Saturday 15th May 2021

Chocolate-tip larvae will be on the Poplars before emerging into these fine creatures

Grey and chilly again with an increasing SSE wind bringing an extended spell of drizzle from 09:00; not too much was noted on the land but a few bits were seen offshore comprising 40 Common Scoter north, a push of 54 Common Terns north, 10 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes, a Red-throated Diver north (first one for ages), 2 Sandwich Terns and 2 Whimbrel.

A Cuckoo which gave a little burst of song halfway through the morning was the highlight on the land along with the singing Black Redstart, 4 Lesser Whitethroats and 6 Wheatears.

Ringing: Lesser Whitethroat 1

Friday 14th May 2021

Treble Lines - a common UK species only noted here in small numbers

 Another grey, overcast day with a spell of rain in the morning after a night of heavy, persistent rain; there was though, a little spread of new birds across the area especially after it brightened up a bit which included 3 Chiffchaffs, a little push of 28 Common Terns which went north after the rain stopped, 3 Eiders on the sea at first light, an odd flock of 33 Kittiwakes which spiralled up high over the sea before appearing to move inland (not what Kittiwakes are supposed to doing at this [or any] time of year!), 8 Lesser Whitethroats, a Little Egret south, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 5 Reed Warblers, 11 Wheatears, 6 Whitethroats and a Willow Warbler.

Ringing: Wren 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Redpoll 1

Thursday 13th May 2021

Common Redpoll

 A very grey day with a chilly ENE breeze coming in off the sea; despite the nets being open through the morning the only birds caught comprised a British control Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Redpoll.

Other birds through the quiet day included 2 Black Redstarts (including a new male), a Barnacle Goose up the river, the first Common Sandpiper of the year, 4 Common Terns, a flock of 8 Little Terns north, a Gannet, 2 Kittiwakes, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, a Sparrowhawk, 13 Swallows south, 4 Wheatears and 6 Whitethroats.

Ringing: Common Redpoll 1

The first Phtheochroa rugosana of the year is about a month late on parade, presumably due to the cold spring

Wednesday 12th May 2021

Corn Bunting is one of those species that turns up randomly roughly one to three times a year for reasons known only to themselves.

Migrants thin on the ground this morning included 7 Wheatear, 4 Jackdaw & Blackcap plus the Lesser Whitethroats & Whitethroats singing their little hearts out waiting for the females to show up. Visible migrants included southbound 38 Swallow, !3 Goldfinch, 5 Barnacle Geese, House Martin & Little Egret plus further offshore southbound 3 Oyk, 2 Common Gull & 2 Dunlin with northbound 13 Arctic Tern having first come down the river. At least single Black Red & Turnstone are still with us.

Puss Moth is always a delight to see with this individual sitting on wire about ten feet from where we had larvae last year.

Ringing: 1 Swallow.

Tuesday 11th May 2021

Lesser Whitethroat

 A stunning, flat calm morning, soon becoming warm and sunny with a gentle SSE wafting breeze; there were a few new migrants scattered around and overhead, comprising 3 Blackcaps, a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail south (slightly late), 3 House Martins, 2 Jackdaws, some new Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats, 2 Redpolls, a Reed Warbler, 92 Swallows south (mainly along the beach), 2 Swifts, a Tree Pipit, 12 Wheatears, a Whinchat and a Willow Warbler.

Over the sea birds included 12 Barnacle Geese, 3 Common Terns, a Gadwall, 4 Gannets and 4 Kittiwakes (an unusual number still offshore this late into May, interesting to speculate concerning displaced birds from the Lowestoft colony which have been on social media recently).

Ringing: Dunnock 1, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Blackbird 2, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 1

A few migratory insects are now arriving including a couple of Rush Veneer

Monday 10th May

Epiblema scutulana lives on the Thistles here in small numbers and is one of very few micro-moths so far this year

 Overnight rain lingered an hour or so after dawn, delaying the start of the day; the main feature came straight after the rain with a good but short-lived southerly movement of 432 Swallows, 53 House Martins, 3 Sand Martins and a Hobby which continued for under two hours before stopping suddenly.

Other birds comprised 2 Black Redstarts still, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Common Scoter north, a Curlew south, a Gannet north, 7 Goldfinches south, 2 Jackdaws, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Sanderling, a Swift, 8 Wheatear and 5 Whitethroat.

Ringing: Blackcap 3, Lesser Whitethroat 3

Sunday 9th May 2021

First Whinchat of the year always perks one up with a pleasant supporting cast of typical early May fare including 17 Wheatear, 10 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Sand Martin & Sedge Warbler. Heading south were 22 Swallow & a Chaffinch. Offshore southbound 8 Barnacle Geese, 7 Dunlin, 7 Kittiwake & 2 Oyk with northbound 18 Arctic Tern & 6 Barnacles. 7 Sanderling were on the beach early on plus 2 Turnstone on the jetty. 2 Black Redstart are still with us & it looks like our only pair of Blue Tit have started feeding young so let's hope they can find enough quality morsels to provision their young following the cold temperatures & drought throughout April & early May.

A Painted Lady may have hatched locally or may be indicative of the welcome change in the weather to a warmer (or less cold !) wind direction bringing us migratory insects as may a Diamond-back Moth sitting on one of the steps in the afternoon.

Male Common Swift have started to appear, although still very few moths noted as it often takes a couple of warmer nights before numbers pick up.

Ringing: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon.