Saturday 21st April 2018

 Common Morel has appeared this spring after not being recorded here for many years, it is a culinary delicacy at its best when it first emerges, so this one will be past its best.

A clear bright start to the day with some offshore haze. There are only a few spring records of Reed Bunting at Landguard, this morning there was a male in front of the Obs. Late morning a Jay was seen going into the Holm Oaks, Jay were not recorded at Landguard at all last year, then just before noon a Red-rumped Swallow was seen feeding above the Holm Oaks and then went South.

Noted on the reserve, 6 Wheatear, 5 Oystercatcher, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Jay, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 White Wagtail & 1 Willow Warbler. Going North, 1 Cormorant & 1 Fulmar. Going South, 10 Swallow, 1 Jackdaw & 1 Red-rumped Swallow.

Brown tail caterpillars have survived the winter in vast numbers on the Butts and will soon start exploding out of their winter "nests"

9 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 1, Firecrest 1, Jay 1, Linnet 1.

Friday 20th April 2018

Back in the mid 1980's Landguard Bird Observatory ringed over a 1,000 Greenfinch in the month of April alone for two years running with a peak annual ringing total of 2,251 in 1987. This year we have not managed a single one so far which is a sad reflection of the current state of affairs. This lone songster turned up this morning singing for a mate.

On the move this morning southbound 185 Black-headed Gull, 37 Wood Pigeon, 16 Med Gull, 8 Carrion Crow, 8 Swallow, 8 Goldfinch, 7 Whimbrel, 7 Linnet, 6 Common Gull, 2 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Siskin, Fulmar & the first House Martin of the year. Northbound 5 Brent, 4 Swallow plus a Hobby in off the sea. On site 21 Carrion Crow, 10 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser 'throat, Black Red, Redpoll & Whitethroat.

Red-chestnut has only been noted in five previous years here despite apparently being common & widespread.

Frosted Green turned up for the first time last spring with the second site record today.

14 birds ringed: 7 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 Woodpigeon.

April Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 21st April 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk or via the Home Page above.

Thursday 19th April 2018

Late blog for yesterday as contractors working in the Port of Felixstowe sliced through the telephone cable and it was not restored by bedtime. Glorious sunny day with southbound 88 Black-headed Gull, 36 Whimbrel, 4 Med Gull, 6 Shelduck, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Barnacle Geese, 2 Oyks & Curlew with northbound 40 Arctic Tern, 12 Oyk & 9 Whimbrel. The Arctic Terns & a total of 45 Whimbrel are reasonably notable. Handful of passerines moving including southbound 8 Goldfinch, 5 Jackdaw, 3 Swallow, 2 Mipits & Skylark. On site a spring Great-spotted Woodpecker is always of note 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Firecrest & Yellow Wagtail.

9 birds ringed: 4 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Wren.

Wednesday 18th April 2018

The Linnet flock is increasing on the reserve.

The strong breeze from the South eased during the morning, as the temperature came up it brought a few butterflies out. Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Speckled Wood all seen around the Observatory. 

Noted on the reserve, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstart, 2 Firecrest, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Redpoll & 1 Swallow. Going North, 5 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going out to sea East, 7 Common Gull. Going South, 28 Black-headed Gull, 19 Woodpigeon,  13 Cormorant, 10 Med Gull, 9 Goldfinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Kestrel & 1 Sparrowhawk.

8 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 2, Woodpigeon 2, Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Firecrest 1, Song Thrush 1.

Tuesday 17th April 2018

A Fox triggered a camera trap used last night.

Clear skies overnight and then a strong Southerly wind this morning gave a cool start to the day. Noted on the reserve, 6 Firecrest, 6 Shelduck, 2 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Redpoll & 1 Sparrowhawk.

Cormorant movement this morning, 5 Going North, 5 going out to sea East and 4 Going South.

Going North, 2 Med Gull. Coming in off the sea going West 3 Swallow plus 2 going South, also going South, 10 Black-headed Gull, 3 Shelduck, 2 Common Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Whimbrel & 1 Yellow Wagtail.

6 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Firecrest 1.

Monday 16th April 2018

 Ring Plover have started nesting.

A warmer morning with a Southwesterly breeze and the fog has cleared overnight. Firecrest from previous days are still around the Observatory and a continental Coal Tit that was here last week has reappeared this morning, bringing along a second individual with it.

Noted on the reserve, 12 Shelduck, 5 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tit (continental), 2 Firecrest, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Bullfinch & 1 Purple Sandpiper.
Going North, 6 Cormorant & 1 Red-throated Diver. Going out to sea East, 2 Common Gull. Going South, 11 Goldfinch, 4 Brent Goose, 4 Med Gull, 3 Cormorant, 3 Swallow, 2 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Red-breasted Merganser & 1 Whimbrel.

Red-green Carpet is an autumnal flyer, the females come out again in spring after hibernation.

6 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Coal Tit (continental) 1, Song Thrush 1.

Sunday 15th April 2018

 Female Hawfinch at Landguard.

Thick fog rolled in after dawn and to see the reserve from the Observatory was challenging. Fortunately the first Arctic Tern of the spring at Landguard passed over the top of the fort, the first Sandwich Tern here for this year was heard calling and despite being harassed by Great Tits the Hawfinch initially perched in view on the Poplars.

Noted on the reserve, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Redwing, 3 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Firecrest & 1 Hawfinch. Going North, 1 Sandwich Tern.

This Herald has just come out of hibernation.

11 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 4, Blackcap 3, Firecrest 1, Hawfinch 1, Song Thrush 1, Willow Warbler 1.