Saturday 4th September 2021

Wryneck

 Largely overcast through the morning with a stiff NE wind becoming bright and sunny by the afternoon; the now daily scattering of migrants was highlighted by a superb Wryneck which found a mist-net mid-morning.   Also seen were 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 3 Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and 3 Blackcaps.

Elsewhere a Black Tern was with a good 112+ Sandwich Terns offshore, 84 Teal went south, a Purple Sandpiper was on the jetty, 2 Knot flew north and 11 Swallows and a Sand Martin were flying around.

Worth an honourable mention was the Osprey scoped up the river early morning as it hovered over the water somewhere opposite Trimley Marshes - rubbish views and a long way outside the Obs recording area but still nice though!

Ringing: Wryneck 1, Blue Tit 1, Willow Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 1

Cochylimorpha straminea has only been seen twice in the past ten years, whereas prior to that it was more regular

Friday 3rd September 2021

Pied Wagtail

 A bit more east in the wind and brighter conditions - becoming actually sunny by late morning produced small numbers of migrants which today consisted of a Reed Warbler, 4 Grey Wagtails (two of which were lured into the Heligoland trap), 2 Wheatears, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Redstarts, a Meadow Pipit and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Also of note were 21 Teal south, single Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling and Turnstone on the jetty and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.

Ringing: Robin 2, Reed Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 2

Rest Harrow is a Red Data Book species that has colonised over the last five years

Thursday 2nd September 2021

Turnstone

 Same same again, weather wise, overcast with the moderate northerly breeze flirting with the east; as in the last few days there was a little smattering of migrants across the reserve which today included a Grasshopper Warbler on The Butts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Wheatears, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Whinchats, a Redstart, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Willow Warblers.

Offshore, the few birds of note comprised a Curlew, 6 Common Scoter, 13 Teal, 13 Gannets, a Golden Plover and 4 Oystercatchers.

Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Reed Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 2, Pied Flycatcher 1

We weren't expecting to add Golden-rod Brindle to the site list.   Its a northern species that has presumably wandered down in this northerly airflow.

Wednesday 1st September 2021

Once again a smattering of migrants in, what has become characteristically, low numbers including 7 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Redstart, 2 Whinchat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Lesser Whitethroat. Offshore a couple of Arctic Skua with northbound 16 Gannet, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Barnacle Geese & Whimbrel. A Kestrel came straight in off the sea.

Citron Plume was first noted here in 2017 & has settled in in low numbers.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

August Ringing Totals

Redstart and Tree Pipit

As is seemingly the theme this year, it was a generally poor month for ringing totals, despite the nets being utilised on the majority of days through the month, there was simply, just a lack of migrants.   We can hope things will pick up through the traditionally busy months of September and October.

Willow Warbler		49
Starling		38
House Sparrow		25
Robin		23
Linnet		16
Goldfinch		14
Whitethroat		10
Pied Flycatcher		8
Woodpigeon		7
Blackbird		7
Blackcap		6
Wren		6
Dunnock		5
Lesser Whitethroat		4
Nightingale		2
Green Woodpecker		1
Sparrowhawk		1
Cuckoo		1
Redstart		1
Tree Pipit		1
Reed Warbler		1
Spotted Flycatcher		1
Garden Warbler		1
Great Tit		1
		228

Some nice birds were caught despite the numbers!

Green Woodpecker and Cuckoo

Tuesday 31st August 2021

Wheatears

 A touch of drizzle at dawn, albeit far less than yesterday produced another little selection of grounded migrants across the area which today comprised a Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, a Redstart, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Meadow Pipit, 4 Willow Warblers and 3 Pied Flycatchers.

There was a bit more offshore than of late as well including 108 Teal, 18 Wigeon, 67 Cormorants which came straight in off and up the river, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Curlew, 16 Dunlin, 38 Gannets, a Fulmar, 7 Common Scoter and a Little Tern.

Ringing: Woodpigeon 1, Willow Warbler 1, Whitethroat 2, Redstart 1, Pied Flycatcher 3

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix is a less than annual visitor

Monday 30th August 2021

Purple Sandpiper

 Low cloud and bits of drizzle in the morning with a light northerly breeze produced at least a bit of expectation that there would be some grounded migrants through the day and this did indeed prove to be the case with the light smattering of birds seen comprising 4 Wheatears, 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Whinchats, 3 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, a Yellow Wagtail, a Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit - amazingly, the first Meadow Pipit seen since 24th April (an outstandingly poor showing!).

The migrant highlight of the day though was a Camberwell Beauty which flew north across The Butts but wasn't seen to stop - the third record after individuals in 1995 and 2016.

There wasn't too much else to mention although a Golden Plover flew upriver, 13 Teal flew south and a few waders on the shore at the point included a Purple Sandpiper, 3 Turnstone and a Sanderling.

Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Tree Pipit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Pied Flycatcher 2

White-line Dart is one of our commonest species at the present time

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Blackbird ringed Landguard 20th October 2018 found entangled in crop netting 1,657km away at Keelva, Laane-Harju, Harju, Estonia 25th July 2021 which is presumably its natal area.

Lesser Redpoll ringed Landguard 11th November 2020 retrapped 508 km away at Pebbles, Scottish Borders on both 31st July & 11th August 2021 which is also presumably its natal area. 

Sunday 29th August 2021

Sea Holly

3 Chiffchaff is a typical date for the start of autumn migration. Other migrants include 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, Blackcap, Whinchat & Yellow Wag. A Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a visit, a Jackdaw flew south & what is presumably the same Tree Sparrow as noted in recent days was here again.

Cydia splendana is a great wanderer that feeds on Oak & Sweet Chestnuts.

Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wood Pigeon.