4 birds of 3 species : 2 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.
This equals the lowest December total ever although we have several monthly totals in the winter in single figures.
Tuesday 31st December 2019
Only 595 Cormorants counted going out fishing. Quiet morning with southbound 5 Common Gull, 3 Wigeon, Brent, Red-breasted Merganser & Shelduck with northbound 6 Brent & 4 Red-throats. Nowt else to report.
Monday 30th December 2019
1,790 Cormorants went out fishing first thing. Glorious sunny winters day ideal for censusing the overwintering passerines with at least 18 Robins present following on from a good autumn passage. Blackbird numbers are on the low side with wintering Song Thrush difficult to come across. Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Corvids & Tit numbers are about what's expected. 55 House Sparrows is okay for recent years with two distinct groups around the cottage/observatory and at the north end of the Butts although individual change allegiances between gangs. Wood Pigeon numbers vary here between winters with just a single pair of Collared Doves occasionally present recently. Collared Doves are normally on eggs by Christmas so hopefully they will get going soon. Single overwintering Stonechat on the Butts & Rock Pipit at the point although only a single Purp seen as the tide is out giving them plenty of spots to disappear into. Finally 2 Skylark heading south are today's migrants.
Sunday 29th December 2019
2,250 Cormorants went out early. Southbound 41 Wigeon, 23 Shelduck, 18 Teal, 14 Brent, 11 Common Gull, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Shoveler, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail & Pochard (only our second sighting this year) with northbound 17 Brent, 11 Red-throats, 3 Shelduck & 2 Common Scoter.
Saturday 28th December 2019
Dull bleak start to the day at the moment with even 2,010 Cormorants heading out fishing late on parade. Offshore observations punctuated by the litter pick commitments so obviously more on the move than logged with sightings before & afterwards up to mid-day producing southbound 248 Teal, 167 Brent, 164 Wigeon, 80 Shelduck, 37 Common Gull, 14 Pintail, 10 Red-throated Diver, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Curlew, 2 Eider, Common Scoter, Gadwal, Goosander, Oyk, Kitt & Ringed Plover with northbound 17 Wigeon & 5 Red-throated Diver plus a Bonxie offshore mid-day. A Great-crested Grebe & Shag were in the river behind the observatory & Purp on the point.
Friday 27th December 2019
1,925 Cormorants headed out fishing first thing. An hour and a half seawatch produced 35 Brent, 25 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 2 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver & Shelduck with northbound 13 Brent, 10 Red-throats, 7 Wigeon & Teal. On the point 3 Purps & Rock Pipit.
Xmas Litter Pick
Litter pick this Saturday 28th December 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk
Thursday 26th December 2019
An increasing SSE wind then rain from 1030 hrs. Up to then 2,350 Cormorants headed out to sea fishing early on with southbound 24 Brent, 17 Common Scoter, 7 Common Gull, 6 Red-throated Diver, Curlew & Wigeon plus northbound 28 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throats, 9 Brent, 2 Gannet & Oyk plus 18 Kitts offshore. Cold 'n wet so abandon ship !
Wednesday 25th December 2019
Foxy loxy sunning itself this morning.
Tuesday 24th December 2019
Bit same old same old. 2 Purps on the point, Stonechat on the Butts, southbound single Goldfinch & Mipit. Offshore in brief seawatch southbound 6 Brent, 5 Shelduck & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Brent & 2 Red-throats plus a handful of Kitts behind boats.
Monday 23rd December 2019
2,325 Cormorants went out fishing early on. Although one would like to think that autumn passerine migration is done & dusted by now there are always a few stragglers with southbound 6 Mipit, 3 Goldfinch & 3 Skylark plus an early morning Fieldfare. Offshore movements barely worth a mention although once the sun comes up not much effort put in. A good walk around the site produced 22 Ringed Plover attempting to roost at high tide, 2 Purps on the point, Stonechat on the Butts plus the wintering locals in the usual places Its the time of the year for report writing when one realises that Feral Pigeon recording has been neglected, once again, this year so 40 counted in their favourite haunt along View Point Road made the morning feel scientifically worthwhile (or maybe not !).
Sunday 22nd December 2019
Another deluge overnight with light rain or drizzle all morning. Offshore southbound 11 Brent, 7 Common Gull, 6 Shelduck, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Oyk, Curlew & Gannet with northbound 49 Red-throats, 8 Brent & 5 Common Scoter plus a couple of Red-throats & a Great-crested Grebe sat on the sea. 6 Ringos, 2 Dunlin & Turnstone were at the point high tide. The days will now start getting longer and things can only get better. Late news - Snow Bunting near the point early afternoon.
Saturday 21st December 2019
Please would someone turn the taps off. Landguard is usually in the top three driest sites in the UK but just recently it doesn't seem to stop with another deluge this morning. 2,870 Cormorants went out to sea fishing. Offshore southbound 87 Kitts, 26 Shelduck, 13 Pintail, 8 Black-headed Gull, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Gull, 2 Common Scoter, Golden Plover & Oyk with northbound 30 Red-throats, 7 Gannet & 2 Common Scoter. Purple Sand & Rock Pipit are on the point. 2 Rook in the car park is an exceptional record for the time of the year.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird.
Friday 20th December 2019
Thoroughly wet morning (again) plus poor visibility with the rain stopping and the sun trying to break through as this is written. Despite the early gloom when the vis did improve some offshore movement noted with southbound 199 Teal, 68 Wigeon, 2 Common Gull, 2 Gadwal, 2 Red-throated Diver, Brent, Curlew, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Oyk & Shelduck with northbound 6 Red-throats & 5 Brent plus 9 Kitts offshore. With the mild conditions its difficult to explain the duck movement although they probably know something we don't.
Thursday 19th December 2019
Offshore southbound 67 Red-throated Diver, 45 Teal, 20 Brent, 18 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 2 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone, Bonxie, Common Gull & Shelduck with northbound 8 Brent, 5 Red-throated Diver & Guillemot.
In the cellar amongst the hibernating Peacock butterflies was the first site record of Buttoned Snout. Considering we rummage around every winter in the bowls of the building looking to see what's hibernating this livened up the morning no end and with only photos taken in the dark giving us identification quandaries it took up some time.
In the cellar amongst the hibernating Peacock butterflies was the first site record of Buttoned Snout. Considering we rummage around every winter in the bowls of the building looking to see what's hibernating this livened up the morning no end and with only photos taken in the dark giving us identification quandaries it took up some time.
Recent Ringing Recoveries
Robin ringed Glabbek, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium on 9th October 2017 retrapped 277 km away at Landguard 13th October 2019.
Chiffchaff ringed Landguard 24th March 2019 retrapped 4 km away at Trimley on 6th May 2019.
Four Long-tailed Tits ringed Landguard 25th October 2019 retrapped 41 km away at Dunwich on 5th November 2019.
Chiffchaff ringed Landguard 24th March 2019 retrapped 4 km away at Trimley on 6th May 2019.
Four Long-tailed Tits ringed Landguard 25th October 2019 retrapped 41 km away at Dunwich on 5th November 2019.
Wednesday 18th December 2019
A more benign morning with glorious sunshine to start the day. 2,414 Cormorant went out fishing. On site a Fieldfare is todays migrant with a pleasant perambulation around the peninsula yielding the Rock Pipit on the point & the Stonechat on the Butts. Couple of Brent, Red-throated Diver & Shelduck noted moving offshore.
Tuesday 17th December 2019
Thoroughly miserable damp morning with poor visibility. 2,270 Cormorants headed out to sea fishing. Couple of Red-throated Diver & a single Dunlin noted offshore but nowt else. Grim !
Monday 16th December 2019
2,870 Cormorants came out on mass low down the river at 0735 hrs which is a bit more amiable of them than the last few days coming out before daylight. Otherwise hard work with southbound 12 Shelduck, 8 Siskin, 7 Teal, 6 Brent, 3 Common Gull, 2 Goldfinch & Red-throated Diver. Shag was in the river again early on.
Sunday 15th December 2019
With a full moon and very low tides early morning the Cormorants are going out 40 minutes before sunrise which is not good for an accurate count with 1,800 logged going out fishing as it was barely getting light although the actual number may be higher. Little effort put into seawatching as 45 mins effort produced just single Kitt & Shelduck. What is presumably yesterdays Woodcock is still with us but enthusiasm to flog around the site in this wind is non-existent. Santa is in the Fort this weekend - think I might pop in and see if he will deliver us a "goodie" for the festivities !
Saturday 14th December 2019
You can tell that its that time of the year when not much happening as we start starring at the moon early morning.
A Woodcock was seen a couple of times during the morning ( not been a very good Woodcock autumn). Offshore southbound 45 Teal, 6 Kitts, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Wigeon, 2 Common Gull with northbound a Red-throated Diver. I am reliably informed that 2 Purps are still on the point.
Friday 13th December 2019
Grim to start with weather wise. Very little moving with southbound 5 Brent, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gadwal, 2 Shelduck, Gannet & Skylark with northbound 5 Red-throats. 2 Purps on the point on the rising tide.
Thursday 12th December 2019
Wednesday 11th December 2019
Glorious morning. 1,456 Cormorants went out fishing early. 16 Ringos were attempting to roost on the beach at high tide. Southbound 15 Brent, 6 Shelduck, 5 Red-throated Diver & 2 Skylark with northbound a Guillemot.
Tuesday 10th December 2019
Break in at some point since mid-day yesterday with several windows prised open, locked door kicked in, other rooms accessed & items moved about. This sort of thing takes up ones time.
1,554 Cormorant went out fishing. Southbound 34 Common Gull, 18 Brent, 11 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kitts, 3 Wigeon, 2 Mallard & Red-breasted Merganser with northbound 3 Common Scoter & 3 Red-throats plus a couple of Bonxie loitering. A Shag was in the river behind the observatory early on (same bird as a couple of days back ?).
Monday 9th December 2019
Offshore southbound 8 Brent, 3 Red-throated Diver, Oyk & Kittiwake with northbound 2 Turnstone, Oyk, Razorbill, Red-throat & Ringed Plover plus 3 Bonxie & Pomarine Skua loitering amongst gulls. 850 Cormorant went out fishing.
Sunday 8th December 2019
Getting to that time of the year to loiter in car parks and look at seagull legs. This Med Gull is at least 10 years old.
Windy morning. Southbound 11 Kitts, 7 Common Gull, 3 Red-throated Diver, Brent, "redhead" Goosander, Great-crested Grebe & Marsh Harrier with northbound 3 Red-throats, 2 Brent & Common Gull. Single Great-crest & Red-throat fishing just offshore. 1,680 Cormorant headed out fishing early on.
Saturday 7th December 2019
4 Snow Bunting along the beach are the first for nearly two weeks. 2,270 Cormorant went out fishing. Southbound 2 Brent & 2 Great-crested Grebe with northbound 5 Red-throated Diver, 2 Brent & Gannet plus 3 Kitts offshore. Purp on the point concludes the voting.
Friday 6th December 2019
Redwing is todays migrant. Offshore hardly riveting but southbound 9 Common Gull, 4 Guillemot, 4 Kittiwake, 2 Gadwal, Brent & Red-throated Diver with northbound 2 Red-throats, & Gannet plus a loitering Bonxie. 1,768 Cormorants went out fishing. On the point Purp & Rockit.
Ringing: 1 Redwing.
December Litter Pick
Litter pick this Saturday 7th December 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk
Thursday 5th December 2019
2,840 Cormorant headed out to sea fishing. Lapwing on site early & a new Blackie feeding on the apples in the mouth of the Helgoland trap. Early blog report today so if anyone turns up & sees anything worth noting it will be added later.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird
Wednesday 4th December 2019
In the "good old days" Linnets were rare here in the winter but over the years odd small groups are now fairly regularly noted.
Glorious sunny winters morning with some late autumn passage with southbound 7 Skylark, 2 Mipit & Siskin plus a Fieldfare on site early morning. Rock Pipit still on the point & Stonechat on the Butts. 1,850 Cormorant headed out to sea fishing early on but may have missed some.
Tuesday 3rd December 2019
If you were on an exotic foreign holiday one would rate the colours on these as stunning whereas over here they just get a bad press.
They promised us fog & we ended up with a glorious winters morning. Not a lot to report but southbound Little Egret & Skylark. On site 2 Mipit & Chaffinch plus Purp & Rock Pipit on the point. That's your lot !
Monday 2nd December 2019
Whereas the mass of Cormorants that went out yesterday went over the observatory the bulk today went out well to the north of us today and we logged very few. On the move southbound 60 Black-headed Gull, 7 Goldfinch & 5 Siskin. Single Lapwing & Mipit were heard over the reserve. Other coverage poor as all the mist nets were taken down and packed away for the winter.
Ringing: 1 Song Thrush.
Sunday 1st December 2019
Offshore movements poor with southbound 37 Brent, 10 Red-throated Diver, 4 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Shelduck & 1 Tufted Duck with northbound 11 Brent, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throats & Teal. 2,921 Cormorants went out to sea fishing. Rock Pipit on the point but nothing else to report.
November Ringing Totals
348 birds of 23 species. The Long-tailed Tit numbers are exceptional and without them the months total would have been poor.
| Long-tailed Tit | 171 |
| Blackbird | 58 |
| Goldcrest | 30 |
| Robin | 19 |
| Redwing | 9 |
| Song Thrush | 9 |
| Chaffinch | 8 |
| Wood Pigeon | 8 |
| Blue Tit | 5 |
| Blackcap | 4 |
| Goldfinch | 4 |
| Bullfinch | 3 |
| Chiffchaff | 3 |
| House Sparrow | 3 |
| Dunnock | 2 |
| Greenfinch | 2 |
| Sparrowhawk | 2 |
| Wren | 2 |
| Yellowhammer | 2 |
| Firecrest | 1 |
| Great Tit | 1 |
| Meadow Pipit | 1 |
| Ring Ouzel | 1 |
Saturday 30th November 2019
Handful of new Blackies on site are just as likely to be birds moving from inland to the coast following last nights sharp frost across the country as newly arriving late autumn incomers from the continent. Other migrants were southbound 5 Chaffinch, 2 Mipit & Goldfinch. Offshore southbound 32 Common Scoter, 17 Teal, 9 Red-throated Diver & 5 Brent with northbound 12 Common Scoter, 9 Brent, 4 Red-throats, 3 Greylag & 2 Gadwal. An immature Shag was in the river mid-morning, Rock Pipit on the point & Stonechat on the Butts.
Ringing: 4 Blackbird.
Friday 29th November 2019
A Swallow heading south mid-morning is a record breaker beating the previous latest Landguard records on both 26th November 2011 & 2012. A Brambling calling in the Poplars early on plus 3 Goldfinch & 2 Mipit south is the only other hint of any migratory activity. The Chiffchaff is still with us looking like it might attempt to overwinter apart from which the compound is largely birdless. Offshore movements almost non-existent although 650 Cormorants headed out to sea to go fishing.
Ringing: nil.
Thursday 28th November 2019
Never managed to get a photo of a Goosander going past on the blog before and looking at the standard of this one you will all be hoping that if we can't do any better than this then it doesn't happen again ! A damp, desperate, despondent, dire, dreary and dull sort of morning with about as much happening that one would expect in these conditions at this time of the year although a fine drake Goosander going past is always going to lift the mood. Southbound 27 Goldfinch, 3 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Blacked-backed Gull & Shelduck with northbound 5 Common Scoter, Gannet & Red-throated Diver. 2 Purps are on the point, 2 Ringos on the beach, 2 Mipit on the reserve & Chiffchaff in the compound.
Ringing: 1 Goldfinch.
Recent Ringing Recoveries
Blackbird ringed Landguard 18th March 2018 found dead 613 km away at Oksbøl, Ribe, Denmark 6th November 2019.
Two Long-tailed Tits ringed Landguard 5th November 2018 retrapped 11 km away at Nacton 13th November 2019.
Goldcrest ringed Landguard 15th October 2018 retrapped 140 km away at Wilston Res, Tring Herts on 3rd November 2019.
Robin ringed Landguard 15th October 2019 retrapped 15 km away at Holland Haven, Essex 27th October 2019.
Robin ringed Overdinkl, Overijissel, The Netherlands 4th October 2019 retrapped 291 km away at Landguard 7th October 2019.
Starling ringed Ipswich 23rd May 2019 retrapped 18 km away at Landguard 8th August 2019.
Blue Tit ringed Trimley 12th October 2019 retrapped 4 km away at Landguard 15th October 2019.
Blue Tit ringed Hollesley 12th September 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 19th October 2019.
Great Tit ringed Hollesley 7th October 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 20th October 2019.
Long-tailed Tit ringed Hollesley 30th October 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 3rd November 2019.
Two Long-tailed Tits ringed Landguard 5th November 2018 retrapped 11 km away at Nacton 13th November 2019.
Goldcrest ringed Landguard 15th October 2018 retrapped 140 km away at Wilston Res, Tring Herts on 3rd November 2019.
Robin ringed Landguard 15th October 2019 retrapped 15 km away at Holland Haven, Essex 27th October 2019.
Robin ringed Overdinkl, Overijissel, The Netherlands 4th October 2019 retrapped 291 km away at Landguard 7th October 2019.
Starling ringed Ipswich 23rd May 2019 retrapped 18 km away at Landguard 8th August 2019.
Blue Tit ringed Trimley 12th October 2019 retrapped 4 km away at Landguard 15th October 2019.
Blue Tit ringed Hollesley 12th September 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 19th October 2019.
Great Tit ringed Hollesley 7th October 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 20th October 2019.
Long-tailed Tit ringed Hollesley 30th October 2019 retrapped 16 km away at Landguard 3rd November 2019.
Wednesday 27th November 2019
Rain to late morning. Offshore movements southbound 9 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Mallard & Velvet Scoter with northbound 5 Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver. Passerines still moving were southbound 8 Goldfinch, 3 Mipit & 2 Skylark. On site migrants were 2 Song Thrush, Lapwing & Redwing plus the loitering Chiffchaff. 38 Linnet is a reasonable count for this time of the year.
Mottled Umber is a common early winter flyer in woodland that we only record very occasionally.
Ringing: 1 Song Thrush
Tuesday 26th November 2019
2 White-fronted Geese went out then north & a Lapwing was on the reserve after which struggling to find much to write about in these damp dreary conditions. Southbound 18 Wigeon, 9 Common Scoter, 3 Brent, 3 Curlew, 3 Mipit, Common Gull & Red-throated Diver with northbound Lapwing & Red-throat. Not sure whats on the point or on the Butts as no one has had the enthusiasm to go out to record "the usual birds in the usual places".
Blastobasis laticolella accidentally found its way to this country from Madeira just after the second world war and can be numerous here and out & about late in the season.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird.
Committee Meeting
All members are invited to attend committee meetings. Any member interested in attending the next meeting to be held in Felixstowe on Tuesday 3rd December is asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk after which they will be sent an agenda plus the minutes of the last meeting.
Monday 25th November 2019
The one great thing about Purple Sandpipers is that they allow close scrutiny. The near bird is a small adult & the far bird is a chunky immature. Birds originating in Iceland & Canada are generally larger than those from Greenland & northern Scandinavia and both races winter together but without in hand biometrics it is difficult to be sure what is what with these two. Differences in the brightness of bill and leg colour is also obvious in these birds but whether this means anything or not I do not know.
New migrants today are singles of Blacky, Songie & Robin. Southbound 26 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin, 5 Mipit, 3 Chaffinch & Reed Bunting. Offshore viewing tedious with southbound 6 Brent & northbound 5 Brent & Red-breasted Merganser. Only 170 Cormorant went out fishing early on. At least 4 Gannet with the mass of big gulls following shipping. Finally Rock Pipit on the point & Stonechat on the Butts.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.
Sunday 24th November 2019
Some late autumn passage with a few passerines on the move with southbound 61 Goldfinch, 54 Mipit, 40 Starling, 16 Linnet, 11 Chaffinch, 5 Siskin & 4 Greenfinch. On site 4 Redwing, Brambling, Lapwing, Redpoll plus a couple of new Blackies, Robins, Chaffinch with the first new Blue Tit & Chiffchaff for a couple of weeks definitely late on the move. Yet another flock of Long-tailed Tit passed through. On site 2 Purps plus Rock Pipit on the point, Stonechat on the Butts & Snow Bunting along the beach. Offshore southbound 40 Wigeon, 27 Brent, 15 Teal, 11 Common Gull, 9 Red-throated Diver, 6 Black-headed Gull, 5 Shelduck, 2 Red-breasted Merganser & Great-northern Diver.
Running out of moths to show you but I can't remember featuring Angle Shades so far this year so here you go. Its one of those species that can put in an appearance at any time of the year.
Ringing: 11 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blackbird, 3 Wood Pigeon, 2 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenfinch.
Saturday 23rd November 2019
Southbound 35 Brent, 22 Common Gull, 9 Black-headed Gull, 7 Shelduck, 5 Pintail, 3 Common Scoter, Avocet, Gannet & Red-throated Diver with northbound 4 Brent & 2 Common Scoter. Only 257 Cormorant seen heading out to sea fishing. Handful of new migrants in this morning including 13 Redwing, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Robin & Blackbird plus, yet another, flock of Long-tailed Tit passing through. Loitering Chiffchaff still here as are 2 Turnstone and Purp Sand on the point & a Rock Pipit along the beach. A mixed flock of 45 Dunlin & Ringos at high tide was shifted by a dog walker before the proportions of each could be accurately sorted.
Ringing: 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin, 1 Blackbird.
Friday 22nd November 2019
As far as passerines are concerned then autumn migration is very quickly grinding to a halt with a new Robin the only evidence of any moving.Offshore southbound 67 Brent, 10 Shelduck, 9 Common Gull, 7 Common Scoter, 5 Gannet, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Red-throated Diver, Curlew, Golden Plover & Great-crested Grebe with northbound 2 Gannet, 2 Red-throated Diver, Little Auk & Oyk. A Snipe headed inland overhead. 3 Kitts were with the mass of big gulls following shipping. Finally 1689 Cormorant headed out fishing early on.
Ringing: 1 Robin.
Thursday 21st November 2019
2 Bean Geese out then north is only the 17th site record. Also on the move southbound 74 Wigeon, 7 Common Scoter, 6 Common Gull, 2 Goosander, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Teal, Gannet, Goldeneye, Red-throated Diver & Shelduck with northbound 6 Common Scoter, Greylag Goose & Red-throated Diver plus 4 Greylags that flew out to sea and a Bonxie loitering. 12 Siskin flew south then back north. On site a couple of migrants with 3 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing & Song Thrush. The Chiffchaff is still with us as are the Rock Pipit on the point & Stonechat on the Butts.
Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.
Wednesday 20th November 2019
Light southerly veering SSE winds could have brought us some late autumn migrants but, disappointingly, it came to pass that we are a migrant free zone. Offshore movements not much better with southbound 10 Red-throated Diver, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Shelduck & Great-northern Diver with northbound 5 Red-throats, Brent & Little Auk. 3 Turnstone were on the jetty with, what is presumably, the lingering Chiffchaff in the obs compound.
Ringing: nil.
Tuesday 19th November 2019
A record breaking 3,678 Cormorant headed out to sea fishing this morning and when one considers that we only started managing four figure counts a couple of years ago it helps one appreciate the shear tonnage of food (presumably Herrings ?) available to them around the sandbars offshore. Late autumn migrants limited to a couple of new Blackies & a fine Yellowhammer with southbound 16 Goldfinch, 4 Mipit & 2 Skylark. 4 Greenies on site is worth a mention as is the usual point based menagerie of 2 Purps, 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit.
Despite the sharp frost overnight migrant species like Silver Y are still occasionally putting in an appearance.
Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 1 Yellowhammer.
Monday 18th November 2019
An Owl pre daylight could not be relocated. Migrants on site almost non-existent although a couple of groups of Long-tailed Tit were noted. Passerines southbound 6 Goldfinch, 6 Linnet, 5 Skylark, 2 Wood Pigeon with northbound Redpoll & Siskin. Female Stonechat on the Butts could be the same as one last noted a couple of days back. 3 Purps & Rockit on the point. Offshore quiet with southbound 9 Common Gull, 8 Black-headed Gull, 7 Brent, 7 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, 2 Gannet & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Common Scoter, 4 Avocet, 3 Gannet, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Oyk & 2 Red-throats. Only 467 Cormorant counted as they seem to be leaving inland roosts and heading out to sea towards Orfordness at the moment and, consequently, we miss them.
First site record of Oak Rustic. This species was recorded in Britain for the first time 20 years ago and is slowly colonising northwards. It lives on Holm Oaks so this ridge should be home from home.
Ringing: Nil.
First site record of Oak Rustic. This species was recorded in Britain for the first time 20 years ago and is slowly colonising northwards. It lives on Holm Oaks so this ridge should be home from home.
Ringing: Nil.
Sunday 17th November 2019
New migrants hard to come by despite the flat calm conditions although yet another couple of marauding gangs of Long-tailed Tit passed through. On site a new Goldcrest & the loitering Chiffchaff. On the reserve Purp on the point but no reports of any Snow Bunting (unless you out there know different ?). Some vis mig in the form of southbound 35 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 7 Linnet, 4 Mipit & Bullfinch. Offshore heading south 6 Common Scoter, 3 Gannet, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck & Dunlin.
Ringing: 16 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Saturday 16th November 2019
With autumn grinding to a halt a fairly typical mid November selection of new migrants including 7 Chaffinch, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Fieldfare, Song Thrush & an early morning Hawfinch that did not loiter on site. Another 7 Long-tailed Tit passed through. 4 Snow Bunting, 2 Rock Pipit & Purp remained plus the lingering Chiffchaff. A few passerines were heading south including 42 Goldfinch, 9 Mipit & Siskin. Offshore southbound 20 Brent, 15 Teal, 6 Gannet, 5 Shelduck, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Tufted Duck & Common Scoter with northbound 5 Brent & 2 Red-throats.
Ringing: 7 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Friday 15th November 2019
Interesting under tail coverts on this Ring Ouzel which may suggest a different race although, as I am under the impression that, all previous British records of Turdus torquatus alpestris have been binned by the ornithological powers that be then investigations will have to continue. Handful of other migrants present including 6 Lapwing, 2 Fieldfare, Blackcap, Blackbird & Goldcrest plus 350 Starling & a Swallow in off the sea. Offshore interest was another Puffin hacking north not to far out plus a supporting cast of southbound 107 Brent, 68 Common Scoter, 47 Wigeon, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Shelduck, 3 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull & Gannet with northbound 43 Common Scoter, 27 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 10 Dunlin, 7 Gannet, Lesser Black-backed Gull & Red-throated Diver. At least 18 Gannet and a Bonxie were following shipping with the mass of big gulls. 3,500 Cormorants headed out to sea fishing mostly to the north of us which is a bit inconsiderate of them. On the reserve 4 Snow Bunting, 2 Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Rock Pipit plus a Chiffchaff that has been with us since November 3rd.
Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel.
Thursday 14th November 2019
Despite the torrential rain & south-easterly gale Suffolk's greatest ornithological spectacle didn't disappoint with at least 3,150 Cormorant heading out to sea fishing. Wind dropped & torrential rain turned into showers which allowed some birding but not a lot apparent in the migrant department with 2 Redwing & Woodcock the highlight. 6 Snow Bunting are on the beach. Offshore at least 2,500 Herring & 1,000 Great Black-backed Gulls giving a couple of Bonxies plenty of potential victims. Next to no offshore movements although a Great-northern Diver went north not to far out.
Light Brown Apple Moth is another Australian adventive first noted in this country in the 1930's and now noted almost all year round. It can be very common earlier in the season.
Ringing: nil
Light Brown Apple Moth is another Australian adventive first noted in this country in the 1930's and now noted almost all year round. It can be very common earlier in the season.
Ringing: nil
Wednesday 13th November 2019
Yet another 37 Long-tailed Tit passed through this morning. All autumn we have had no repeat offenders but two individuals with one of the flocks were originally ringed here back in October so have joined up with a different wandering flock. Otherwise migrants limited to 2 Chiffchaff plus new Blacky, Songie & Blue Tit plus yesterdays Goldcrest and Bullfinch from a couple of days back still here. Vis mig limited to southbound 54 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 5 Mipit & Siskin. 5 Snow Bunting still on the beach with 2 Purps, 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit by the point to keep the photographers entertained. 2,816 Cormorant went out to sea fishing with the conclusion being that there is a load of Herring out by the sand bars to fill them up on a daily basis.
Ringing: 20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Song Thrush.
Tuesday 12th November2019
In the absence of much else you are going to have to put up with Snow Bunt photos with 5 posing on the beach. 2,813 Cormorant went out to sea fishing more or less on mass which is a far more impressive sight but impossible to get them all in one photo. Otherwise an incredibly predictable morning with new migrants limited to a couple of new Blackies, Songie, Goldcrest & Robin plus the Bullfinch from a couple of days ago still with us. Vis mig confined to southbound 61 Goldfinch & 3 Chaffinch with offshore movements pathetic and confined to southbound 2 Brent & Red-throated Diver. 2,000 big gulls plus 4 Gannet following shipping might hold something more interesting but with the currant bun straight out in the morning its difficult to identify anything.
Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.
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