Saturday 31st July 2021

Oystercatchers

 A much nicer day, staying largely dry with a decreasing westerly breeze although the left-over weather from yesterday's blow could still be felt; birds over the sea through the morning comprised the highlight of a group of 3 Mandarin which flew south, angling in and going over the jetty - the first record for the Obs!

Alongside these fancy ducks were a group of 5 Arctic Terns, 28 Common Terns, 4 Dunlin, a good total of 90 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 23 Sandwich Terns, a Turnstone and 6 Whimbrel whilst 31 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows and 15 Swifts also flew south.

Ringing: Wren 1, House Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 1

Up to five years ago we had only ever noted Rosy Footman on a single occasion, now it is just about annual

Friday 30th July 2021

Grey Plover

 Weirdly calm at first light but the SSW wind quickly ramped up, eventually peaking at around force 7 in the afternoon bringing a series of sometimes heavy squalls which swept through but equal spells of bright sunshine as well!   There was again, a steady trickle of waders heading south at sea, never very many but enough to keep us staring at the sea; totals comprised 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 5 Dunlin, 5 Grey Plover, 29 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 2 Turnstone and 14 Whimbrel.

Also over the sea were 7 Common Scoter, 11 Common Terns, 3 Gannets, a Kittiwake, 24 Sandwich Terns, 8 Shelduck and 165 Swifts.

Ringing: House Sparrow 8, Linnet 1

Knot Grass is apparently, common nationally but is scarce here

Thursday 29th July 2021

Whitethroats

 Clear and sunny pretty much throughout the day but with a hefty force 5 westerly wind somewhat spoiling things; a little trickle of odd waders heading south at sea in the morning comprised 2 Curlews, 3 Dunlin, a Golden Plover, a Grey Plover, 3 Oystercatchers and 2 Sanderling.

Other birds of note comprised a Grey Wagtail, 11 Sand Martins, a Sedge Warbler, a Skylark, 88 Swifts and a Yellow Wagtail.

Ringing: Nil

On a very poor night for moths, at least the first Copper Underwing of the autumn put in an appearance

Wednesday 28th July 2021

Willow Warbler

 After a band of rain just prior to dawn it was a breezy, overcast morning with the odd spot of rain; it brightened towards late morning before degenerating into a wet and windy afternoon.   Offshore, a trickle of birds comprised 24 Common Scoter, 18 Common Terns, 2 Curlew, a Gannet, 19 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstone and 4 Whimbrel.

Elsewhere a lovely bright yellow juvenile Willow Warbler found the nets - hopefully a precursor to a busy August full of them!   Also of note were a Little Egret which flew south, 4 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows and 18 Swifts.

Ringing: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Linnet 1, House Sparrow 1

Ruby Tiger is a good looking moth which we catch in low numbers

Tuesday 27th July 2021

Juv Black-headed Gull on its 'jack jones' not sure how to behave away from mum & dad.

On the move southbound 20 Sand Martin, 14 Swallow, 14 Swift, 10 Common Tern, 10 Oyk, 5 Black-headed Gull, 3 Curlew, 2 Common Gull, 2 Med Gull, Sandwich Tern & Shelduck. Grounded migrants were 2 Yellow Wagtail although it is highly likely that some transient Lesser Whitethroat & Whitethroat may be starting to pass through.

Lamoria zelleri continues the run of nationally scarce species featured on the blog with Landguard a known site for it over many years. Rather confusingly it has had three name changes in recent years as taxonomists try and work out exactly where it belongs in the scientific nomenclature side of things.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.

Monday 26th July 2021

Carrion Crow

 Grey but very calm through the morning becoming humid and brighter by lunchtime; birds offshore today comprised 6 Common Scoter, 13 Common Terns, the first juvenile Kittiwake of the year, a Little Tern, 4 Sandwich Terns and 6 Mediterranean Gulls.

Elsewhere 3 Yellow Wagtails were with 22 Pied Wagtails out on the common, a Grey Wagtail was flying around and a new brood of Whitethroats flirted with the nets through the morning.

Ringing: Wren 2, Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 4, Linnet 4, House Sparrow 1

Dune Bee Fly

Sunday 25th July 2021

Several fresh Small Coppers are out.

The forecast biblical downpours for this weekend have come to little more than a couple of spots. The first Sedge Warbler of the autumn arrived with other migrants including 2 Yellow Wagtail & yet another juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting. Offshore single Gannet & Curlew went north.

Plumed Fan-foot is an immigrant only noted for the first time here last year that is spreading into the county from the south and looking at the chunk out of its wing and faded appearance this one has had a bit of a rough time on its travels to get here.

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 2 Wren, 1 Sedge Warbler.