Saturday 19th September 2020

Another blustery day of easterly winds but clear, sunny and warm in sheltered spots.

The bushes were a bit more lively this morning, with 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redstarts, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a few more Blue Tits than usual. Out on the reserve 2 Wheatears were by the Tank Blocks and 2 Turnstones were on the Jetty. Vis-Mig was poor but 13 Siskins passed overhead.

On the sea a Shelduck, 6 Brent and 28 Wigeon headed south, while a Great Crested Grebe and 2 Golden Plover headed north.

Lunar Underwing has just started to appear in recent days and can be common in some autumns

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 1 Wren 

Friday 18th September 2020

 A clear day with strong easterly winds, with a bit of movement on the sea.

It was a little quiet in the bushes with a few Chiffchaffs, a couple of Redstarts, a few Tits and a single Siskin. A single Grey Wagtail dropped into the Heligoland Pond late morning but vis mig was limited with only a Meadow Pipit obviously passing overhead.

On the sea, 66 Teal, 26 Wigeon, 21 Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 3 Little Gulls and 2 Arctic Skuas headed south and a few Terns and a couple of Common Scoter heading north.

The Sallow is one of the better looking autumnal species that exists here at a low population density.  

Ringing: 3 Robin, 1 Blue tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Redstart, 1 Siskin

Thursday 17th September 2020

A north easterly blow this morning with a good seawatch.

The highlight of the morning was a close Manx Shearwater, well inside of the red buoy as is sheared north. There was also a good movement of duck with 166 Teal, 110 Wigeon, 21 Common Scoter, a Gadwall and 17 Brent Goose. Also on the move were 2 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 3 Red-throated Divers.

On the reserve a Hobby, a juv Kestrel and 4 Lapwing came in off the sea. A female Pheasant was by the practice Guns and there were two Redstart in the scrub. A third Redstart was in the Observatory, along with 4 Chiffchaffs. A single Sand Martin passed over head and 7 Meadow Pipits headed south.

The Scarce Bordered Straw is an immigrant that is a pest species in its natal areas. 

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Redstart

Wednesday 16th September 2017

Grounded migrants included 15 Chiffchaff, 9 Mipit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Siskin, 2 Wheatear, Chaffinch, Sand Martin, Skylark, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone & Whitethroat. On the move southbound 20 Teal, 5 Mipit, 4 Grey Wag, 2 Gannet, Sandwich Tern & Yellow Wag with northbound 9 Mipit, 5 Swallow, 2 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern & Merlin.

Canary-shouldered Thorn is less than of annual occurrence here.

Ringing: 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 15th September 2020

 

A Western Conifer Seed Bug, one of two in the trap this morning. After being accidentally introduced to the Europe from the North America in 1999 it has spread rapidly in the period after 2008 and is now well established in the south.

A light easterly breeze which slowly picked up throughout the morning. 

There was only a scattering of birds around this morning with the majority of birds being out on the reserve including 2 Wheatears and a Black Redstart out on the beach bushes and two Tree Sparrows were on the Point. A group of 4 Turnstone were on the Jetty.

A single Lesser Redpoll was flying around before being ringed at the Obs. A Mistle Thrush dropped into the Holm Oaks briefly, before heading off north and a Yellow Wagtail headed south.

Knot Grass have been scarce this year, with this one late in the season for us.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Lesser Whitethroat

Monday 14th September 2020

 

A humid, warm and clear morning with a light westerly breeze, turning more easterly throughout the morning.

There was a limited vis-mig, a group of 5 Grey Wagtails heading south first thing, along with 5 Meadow Pipits, 43 Swallows, 3 Siskin and a Yellow Wagtails.

The bushes were reasonably quiet but there were the expected migrants including, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and another Great Spotted Woodpecker. A single Wheatear was on the Reserve.

On the Sea a Greylag Goose headed south, a Whimbrel headed north and a Hobby came in off.

Another addition to the site list this morning, presumably an immigrant, the Large Thorn is a species not recorded in Suffolk for five years.

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren

Sunday 13th September 2020

2 Spoonbill high south at 0640 hrs is a good Landguard record, although with numbers increasing in East Anglia we expect to see more over time. Also southbound 78 House Martin, 57 Swallow, 44 Mipit, 40 Siskin, 9 Teal, 7 Black-headed Gull, 3 Oyk, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Shelduck, Heron, Mute Swan (above) & Yellow Wag. Grounded migrants thin on the ground included 2 Blackcap, Chaffinch, Whitethroat & Willow Warbler.

Nephopterix angustella inhabits Spindle so is infrequent with us.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Willow Warbler.