Saturday 20th October 2018

Tree Sparrow at cottage & Tree Pipit just south of caravan site.

Another entertaining session with a fair selection of the commoner migrants on site. On the move southbound 36 Goldfinch, 23 Skylark, 15 Chaffinch, 14 Mipit, 6 Siskin & Sparrowhawk. Offshore movements negligible. On site 45 Blackbird, 35 Mipit, 25 Goldcrest, 20 Goldfinch, 20 Robin, 15 Wren, 13 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 4 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, Brambling, Jay, Rock Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Tree Sparrow & the Tree Pipit from a couple of days ago still with us.

86 birds ringed: 23 Blackbird, 15 Goldcrest, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Robin, 7 Great Tit, 4 Mipit, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Wren, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow.

Friday 19th October 2018

Hoopoe at Landguard.

A light Northwesterly breeze, an overcast start becoming brighter through the morning. An overnight arrival of Goldcrest were in the Observatory compound this morning, they dispersed through the day but were not seen elsewhere on the reserve. The fifth site record for Hoopoe this afternoon, seen moving between the reserve and the Observatory compound and the first Snow Bunting of the autumn at Landguard was on the Shingle ridge along the beach.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Goldcrest, 43 Woodpigeon, 21 Long-tailed Tit, 20 Blackbird, 20 Meadow Pipit, 4 Brambling, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Hoopoe, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Snipe, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Stonechat. Going North, 4 Brent Goose, 3 Cormorant, 3 Eider, 1 Shag, 1 Sparrowhawk & 1 Woodcock. Coming in off the sea going West, 9 Cormorant & 2 Red-breasted Merganser. Going South, 495 Brent Goose, 59 Black-headed Gull, 41 Wigeon, 15 Goldfinch, 12 Woodpigeon, 11 Skylark, 9 Shelduck, 7 Lapwing, 7 Meadow Pipit, 6 Teal, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redpoll, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Cormorant, 1 Reed Bunting & 1 Rock Pipit. Going out to sea East, 9 Cormorant.

137 birds ringed: Goldcrest 63, Long-tailed Tit 21, Blackbird 12, Robin 7, Great Tit 6, Chaffinch 5, Redwing 5, Song Thrush 4, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 3, Blue Tit 2, Woodpigeon 2, Wren 2, Dunnock 1, Starling 1.

Thursday 18th October 2018

Tree Pipit at Landguard this morning.

Northwest to Northeasterly breeze through the morning and patchy cloud. The first Black Redstart of the autumn at Landguard was seen on the tank blocks near the seawatch hide, a Spotted Flycatcher, that was in the Holm Oaks in front of the Observatory, is now the latest autumn record at Landguard and a Tree Pipit was at the North end of the Butts, moving between the trees at Customs and the grass on the reserve.

Noted on the reserve, 2,100 Starling, 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Brambling, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Cormorant, 1 Eider, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Stonechat & 1 Tree Pipit. Afternoon update - Yellow-browed Warbler at southern end of the observatory compound.

Going North, 2 Cormorant. Going out to sea East, 10 Cormorant. Going South, 22 Woodpigeon, 20 Black-headed Gull, 10 Meadow Pipit, 7 Skylark, 6 Mute Swan, 5 Brent Goose, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Buzzard, 1 Redpoll & 1 Reed Bunting. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Skylark & 1 Cormorant.

The Mallow is a classic late autumn species.

9 birds ringed: Blackcap 2, Meadow Pipit 2, Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Song Thrush 1.

Wednesday 17th October 2018

A Little Bunting circling high over the observatory for over a minute flew off inland at 0740 hrs rather than pay us a visit. Best vis mig morning of the autumn also included southbound 481 Goldfinch, 89 Skylark, 75 Linnet, 73 Wood Pigeon, 58 Mipit, 56 Siskin, 12 Chaffinch, 12 Swallow, 8 Brambling, 7 Greenfinch, 7 Reed Bunting, 4 Pied Wags, 3 Woodlark, 2 Little Egret, Grey Wag & Sparrowhawk with offshore southbound 41 Cormorant, 38 Black-headed Gull, 20 Wigeon, 16 Brent, 7 Shelduck, 4 Redshank, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Oyk & Pintail. Grounded migrants included a selection of the above species plus 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Fieldfare, 5 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 3 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Stonechat, Woodcock & a late Spotted Flycatcher which equalled our latest ever date all of which made for an enjoyable morning.

A couple of Vestal have put in an appearance yesterday & today.

25 birds ringed: 5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Song Thrush, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 2 Great Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 16th October 2018

 Chaffinch in front of the Observatory.

A misty start clearing by mid morning and a Southeasterly breeze. The first Long-tailed Tit of the autumn were at Landguard during the morning, a Reed Warbler was on the Ickie Ridge, a Yellow-browed Warbler was briefly in the Sycamore by the kitchen and two Tree Sparrow were by the cottage.
Noted on the reserve, 2,200 Starling, 15 Goldfinch, 14 Redwing, 12 Blackcap, 10 Meadow Pipit, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Brambling, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wheatear & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler.
Vismig going South, 275 Goldfinch, 36 Meadow Pipit, 29 Skylark, 26 Chaffinch, 14 Linnet, 6 Fieldfare, 3 Swallow, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Pied Wagtail.
Offshore, 2 Med Gull, 1 Brent Goose & 1 Cormorant. Going North, 1 Oystercatcher. Going out to sea East, 8 Cormorant. Going South, 38 Teal, 19 Black-headed Gull, 10 Wigeon, 4 Brent Goose, 2 Gadwall & 1 Cormorant. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Cormorant, 3 Dunlin, 1 Redwing, 1 Snipe & 1 Turnstone.

A few more migrant moths this morning which includes the first site record of Blair's Mocha, it lives on Holm Oak so should find Landguard to its liking.

44 birds ringed: Blackcap 9, Long-tailed Tit 9, Robin 4, Song Thrush 4, Chaffinch 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Redwing 3, Blackbird 2, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 2, Goldfinch 1.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Chaffinch ringed Landguard 2nd November 2017 retrapped 234km away Castricum, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands 25th March & 7th April 2018. Blue Tit ringed Landguard 25th March 2018 retrapped 89km away Whittington, Norfolk 3rd October 2018. Greenfinch ringed Landguard 14th October 2013 found dead 33km away Rendham 1st September 2018 due to Trichomonosis. Lesser Redpoll ringed Landguard 23rd October 2017 retrapped 16km away Hollesley Heath 5th April 2018.

Monday 15th October 2018

Juvenile Brent Goose that has become separated from its parents, it is eating Ulva lactuca washed up on the tideline.

Overcast and poor visibility offshore through the morning with a Northeasterly breeze. A Barred Warbler was in the brambles by the beach mid morning, which was last seen moving onto the Ickie Ridge, a Yellow-browed Warbler was in the aggregate yard, seen flying between there and the Southern end of the Observatory compound and a Stonechat was around the Butts pond.

Noted on the reserve, 1,700 Starling, 36 Woodpigeon, 10 Meadow Pipit, 7 Brambling, 6 Redwing, 3 Blackcap, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear, 1 Barred Warbler, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Med Gull, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stonechat & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler. Going North, 2 Brent Goose, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Cormorant, 1 Curlew, 1 Red-throated Diver & 1 Skylark. Going out to sea East, 2 Cormorant. Going South, 22 Teal, 15 Woodpigeon, 9 Cormorant, 9 Meadow Pipit, 5 Brent Goose, 5 Skylark, 4 Black-headed Gull, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Sparrowhawk. Coming in off the sea going West, 12 Redwing, 2 Cormorant & 1 Grey Heron.

14 birds ringed: Blackbird 5, Song Thrush 3, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 2, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1.

Sunday 14th October 2018

Believe it or not but we have had more Yellow-browed Warblers than Goldcrests so far this autumn.

Some vis mig in the form of southbound 184 Goldfinch, 91 Linnet, 52 Siskin, 39 Mipit, 29 Skylark, 4 Grey Wags, 2 Brambling, 2 Redpoll & 2 Rock Pipit. Offshore southbound 84 Wigeon, 43 Black-heads, 30 Brent, 18 Cormorant, 18 Teal, 5 Shelduck, 2 Dunlin & Knot. On site a typical selection of mid-October fare including 35 Mipit, 6 Chaffinch, 6 Redwing, 6 Songies, 5 Brambling, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Skylark, 3 Wheatear, Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Yellow-browed Warbler plus 12 Greenfinch which is the largest number recorded here since a flock of 13 on 6th January - how times have changed !

Palpita vitrealis is a migrant that we manage to get in most recent years at this time of the season.

15 birds ringed: 3 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush.