Saturday 25th September 2021

Oak Nycteoline is a surprisingly scarce visitor and with several potentially relatives, this variable species requires close scrutiny

 Calm and clear first thing but after about an hour, thick fog descended to linger for a while before the sun won out again leaving yet another unseasonably warm autumn day; today's migrants included 15 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinches, 51 Swallows, a Reed Bunting, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Black Redstart on the fort, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Wheatears.

Ringing: Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 5, Wren 1, Dunnock 1, Whitethroat 1

Friday 24th September 2021

 Calm again with morning fog lingering for a few hours before giving way to light cloud which in turn, gave way to bright sunshine by lunchtime; today's limited selection of migrants comprised 10 Grey Wagtails, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears, 45 Swallows south, a Goldcrest (the first of autumn), a Jay and a Redstart.

Other bits of note included a Ring-necked Parakeet which circled the point before heading back towards town and single Snipe, Whimbrel and Golden Plover whilst offshore, after the fog cleared there was a Guillemot, a Pochard, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Ringing: Wren 1, Blackcap 5, Chiffchaff 4, Great-spotted Woodpecker 1, Grey Wagtail 7, Dunnock 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Goldcrest 1

First site record of Hoary Footman which is a potential future colonist

Thursday 23rd September 2021

Cetti's Warbler

 Bright and sunny but with a brisk and increasing westerly breeze; the small selection of migrants comprised a Cetti's Warbler caught and ringed (always scarce here, although common not far away), a Yellow Wagtail, 72 Swallows and 46 Meadow Pipits south, 9 Chiffchaffs, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 6 Grey Wagtails, 6 Blackcaps and 2 Wheatears.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 7, Blackcap 5, Cetti's Warbler 1, Robin 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Sparrowhawk 1

First site record of Beet Moth, it lives on Suffolk's shingle ridges and saltmarshes so its surprising one hasn't been found previously

Wednesday 22nd September 2021

Slight increase in Chiffchaff & Blackcap to 16 & 10 respectively with a supporting cast of 15 Mipit,  3 Whitethroat, 2 Redstart, Song Thrush, Wheatear & Willow Warbler. Heading south 64 Swallow, 50 Mipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey Wag plus a Sparrowhawk offshore. A Ring-necked Parakeet flying north may well be one that's been knocking around the town for months paying a visit although it may be newly escaped from its cage. On the reserve at least 10 Clouded Yellow are worth a mention as the first notable numbers this year.

Dusky-lemon Sallow lives on Wych Elm so it's another one wasting it's time visiting us.

Ringing: 5 Blackcap, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 21st September 2021

Sparrowhawk

 Nice and bright, warm and sunny with a light WNW breeze; a few migrants in the area included 174 Swallows south, 4 Chaffinches, a Snipe, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 80 Meadow Pipits, 3 Wheatears, 6 Grey Wagtails, a Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Song Thrushes.

Few birds passed offshore but did comprise 25 Brent Geese, 47 Teal, 3 Gannets and a Wigeon.

Ringing: Robin 2, Blackcap 3, Garden Warbler 1, Song Thrush 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Meadow Pipit 3, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 2

Black Rustic is a classic end of September and October feature

Monday 20th September 2021

Tree Pipit

 Cloudy with a slightly stronger NW wind than of late; there wasn't really one feature of the day but a series of random sightings to keep everyone's interest which included (in no particular order) 2 Arctic Skuas offshore, a big flock (for here) of 9 Herons south, a group of 10 Egyptian Geese in off the sea and up the river, a Hobby in off the sea and a little selection of migrants comprising 3 Grey Wagtails, a Wheatear, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Redstart, a Tree Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

There were fewer birds heading south offshore than the last few days although totals consisted of 59 Brent Geese, 2 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 5 Shelduck, 120 Teal, 62 Cormorants and 2 Red-throated Divers.

Ringing: Grey Wagtail 1, Chiffchaff 2, Robin 1, Redstart 1

Centre-barred Sallow lives on Ash so it's wasting its time visiting us!

Sunday 19th September 2021

Some offshore movement continues with southbound 188 Brent, 152 Teal, 52 Wigeon, 23 Black-headed Gull, 13 Common Scoter, 8 Common Gull, 6 Shelduck, 4 Common Tern, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Cormorant & 2 Pintail with northbound 11 Gannet, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail, 2 Red-throated Diver, Razorbill & Shelduck plus an Arctic Skua marauding off the river mouth. The first Rock Pipit of the autumn was on the point although other grounded migrants were typically few & far between but included 7 Wheatear, 4 Mipit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Grey Wag, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Yellow Wag plus visits from single Great Spotted Woodpecker & Jackdaw.

We seem to be having a little run of second brood Oncocera semirubella in recent days. It is yet another nationally scarce species that lives here on Bird's-foot Trefoil.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin.