Saturday 22nd September 2018

 A half decent push of Mipits with 830 south, 51 in off the sea & 60 on the reserve. Also heading south 30 Siskin, 24 Goldfinch, 18 Swallow, 11 Grey Wags, 8 Sand Martin, 6 Sandwich Tern, 6 Spoonbill, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Oyk, 4 Common Tern,  4 Med Gull, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Little Egret, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Dunlin, 2 Pied Wags, Kestrel, House Martin, Pintail & Turnstone. On site 28 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher plus a couple of new Dunnock. The Spoonbill flock is our largest day count and only the 13th ever site record, unfortunately another slightly larger flock coming south down the Suffolk coast later in the morning just north of us we somehow managed to miss going past !

Clancy's Rustic is a migrant first noted in the UK in 2002 and at Landguard in 2006 which is a species that is obviously slowly attempting colonisation of Suffolk.

81 birds ringed: 47 Mipit, 19 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Friday 21st September 2018

Spotted Flycatcher at Landguard.

Overnight rain and Westerly gusts of force 9 had at least subsided to gusts of force 7 and clear with patchy cloud by the morning. The first Reed Bunting of the autumn at Landguard went South over the Observatory, there were two Spotted Flycatcher, one was at the Observatory and the other was on the Ickie Ridge, vismig started soon after dawn with House Martin, Meadow Pipit and Swallow going South but offshore movement was quiet.

Noted on the reserve, 20 Meadow Pipit, 19 Goldfinch, 12 Pied Wagtail, 7 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat & 1 Whinchat. Going South, 132 Meadow Pipit, 128 Swallow, 91 House Martin, 12 Cormorant, 8 Siskin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Hobby & 1 Reed Bunting.

2 bird ringed: Blackcap 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Thursday 20th September 2018

A strong Southwesterly wind and cloudy following overnight rain. Offshore movement and vismig were very quite this morning. A juvenile Golden Plover was on the reserve towards the point during the earlier part of the morning, a Whinchat was around the seawatch hide and two Yellow Wagtail were on the vegetated shingle above the beach.

Noted on the reserve, 1,100 Starling, 10 Pied Wagtail, 6 Wheatear, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Med Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Whinchat. Going South, 73 House Martin, 32 Swallow, 8 Meadow Pipit, 6 Black-headed Gull, 5 Shelduck, 3 Teal, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Sand Martin & 1 Turnstone.

Wax Moth, the larval stage is found in bee hives and has a preference for older combs.

0 birds ringed:

Wednesday 19th September 2018

An increasing south-westerly warm wind gusting force 8 as the day has progressed does not make comfortable birding although it didn't stop a push of hirundines even if offshore movements were very poor. Southbound 575 House Martin, 370 Swallow, 20 Cormorant, 14 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 11 Sand Martin, 8 Shelduck, 3 Meadow Pipit, Barwit, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Hobby & Swift with northbound 3 Gannet. On site records included 8 Wheatear, single Blackcap, Golden Plover, Willow Warbler & Wryneck although others may well be skulking from the wind.

Burnished Brass is common throughout the UK although only infrequent in our traps.

Ringing: 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Tuesday 18th September 2018

Shearwater were not recorded here in 2017 and it might be a struggle to see the one in the picture, it is behind the rolling ground buoy. This was the second Manx Shearwater seen during the morning, both were going South.

A warm night and strong Southwesterly wind, clear sky at dawn but then becoming overcast. A Wryneck was seen on the Ickie Ridge this morning and six Wheatear were around the seawatch hide. Vismig was a mix of hirundines going South over the reserve. Offshore passage was slightly busier, Dunlin and Ringed Plover were going South and small flocks of Common Scoter, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon were also going South.

Noted on the reserve, 650 Starling, 22 Pied Wagtail, 7 Med Gull, 6 Wheatear, 1 Common Gull, 1 Knot, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Wryneck. Going North, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Cormorant, 1 Gannet, 1 Little Egret & 1 Oystercatcher. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Meadow Pipit. Going South, 265 Swallow, 224 House Martin, 77 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, 13 Knot, 11 Shelduck, 7 Common Scoter, 7 Shoveler, 7 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Sanderling, 1 Snipe, 1 Swift & 1 Tufted Duck.

1 bird ringed: Blue Tit 1.

Monday 17th September 2018

 Wheatear with a large grub, good for migration refueling.

A warm Southwesterly breeze, starting overcast but clear by mid morning. The first Jackdaw, of this autumn at Landguard, went over the reserve going South. A Spotted Flycatcher was at the Observatory and a Wryneck was moving between the reserve and the Ickie Ridge. Vismig was steady with Swallow and House Martin going South, with a small number of Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit and Sand Martin also going South. A Wall Butterfly was seen briefly at the Observatory during the morning, last  recorded at Landguard in September 2016 and not since 2005 prior to that.

Noted on the reserve, 1,300 Starling, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff,, 3 Blackcap, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Wryneck. Going North, 1 Sandwich Tern. Going out to sea East, 1 Cormorant. Going South, 183 Swallow, 102 House Martin, 9 Black-headed Gull, 9 Meadow Pipit, 9 Teal, 8 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Med Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Sandwich Tern.

Feathered Ranunculus is a coastal species that is late this autumn, they normally fly from the end of August onward and this is the first seen at Landguard for this year.

8 birds ringed: Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 2, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1.

Fencing Removal

It is planned to take down the temporary fencing this Wednesday 19th September. Many hands make light work so if you would like to help please meet at the cottage at 0930hrs and come dressed in appropriate clothing for the task in hand.

Sunday 16th September 2018

Small Copper are out and about on the reserve.

On the move southbound 73 Mipit, 38 Swallow, 22 Teal, 21 Siskin, 20 Dunlin, 15 Black-headed Gull, 5 Shoveler, 2 Oyk, Hobby, Tufted Duck & Knot. On site 10 Med Gull, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser 'throat & the Wryneck is still with us.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler.