Saturday 6th October 2018

A foggy start, remaining overcast through the morning and a strong Northerly breeze. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at the Observatory mid morning, the first Ring Ouzel of this autumn at Landguard was at the Observatory in the early afternoon and a busy day for vismig with birds coming in off the sea into the afternoon.

Noted on the reserve, 1,200 Starling, 30 Great Black-backed Gull, 16 Med Gull, 14 Song Thrush, 9 Redwing, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Blackcap, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ring Ouzel, 2 Stonechat, 2 Swallow, 2 Wheatear, 1 Brambling & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler. Going North, 45 Starling, 14 Gannet, 10 Swallow, 4 Common Gull, 3 Cormorant, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Great Skua & 1 Red-throated Diver. Going South, 61 Brent Goose, 18 Gannet, 10 Skylark, 7 Arctic Tern, 7 Shelduck, 7 Teal, 6 Cormorant, 4 Common Gull, 4 Common Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern & 1 Short-eared Owl. Coming in off the sea going West, 204 Chaffinch, 111 Starling, 60 Redwing, 10 Meadow Pipit, 6 Blackbird, 6 Skylark, 4 Snipe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Hobby, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Sandwich Tern & 1 Siskin.

Large Wainscot is a wanderer from reed beds at this time of year.

21 birds ringed: Song Thrush 6, Chaffinch 5, Redwing 5, chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 1, Great Tit 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 1.

Friday 5th October 2018

Redwing at the Mine Station. 

A still and foggy start, brightening up through the morning. Due to poor visibility it was a quiet morning for both vismig over the reserve or any movement offshore. Noted on the reserve, 1,100 Starling, 15 goldfinch, 8 Blackcap, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Med Gull, 2 Redwing, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Song Thrush & 1 Stonechat. Going North, 1 Oystercatcher. Coming in off the sea going West, 6 Black-headed Gull. Going South, 12 Goldfinch, 3 Cormorant & 1 Skylark.

Least Carpet has colonised the site from 1995 and has a partial second emergence in the autumn. The larvae are probably feeding on the ivy.

12 birds ringed: Chaffinch 3, Great Tit 3, Chiffchaff 2, Song Thrush 2, Goldfinch 1, Robin 1.

Thursday 4th October 2018

Newly arrived Chiffchaff glad to make landfall on the wooden jetty at the point.

Glorious sunny autumn day. A handful of new migrants today including 12 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 8 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, Brambling, Great-spotted Woodpecker & Rock Pipit plus some dispersing Blue & Great Tits. Vis mig nothing special but included southbound 49 Goldfinch, 36 Black-headed Gull, 18 Swallow, 13 Mipit, 9 Skylark, 3 Grey Wagtail & Siskin. On the reserve 2 Stonechat still at the north end and yesterdays Pheasant still with us (now thought to be factory farmed male, not a female, which are apparently released for in various colour forms). Offshore deadly quiet with single Gannet & Red-throated Diver heading north the only things worth a mention. 10 Mute Swan flew up river plus a Common Tern off the point on the falling tide may turn out to be the last of the year.

Still a good selection of butterflies out & about on site in the warm sunshine.

24 birds ringed: 7 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Starling, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Wednesday 3rd October 2018

We have far fewer records of Pheasant at Landguard than Yellow-browed Warbler ! This one looks nothing like the usual females so if anyone out there has a "pheasants of the world" type book and wishes to turn it into one of the pheasant species then please drop us an e-mail to landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

A Westerly breeze, starting clear and becoming overcast by late morning. The first Skylark of the autumn at Landguard went South over the reserve, a Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Holm Oaks at the Observatory and two Reed Bunting were in the bramble on the edge of the beach shingle. An Arctic Skua came in off the sea over the reserve in pursuit of a Herring Gull, as the Gull evaded the encounter, the Skua then continued South.

Noted on the reserve, 850 Starling, 15 Carrion Crow, 11 Magpie, 9 Meadow Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pheasant, 1 Redwing & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler. Going North, 1 Cormorant. Going out to sea East, 3 Cormorant & 1 Dunlin. Going South, 48 Goldfinch, 47 Siskin, 45 Meadow Pipit, 7 Shelduck, 6 Black-headed Gull, 5 Swallow, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Gull, 2 Skylark, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Coming in off the sea going West, 4 Cormorant.

Deep-brown Dart is another species that only visits us on odd occasions.

19 birds ringed: Meadow Pipit 11, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 2, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Robin 1.

Tuesday 2nd October 2018

House Sparrow at Landguard.

Strong Westerly wind and overcast. The first Jack Snipe of the autumn at Landguard was on the reserve near the point, along with two Snipe in the same area, a Yellow-browed Warbler was at the Observatory during the morning, seen moving between the Holm Oaks at the front of the Observatory. There was movement offshore during the seawatch with Gannet, Arctic & Great Skua going North.

Noted on the reserve, 800 Starling, 12 Pied Wagtail, 9 Meadow Pipit, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff,, 2 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Reed Bunting & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler. Offshore, 1 Gannet & 1 Sandwich Tern. Going North, 21 Gannet, 2 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret & 1 Shelduck. Coming in off the sea going West, 8 Turnstone. Going South, 77 Wigeon, 35 Black-headed Gull, 33 Great Black-backed Gull, 7 Brent Goose, 7 Cormorant, 7 Knot, 7 Swallow, 5 Dunlin, 5 Pintail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Med Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Gannet, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Snipe & 1 Ringed Plover. Going out to sea East, 10 Cormorant.

3 birds ringed: Blackcap 2, Blue Tit 1.

Monday 1st October 2018

 Stonechat at Landguard.

Strong Northwesterly wind and clear sky this morning. The first Redwing for the autumn at Landguard was on the reserve this morning and two Stonechat were near the Butts pond. In the sheltered areas there were a few butterflies, Common Blue, Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Copper were seen during the morning.

Noted on the reserve, 750 Starling, 10 Robin, 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 1 Redshank, 1 Redwing & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 2 Gannet. Coming in off the sea going West, 14 Cormorant & 1 Peregrine. Going out to sea East, 21 Cormorant. Going South, 36 Black-headed Gull, 29 Swallow, 13 Teal, 10 Med Gull, 6 Gannet, 5 Cormorant, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail & 1 Hobby.

Red-line Quaker is nationally common in the autumn but not even annual here.

5 birds ringed: Blackcap 2, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1.

Ringing total for September 2018

483 birds of 35 species ringed during September, this is average for September when compared with the previous ten years.

Meadow Pipit	128
Blackcap	113
Chiffchaff	42
Blue Tit	33
Willow Warbler	28
Robin	19
Great Tit	17
Song Thrush	16
Dunnock	11
Grey Wagtail	9
Whitethroat	8
Reed Warbler	6
Chaffinch	5
Sedge Warbler	5
Woodpigeon	5
Goldfinch	4
Pied Flycatcher	4
Garden Warbler	3
House Sparrow	3
Wheatear	3
Lesser Whitethroat	2
Redstart	2
Sparrowhawk	2
Starling	2
Wren	2
Yellow-browed Warbler	2
Blackbird	1
Coal Tit	1
Goldcrest	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Greenfinch	1
Pied Wagtail	1
Spotted Flycatcher	1
Whinchat	1
Wryneck	1

Sunday 30th September 2018

Linnet numbers feeding on the reserve this autumn have been on the low side.

A small arrival of new birds in this morning including 15 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 10 Robin, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail and the first Goldcrest of the autumn. 2 Stonechat at the north end were up there yesterday afternoon and a Yellow-browed Warbler may be yesterdays second bird or a new arrival. Some vis mig included southbound 50 Mipits, 14 Siskin, Hobby & Swallow. Offshore 93 Cormorants headed out to sea (these early morning fishing movements heading out to the sandbanks don't normally start until the third week of October) & the first Brent Goose of the autumn headed north.

29 birds ringed: 7 Meadow Pipit, 6 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1 Starling, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler.