Saturday 24th March 2018

Significant "fall" of common departing winter migrants with at least 360 Starling, 70 Redwing, 35 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush & 4 Fieldfare with either incoming or outgoing migrants in the shape of 4 Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Sparrowhawk. 2 Siskin went south & a lingering Black Redstart is still with us.

Common Plume is, as it says on the tin, basically common.

48 birds ringed: 22 Redwing, 15 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Firecrest, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Friday 23rd March 2018

Firecrest on the Butts during the morning

The wind has moved around to the South overnight and many of the grounded migrants from the previous few days have moved on.

Noted on the reserve, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Firecrest & 1 Woodcock. 

Offshore movement going North, 3 Red-throated Diver plus 1 going South, 1 Kittiwake. Going out to sea West 4 Cormorant plus 4 coming in off the sea going East and 2 going North. Going South, 54 Brent Goose, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Starling plus 3 going North and 16 on the reserve, 1 Jackdaw & 1 Shelduck. Late news - Bluethroat still by the Butts pond late afternoon.

The Satellite comes out on milder nights throughout the winter.

0 birds ringed:

Thursday 22nd March 2018

This "black" coloured Guillemot at the point this morning is almost certainly a Northern bird of the nominate race Uria aalgae aalgae

 Not sure if we have ever managed a Canada goose picture on the blog before.

Noted on the reserve, 12 Redwing, 4 Black Redstart, 3 Firecrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Brambling, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 1 Bluethroat, 1 Curlew, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Guillemot & 1 Woodcock.

Going North, 30 Brent Goose. Going out to sea East, 7 Cormorant plus 3 going South and 5 coming in off the sea going West. Going South, 31 Brent Goose, 3 Dunlin & 2 Marsh Harrier. Coming in off the sea going West, 5 Canada Goose.

9 birds ringed: Redwing 4, Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 1, Wren 1.

Pale Pinion has only ever been recorded here on a couple of previous occasions. 

Lead-coloured Drab is also notable here, having only been recorded in five previous years.

Wednesday 21st March 2018

Today's migrants include 22 Blackbird, 10 Robin, 10 Stonechat, 6 Black Red, 2 Skylark, 2 Bluethroat, 2 Firecrest, Woodcock, Song Thrush, Redwing & a couple of new Great Tit.  Overhead southbound 6 Wood Pigeon, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, Snipe & 3 Snow Bunting that flew down the beach and appeared to pitch in towards the point. A Shag just off the beach flew off south. It is quite probable that 3 different Bluethroat have been involved in the sightings over the last three days.

10 birds ringed: 4 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 2 Robin, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.

Tuesday 20th March 2018

 Six Black Redstart were seen at Landguard this morning.

The wind from the East had calmed this morning but there was a chilly Northerly breeze instead. A second Bluethroat was found by Butts pond during the morning, the Bluethroat from yesterday still favouring the bramble between the boardwalk and the butts. Black Redstart and Stonechat are along the beach towards the seawatch hide.

Noted on the reserve, 8 Ring Plover, 6 Black Redstart, 5 Stonechat, 2 Bluethroat, 2 Woodcock, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest & 1 Turnstone.
Offshore going North 5 Teal & 1 Gadwall. Going South, 45 Barnacle Goose & 1 Oystercatcher.

Despite the cold the first Hebrew Character of the year has put in an appearance.

7 birds ringed: Blackbird 3, Robin 2, Black Redstart 1, Dunnock 1.

Monday 19th March 2018

One of the seven Black Redstart at Landguard today.

The strong Easterly wind continues today. The Black Redstart and Stonechat are still present, seen foraging all along the beach edge of the reserve. At midday a male Bluethroat was found near the Butts and was seen frequently during the afternoon.

Noted on the reserve, 8 Ringed Plover, 7 Black Redstart, 3 Stonechat, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Skylark, 1 Bluethroat & 1 Redwing.

Going North, 7 Cormorant plus 5 going out to sea East and 1 coming in off the sea going West. Also North, 2 Red-breasted Merganser & 1 Red-throated Diver. Going South, 8 Brent Goose, 5 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck plus 1 going North & 1 Oystercatcher.

5 bird ringed: Stonechat 2, Blackbird 1, Bluethroat 1, Song Thrush 1.

Sunday 18th March 2018

The "minibeast from the east" continues with some snow cover, sub-zero temperatures plus a biting easterly wind. On the move southbound 15 Brent & 6 Shelduck with northbound 96 Barnacles, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Kitts, 2 Grey Plover, Little Gull & Goosander (although this bird was only noted when the hurriedly taken photos of the Barnies were put on the computer - its low over the water in the right hand side of the shot above). Migrants today include at least 25 blackbird, 8 Song thrush, 4 Stonechat, 2 Skylark, Redwing & Black Redstart.

24 birds ringed: 18 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Robin.