Wheatear on the reserve this morning.
A warm clear morning with a gentle Westerly breeze. An increase of Wheatear on the reserve seen grouped at the seawatch hide and around the boardwalk, Whinchat were also in the area around the boardwalk. Mid morning Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher were at the Observatory and Willow Warbler had arrived overnight, seen feeding throughout the reserve. A juvenile male Redstart was the first Redstart of the autumn at Landguard and was at the Observatory in the afternoon.
Noted on the reserve, 30 Willow Warbler, 12 Common Tern, 9 Wheatear, 8 Pied Wagtail, 4 Little Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sanderling, 2 Whinchat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Spotted Flycatcher & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Mallard. Going South, 56 Swallow, 23 Redshank, 11 Black-headed Gull, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Mallard, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin & 1 Turnstone.
Agriphilia geniculea is an abundant species that is struggling this year presumably affected by the drought conditions earlier.