Saturday 18th July 2020

Another warm muggy day with a light westerly breeze.

There were a couple of notable birds in the bushes, a juvenile Nightingale and a adult female Goldcrest were ringed this morning. The Goldcrest is particularly interesting as it is only the second July record and the first since the 13th 1991.

There was another movement of Black-headed Gulls on the sea with 189 heading south this morning along with 13 Curlew, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone, 2 Great Crested Grebes,  3 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

The first site record of the Nationally Scarce Hollyhock Seed Moth was in the traps yesterday, with another appearing this morning allowing us to get its photo!

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Nightingale, Wood Pigeon, 1 Wren

Friday 17th July 2020

A humid and warm day with the first scattering of juvenile southbound migrants in the nets.

 A juv Willow Warbler and a juv Reed Warbler were a change from the normal local juveniles which are dispersing around the Observatory at this time of year. The Willow Warbler is at the early end of the records, with a few having arrived on the 16th in previous years.

Also in the bushes were a few Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff. The Black Redstart was again in its favoured spot before heading over to the tanks blocks. There was also a small movement of hirundines late in the morning with 9 Swallows and 8 Sand Martins heading south, along with 4 Swifts.

On the sea 167 Black-headed Gulls cruised south along with a Whimbrel and a Dunlin. A few Common and Sandwich Terns were again feeding offshore.

The Moth Traps have got back to what they should be like in July, both in terms of numbers and variety. Another site speciality which can be found at Landguard is the Nationally Scarce Anerastia lotella.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler

Thursday 16th July 2020

An overcast day with a bit of movement on the sea.

Heading south were 156 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Curlew, 5 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel and 2 Redshank. A group of Common Terns were feeding offshore with a few Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern.

On the Land 109 Swifts, 16 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows headed south overhead. The Black Redstart was again in its favoured spot in front of the Observatory. A Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were the only two obvious migrants in the bushes.

The Box-Tree Moth is an adventive species noted here for the first time last year, and no doubt, coming to a moth trap near you soon.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff

Wednesday 15th July 2020

Skipper numbers have been poor this year so far.

Predictably quiet. Southbound 33 Black-headed Gull, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Swallow, Curlew & Stock Dove. Good to find a Collared Dove nest as the numbers have plummeted here this year possibly due to the fact that Mr Peregrine is partial to them. At least one Black Redstart is still with us.

The Festoon is a Nationally Scarce species that we are lucky to see once or twice a year.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 14th July 2020

Baby Herring Gulls on the museum roof.

Heavy rain before first light with miserable drizzle up to 8am.

A loud kerfuffle from the blackbirds in one of the Holm Oak this morning turned out to be a Cuckoo, trying its best to shelter from the worst of the weather. Apart from this, it was rather quiet with a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap being the only other birds in the bushes.

Once the visibility on the sea had got better a Redshank and a Whimbrel headed south and 9 Common Terns and 2 Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore.

The first Rosy Minor of the year was in the trap this morning although its only caught here in small numbers.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wren

Monday 13th July 2020

A warm, if slightly breezy day with the weather feeling much more like summer than it has in recent weeks.

There was a bit of movement on the sea, with 268 Black-headed Gulls, 34 Common Scoter, 18 Curlew, 13 Oystercatcher, 4 Dunlin and 3 Whimbrel and 3 Common Terns and a Grey Heron headed south and  3 Sandwich Tern and 6 Shelduck headed north.

A Yellow Wagtail and 2 Meadow Pipits were on the lawn with the Pied Wagtails. The Black Redstart was also in the usual spot in front of the observatory briefly this morning.  A group 18 Crossbills, passed over this morning, the first for a few days, and a small passage of 25 Swift, 5 Swallow, 2 Siskin and a Sand Martin headed south.

Walking around the reserve I noticed this worn Lamoria zelleri, a Nationally Scarce species that, rather confusingly, has had three scientific name changes in recent years. Make your mind up!

 Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Herring Gull, 2 House Sparrow, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin, 1 Wren

Sunday 12th July 2020

Young fox drinking at the pond.

Very little visible movements with southbound 22 Swift, 10 Black-headed Gull, 2 Sand Martin, Curlew, Heron & Whimbrel plus 10 Shelduck out then north quite possibly off to their moulting grounds in the Waddenzee. On site dispersing juveniles including 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap & Black Redstart.

The Magpie is apparently a common and widespread species but barely noted once a year here.

Ringing: 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.