Saturday 18th May 2019

Fog and overcast with no wind clearing to give unbroken sunshine. A selection of typical mid-May migrants including 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin, Wheatear & Willow Warbler. Heading south 13 Swallow & 5 Goldfinch, northbound 3 Common Tern & Redshank plus heading inland 2 Grey Plover.

Moth traps finally starting to pick up in terms of both numbers & variety including Pebble Prominent.

Ringing: 4 Linnet, 2 Starling, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

Friday 17th May 2019

For some unknown reason the Collared Dove population may have declined to just one pair this year.

Cool north-easterly wind. Migrants almost non-existent although worth a mention are a Wheatear plus 3 male Blackcaps singing their little hearts out as they attempt to find a partner (Blackcap has only bred here once in the past but we see no reason why they shouldn't nest here regularly). Offshore northbound 19 Common Tern, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, Black Tern & Whimbrel with southbound 10 Common Scoter.

Treble Lines is only an occasional visitor to our traps.

Ringing: 1 Greenfinch, 1 Starling, (worth mentioning that this is the first Greenfinch ringed this year whereas in the mid-1980's we were ringing 2,500 per year).

May Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 18th May 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk or via the Home Page above.

Thursday 16th May 2019

Brown Argus started coming out in numbers yesterday afternoon.

Today's migrants are 2 Blackcap, 2 Whimbrel, Chiffchaff, female Whinchat & a new Lesser 'throat. Heading north 9 Oyk, 5 Swallow, 4 Carrion Crow & 2 Greylag with southbound 7 Black-headed Gull, 3 Goldfinch & Swallow. Otherwise its down to those that live here and attempt to breed. Worth pointing out that Whinchat have had a slightly better spring this year as numbers recorded at this season have been in decline.

Ringing: 7 Starling, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Wednesday 15th May 2019

Following last weeks rain its worth a visit for the botany including some large patches of Ramping Fumitory in all its glory.

Migrants include single Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler plus southbound 15 Swallow. Offshore northbound 11 Gannet, 9 Common Tern, Common Scoter, Kittiwake & Sandwich Tern with southbound 2 Little Tern, Common Scoter & Gannet.

Occasional Nutmeg in the traps with moth variety still very low with the prevailing weather conditions.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock.

Tuesday 14th May 2019

Green Hairstreak are now out in their preferred locations.

Hard work. On the move northbound 3 Common Scoter, 2 Brent & 2 Common Tern with southbound 55 Common Scoter, 20 Swallow & 2 Common Tern. Stack of gulls offshore high tide time plus 26 Common & 4 Little Tern. 2 Sanderling were on the beach. Migrant passerines consist of a couple of Blackcap & a new Lesser 'throat.

First White-point of the year. 30 years ago it was an immigrant but it is now well established.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Monday 13th May 2019

Did worn you that baby Starlings are now out to play and with the lack of migrants then one has to be content with little rewards. On site 2 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, Mipit & Willow Warbler plus southbound 48 Swallow & 2 Yellow Wag with northbound single House Martin and Swallow. Offshore northbound 20 Common Scoter, 8 Carrion Crow, 4 Brent, 3 Mute Swan & Whimbrel plus 4 Little Egret that flew up river. Getting to the stage where the local Lesser 'throats & Whitethroats are on territory so they might not feature daily in this report unless migrants show up.

Flame Shoulder occurs in a wide variety of habitats over a wide area but only in small numbers here.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Willow Warbler.

Sunday 12th May 2019

Petering down to a trickle of migrants. Present 5 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, Chiffchaff & Whinchat. Offshore movements negligible although worth a mention was 250 assorted seagulls, 18 Common Tern & 2 Little Tern feeding off the point first thing. You will be pleased to hear that the first baby Starlings are now out following their parents.

Moth traps remain poor but when one is scrapping the ice from the windscreen in order to come down here early morning its not difficult to work out why. The first Heart & Dart are, however, showing up in recent days.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat.