Saturday 30th October 2021

Sparrowhawk

 Rain on and off through the morning and a moderate southerly breeze led to a ringing-free day with all the attention again on the seawatching; there wasn't as much passing as yesterday but totals did include 36 Brent Geese, 6 Common Scoter, 6 Curlew, 122 Dunlin, 10 Gannets, 3 Great-crested Grebe, an Arctic Skua across the common and north, 3 Kittiwake, 146 Knot, an Oystercatcher, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers, a Razorbill, a Shoveler, 14 Teal and 26 Wigeon.

Not much else too mention with birds on the land limited to 2 Bramblings, 11 Chaffinches, 2 Rock Pipits, 10 Siskin and 2 Skylarks.

Ringing: Nil

The first Scarce Bordered Straw of the autumn - we can get healthy numbers of this immigrant some years

Friday 29th October 2021

Unidentified Fungi growing on Poplar - anyone have any ideas?

 Cloud drifted in and out through the day on the brisk southerly wind; most of the action was offshore today where a much improved mix of species moved south which comprised a juvenile Arctic Tern, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Curlew, 486 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 323 Knot, 8 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, a Purple Sandpiper, 92 Wigeon, 72 Teal, 8 Shoveler, a Shelduck, 4 Pintail, 158 Brent Geese, 11 Gannets, a Kittiwake, 7 Red-throated Divers, a Razorbill and 571 Starlings.

Elsewhere it was quiet with a handful of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes first thing, a Ring Ouzel still, 4 Brambling, a Grey Wagtail, 29 Siskin and 8 Skylark.

Ringing: Blackbird 9, Song Thrush 4, Robin 1

Thursday 28th October 2021

Speckled Wood

 Clear and sunny again with a brisk southerly wind which, inevitably led to another quiet birding day; bits of note included a Black Redstart, 2 Brambling, 16 Chaffinches, 56 Goldfinches, 2 House Martins and a Swallow south, 58 Linnets, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Redpoll, 48 Siskins, 5 Skylark and 4 Redwing.

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Wren 1, Lesser Redpoll 1

Small Copper

Wednesday 27th October 2021

Its quite likely that it's the same two Rouzels loitering on site for the past four days.

Another day with very few migrants on site but including 3 Chaffinch, 3 Mipit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Ring Ouzel & a couple of migrant Blackbirds. Vis mig almost non-existent with southbound 10 Goldfinch, 5 Mipit, Chaffinch & Rock Pipit. Offshore southbound 17 Gannet, 6 Red-throated Diver, 3 Pintail, 2 Brent & Common Scoter with northbound 4 Red-throats & 2 Gannet.

Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch.

Tuesday 26th October 2021

Lesser Redpoll

 After a little unexpected band of drizzle at first light, it was another fine, calm, largely bright morning and another very quiet autumn day; birds of note comprised 2 Brambling, 24 Chaffinches, 130 Goldfinches, the Cetti's Warbler from the 23rd re-trapped, a Grey Wagtail, a Guillemot, 30 Linnets, 14 Meadow Pipits, 9 Redpoll, the male Ring Ouzel still, a Rock Pipit, 49 Siskin and 11 Skylark.

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Robin 1, Great Tit 1

When first noted here five years ago, Paxillus obscurisporus was only the second Suffolk record but seems to be common not only here but in the Felixstowe area.

Monday 25th October 2021

Wheatear

 Bright, clear, sunny and calm again so while very pleasant, not really conducive to great numbers of migrants; overhead, birds comprised 45 Chaffinches, 125 Goldfinches, 18 Meadow Pipits, 29 Linnets, 9 Redpoll, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Rock Pipits, 21 Siskin, 19 Skylark, 298 Starlings, 2 Swallows and 60 Woodpigeons.

Also on the move were 74 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoter, 14 Dunlin, 2 Goldeneye, a Great-crested Grebe, a site record flock of 14 Egyptian Geese (just what October passage is all about!), a Guillemot, 3 Knot, 2 Lapwings, 9 Pintail, 2 Red-throated Divers, 9 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 16 Teal and 209 Wigeon.

Also of note were a handful of Song Thrushes, Redwings and Blackbirds at dawn, single Blackcap and Brambling, a Ring Ouzel still, a Wheatear, the first Yellowhammer of the autumn and 2 Clouded Yellows amongst the handful of late flying butterflies in the fine conditions.

Ringing: Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 6, Blackcap 1, Wren 1, Redwing 1

Oak Rustic has slowly been colonising the UK this century and was first noted here three years ago; it lives on Holm Oaks so should be happy here

Sunday 24th October 2021

Pleasant, but breezy with a range of typical late October fare on offer in lowish numbers plus Chaffinch & Starling flocks coming in off the sea from late morning. On site migrants included 25 Blackies, 15 Robin, 12 Songies, 8 Redwing, 7 Brambling, 2 Black Reds, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Ring Ouzel, Blackcap, Fieldfare, Jack Snipe & Mistle Thrush. Southbound passerines include 26 Skylark, 25 Mipit, 9 Linnet, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Goldfinch & Kestrel plus 1466 Starling  in off/south, 220 Chaffinch in off/south plus a Merlin in off. Offshore southbound 59 Brent, 33 Dunlin, 29 Teal, 28 Pintail, 23 Wigeon, 14 Black-headed Gull, 12 Shoveler, 11 Gannet, 6 Knot, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Velvet Scoter, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Shelduck & Tufted Duck plus northbound 20 Gannet.

Black Rustic is a regular autumnal visitor to the moth traps.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Brambling, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff.