Saturday 27th March 2021

Common Gulls

 A similar day to yesterday with plenty of sunshine and a brisk wind which had moved round more into the west; there was a similar array of birds as well (minus the Gannets!) which included 3 Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff, 3 Common Scoters, 2 Goldcrests, 8 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 3 Knot, an increase to 80+ Linnets, 3 Meadow Pipits, the pair of Pheasants, 2 Siskins and a nice arrival of 6 Wheatears.

Ringing: Chaffinch 1

Friday 26th March 2021

Sanderling

 A breezy day with a few showers in the afternoon; the main feature of the morning was a good northerly movement of 266 Gannets while also at sea 9 Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoter, 4 Dunlin, a Kittiwake and 27 Red-throated Divers were noted.   It was quieter on the land through the breezy, sunny morning but birds did include a Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Goldfinch, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Wheatears and the cock Pheasant which has somehow found a lady!

Ringing: Goldcrest 1, Carrion Crow 1

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Robin ringed Landguard 13th October 2019 was a road casualty 37 km away at Fordham, Colchester, Essex 9th February 2021.

Blackbird ringed Landguard 14th October 2020 killed by a Sparrowhawk 4km away over the estuary at Harwich 11th March 2021.

Goldcrest ringed Begijnendijk, Brabant, Belgium 16th October 2020 retrapped four days later 260 km away at Landguard 20th October 2020.

Robin ringed Landguard 13th October 2019 retrapped 410 km away at Eemshaven, Groningen, The Netherlands 25th March 2021 which is only yesterday demonstrating how quick the data can get through if submitted when caught !

Thursday 25th March 2021

Wheatear

 A glorious morning, sunny and calm but clouding over in the afternoon with the increasing SW wind; a quiet day was enlivened by the highlights of a Common Crane which flew NE over the port, over the town and tracked to when it flew north across the River Deben and the first Wheatear of the year on the point - always a wonderful moment!   

Other little bits included 3 Bar-tailed Godwits south, single Redwing and Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrests, 7 Goldfinch, a Bullfinch, 4 Jackdaws, the cock Pheasant wandering around, a Robin, a Rock Pipit, a Sparrowhawk, a Yellowhammer south and a Woodcock.

Ringing: Blackbird 2, Redwing 1, Goldcrest 1, Dunnock 1

Wednesday 24th March 2021

Buzzard

 Another bright, calm start, slightly degenerating into a grey day with an increasing, chilly WSW breeze; there were a few grounded migrants in the compound comprising the first Blackcap of the year, 9 Chiffchaffs and 4 Goldcrests.   A nice selection of other birds included 3 Chaffinches, a Curlew north at sea, a Merlin having her breakfast on the beach at dawn, a Red-breasted Merganser south and a Goosander north, 9 Redwing, a Marsh Harrier in off, 5 Rook south, 2 Siskin, 2 Skylark, a Sparrowhawk south and a Buzzard circling the area late morning.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 7, Goldcrest 4, Blackcap 1, Linnet 1, Goldfinch 1

Tuesday 23rd March 2021

Chiffchaff complete with 'pollen horns' (these are encrusted pollen deposits, picked up whilst foraging for insects or pollen in Eucalyptus or Citrus flowers on their wintering grounds or passage areas around the Mediterranean)

 Calm and sunny first thing but it then clouded over for a few hours before settling back into bright and sunny with a light westerly breeze; the day's highlight was the first Ring Ouzel of the year briefly on the point but it soon disappeared.   Other birds through the day included another couple of new Blackbirds, 3 Chaffinches, 5 Chiffchaffs, a Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinches, a Jay, 2 Avocets south, 11 Meadow Pipits, a Redwing, the Pheasant still, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Rook south, a Siskin, a Skylark, a Stock Dove and a little southerly passage of 159 Woodpigeons first thing.

Ringing: Blackbird 3, Goldcrest 2, Chiffchaff 4, Dunnock 1, Greenfinch 1

Dotted Border - the fourth this spring so far, this is a male as the females are flightless

Monday 22nd March 2021

Redwing

 Lovely and calm again with the wind switched into the SW, cloudy at first becoming glorious, warm and sunny; there were a few migrants scattered around as befits the slight change in conditions including some new Blackbirds, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, 10 Redwing, a Goldcrest, 3 Greenfinches, 3 Jackdaws, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Robins, a Rock Pipit, a Rook, a Siskin, 2 Skylark, a Woodcock and another Yellowhammer south.

Ringing: Blackbird 3, Redwing 2, Dunnock 2, Chiffchaff 2, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 1

Sunday 21st March 2021

Diurnea fagella - the first of the year of what can be a common species here

 A similar day again, overcast with lightish but chilly winds; on the sea birds included 30 Brent Geese, a Common Scoter, 8 Gannets, 46 Red-throated Divers and a Kittiwake hanging out by a fishing boat in the afternoon.

Landbirds comprised a handful of new Blackbirds, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, a new Firecrest trapped, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Goldfinches, a Long-tailed Tit, a Redwing, a Robin, a Rook south, a Siskin, a Skylark, a Stonechat and an excellent total of 4 Yellowhammers heading south - its already been a fine spring for this species, despite the chilly start to the campaign. 

Ringing: Blackbird 3, Goldcrest 2, Firecrest 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1