Saturday 15th August 2020

After late overnight and early morning rain & drizzle there was a welcome "fall" of at least 22 Pied Flycatcher with a supporting cast of 6 Willow Warbler, 4 Whinchat, 3 Lesser 'throat, 3 Snipe, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Nightingale & Spot Fly plus only the 12th LBO site record of a Wood Sandpiper that flew inland. Offshore southbound 92 Oyk, 42 Teal, 20 Gannet, 19 Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Scoter, 6 Bonxie, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 2 Little Gull, 2 Redshank, 2 Sandwich Tern,  Common Sand, Heron, Kittiwake, Pom Skua & Whimbrel with northbound 36 Common Tern, 21 Gannet, 6 Oyk, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Sandwich Tern & Arctic Skua plus up to 25 Sandwich Tern & 4 Gannet feeding offshore. The usual Black Red is still with us. 

To put the Pied Fly's in context the only day counts we have above 15 birds are of 25 on the 15th August 1984 & 27th August 1985 back in the "good old days" when they were much commoner.

You lot have seen enough pretty migrant moths on this blog lately so here is Aroga velocella, that lives on Sheep Sorrel, which double broods and can be here in good numbers in August.

Ringing: 18 Pied Flycatcher, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Willow Warbler.

Friday 14th August 2020

 Overcast and cooler, with some heavy showers before and after first light.

In the bushes were 4 Willow Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher. Out on the reserve 2 Black Redstarts were just in front of the Observatory and a Wheatear was out by the Tank Blocks.

On the sea 22 Sandwich Terns, 11 Common Terns, a Little Tern and an Arctic Skua headed north and 3 Common Scoter headed south.

The Migratory Palpita vitrealis has been turning up in recent weeks whereas in previous years most sightings are later in the autumn.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Robin

Thursday 13th August 2020

A gusty start to the morning before becoming as hot and humid as it has been the past few days.

There was only a little movement through the fort bushes this morning, with 3 Willow Warblers and a dispersing Great Spotted Woodpecker being the only migrants. Out on the Reserve a Tree Sparrow dropped in with a group of Linnets, 2 Wheatears and a Black Redstart were out by Tank Blocks and a Yellow Wagtail was with the 41 Pied Wagtails on the lawn.

There was a bit of movement on the sea with 20 Sandwich terns heading north, 6 Teal, 6 Shelduck and 3 Whimbrel headed south.

Despite the dry weather it seems that 5 Stinking Goosefoot plants have managed to pop up near the Butts although they could probably do with some of the rain forecast over the next few days.

The moth traps were again busy this morning with a Beautiful Marble and a Golden Twin-spot, a decent migrant amongst the many moths in the trap this morning!

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Wheatear

Wednesday 12th August 2020

The hot spell continues. Migrants include 4 Wheatear, 2 Pied Fly, 2 Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat & Whinchat. At least 33 Pied Wagtail feeding on site is worth a mention. 

Rest Harrow is a Red Data Book species that appears to have colonised the site in recent years. Also worth a mention in bust traps is the Cosmopolitan as the only previous few records of this species have been at the end of October/early November.

Ringing: 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Blue Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 11th August 2020

A hazy hot morning with the temperature not dipping below 21°C last night.

The overcast conditions seemed to have allowed a few migrants to drift in, including 2 juvenile male Pied Flycatchers and 3 Willow Warbler in the bushes. On the reserve, 3 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks. There was also a bit of local dispersal with 2 juvenile Coal Tits and a Sparrowhawk finding the nets.

There was little moving on the sea, except for 22 Teal heading out of the river and a Redshank and Gannet heading north.

A busy night in the moth trap with not one but two Dusky Thorns, which are the first and second site records!

Ringing: 4 Linnet, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Willow Warbler

Monday 10th August 2020

 

A hot humid morning with little movement on the land. 

A Nightingale was seen briefly behind the Heligoland this morning and a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were in the bushes. Out on the reserve 2 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks and an adult Golden Plover was on the green.

There was a bit of movement through the heat haze on the sea. A Kestrel came in off, a Whimbrel, 3 Gadwal and 24 Sandwich Terns headed north and 20 Teal, 3 Common Terns and a Fulmar headed south.

This Oak Processionary looks like it has migrated in from the continent. 

Ringing: 5 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch

Sunday 9th August 2020

The first Pied Fly & Tree Pipit of the autumn with a supporting cast of just 2 Swallow and a Willow Warbler plus the regular Black Redstart. Offshore 5 Gannet went north.

Moth traps much more sensible in terms of numbers this morning after yesterdays bumper catch. Cydia splendana wanders down here occasionally. 

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Pied Flycatcher.