Saturday 19th May 2018

 The first Azure Damselfly for the year at Landguard emerged today.

Following a clear night it was a cool but bright start to the day, the breeze moving from North East through to East South East by midday. A quiet day for migration with Chiffchaff being the only obvious grounded migrants and minimal passage offshore. Seven species of Butterfly have been  recorded on the reserve today, the first Small Copper & Small Heath seen in the previous few days and sightings of Holly Blue are increasing too.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Linnet, 6 Shelduck, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Med Gull & 1 Swallow. Going North, 5 Cormorant. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Oystercatcher. Going out to sea East, 1 Fulmar.

Going South, 15 Swallow, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Fulmar, 1 Goldfinch,

First Latticed Heath of the season.

2 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Goldfinch 1.

Friday 18th May 2018

 Pied Flycatcher in the Holm Oak at the Observatory.

A chilly overcast start to the day which brightened up through the morning. Mid morning a Pied Flycatcher Flew into the Holm Oak in front of the Observatory and was feeding over the top of it for about 30 minutes, she then flew out onto the reserve and was lost from view. There was a female Wheatear towards the point and three Swift came in off the sea.

Noted on the reserve, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Shelduck, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Tern, 1 Pied Flycatcher & 1 Wheatear. Going North, 9 Med Gull, 6 Cormorant, 6 Mute Swan, 4 Brent Goose, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 2 Swallow & 1 Oystercatcher. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Swift. Going South, 22 Swallow, 4 Barnacle Goose, 2 Gadwall & 1 Greater Black-backed Gull.

Dog's Tooth seems to be occurring more regularly, albeit, still in small numbers.

5 birds ringed: Linnet 2, Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow 1, Whitethroat 1.

May Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 19th May 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 17th May 2018

 Green Hairstreak butterfly on the Butts.

A cold start to the day and a Northerly wind that increased in strength through the morning. Offshore passage was minimal but common Tern were seen off the point before going North. The reserve was also quiet but a few new migrants were in with 5 Chiffchaff were around the Observatory and a Wheatear was towards the point.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Linnet, 14 Ringed Plover, 8 Shelduck, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Swallow, 1 Common Tern, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Stock Dove & 1 Wheatear, going North, 3 Common Tern & 2 Cormorant.

Nutmeg is one of those "brown" moths that can put the novice off pursuing "mothing."

5 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Whitethroat 1, Wren 1. 

Wednesday 16th May 2018

With all the rain this spring then a good crop of Bird's-foot Trefoil is predicted for this year.

After a bit of excitement yesterday very much back to basics this morning with the only grounded migrants noted being single Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & White Wagtail with the only vis mig being 2 Swallows south. Offshore southbound 18 Oyk & 10 Gannet with northbound 15 Common Scoter, 7 Knot, 5 Cormorant, 5 Common Gull, 4 Common Tern & Gannet. At least 10 Common Tern were feeding offshore late morning.

White Colon is a "Nationally Scarce" species that has a healthy population at Landguard.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler.

No sign today of yesterdays Bluethroat that showed very well in the afternoon & evening.

Tuesday 15th May 2018

This spring Red-spotted Bluethroat was the first spring Red-spot since 2002 as White-spots seem to have taken over in spring this century.

Noted on the reserve, 13 Shelduck, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 1 Bluethroat (Red-spotted), 1 Common Gull, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Spotted Flycatcher & 1 Swallow. Going North, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Cormorant & 1 Sandwich Tern. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Black-headed Gull. Going South, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Jackdaw & 1 Cormorant.

Nice fresh Poplar Hawk-moth appearing for the first time this year.

Ringing: 1 Whitethroat, 1 Swallow.

Monday 14th May 2018

Bearded Iris will be a legacy from the days of military occupation rather than a garden escape, it would have been planted in an attempt to brighten the environs of the Fort up a bit.

As the number of "hits" on the blog is going down recently then we can tell that some of you are getting as bored reading it as we are writing it ! In the migrant department this morning the ongoing struggle to find any continues with 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Mipit, 1 Skylark (singing) & 1 Willow Warbler. Vis mig southbound 18 Swallow & a Siskin plus 6 Chaffinch dropping in from up high before quickly departing. Offshore southbound 8 Oyks with northbound 30 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Tern & Gannet. Apart from this its down to the breeding birds plus a handful of Common & Little Terns doing some loitering off the point.

Moth numbers are picking up. Tinea trinotella has the delightful habit of existing in old birds nest.

Ringing: 1 Linnet, 1 Willow Warbler.

Sunday 13th May 2018

Bird migration has ground to a halt for many species in recent days so we need to be content with censusing the breeders. Migrants did include 10 Common Tern, 5 Little Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper & 2 Sanderling on the shore and riverbank. 2 Chiffchaff were in the bushes with vis mig restricted to southbound 16 Swallow, 2 Greylags, Hobby, Yellow Wag & Siskin.

The first Figure of 80 of the year put in an appearance.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat