RINGED PLOVER (& OYK) Breeding Summary 2018

One of natures biscuits waiting to be consumed !

RINGED PLOVER 2018

6 pairs of Ringed Plover reared no young and unless a late attempt goes on that we are currently aware off that's it. Bit complicated due to regular failures but the following is a summary of the minimum number of attempts.

Pair A - 3 attempts, first failed egg stage, second failed chick stage, third failed egg stage.
Pair B - 4 attempts, first three attempts failed egg stage, fourth failed egg stage.
Pair C - 3 attempts, first two failed egg stage, third failed chick stage.
Pair D - 3 attempts, first failed chick stage, next two attempts failed egg stage.
Pair E - 3 attempts, first two attempts failed at chick stage, third attempt at egg stage.
Pair F - 1 attempt failed at chick stage with no further attempts we are aware of.

OYSTERCATCHER 2018

3 pairs of Oystercatcher is a site record but all three failed at the egg stage.

Saturday 4th August 2018

 Dunlin roosting on the beach this morning at Landguard.

A strong Northerly breeze and overcast with sunny spells during the morning. Offshore passage was very quiet today, even Gull movement was minimal. Willow Warbler were feeding and bush hopping through the reserve, Pied Flycatcher were at the Observatory with an individual seen in the Hawthorn between the Obs and Darrel's and another at the front of the Obs on the Holm Oak and a Green Woodpecker was on the Ickie Ridge.

Noted on the reserve, 675 Starling, 12 Willow Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 7 Swallow, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Common Tern, 2 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher & 1 Green Woodpecker. Going South, 1 Grey Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Lapwing.

Black Arches is less than annual in occurrence here.

23 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 8, House Sparrow 4, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Robin 1.

Friday 3rd August 2018

 Even after the rain the ground is hard going for the Oystercatcher to probe for food items on the reserve.

Only a breath of breeze that registered as being Southwesterly this morning, without a trace of cloud in a clear blue sky. Flying ants were emerging on the reserve during the first part of the morning and gulls were circling feeding on them, a single juvenile Greenfinch was seen feeding with the House Sparrow on the reserve and there was a Pied Flycatcher at the Observatory mid morning.

Noted on the reserve, 450 Starling, 60 House Sparrow, 60 Linnet, 3 Common Tern, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch & 1 Pied Flycatcher. Going South, 18 Knot, 14 Swallow, 6 Black-tailed Godwit & 1 Grey Heron. Coming in off the sea going West, 6 Cormorant & 3 Sandwich Tern.

Rest Harrow is a red data book species only noted here previously during an influx in 2009.

7 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 3, Blackbird 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Robin 1, Wren 1.

Thursday 2nd August 2018

 House Sparrow at Landguard this morning.

A slight Westerly breeze and clear sky this morning. Two Pied Flycatcher were around the Observatory, last seen feeding in the Holm Oak at the Southern end of the Obs mid morning. The first Chiffchaff of the Autumn at Landguard was also at the Obs and a female Sparrowhawk, after having caught a small passerine on the reserve, went over the Obs towards the Butts.

Noted on the reserve, 120 House Sparrow, 50 Linnet, 16 Goldfinch, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Tern, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 14 Barnacle Goose. Going South, 68 Black-headed Gull, 11 Swallow, 2 Curlew & 1 Grey Heron.

Saltmarsh Plume is as the name suggests a saltmarsh species that can turn up in reasonable numbers here.

12 birds ringed: Linnet 5, House Sparrow 3, Blackbird 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 1.

Wednesday 1st August 2018

Female Long-winged Conehead from the moth trap.

Beginning to feel a lot more like autumn this morning as evidenced by the presence of 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Willow Warbler & a female Red-backed Shrike. Considering how poor the last couple of autumns has been for Pied Flys a count of 3 almost constitutes a fall these days ! The date is fairly typical for the first ones of the autumn from back in the days when they were almost daily throughout August/September. Also on the move heading south 9 Little Egret, 6 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 3 Teal, Redshank, Whimbrel & Common Tern with northbound 10 Barnacle Geese.

Evergistis extimalis is a scarce species that appears to be getting scarcer over the years.

7 birds ringed: 2 House Sparrow, 2 Linnet, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Ringing total for July 2018

194 of 21 species of birds ringed during July. This is a low total for July, there is only one record lower for July in the previous 30 years, which was in 2001 with 190 birds ringed. The average for July during the previous 10 years is 250 birds ringed.

House Sparrow	65
Linnet	40
Great Tit	15
Wren	15
Whitethroat	13
Starling	8
Blackbird	5
Blue Tit	5
Goldfinch	5
Dunnock	4
Lesser Whitethroat	4
Blackcap	3
Chaffinch	3
Herring Gull	2
Cetti's Warbler	1
Green Woodpecker	1
Meadow Pipit	1
Reed Warbler	1
Robin	1
Song Thrush	1
Woodpigeon	1

Tuesday 31st July 2018

A large Swift flock going South on the weather front this morning.

A breezy overcast morning with a heavy rain storm, then becoming a pleasantly fresh morning after it had blown through. A large Swift flock collected over the reserve as a storm blew in, they then went South. Mid morning a Little Egret came in of the sea and a Sanderling was on the beach. An increase of Common Blue butterflies were seen at the Butts this morning feeding on the thistle, Gatekeeper, Large White and Small White butterflies were also feeding here too.

Noted on the reserve, 650 Starling, 80 House Sparrow, 50 Linnet, 5 Common Tern, 1 Pied Wagtail & 1 Sanderling. Going North, 3 Common Tern. Going South, 685 Swift, 100 Common Scoter, 4 Black-headed Gull, 1 Cormorant & 1 Dunlin. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Common Tern, 1 Cormorant & 1 Little Egret.

First site record of the migrant moth Acrobasis tumidana. 

Newly emerged Common Blue in the moth trap was unusual.

3 birds ringed: Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 1.

Monday 30th July 2018

 Summer plumage Turnstone feeding on the jetty.

Wind from the South with frequent showers through the morning. At times the showers were quite heavy and the visibility reduced for seawatch. Noted going South were, 23 Swift, 14 Common Scoter, 14 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Tern, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Black-headed Gull, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Med Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe & 1 Grey Plover. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Dunlin & 1 Common Tern.
The Starling roost population had decreased recently but there were 600 coming out of roost this morning.

Cydia splendana appearing in reasonable numbers despite the inclement conditions.

0 birds ringed:

Sunday 29th July 2018

More rain this morning and windy with it. Southbound 104 Swift, 33 Whimbrel, 17 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Scoter, 11 Oyk, Grey Plover & Common Gull. No grounded migrants, or if there were they were keeping their heads down and who can blame them.

Moth traps a lot quieter following a windy night but did include only the forth Dark Sword Grass of the year.