Saturday 7th July 2018

What looks like a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (except for the fact its a Lesser Black-backed) was notable. The only other migrant this morning was a single Yellow Wagtail south (about right for the start of autumn movements in this species) plus a Redshank heard going over.

Moth traps a tad busy this week with Batia lunaris one of the more attractive micro's.

Friday 6th July 2018

Juvenile Kestrel alongside its home just over dock fence.

On the move - not a lot ! Northbound 10 Common & Common Tern with southbound a Sandwich Tern. On site a Chiffchaff plus all the local breeders.

Star-wort is a nationally scarce species on salt marsh habitats so consequently is an infrequent visitor.

Ringing: 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow.

Thursday 5th July 2018

 A bowl of water is welcomed drink for this Woodpigeon, it has been a while since there was a rain puddle at Landguard.

Warm and still start to the day with light cloud cover then a gentle Southeasterly breeze from mid morning. Movement offshore was quiet today with Swift and Redshank the only noted passage, Meadow Pipit is not a usual July visitor on the reserve but there was a post breeding female at the Observatory early this morning, later in the morning a male Black Redstart was singing on the fort.

Noted on the reserve, 700 Startling, 60 Linnet, 10 Whitethroat, 6 Pied Wagtail, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Med Gull, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Blackcap, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Meadow Pipit & 1 Shelduck. Going North, 6 Swift. Going South, 25 Swift & 2 Redshank.

Pigmy Footman is a red data book species, it has only been recorded here previously in 2001.

13 birds ringed: Linnet 4, House Sparrow 3, Whitethroat 2, Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Wren 1.

Wednesday 4th July 2018

Gatekeepers are starting to emerge over recent days.

Migrants consisted of a female Blackcap that will be a failed breeder going walkabout before departing south for the winter. Apart from this it is down to the breeding birds plus a couple of locally bred birds wandering down here.

The 4th site record of Dark Crimson Underwing which is supposedly a migrant, but looks very fresh so may not have come from very far away if there is an unknown population in some woodland somewhere in Suffolk.

17 birds ringed: 5 Great Tit, 3 House Sparrow, 3 Wren, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet.

Tuesday 3rd July 2018

 Ringed Plover at Landguard.

Clear and warm but a strong Easterly wind this morning. Observing insects with the wind was difficult, Comma, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell were a few of the butterfly species noted that have increased in abundance on the reserve in recent days. Offshore passage was quiet this morning, a Chiffchaff was singing by the Observatory early this morning. The Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat were actively feeding and vocalising with "tacking" contact calls as family parties passed through the bushes around the Observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 900 Starling, 12 Whitethroat, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Shelduck. Going out to sea East, 1 Cormorant.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing is an absolute cracker when it first emerges at this time of year. It then aestivates and when emerging again from mid-August onward is always a bit duller and faded.

7 birds ringed: Starling 3, Blue Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 1, Whitethroat 1.

Monday 2nd July 2018

 Cinnabar Moth larva feed predominately on Common Ragwort, they eat the leaves and flowers, when they occur in large numbers they strip the plant to bare stems. 

Clear sky and a strong Easterly breeze this morning. Offshore passage was quiet. There was a Chiffchaff (which are not resident at Landguard during the summer,) singing by the Observatory during the morning. A young Muntjac was on the reserve, it may want to consider a rethink on direction of dispersal now it has got to the Mine Station at the river mouth, it easily disappeared from view into the bramble cover. Eleven species of Butterfly were recorded during the morning, Essex and Small Skipper were out at the Butts, there is an increase in Gatekeeper seen on the reserve too.

Noted on the reserve, 600 Starling, 70 Linnet, 10 Whitethroat, 8 Ringed Plover, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Shelduck. Going North, 3 Black-headed Gull. Going South, 6 Black-headed Gull. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Cormorant. Going South then a change of mind and going back North again, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Lozotaeniodes formosans lives on Scots Pine so consequently only visits us occasionally. 

2 birds ringed: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Wren 1.

Sunday 1st July 2018

Cotton or Scotch Thistle aren't worried about the drought conditions.

Sunny & breezy. A dispersing juvenile Blackcap on site is todays migrant.

Langmaid's Yellow Underwing was first noted here in 2004 and in seven further years since then. It is another one of those species that is presumably trying to colonise.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren.