Saturday 15th June 2019

Southbound 52 Black-headed Gull, 15 Canada Geese, 4 Swallow, 4 Swift, 3 Curlew, 2 Fulmar, 2 Med Gull & Oyk. An adult Cuckoo consuming caterpillars will be an autumn migrant on its way to Africa as the bulk of them leave this country in the second half of June and early July. Yet another dispersing juvenile Coal Tit turned up suggesting that they have had a good breeding season somewhere.

Bactra robustana is a saltmarsh speciality that turns up here occasionally.

Ringing: 24 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Tit.

Friday 14th June 2019

Southbound 32 Curlew, 3 Teal, 2 Med Gull, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swift & Fulmar. A Reed Warbler sang briefly from in front of the observatory is the only grounded migrant.

Shore Wainscot is a nationally scarce species that has increased here in recent years coinciding with the spread of its food-plant, Marram, along the beach.

Ringing: 9 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch.

June Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 15th June 0930 hrs start. Usual arrangements on the Events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 13th June 2019

Windy with occasional showers making it feel more like an autumn day on the west coast. Southbound 19 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Gannet, 2 Shelduck, Med Gull, Redshank & Swallow with northbound 14 Gannet, 2 Common Scoter & Common Tern plus 2 Swift in off the sea. If there were any grounded migrants then we failed to notice them.

Garden Pebble is one of those species that we often get photos of sent in asking for help with identification. It can be common in gardens and will happily tuck into your vegetables.

Ringing: 2 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 1 House Sparrow.

Wednesday 12th June 2019

Not often we confirm Shelduck nesting as they quickly leg it with their young - just the one duckling in this pairs case. No grounded migrants. A couple of House Martin & Swallow went south. Offshore 5 Greylag & a Sandwich Tern went south plus 3 Little Tern were off the point. Sounds like not a lot happening but plenty of baby birds on the reserve to look through.

First Uncertain of the season appeared this morning.

Ringing: 11 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Robin, 1 House Sparrow.

Tuesday 11th June 2019

Very young juvenile Goldcrest was a surprise as there is only a couple of old June records for this species. As autumn Goldcrest movements don't begin until the end of August it is presumed that this bird was reared close nearby. The third Turtle Dove of the spring was another bonus although what a wandering Jay is doing here today is open to speculation. Good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies started to appear as the sun came out late morning.

Despite the far from ideal night for moths Aethes beatricella put in an appearance.

Ringing: 11 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest, 1 House Sparrow.

Monday 10th June 2019

Occasional drizzle then rain. Grounded migrants restricted to a Chiffchaff. Offshore 6 Curlew went south & 1 north plus 26 Swift came in off. Male Greenfinch at the north end had 2 youngsters with it is worth a mention.

Treble Brown-spot started to appear this morning - they can get common here in some years.

Ringing: 7 Linnet.

Sunday 9th June 2019

Baby Crows are out and about.

A couple of migrants passing through including 2 Swallow,  single Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher & Willow Warbler plus a couple more dispersing young Coal Tit and a Skylark. Two groups of Canada Geese totalling 38 went south for some reason. The first Clouded Yellow butterfly of the season on the beach is slightly earlier than expected.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth now getting on the wing.

Ringing: 7 Linnet, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Blackcap ringed 9 km away at Levington 24th June 2018 was retrapped on spring passage at Landguard on 9th May 2019. An adult Common Gull ringed at Landguard on 27th January 1996, that was retrapped at a nesting colony 564 km away at Eidersperrwerk, Aussendeich, Germany on 31st May 2010 has now been found dead (leg & ring only) 1979 km away at Putkisalonsaari, Rantasalmi, Mikkeli, Finland on 23rd May 2019. Not only would it have been at least 26 years old but it changed its nesting colony to a site farther east for some reason.