Friday 17th January 2020

Having been devoid of Cormorants in recent days it was good to get 1,250 heading out fishing early on as withdrawal symptoms were starting to set in. Working out what they are up to has always been fraught with speculation and hypothesis - but I am sure they know what they are doing even if we don't. An hour starring out produced southbound 4 Shelduck, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, drake Goosander, Mallard plus a dozen Kitts amongst the gulls. The 2 confiding Snow Bunting were on the strand-line near the point, female Stonechat on the Butts & a flock of 24 Linnet put in an appearance.

Thursday 16th January 2020

New burger advert on the horizon first thing.

2 Snow Bunting & at least 1 Purple Sand at the point. Next to nothing moving. 72 Cormorant heading out + 51 north is better than for several days. Southbound 11 Black-headed Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver & 2 Shelduck with northbound 3 Brent, 2 Red-throats & Shelduck. Song Thrush singing is worth a mention as is a single Linnet.

Wednesday 15th January 2020

This morning it has rained. Offshore southbound 7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck & Common Scoter with northbound 1 Oyk. If there is anything out there on the reserve then nil enthusiasm to go and find it. All a bit Desperate Dan ! A brave hero has just nipped to the point and noted 2 Purps, 2 Snow Bunting & Rock Pipit so there is life out there.

Tuesday 13th January 2020

Birdwise grim & tedious apart from plenty of seagulls to search through. A dozen Red-throated Diver & 2 Great-crested Grebe offshore but absolutely nothing moving. A visit into the Mine Station revealed 39 hibernating Peacock butterflies and a Herald Moth. In the observatory cellar we had 7 hibernating Peacock butterflies but are down to 6 this morning so one may now be on the inside of a spider.

SEASONAL WARDEN REQUIRED

SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY

Applicants need to be competent birdwatchers and have a BTO bird ringing ‘C’ permit with a mist net endorsement as a minimum requirement. An interest in other aspects of natural history and biological recording is also needed.

The position runs from Mid-March until mid-November 2020. A job description is available on request. If you require any specifics, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk

BIRD OBSERVATORIES COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Bird Observatories council annual newsletter now available hopefully via this link :

BOC News - Edition 6

Monday 13th January 2020

Just short of 3,000 seagulls this morning gives one plenty to look through. 6 Med Gulls is the best on offer. A walk around the entire site was very poor with even several of the regulars missing and the only highlight being 2 male Peregrine having a verbal & physical altercation high over Manor Terrace car park.

2019 ANNUAL REPORTS, UPDATED SYSTEMATIC LISTS & RINGING TOTALS

The 2019 Annual Reports for Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Mammals, Moths & Miscellaneous records are now on www.lbo.org.uk under Archive :

https://www.lbo.org.uk/lbo-archive/

Updated Species lists for many groups are also on www.lbo.org.uk under Systematic Lists :

https://www.lbo.org.uk/systematic-lists/

Ringing totals, lists & an updated Ringing Recoveries report are on www.lbo.org.uk under Ringing Totals :

https://www.lbo.org.uk/ringing-totals/

Sunday 12th January 2020

Breezy to start with gusting Force 8 by late morning. Definite increase in gull activity in the harbour & offshore with estimates of 1,400 Herring, 400 Great Black-backs, 120 Black-heads, 120 Common, 30 Kitts (including a couple of first-winters) & 2 Meds at least but when they are all flying around at once working out proportions is not easy. Offshore southbound 9 Red-throated Diver, 8 Brent, 5 Wigeon & Guillemot with northbound Common Scoter & Gannet. No enthusiasm to check the point in this wind with all the sea spray so if anyone out there in blog reading land sees anything of note please let us know and it can be added to the log later.