Saturday 14th April 2018

 

This is the fourth record of Stone-curlew at Landguard spotted on the reserve from the Observatory. This picture taken from the Observatory as it departed and headed inland.

A still morning with offshore haze. Migration becoming more apparent the first Whitethroat of the year was at the Butts, Blackcap and Chiffchaff increasing in number coming through too.

Noted on the reserve, 15 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcap, 7 Meadow Pipit, 6 Wheatear, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Black Redstart, 3 Firecrest, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Brambling, 2 Sanderling, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Redstart, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stone-curlew & 1 Whitethroat.

Going North, 14 Redwing, 13 Carrion Crow, 12 Curlew & 4 Brent Goose. Going out to sea East, 31 Common Gull. Going South, 57 Woodpigeon, 43 Goldfinch, 18 Black-headed Gull, 18 Linnet, 3 Fulmar, 3 Swallow, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Gadwall, 1 Siskin, 1 Skylark & 1 Woodlark.

Moths are still hard to come by this spring, this Double-striped Pug is the first of its kind this year.

40 birds ringed: Blackcap 11, Chiffchaff 10, Firecrest 3, Blackbird 2, Goldcrest 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 2, Willow Warbler 2, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Wren 1.

Friday 13th April 2018

Ring Ouzel at Landguard.

Still murky offshore but the sea was visible today. During seawatch a large skein of Brent Goose went North early morning, Red-throated Divers and a single Black-throated Diver went South. The drake Eider has been on the river near the view point car park and although being elusive a male Ring Ouzel was around the Observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 20 Shelduck, 4 Brambling, 4 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstart, 2 Blackcap, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Redstart, 1 Eider, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest & 1 Ring Ouzel. 

Going North, 723 Brent Goose plus 15 going South, 8 Curlew, 8 Meadow Pipit & 1 Kittiwake. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Merlin. Going South, 37 Red-throated Diver, 14 Golden Plover, 9 Meadow Pipit, 8 Siskin, 4 Fulmar, 2 Gadwall, 2 Swallow & 1 Black-throated Diver.

15 birds ringed: Song Thrush 3, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 2, Goldfinch 2, Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Wheatear 1, Wren 1.

Thursday 12th April 2018

Male Redstart at Landguard this morning.

The fog blanketed Landguard again this morning. The poor visibility offshore limited seawatch but there were grounded migrants on the reserve. A Moorhen, which flew over going North in the half light, is an unusual bird for Landguard with Lesser Whitethroat at the Obs and Yellow Wagtail going over being firsts for the year.

Noted on the reserve, 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 8 Wheatear, 4 Black Redstart, 2 Blackcap, 1 Brambling, 1 Coal Tit (Continental), 1 Eider, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Redstart, 1 Ring Ouzel & 1 Stonechat. 

Going North, 7 Swallow, 5 Woodlark, 2 Snipe, 1 Moorhen, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West 1 Mute Swan.

22 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 8, Goldcrest 3, Wheatear 3, Blackcap 2, Black Redstart 1, Brambling 1, Goldfinch 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Redstart 1, Wren 1.

Wednesday 11th April 2018

On todays menu the first Ring Ouzel & Common Redstart of the spring with a back up cast including 20 Mipits, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Redwing, 4 Black Redstart, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, Woodcock, Wheatear, Stonechat, Swallow, Goldcrest, Brambling, Redpoll plus a couple of new Songies. Left overs from recent days are the Continental Coal Tit & the stunning male Eider along the river. The 2 Purps are still wintering with us.

The first Early Thorn of the year always brightens up a moth trap.

26 birds ringed: 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Redwing, 5 Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 10th April 2018

Drake Eider on the river this morning.

Thick fog, which hung on throughout the morning, preventing even seeing the sea this morning, never-mind logging any movement offshore. It did however ground some migrants on the reserve and an Eider on the river.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Meadow Pipit, 50 Siskin, 17 Goldfinch, 5 Blackcap, 3 Redwing, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare,1 Black Redstart, 1 Brambling, 1 Coal Tit (Continental), 1 Eider, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Lapwing, 1 Redpoll & 1 Swallow.

10 birds ringed: Blackcap 5, Goldfinch 3, Black Redstart 1, Blackbird 1.

DATA PROTECTION POLICY

In line with all other organisations a Personal Data Protection Policy is now available in accordance with legal changes being brought in.

Landguard Conservation Trust adheres to all relevant UK and European Data Protection Legislation.

A copy of the policy is available on www.lbo.org.uk in the section marked Policies available via the HOME PAGE above.

Monday 9th April 2018

A cool & murky northerly airflow with occasional rain brought an interesting selection of birds including a Siskin to the feeders in the cottage garden. Of note were a Continental Coal Tit and the first Willow Warbler of the spring with a back up cast including 38 Redwing, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Swallow, 3 Blackcap, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Firecrest, Woodcock, Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart, Wheatear, Goldcrest & Brambling. Some vis mig, despite the gloomy conditions, with southbound 37 Siskin & 5 Mipit.

In the moth department the total number of moths in the traps has crept up to the dizzy heights of the low double figures in the last couple of nights (sarcasm intended!) including Diurnea fagella that puts in an appearance at this time of the year.

15 birds ringed: 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Continental Coal Tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.

Sunday 8th April 2018

Damp, murky & drizzle on and off throughout the morning brought a few birds onto the site including 16 Redwing, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Robin, 4 Blackcap, 2 Snipe, 2 Firecrest, Lapwing, Fieldfare, Brambling & a couple of new Blackies & Songies. On the move southbound 20 Siskin & 7 Mipit plus the first 3 Swallow of the year noted.

Agonopterix heracliana is a common enough micro but only puts in rare appearances here.

12 birds ringed: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest, 2 Robin, 1 Blackbird.