Saturday 16th June 2018

 Young rabbits on the reserve are wary but those at the Observatory are a little more confiding.

Overcast and a Westerly breeze to start the day which moved around to a Southerly wind from late morning. Swift were feeding over the reserve while it was calm, a male Blackcap was singing at the far end of the Butts and Juvenile Coal Tit were at the observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 300 Starling, 30 Swift, 7 Shelduck, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat & 1 Blackcap. Going North, 8 Med Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Cormorant & 1 Little Tern. Going South, 28 Black-headed Gull, 6 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 House Martin, 1 Med Gull & 1 Swallow.

Pine Hawk Moth in the light traps last night.

13 birds ringed: Coal Tit 2, Dunnock 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Linnet 2, Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Great Tit 1, Whitethroat 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Recent Recoveries

Blackbird ringed Lauwersoog, De marne, Groningen, The Netherlands 28th October 2017 retrapped 367 km away at Landguard 3rd November 2017. Chiffchaff ringed Alderney, Channel Islands 31st March 2018 retrapped 347 Km away at Landguard 5th April 2018. Garden Warbler trapped Hollesley 25th August 2017 retrapped 15 Km away at Landguard 28th May 2018.

Friday 15th June 2018

 Green Woodpecker behind the Observatory this morning.

A clear calm morning with a Northwesterly breeze. Only the 4th record of Green Woodpecker at Landguard in June, why an adult should turn up at this time of year is open to speculation. The first dispersing Blue Tit and Coal Tit juveniles were seen at Landguard this morning. 

Noted on the reserve, 250 Starling, 40 Linnet, 10 Pied Wagtail, 5 Swift, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swallow & 1 Green Woodpecker. Going North, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Tern & 1 Cormorant. Going South, 1 Fulmar & 1 Shelduck.

After the first site record of Evergestis limbata last year another turned up today. It was first seen in the UK in 1994 so maybe one that is planning colonisation.

14 bird ringed: Linnet 6, Coal Tit 2, Wren 2, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, House Sparrow , Woodpigeon 1.

Thursday 14th June 2018

 Carrion Crow ruffled in strong wind while looking for insects.

Overcast and strong Southwesterly wind this morning. The number of Starling roosting in the Holm Oaks at the Observatory is increasing, a Reed Warbler was at the Observatory and a Knot went South offshore along with small numbers of Curlew and Whimbrel.

Noted on the reserve, 280 Starling, 10 Shelduck, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat & 1 Reed Warbler. Going North, 3 Gannet, 2 Common Tern & 1 Cormorant. Going South, 41 Swift, 14 Curlew, 7 Whimbrel, 4 Gadwall, 4 Swallow, 2 Little Tern & 1 Knot.

The Flame flies mid-summer coming to light traps in small numbers.

In the afternoon the first Humming-bird Hawk-moth of the year was noted.

2 birds ringed: Pied Wagtail 1, Reed Warbler 1.

June litter pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 16th June 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Wednesday 13th June 2018

First Six-spot Burnet of the year a couple of weeks earlier than usual.

Wheatear towards the point, that is presumably the one that turned up in the afternoon two days ago, will need to get a move on if it intends breeding somewhere this year. Very much into the mid-summer migration hiatus at the moment with a Lapwing on the reserve and the only movers being 2 Swallows & a Swift south plus 2 Swallows & a Brent Goose north.

Light Arches out for the first time this year. It is a grassland species that is present here in small numbers.

9 birds ringed: 6 House Sparrow, 2 Linnet, 1 Great Tit.

Tuesday 12th June 2018

 Ringed Plover on the shingle at Landguard

Northerly wind and overcast to start the day then fine rain late morning. Some movement offshore with Avocet and Common Scoter going North and Curlew going South. Over the reserve 9 Swift went South.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Linnet, 60 Starling, 10 Shelduck, 6 Pied Wagtail, 3 Little Tern, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Common Tern, 1 Greenfinch & 1 Med Gull. Going North, 20 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Kittiwake, 2 Little Tern, 2 Oystercatcher & 1 Avocet. Going South, 9 Swift, 2 Curlew, 2 Fulmar & 1 Shelduck.

Broad-barred White puts in occasional appearances

3 birds ringed: Linnet 2, Dunnock 1.

Monday 11th June 2018

Interesting female Wagtail on the reserve may, or may not, be something like a thunbergi but always difficult to be sure on the correct racial identification of female "flava" type wagtails which is a bit of a nightmare. Call sounded harsher and more drawn out than flavissima. Either way, we don't get British Yellow Wags on site at this time of the year which makes it interesting for us.

As far as migrants on site that is about it as it is now largely down to breeding birds time of the year. On the move southbound 5 Swallow & 2 Goldfinch. Offshore southbound 2 Mute Swan with northbound 3 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Tern & Curlew.

Elephant Hawk-moth always brightens up the moth traps.

Ringing: 1 Linnet.

Sunday 10th June 2018

First-summer plumaged Med Gull off the point.

A dark phase Arctic Skua offshore for 1.5 hrs from 0625 hrs was a bit of a surprise but then followed by a pale phase adult flying north close inshore at 1137 hrs. Also offshore southbound 78 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar & Eider with northbound 88 Common Scoter, 5 Sandwich Tern, 4 Brent, 4 Gannet, 3 Avocet & Oyk. Usual melee of gulls plus a handful of Common & Little Tern on the falling tide with 5 Sanderling & a Turnstone on the adjoining beach. An adult Lapwing on the reserve will be an autumn migrant. Heading south 8 Goldfinch, 3 Swallow & 2 Swift with no migrants of note in the bushes.

L-album Wainscot is a nationally scarce species out for the first time this year.

7 birds ringed: 2 House Sparrow, 2 Linnet, 1 Dunnock, 1 Magpie, 1 Pied Wagtail.