Saturday 29th September 2018

Yellow-browed Warbler at Landguard.

A chilly start to the morning but clear sky and a Northeasterly breeze. The first Short-eared Owl for this autumn at Landguard was on the reserve during the morning, two Stonechat were on the Butts, Tree Sparrow were at the cottage late morning and two Yellow-browed Warbler were at the Observatory during the afternoon.

Noted on the reserve, 20 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Med Gull, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Brambling, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Short-eared Owl. Going North, 2 Common Scoter. Going South, 32 Wigeon, 6 Black-headed Gull, 5 Meadow Pipit & 1 Brent Goose.

14 birds ringed: Blue Tit 3, Robin 3, Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1, Chiffchaff 1, Greenfinch 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Song Thrush 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 1.

Friday 28th September 2018

Overcast and a strong Northeasterly breeze during the morning. The first Rock Pipit of the autumn at Landguard was around the jetty as the tide was rising, a Spotted Flycatcher was in front of the Observatory, Black-headed Gull were moving South offshore and a couple of small flocks of Wigeon and Teal were also going South.

Noted on the reserve, 650 Starling, 9 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Med Gull, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cormorant, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Going North, 24 Cormorant, 3 Swallow & 1 Sandwich Tern. Coming in off the sea going West, 5 Cormorant & 1 Marsh Harrier. Going South, 109 Black-headed Gull, 18 Swallow, 16 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel & 1 Med Gull.

Barred Sallow is a common species but occurs infrequently here.

1 bird ringed: Chiffchaff 1.

Thursday 27th September 2018

Wheatear at Landguard.

Clear, warm and a light Northwesterly breeze during the morning. There was plenty of activity in the bramble on the reserve soon after dawn with Robin singing and Blackcap feeding on the berries. Chiffchaff were seen throughout the reserve, Wheatear were in the vegetated shingle towards the point, occasionally taking vantage point from the tank blocks and a Spotted Flycatcher was in front of the Observatory.

Noted on the reserve, 650 Starling, 20 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 15 Meadow Pipit, 10 Robin, 8 Med Gull, 4 Pied Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Going South, 78 Swallow, 27 Meadow Pipit, 21 Black-headed Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Oystercatcher.

37 birds ringed: Blackcap 12, Chiffchaff 8, Meadow Pipit 5, Blue Tit 3, Robin 2, Wheatear 2, Wren 2, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Starling 1.

Wednesday 26th September 2018

Anyone lost any Ring-necked Parakeets as a couple of youngsters of one of the African races, determined by the lower mandible colour, (probably nominate form krameri) have broken out of their jail. As with previous sightings of this species that have turned up there is no evidence that any of them come from the naturalised British population and all records here are treated as escaped pets.

Far more interesting are a Brambling (first noted late yesterday afternoon) plus two juvenile Peregrine that clobbered one of the local Wood Pigeons early morning. A quieter morning with vis mig including southbound 205 Swallow, 17 Mipit, 15 Black-headed Gull, 9 Siskin, 8 Shelduck, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Grey Wag, Curlew & what was presumably a hybrid Swallow X House Martin. On site 10 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat plus some wandering Tits (which has been a feature of recent days). For those of you who have failed to see Clouded Yellow so far this year they have been a feature of recent days with four noted on the Butts this morning.

Mottled Rustic is common in the summer and has a small second generation emergence if the weather is compatible.

Ringing: 6 Blackcap, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Song Thrush.

Tuesday 25th September 2018

 A female Blackcap at Landguard.

A light Northwesterly breeze and clear sky. The first Stonechat for this autumn at Landguard was on the reserve, a Pied Flycatcher was on the Ickie Ridge and another was at the Observatory, as was a Spotted Flycatcher and a Coal Tit was with the Blue Tit flock that came through the Observatory compound during the morning.

Noted on the reserve, 800 Starling, 200 House Martin, 45 Meadow Pipit, 40 Blackcap, 12 Pied Wagtail, 12 Robin, 11 Blue Tit, 8 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Med Gull, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Snipe, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Stonechat & 1 Willow Warbler. Coming in off the sea going West, 1 Curlew. Going South, 218 Swallow, 138 House Martin, 60 Black-headed Gull, 16 Meadow Pipit, 14 Siskin, 12 Shelduck, 3 Goldfinch & 2 Grey Wagtail.

Beaded Chestnut is an autumnal species that occurs here in low numbers despite being a common but declining species across England.

66 birds ringed: Blackcap 21, Meadow Pipit 11, Blue Tit 9, Song Thrush 6, Robin 5, Dunnock 4, Chiffchaff 3, House Sparrow 2, Coal Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Pied Wagtail 1.

Monday 24th September 2018

Spotted Flycatcher at the Observatory this morning

Clear sky and Northwesterly breeze, a chilly start but it was warm by mid morning. This morning eighteen Buzzard were seen from Landguard, having come in off the sea to the North of the reserve they circled and gained height over the dock until lost from view. There are 47 site records for Buzzard, the previous highest day count of these records was three. A Woodlark was the first of the autumn.

Noted on the reserve, 750 Starling, 18 Buzzard, 12 Carrion Crow, 7 Blackcap, 6 Chaffinch, 4 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 House Martin, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Tern, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow, 1 Turnstone & 1 Willow Warbler.

Going North, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Coming in of the sea going West, 18 Shelduck. Going South, 178 Meadow Pipit, 58 Black-headed Gull, 41 Swallow, 26 Cormorant, 22 Teal, 9 Common Gull, 8 Siskin, 7 Chaffinch, 6 Sand Martin, 2 Avocet, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Turnstone & 1 Yellow Wagtail.

35 birds ringed: Meadow Pipit 16, Great Tit 5, Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 4, Chaffinch 2, Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Sunday 23rd September 2018

The rain started not long after dawn and it has evolved into a thoroughly miserable morning. The weather has dropped in at least 30 Blackcap but there may be considerably more skulking away. A group of roughly 500 House Martin, 40 Swallow & a Sand Martin came in off the sea. Also noted 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, Grey Wag & yesterdays Spot Fly still with us. Despite observers staring out to sea, as there was no enthusiasm to do anything else in the pouring rain, the rewards were pathetic with southbound 11 Sandwich Tern, an Oyk plus a couple of Cormorants doing nothing in particular.

Black Rustic has finally started to appear in the moth traps as it is late on parade this autumn.

Ringing: 10 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin.