Saturday 17th November 2018

Easterly influenced conditions is bringing some late autumn interest. Offshore southbound 222 Brent, 54 Shelduck, 11 Curlew, 9 Pintail, 7 Wigeon, 3 Common Gull & Shoveler with northbound 11 Common Scoter & 3 Red-throated Diver. 6 Greylag Geese in off the sea then inland over the dock could well be genuine wild birds at this time of the year in these weather conditions, but once they plonk themselves in with a feral gang then there is no way of telling them apart from the locals. Some vis mig with southbound 5 Starling, 3 Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 3 Skylark & Mipit. Grounded migrants included 50 Blackbird, 25 Redwing, 21 Robin, 14 Mipit, 11 Fieldfare, 6 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Snow Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 2 Woodcock, Chiffchaff & Skylark although the Stonechats could well be a couple of loitering individuals contemplating wintering here.

Crocidosema plebejana is a scarce and local species in coastal areas that occasionally puts in an appearance in late autumn although it has also been noted at other times of the year.

29 birds ringed: 22 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Redwing.

Friday 16th November 2018

A light Southeasterly breeze and misty. Good waterfowl and wader movement offshore this morning, they were staying close to the coast in the poor visibility, thrushes were coming in off the sea and stopped to feed on the reserve and there was a Purple Sandpiper on the point.

Noted on the reserve, 90 Redwing, 53 Starling, 50 Blackbird, 15 Fieldfare, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Woodcock & 1 Purple Sandpiper. Going North, 3 Teal & 1 Redshank. Coming in off the sea going West, 50 Dunlin. Going South, 324 Dunlin, 96 Wigeon, 76 Brent Goose, 65 Shelduck, 30 Golden Plover, 7 Lapwing, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Skylark, 1 Common Scoter & 1 Oystercatcher.

"Acleris" moths are notoriously hard to work out, they don't visit us very often at this time of year so we never get our eye in. This one is probably Acleris ferrugana

64 birds ringed: Blackbird 34, Redwing 9, Goldcrest 7, Robin 6, Song Thrush 3, Fieldfare 2, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1, Chiffchaff 1

Thursday 15th November 2018

Meadow Pipit towards the point.

A light Southerly breeze, overcast and patchy fog but brightening up by late morning. A Common Redpoll was with a small flock of Lesser Redpoll on the reserve, a male Stonechat was on the Butts and a single Swallow went South over the Observatory.
Noted on the reserve, 16 Meadow Pipit, 5 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 3 Dunlin, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Redpoll, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Stonechat.
Going North, 9 Turnstone. Going out to sea East, 224 Cormorant. Going South, 75 Starling, 61 Goldfinch, 52 Chaffinch, 46 Meadow Pipit, 42 Siskin, 29 Woodpigeon, 10 Skylark, 6 Brent Goose, 5 Knot, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Brambling & 3 Red Breasted Merganser. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Cormorant.

14 bird ringed: Goldcrest 5, Blackbird 3, Robin 2, Song Thrush 2, Common Redpoll 1, Redwing 1.

Committee Members Appeal

Landguard Conservation Trust (the organisation that runs & administers the bird observatory) will require a new treasurer at the end of the year in order to familiarise themselves with the post in order to take over officially from the spring AGM. As a Registered Charity this is a position that must be filled in order that the "show can be kept on the road". Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

Landguard Conservation Trust also require a Membership Secretary as we have been running without one with the task currently being undertaken by the present Treasurer. Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

Landguard Conservation Trust also require a Librarian. Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

The Bird Observatory cannot function without committee members so members are asked to please consider taking on one of the above tasks. For an informal chat about any of the above positions please speak to either the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer who will be happy to provide further advice.

Wednesday 14th November 2018

A Stoat has been on site the last couple of days.

Some vis mig with southbound 146 Goldfinch, 58 Wood Pigeon, 40 Starling, 28 Mipit, 27 Linnet, 22 Siskin, 20 Chaffinch, 4 Skylark & 3 Pied Wagtail. Offshore a handful of Common Scoter coming and going but almost nothing else. Grounded migrants include half a dozen Goldcrest left over from recent arrivals, 2 Fieldfare plus a Great-spotted Woodpecker that paid a visit. A Purple Sandpiper that flew north along the shore is probably one wintering in the area that moves to & fro the groynes up the town, the point and across the river into Essex.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Tuesday 13th November 2018

Snow Bunting on the vegetated shingle by the beach. 

Strong Southwesterly breeze and clear after heavy overnight rain. Noted on the reserve, 21 Starling, 16 Goldcrest, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Snow Bunting & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 50 Woodpigeon. Going out to sea East, 444 Cormorant. Going South, 166 Goldfinch, 116 Starling, 45 Meadow Pipit, 34 Chaffinch, 29 Woodpigeon, 25 Linnet, 23 Skylark, 5 Stock Dove, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Siskin, 2 Brambling, 2 Brent Goose, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Snipe.

9 birds ringed: Lesser Redpoll 5, Goldcrest 3, Blue Tit 1.

Monday 12th November 2018

Shaggy Scalycap has appeared in its usual location although it looks like something has been having a little chew !

A Barn Owl hunting pre-dawn is the first one seen here for six years. Some vis mig this morning with southbound 238 Goldfinch, 108 Chaffinch, 63 Siskin, 33 Starling, 28 Mipits, 26 Skylark, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Linnet & 5 Brambling. On site a handful of new Goldcrest plus some leftovers from recent days, 14 Mipit, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Turnstone, Blackcap, Redwing & Woodcock. Offshore tedious, once again, with southbound 3 Brent, 2 Wigeon, Curlew, Gannet, Grey Plover, Oyk & Shelduck, with northbound 5 Brent & Oyk. The bulk of the Cormorants headed out to sea well to the north of us this morning suggesting that the fishing is better up that way at the moment.

11 birds ringed: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap, 1 Black-headed Gull.

Sunday 11th September 2018

Scavengers clean up the dead Rabbits (plenty of Rabbits with myxomatosis at the moment).

Heavy showers early on with an increasing wind speed through the morning. A Puffin went north at 0728 hrs and a Great-northern Diver was fishing just offshore for a while before departing south into Essex. Also heading south offshore 7 Brent, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, Gannet & Knot with northbound 11 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver & Gannet. Little moving over land but included 19 Starling, 9 Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, 4 Mipit, Chaffinch, Siskin & Swallow. Grounded migrants limited to a handful of Goldcrests but nothing else apparent.

Ringing: 2 Goldcrest, 1 Wren.