelduck, 15 Redshank, 11 Common Scoter, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Cormorant, 6 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breast Merganser, 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 Eider, 1 Curlew, 1 Guillemot, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Pochard, 1 Red-throated Diver & 1 Shag.
Vismig going South, 253 Starling, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Skylark. Coming in off the sea going West, 27 Chaffinch & 25 Starling.

91 birds ringed: Blackbird 75, Robin 6, Chaffinch 3, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 2, Fieldfare 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Monday 6th November 2017

Siberian Chiffchaff (P. c. tristis) ringed mid afternoon.

A cold clear morning with frost patches, as the sun warmed the reserve a few late butterflies were seen, a Common Blue, which is equal to the current latest recorded in Suffolk, Red Admiral and Small Copper. The Barred Warbler seen early morning at the Observatory, an overnight arrival of 3 Woodcock along with Fieldfare and Redwing.

Noted on the reserve, 26 Blackbird, 20 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 11 Linnet, 9 Brambling, 9 Starling, 8 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redpoll, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Snipe, 3 Stonechat, 3 Woodcock, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Barred Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Chiffchaff (tristis), 1 Little Owl & 1 Sparrowhawk.

Going out to sea East, 1980 Cormorant. Going South, 180 Woodpigeon, 64 Goldfinch, 35 Brent Goose, 22 Black-headed Gull, 22 Pintail, 19 Starling, 9 Chaffinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, 6 Linnet, 3 Siskin, 3 Woodlark, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Bullfinch & 1 Pied Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 417 Starling & 20 Dunlin. Going North, 4 Siskin & 1 Turnstone.

32 birds ringed: Blackbird 17, Redwing 3, Chaffinch 2, Lesser Redpoll 2, Wren 2, Brambling 1, Chiffchaff (tristis) 1, Goldfinch 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 1.

Sunday 5th November 2017

This Wheatear needs to get out of the cold wind, fatten up and get a move on if its going to get to Africa for the winter. Lapland Bunting calling over the reserve at 0650hrs is probably the same one that flew south 5 minutes later.  Some vis mig with southbound 630 Wood Pigeon, 285 Goldfinch, 140 Starling, 26 Siskin, 24 Redpoll, 22 Linnet, 16 Chaffinch, 13 Mipits, 8 Skylark, 4 Stock Dove, Carrion Crow, Grey Wag & Rock Pipit. Offshore glorious sunshine deterring sea watching to save ones retinas burning out but noted southbound 15 Teal, 6 Shelduck & 3 Brent. Grounded migrants few and far between but included 4 Goldcrest, Rock Pipit, Chiffchaff plus a very small handful of winter thrush's. An immature female Peregrine has visited the last couple of days which winds up the local pair.

Crocidosema plebejana is a tortrix that occasionally ends up in the traps in the late autumn.

13 birds ringed: 8 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail