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Saturday 11th August 2018

A small handful of expected migrants noted including 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat & Wheatear. Moving south 15 Oyk, 2 Common Tern, 2 Little Tern, Redshank, Swallow & Whimbrel.


A very poor night for moths following yesterday's heavy showers plus a chilly night although Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing are hardy enough to appear regardless.

Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Friday 10th August 2018

 Gatekeeper, looking quite tatty after the rain and wind.

A clear start with a Westerly breeze which became stronger during the morning and an increase in cloud cover by late morning. Ringed Plover on the beach this morning were stop off migrants, there were 2 juveniles in the group. A single Wheatear was towards the Butts and Willow Warbler were seen on the Icky Ridge and at the Observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 350 Starling, 80 House Sparrow, 50 Linnet, 9 Ringed Plover, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat & 1 Wheatear. Offshore, 4 Cormorant, 3 Common Tern, 2 Med Gull & 1 Common Gull. Going North, 2 Common Tern. Going South, 25 Oystercatcher, 12 Swift, 5 Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Tern, 2 Great Crested Grebe & 1 Turnstone.

White-point was formerly an immigrant but is now resident in small numbers.

5 birds ringed: Blackbird 1, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 1, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 1.

August litter pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 11th August 0930 hrs start. Further details on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 9th August 2018

 The first Wheatear of the autumn for Landguard this morning.

A slight Westerly breeze and a dull, overcast start to the day. A skein of Barnacle Goose went North offshore, a Linnet had a close escape as a Hobby came in high and narrowly missed catching it 3 times over the reserve, the Hobby then continued South and the Linnet headed for the Bramble bushes. The first Wheatear of the autumn at Landguard was towards the Point in the fenced off area.

Noted on the reserve, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Dunlin, 1 Med Gull, 1 Wheatear & 1 Willow Warbler. Offshore, 38 Common Tern. Going North, 22 Barnacle Goose, 2 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper  1 Sandwich Tern. Coming in off the sea, 2 Oystercatcher. Going South, 23 Oystercatcher, 5 Common Tern, 5 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Avocet, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Hobby & 1 Little Tern.

Having been decreasing in abundance over the course of this century it is pleasing to report that White-line Dart is back on form with up to 300 a night in the traps this week.

5 birds ringed: Linnet 3, Goldfinch 2.

Wednesday 8th August 2018


Please keep your eyes open & report any colour ringed gulls. This one was done on the roof of Trelawny house in the docks at the end of June.

Migrants very few and far between this morning. Offshore southbound 5 Teal, 2 Turnstone, Grey Plover & Oyk with northbound a Gannet. 21 Common & 3 Sandwich Tern were feeding off the point just after high tide. Grounded migrants were almost non-existent.


Cypress Pug is a recent colonist in Suffolk feeding on various introduced & ornamental conifers.

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

Tuesday 7th August 2018

 One of the juvenile Kestrel on the Southern end of the reserve, they are clumsily learning to hunt, hunger will focus the mind and hone their resourcefulness.

Light, patchy cloud with a slight breeze. Common, Little and Sandwich Terns gathered offshore feeding during high tide. Common and Mediterranean Gull were feeding in the same area with Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull too.
Noted on the reserve, 300 Starling, 5 Kestrel, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Willow Warbler. Offshore, 38 Common Tern, 4 Cormorant, 3 Common Gull, 3 Little Tern, 3 Med Gull & 2 Sandwich Tern. Going North, 3 Common Tern & 3 Sandwich Tern. Going South, 7 Swallow, 5 Grey Plover, 4 Black-headed Gull, 4 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 3 Sanderling, 3 Turnstone, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Sandwich Tern & 1 Teal. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Redshank.

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix is a common species that only occasionally pays us a visit.

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

Monday 6th August 2018

 Pied Flycatcher at Landguard.

A light breeze, direction variable, with a clear sky. Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were at the Observatory during the morning, offshore movement was quiet.
Noted on the reserve, House Sparrow 80, Linnet 50, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Pied Flycatcher & 1 Pied Wagtail. Feeding offshore, 19 Common Tern. Going out to sea East, 3 Sandwich Tern.

Coast Dart is a nationally scarce species. Although the habitat here is perfect, Landguard is at the Southern end of its main breeding range so records here have been infrequent.

6 birds ringed: Whitethroat 2, Kestrel 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Robin 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Sunday 5th August 2018


Wasp Spider on the Butts.

On the move southbound 5 Swallow, 4 Oyk, Redshank, Whimbrel & a Skylark that is probably a dispersing juvenile. On site 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff.


Ancylosis oblitella is a scarce species that is having a good season whose larvae lives on Goosefoot.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Linnet.