Saturday 8th September 2018

 Wryneck on the Ickie Ridge this morning.

A strong Westerly breeze and overcast this morning. Nine Whinchat were seen between the Seawatch Hide and the Butts. Two Wryneck were seen during this morning, one was on the Ickie Ridge and another was at the Observatory. A juvenile Golden Plover was near the Mine Station and a White Wagtail was on the reserve feeding with the Pied Wagtail. Offshore Great Black-backed Gull were going South and also going South just off the beach were Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover.

Noted on the reserve, 1650 Starling, 18 Goldfinch, 9 Whinchat, 8 Pied Wagtail, 5 Med Gull, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Wryneck, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunlin, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wheatear & 1 White Wagtail. Going North, 4 Common Tern. Going South, 17 Great Black-backed Gull, 13 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Tern, 4 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swallow, 1 Common Gull, 1 Cormorant & 1 Grey Wagtail.

Seems a bit early in the autumn for the Satellite to appear.

8 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 2, Meadow Pipit 1, Reed Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1.

Friday 7th September 2018

 Fieldfare on the Hawthorn behind the Observatory this morning.

It was a cool, fresh start today, having been clear overnight and a strong breeze from the Northwest. Twelve Whinchat were on the reserve, they were in two groups, four were seen at the seawatch hide and eight were on the butts, three Pied Flycatcher were seen between the Observatory and the Ickie Ridge. A Wryneck was seen at various points on the reserve, the tank blocks near the beach, on Ickie Ridge and the Observatory, which is where it was last seen just before 9am.

Noted on the reserve, 1900 Starling, 16 Pied Wagtail, 12 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Hobby, 1 Redstart, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Whimbrel, 1 White Wagtail & 1 Wryneck. Going South, 68 Swallow, 7 Meadow Pipit, 5 Black-headed Gull & 1 Sparrowhawk.

Second emergence of L-album Wainscott is now out.

8 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 3, Blackcap 2, Pied Flycatcher 1, Robin 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

Thursday 6th September 2018

Pied Flycatcher in front of the Observatory this morning.

Overnight drizzle and overcast at dawn, becoming brighter during the morning. There are a few firsts for the autumn at Landguard today, starting with a Purple Sandpiper, which was on the Jetty after high tide, on the reserve during the morning were Chiffchaff and Siskin plus a Fieldfare that appeared early afternoon. A Wryneck was seen briefly at the Observatory, near the Holm Oak on the corner towards the aggregate yard late morning and on the bank nearby early afternoon, this is the first Wryneck recorded at Landguard for this year.

Noted on the reserve, 1100 Starling, 14 Pied Wagtail, 8 Willow Warbler, 7 Common Tern, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Redstart, 6 Whinchat, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Blackcap, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Gull, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Siskin, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 White Wagtail & 1 Wryneck.

Going North, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Sandwich Tern & 1 Common Scoter. Going West, 1 Common Buzzard, which drifted over the docks and then continued headed inland. Going South, 9 Meadow Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Med Gull & 1 Turnstone.

Never common here, Pale Mottled Willow is widespread in the country as a whole.

12 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 3, Pied Flycatcher 2, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Redstart 1, Song Thrush 1, Wryneck 1.

Wednesday 5th September 2018

One of the Whinchat at Landguard this morning.

Rain over night continuing with fine rain showers through the morning, wind coming from the Northwest. Thirteen Whinchat on the reserve this morning, it is the first double figure day count since the site record of twenty five on 19th September 1995. Two Redstart were near the Observatory, Song Thrush were throughout the reserve and five Wheatear were on the reserve towards the point. Offshore two Bonxie, after spending some time on the sea, went North.

Noted on the reserve, 900 Starling, 13 Pied Wagtail, 13 Whinchat, 9 Song Thrush, 8 Robin, 7 Common Tern, 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Lapwing, 5 Sandwich Tern, 5 Wheatear, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Redstart, 1 Dunlin, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Sedge Warbler & 1 Snipe.

Going North, 11 House Martin, 3 Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Skua  & 1 Oystercatcher. Going South, 19 Cormorant, 8 Oystercatcher, 6 Teal, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Gannet, 2 Turnstone & 1 Redshank.

14 birds ringed: Willow Warbler 5, Song Thrush 3, Blackcap 1, Garden Warbler 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Redstart 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1.

Tuesday 4th September 2018

Overcast and a Northerly breeze this morning. Vismig this morning was Grey Wagtail going South over the Observatory, four were seen by 9am. A Whinchat, a juvenile female, was in front of the Observatory, Blackcap and Willow Warbler were feeding on the reserve in front of the Observatory and a Wheatear was towards the point.. 

Noted on the reserve, 800 Starling, 11 Pied Wagtail, 8 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear & 1 Whinchat. Offshore, 24 Common Scoter, 18 Sandwich Tern & 2 Common Tern. Going North, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Cormorant, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron & 1 Oystercatcher. Going South, 17 Teal & 4 Grey Wagtail.

You know it is autumn when the brick starts to put in an appearance.

6 birds ringed:Grey Wagtail 2, Song Thrush 1, Whinchat 1, Whitethroat 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Monday 3rd September 2018

 Greater Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) is quite possibly a new addition to the site plant list.

A Northerly breeze and a warm, clear start to the morning. A juvenile Golden Plover was on the reserve near the Point, a Tree Pipit went over the reserve going South and two Yellow Wagtail were on the reserve plus three going South over the Observatory. Butterflies seen today were Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large and Small White, Red Admiral, Small Copper & Small Heath.
Noted on the reserve, 450 Starling, 16 Goldfinch, 10 Pied Wagtail, 10 Robin, 5 Common Tern, 5 Wheatear, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Ringed Plover (ssp. tundrae) 1 Turnstone & 1 Yellow Wagtail.
Going North, 3 Common Tern, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Cormorant & 1 Oystercatcher. Going South, 23 Black-headed Gull, 3 Swallow, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 House Martin, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Tree Pipit.

The Delicate, this is the first of the autumn to occur at Landguard in the traps this morning.

4 birds ringed: Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Wheatear 1.

Sunday 2nd September 2018

GP still with us.

Signs of the forthcoming winter were 40 Cormorants heading south as they abandon the continent for the milder climes of the UK. Also offshore heading south 91 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 6 Barwit, 4 Gadwall, Oyk, Common Gull and the first Pomarine Skua of the autumn. On site today 10 Robin, 7 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat, Lesser 'throat, Reed Warbler, Turnstone, Whinchat & Willow Warbler. Vis mig consisted of southbound 24 Swallow, House Martin & Yellow Wag.

Running out of moths to feature that you haven't seen this year so here's a Garden Pebble that is common enough to turn up in your gardens.

Ringing: 2 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Reed Warbler.