Saturday 2nd June 2018

Rose-coloured Starling feeding with juvenile starlings on the reserve.

 This is the eighth record of Rose-coloured Starling at Landguard, the previous record was in May 2012. 

A still start to the day with offshore haze and a torrential shower passing by to the North. A Rose-coloured Starling was seen on the reserve just after 8am, which was initially quite flighty, becoming more confiding through the morning and was still present at midday. A Hawfinch, which flew over going South, circled over the Observatory and headed back North and the first Painted Lady butterfly at Landguard for this year was seen on the reserve.

Noted on the reserve, 250 Starling, 40 Linnet, 6 Shelduck, 3 Sanderling, 1 Hawfinch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Rose-coloured Starling & 1 Tree Pipit. Going North, 8 Brent, 6 Swift & 1 Grey Heron. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Cormorant. Going South, 11 Swallow, 1 Little Egret & 1 Whimbrel.

Waved Umber is another species that does not grace us with its presence very often.

4 birds ringed: Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 1, Tree Pipit 1.

Friday 1st June 2018

Sanderling feeding on the tide line this morning 

Heavy mist which limited visibility until just after 9am. Migrating through the mist House Martin were heading North, grounded on the reserve Spotted Flycatcher were seen at the point and the Observatory as the mist cleared and the first juvenile Pied Wagtail for this year at Landguard was feeding on the reserve.

Noted on the reserve, 115 Starling, 70 Linnet, 6 Pied Wagtail, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Little Tern, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Gull & 1 Sanderling. Going North, 17 House Martin. Going South, 2 House Martin, 2 Swallow & 1 Swift.

Sand Dart is a nationally scarce species that is here in small numbers

3 birds ringed: Spotted Flycatcher 2, Robin 1.

Ringing total for May 2018

146 birds of 25 species ringed during May, this has been a very poor month with only one year lower in the previous ten years.

Chiffchaff	28
Linnet	23
Willow Warbler	15
Wheatear	12
Blackcap	11
Whitethroat	8
Great Tit	7
Robin	6
Reed Warbler	5
Starling	4
Blackbird	3
Dunnock	3
Goldfinch	3
Spotted Flycatcher	3
Woodpigeon	3
House Sparrow	2
Wren	2
Black Redstart	1
Collared Dove	1
Firecrest	1
Garden Warbler	1
Lesser Whitethroat	1
Long-tailed Tit	1
Pied Wagtail	1
Swallow	1

Thursday 31st May 2018

Grey Squirrel on the jetty at the point

A foggy start which cleared by midday. A Common Rosefinch was heard singing just before 7am but remained elusive, the Starling flock is increasing as the adult birds bring fledged juveniles to the reserve to feed and 2 Sanderling were feeding on the beach.

Noted on the reserve, 150 Starling, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Tern, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Sanderling, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Rosefinch, 1 House Martin, 1 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 1 Reed Warbler & 1 Turnstone. Going North, 17 Brent Goose, 2 Cormorant, 1 Fulmar & 1 Swift. Coming in off the sea going West, 8 Black-headed Gull, 6 Cormorant & 3 Common Tern. Going South, 18 Shelduck, 6 Cormorant, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Barnacle Goose & 1 Swallow.

Brown Silver-line put in an appearance for the first time since 2005.

2 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 1.

Wednesday 30th May 2018

Cream-spot Tiger always livens up the moth traps.

Migrants represented by single Reed Warbler, Spotted Fly and an unseasonal Great-spotted Woodpecker. 50 Brents went out then north late morning and 5 Common Scoter were on the sea offshore.

9 birds ringed: 4 Starling, 2 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Reed Warbler.

Tuesday 29th May 2018

 The House Sparrow are now feeding young

A foggy start to the day with a strong Northerly wind. Offshore Brent Goose were on the move going North, a male Black Redstart was heard singing frequently on the fort during the morning, a Reed Warbler was on the Ickie Ridge, a Spotted Flycatcher was feeding in front of the Observatory and the first Emperor Dragonfly at Landguard for this year was seen in front of the Observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 4 Shelduck, 2 Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Little Tern, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler & 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Going North, 375 Brent Goose, 12 Swift, 8 Cormorant, 7 Swallow, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern & 1 Oystercatcher. Coming in off the sea going West, 8 Oystercatcher, 2 Swift & 1 Mallard. Going South, 3 Barnacle Goose & 3 Swallow.

Eulia ministrana has only previously been recorded in 2007 despite apparently being common in woodland.

0 birds ringed:

Monday 28th May 2018

3 Broad-bodied Chaser on site today.

On the move 412 Brent Geese heading out & north. Migrants on site include 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Black Red, Skylark & Spot Fly. 2 Whimbrel went north & 4 Swallow south.

Moth traps picking up with Clouded Buff new to the site list.

8 birds ringed: 2 Great Tit, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin.

Sunday 27th May 2018

Strong North-easterly this morning brought a couple of new Spot Flys, single Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Tree Pipit & a late adult Robin presumably from one of the northerly populations but with little else in the migrant department. Single Wheatear loitering on the reserve, Redshank landed on the beach briefly but after that its the breeders. Offshore northbound 2 Brent, 2 Grey Plover & 2 Sandwich Tern. 23 Common Terns collected with the melee of gulls off the point late morning.

Syndemis musculana was only a second site record of a species that apparently is common inland in a variety of habitats.

Mid afternoon the 4th UK (and 2nd Landguard) record of Large White-faced Darter turned up.

Ringing: 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Robin.