Saturday 3rd October 2020

Fall conditions this morning with a steady drizzle or rain lasting most of the morning but with a few brief dry periods.

As expected there were large numbers of Song Thrush and Robins littering the Fort and the Reserve with many coming in off the sea after sunrise. There was also a good movement of Brent and a decent bit of vis-mig.

An estimated total of 120 Song Thrush were moving through Landguard along with at least 150 Robins. Also joining them some of the more expected migrants including at least 40 Blackcap, 25 Blackbirds, 20 Goldcrest, 15 Redwing, 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Wheatear, 5 Brambling, 4 Redstarts, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Whitethroat, Golden Plover, Mistle Thrush, a Tree Sparrow a Garden Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Reed Bunting. A group of 5 Lapwing and a Golden Plover were grounded on the beach and 2 Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe were in the beach vegetation.  44 Skylark came in off the sea and south also 31 Swallow & 17 Siskin south. There were also 6 Turnstone on the Jetty.

There were also a few Rarities found including a flyover Great Snipe which headed straight over the Obs and a Richard's Pipit seen by one lucky observer out on the reserve. Scarcities included 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in the Poplars behind the Obs and a Shorelark out on the Reserve. Red-breasted Fly & only the ninth site record of Dartford Warbler were found in the afternoon.

Out on the sea 4274 Brent passed by this morning along with 356 Wigeon, 104 Teal, 46 Common Scoter, 39 Pintail, 10 Pochard, 3 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall. Also on the move were 6 Grey Herons, a Redshank, a Common Tern, Green Sand, 2 Sandwich Terns and 21 Gannets.

Ringing: 81 Robin, 19 Goldcrest, 18 Blackcap, 7 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wren, 2 Redstart, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.

Friday 2nd October 2020

A sleepy Shag on the Jetty

A strong south-easterly gale with drizzle throughout. As expected much of the interest was limited to the sea.

In the bushes were a couple of Blackcap, a Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. A single Wheatear was on the Reserve. A Lapwing was on the Beach and a Shag, 2 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper were on the Jetty. There was a little vis-mig with 42 Swallows and 2 House Martins heading south.

On the sea there was a good movement of Brent Geese with 2145 passing south this morning, also heading southbound were 465 Wigeon, 235 Teal, 53 Pintail, 2 Shelduck and a Red-breasted Merganser.  There was also a good selection of Arctic Skua, with 7 heading north and 2 passing south. Heading northbound were 16 Gannets, 3 Common Scoter and 3 Sandwich Terns.

Red-Green Carpet is noted most Octobers in small numbers

Ringing: 2 Blackcap

Thursday 1st October 2020

 

An overcast, chilly day with heavy overnight rain.

Yesterdays Mistle Thrush was still out on the Reserve, while there were a few Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs,  Goldcrests and a Garden Warbler in the bushes. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the bushes along the front of the Obs and 4 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks. A Snipe was flushed from the beach vegetation and a Rock Pipit and 5 Turnstones were on the Jetty.

There was a bit of vis-mig with 618 Siskin, 10 Redpoll, 4 Chaffinch, 19 House Martins, 15 Swallows, 16 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtails all heading south. A Mute Swan headed out to Sea and a Hobby and 2 Peregrines passed over the Port. Offshore, 14 Wigeon, 5 Brent Geese and a Curlew headed south and 3 Gadwall headed north.

Beaded Chestnut is an autumnal flyer that we get in small numbers.

Ringing: 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

September Ringing Total

405 birds of 34 species ringed. Worth a mention are the Lesser Redpoll number which is larger than the entire total for last year.

Wednesday 30th September 2020

Selection of standard late September migrants with southbound 74 Goldfinch, 45 Swallow, 41 Siskin, 34 Redpoll, 27 Mipit, 23 Chaffinch, 9 Wigeon, 5 Brent, 3 Pied Wag, 3 Skylark, 2 Common Gull, 2 Oyk, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Teal, Brambling, Red-throated Diver & Yellow Wag plus an Arctic Skua that went into the river. Grounded migrants included 8 Chiffchaff, 8 Song Thrush, 6 Blackcap, 6 Mipit, 6 Turnstone, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Redwing, 2 Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, Rock Pipit & Spot Fly.

Deep-brown Dart has started appearing in recent days in characteristically low numbers.

Ringing: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Dunnock, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 29th September 2020

The 11th Cetti's Warbler at Landguard

 A still, calm morning with a bit of drizzle in late morning, led to good conditions for a good day of ringing at the Obs.

In the bushes this morning were 20 Chiffchaffs, 10 Song Thrush, 4 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Cetti's Warbler, which is only the 11th site record. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Brambling briefly dropped in. 

There was a reasonable movement of migrants overhead with, 76 Meadow Pipits, 73 Siskin, 45 Redpoll, 32 Goldfinch, 23 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 19 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, a Grey Heron and a single Little Egret which passed south and then north.

On the sea a male Eider headed and 2 Common Scoter headed north and a Brent headed south. There were also 4 Turnstone on the Jetty.

Four-spotted Footman is a nationally scarce species only noted here in four previous years with examples, such as this, probably immigrants.

Ringing: 23 Lesser Redpoll, 14 Meadow Pipits, 13 Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Song Thrush

Monday 28th September 2020

 A drop in the wind, with overcast conditions led to a nice number of Robins and Song Thrush present around the site. A Yellow-Browed Warbler was the highlight of the day after appearing late afternoon in the Sycamores. 

Also in the bushes were a couple of Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs and at least 5 Redstarts, which were spread out over the reserve. A Snipe was roosting in the beach vegetation and 4 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks. A Purple Sandpiper and a Rock Pipit were on the Jetty and a Golden Plover, 2 Lapwing, 14 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin were on the Beach.  

There was a bit of vis-mig, with some finches on the move including 52 Siskins, 37 Redpolls, 15 Goldfinch and a Chaffinch. Also passing over were 12 Redwings and 4 Grey Wagtails.  A Peregrine was in hot pursuit of 2 Teal which headed out over the Obs although its attempt ended in failure.

Moving on the sea were a good number of Gannets with 30 heading north along with 16 Brent Geese, 55 Common Scoter and a Guillemot. Heading south were 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Redshank 19 Wigeon, 8 Teal and 2 Red-throated Divers.

Moth diversity has plummeted. Black Rustic is a regular in low numbers at this time of year.

Ringing: 14 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Redstart, 1 Blackcap, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush

Sunday 27th September 2020

Grotty weather brought the first Redwings, Brambling & Rockit of the autumn plus a small arrival of Songies most of whom moved inland quite quickly. Todays list includes 20 Song Thrush, 16 Redwing, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Rock Pipit, Blackcap, Black Red, Brambling, Lapland Bunting, Purple Sandpiper, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit & Wheatear. On the move either south or in off 45 Siskin, 15 Mipit & Hobby. Offshore southbound 24 Wigeon, 8 Brent, 4 Gannet, 3 Teal, Arctic Skua & Dunlin with northbound 13 Brent, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Turnstone, Knot & Wigeon.

A colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull probably originating from Germany was a notable sighting.

Ringing: 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff.