Saturday 15th September 2018

Yesterday's Meadow Brown is our latest site record and not far short of Suffolk's latest ever.

A clear start and a light Westerly breeze, which became stronger and Southwesterly through the morning and increasingly cloudier from mid morning onward. Offshore passage was quiet this morning and vismig was steady as House Martin, Meadow Pipit and Swallow went South, a Hobby was also going South passing over the back of the Observatory and a Wryneck was in open areas while feeding near the beach bushes and on the Ickie Ridge.

Noted on the reserve, 1,000 Starling, 20 Meadow Pipit, 18 Pied Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wryneck & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going out to sea East, 1 Oystercatcher. Going South, 291 Swallow, 74 Meadow Pipit, 17 House Martin, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Hobby, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Sandwich Tern & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Cormorant.

18 birds ringed: Meadow Pipit 7, Blackcap 3, Willow Warbler 3, Blue Tit 2, Garden Warbler 1, Goldfinch 1, Great Tit 1.

Friday 14th September 2018

 Wryneck at Landguard this morning.

A light Westerly breeze which became stronger through the morning, overcast and occasionally sunny. Three Tree Sparrow, the first of the autumn at Landguard, were on the reserve briefly mid morning. Vismig seen over the reserve going South was Swallow and Meadow Pipit, offshore Black-headed Gull and Med Gull were going South and a Whimbrel came in off the sea.
Noted on the reserve, 1250 Starling, 12 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackcap, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher & 1 Wryneck. Going North, 2 Yellow Wagtail. Going out to sea East, 1 Cormorant. Going South, 355 Swallow, 79 Meadow Pipit, 23 Black-headed Gull, 14 Med Gull, 8 House Martin, 7 Teal, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Whimbrel.

 Clouded Yellow was seen on the reserve today, other butterflies seen during the morning were, Common Blue, Green-veined White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Small Heath & Speckled Wood.

Gold Triangle inhabits areas with dead vegetation and is apparently common but infrequently encountered here.

15 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Woodpigeon 1.

September litter pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 15th September 0930 hrs start. Further details on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 13th September 2018

Butterflies were basking in the sun this morning. Brown Argus (pictured), Common Blue, Large and Small White, Red Admiral and Small Copper were seen on the reserve.

A light Northwesterly breeze and clear sky. A cool start to the day which had warmed up by mid morning. Vismig was busy as Meadow Pipit and Swallow went South during the earlier part of the morning, two Wryneck were on the reserve, both were seen on the Ickie Ridge during the morning. Offshore the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn at Landguard was seen going North.

Noted on the reserve, 1400 Starling, 15 Meadow Pipit, 12 Pied Wagtail, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Wryneck, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Med Gull, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler & 1 Whinchat. Going North, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Cormorant & 1 Red-throated Diver. Going South, 366 Swallow, 285 Meadow Pipit, 33 Black-headed Gull, 7 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Gull, 1 Dunlin & 1 House Martin.

Small Blood-vein has a second emergence at this time of year.

37 birds ringed: Meadow Pipit 25, Blackcap 2, Great Tit 2, Dunnock 1, Garden Warbler 1, Goldfinch 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Wednesday 12th September 2018

Two Wryneck present & accounted for this morning (a ringed bird that is a bit elusive but has been here since last Thursday plus what is presumably the same unringed bird that has been here since at least last Saturday but which can also disappear for a time). Also this morning 20 Pied Wags, 10 Blackcap, 10 Whinchat, 10 Willow Warbler, 6 Meadow Pipit, 5 Lesser 'throat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Grey Wag, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wag & the same White Wag that has been here for a few days. Vis mig somewhat curtailed by the drizzly start to the day although 32 Swallow plus single Kestrel & Peregrine went south. Offshore 7 Sandwich Tern went north with 2 Grey Plover south.

The first Lunar Underwing of the autumn.

12 birds ringed: 8 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler.

Tuesday 11th September 2018

 Wryneck at Landguard.

A Westerly breeze which became stronger during the morning and after a clear start became overcast by late morning. A Wryneck was on the Ickie Ridge during the morning, occasionally seen on the reserve too, Pied Flycatcher and Reed Warbler were also seen on the Ickie Ridge and Spotted Flycatcher was in front of the Observatory. Vismig was dominated by House Martin and Swallow going South over the reserve during the morning.

Noted on the reserve, 2100 Starling, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Whinchat, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Med Gull, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Siskin, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wryneck & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going North, 1 Common Tern & 1 Sandwich Tern. Going South, 243 Swallow, 159 House Martin, 7 Meadow Pipit, 7 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Curlew & 1 Grey Plover.

Feathered Brindle is a nationally scarce species and a site speciality that showed up here for the first time this autumn.

6 birds ringed: Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 2, Meadow Pipit 1.

Monday 10th September 2018

Whinchat at Landguard this morning.

High cloud cover this morning and a strong Westerly breeze. A Wryneck was seen on the reserve, moving between the beach bushes, the bramble in the middle of the reserve and the Ickie Ridge, five Whinchat were at the Butts and a single was near the Seawatch Hide and a Pied Flycatcher was at the Observatory. Vismig was busier, from mid morning House & Sand Martin, Swallow and Meadow Pipit were going South over the reserve.
Noted on the reserve, 1250 Starling, 7 Pied Wagtail, 6 Med Gull, 6 Whinchat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Wryneck.
Offshore going North, 8 Cormorant, 2 Sandwich Tern & 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, offshore going South, 4 Cormorant, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Gull & 1 Teal.
Vismig going South, 98 Swallow, 61 House Martin, 38 Meadow Pipit, 8 Sand Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Siskin & 1 Hobby.

Feathered Gothic is another one of those widespread and common species that only occurs here occasionaly.

8 birds ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Sunday 9th September 2018

White Wagtail on the reserve.

A Southwesterly breeze, warm and patchy cloud this morning. Very quiet for vismig during the morning, grounded migrants were three Pied Flycatcher, which were around the Observatory, eleven Whinchat seen on the reserve, a White Wagtail was on the reserve feeding with the Pied Wagtail and a Wryneck was on the Ickie Ridge.

Noted on the reserve, 1480 Starling, 14 Pied Wagtail, 11 Whinchat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Med Gull, 3 Blackcap, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear, 2 Common Tern, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Wryneck & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going South, 5 Swallow, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Common Gull, 3 Sand Martin & 1 Cormorant.

Square-spot Rustic is an abundant species that is here in small numbers with this point of the year its favoured emergence time.

4 birds ringed: Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 1.