Saturday 17th August 2019

A wet and wild night, a sharp shower early this morning and a rising westerly breeze put a dampener on all things avian today, but our litter pickers still managed to spot the comings and goings. Southbound were 3 Common Scoter, 12 Common Tern, 3 Curlew, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 15 Swift, 2 Tree Pipit and 1 Yellow-legged Gull. Northbound there were 2 Common Tern and 1 Gannet. On site Willow Warblers held steady at 7 birds counted with a single Chiffchaff for good measure.

Although Vines Rustic is very common nowadays, it is easy to forget that it only colonised the UK just 70 years ago!

Ringing: 2 Wren, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin, 1 House Sparrow. 

Friday 16th August 2019

While initially calm and cloudy the wind steadily picked up from the south-west, with the rain just about starting at midday. Despite this plenty of birds were on the move south including 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Cormorant (with another 14 moving west inland), 20 Dunlin, 1 Gannet, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Grey Plover, 3 House Martin, 12 Knot, 8 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 4 Sandwich Tern, 1 Swallow, 1 Swift, 13 Teal, 19 Turnstone and a single Whimbrel. North movers were 3 Dunlin, 8 Gannet and 4 Sandwich Tern. Greenshank and Common Sandpiper were also heard going over. On the reserve it was very much as-you-were with 10 Willow Warbler and 4 Wheatear the main migrants, and a Hobby and female Sparrowhawk putting on good shows. Yesterday we had an estimated 1500 Starlings present across the reserve, but today we were down to a meagre 38!

Setaceous Hebrew Character is the most frequent moth found in the traps at the moment.

Ringing: Willow Warbler 8, Linnet 5, Goldfinch 2, Whitethroat 2, Greenfinch 1, Robin 1, House Sparrow 1, Woodpigeon 1.

August Litter Pick!

Our August Litter Pick will be this Saturday the 17th of August starting at 09:30am at the south end of the reserve. Further information is on the website https://www.lbo.org.uk/events/ - See you there!

Thursday 15th August 2019

Up to eight Pied Wagtail were feeding out on the reserve.

A westerly wind persisted all day but at least the rain held off in the end. Early on there was a Hobby breakfasting on the local Linnets. Southbound we had 38 Swift, 4 Swallow, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Curlew and 2 Whimbrel. Other migrants on site were 8 Willow Warbler, 5 Wheatear and a Skylark.

Beautiful Plume is a commonly encountered plume moth, the caterpillars feeding on a wide range of plants.

Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Blackbird, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Blue Tit

Wednesday 14th August 2019

Ruddy Darter occasionally puts in an appearance.

Southbound 7 Teal, 5 Oyk, 3 Swallow, 3 Turnstone, 2 Whimbrel, Common Gull., Common Tern, Grey Plover, Hobby & Redshank with northbound Arctic Tern,  Common Tern, Sandwich Tern. On site migrants included 15 Willow Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Yellow Wag, Chiffchaff & Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Cochylimorpha straminea reappeared after a gap of 10 years since the previous one.

Ringing: 7 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 13th August 2019

A breezy and sunny day reduced the ringing totals compared to yesterday but there were some good birds on the move nevertheless, including an Osprey moving south offshore, a Serin in at the north end of the reserve, and a Yellow Wagtail down at the south end. 4 Sand Martin, 10 Swift and 5 Swallow were all southbound along with 3 Common Tern, 3 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Cormorant. Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Redshank and Curlew were also heading south, but 4 Common Scoter and a Fulmar were the only north movers.On site there were Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers, plus the flock of 8 Greenfinch noted yesterday.

Treble-bar can be an abundant moth but is at a low ebb this year. This is despite its foodplant, St John's-wort, being very common on the reserve.

Ringing: 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Robin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 House Sparrow.

Monday 12th August 2019

The wind over the past few days has finally died down allowing for some movement of birds into the area. Star bird on site was this Wood Warbler (pictured above); in the past these were caught annually, but are much less frequent nowadays. There was a supporting cast of Reed, Sedge and Willow Warbler, with 8 Greenfinch and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Tree Sparrow on site. A Nightingale and a Song Thrush are both still on site. A single Swallow and 7 Sand Martins were southbound, along with 2 Sandwich Tern and three Oystercatcher. Wader action came in the form of 8 Ringed Plover and 3 Redshank. A Peregrine was seen over the docks and will probably be keeping a hungry eye on the flock of 15 Feral Pigeons.

Yellow Shell is a day flying moth that occasionally goes in the traps. Migrant Hawker was the only dragonfly of note.

Ringing: 13 Linnet, 10 Willow Warbler, 7 Greenfinch, 3 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wood Warbler.

Sunday 11th August 2019

Yesterdays gale has abated to strong wind but birding still hard work. Offshore 5 Turnstone & Sanderling battled south. On the beach 5 Dunlin plus a couple of non local Ringed plover. On site 4 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Nightingale, Sedge Warbler, Sparrowhawk & Wheatear.

Hunt the moth in the traps due to wind although this Oak Processionary did manage to find us regardless.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Nightingale.