Monday 27th April 2020

An early Wood Warbler, now a scarce spring migrant

A light south west wind this morning, with a bit of cloud led to the hope of some good migrants and it didn't disappoint! A good passage of birds overhead included southbound 67 Goldfinch, 32 Swallows, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, Marsh Harrier, Swift & Woodlark. A Red-Rump Swallow passed over at 0950 with a group of Swallows and a Little Egret passed over the dock early afternoon.

The bushes were just as busy, with a Reed Warbler singing away by the Heligoland at first light. Also present were at least 6 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers & Garden Warbler. The star of the show was a smart early Wood Warbler which appeared in one of the mist nets mid-morning and is now a very scarce spring migrant. LBO only has two previous April records on the 24th in 1988 & 30th in 2005. A new Jay was also trapped, they seem to be a bit like buses.

In the middle of the Reserve a Ringed Plover was found sitting on 3 eggs well outside the areas fenced off for them. There were 8 Wheatears by the Tank Blocks and a Yellow Wagtail and a White Wagtail were in with the Pied Wagtails on the lawn.
On the sea 25 Greylag Geese, a Common Tern, a Fulmar and a Shag headed north and 2 Curlew headed south.

A Waved Umber was a pleasant find in the Moth Trap this morning. Its less than annual here despite its food plant, Privet, being common all over the site.

Ringing: 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Linnet, 1 Jay, 1 Wood Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren