First Firecrest of the spring with a handful of other migrants on site including 3 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, Skylark & Woodcock. Moving south 4 Mipit, Grey Wagtail, immature female Peregrine, Siskin & Sparrowhawk with northbound a Jackdaw. Offshore southbound 6 Brent, 3 Shelduck & Oyk with northbound 124 Brent, 4 Common Gull & Red-throated Diver. 2 Purps are on the point.
First Hebrew Character of the year.
Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.
Despite the cool onshore breeze a few migrants on site including 15 Blackies, 15 Starling, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaw, Brambling, Redwing, Robin, Skylark & Woodcock. 2 Curlew went north plus 2 south. The number of Ringos on the reserve has increased to 10 as locals return to breeding areas.
Ringing: 5 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin
Ringed Plover have a catholic diet along the shore but one doesn't tend to think of them eating earthworms very often.
Migrant activity consisted off southbound 5 Stock Dove, 2 Siskin & a Jackdaw. On site single Chaffinch, Redwing & Rock Pipit with migrant Blacky & Robin passing through both fairly rotund with healthy fuel loads ready for the flight across to the continent.
The Satellite is a winter flyer with most records here in the autumnal & early winter period.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin.
Rock Pipit in summer plumage on its way back to Scandinavia can be an identification conundrum for tyros when they look like this. Other migrants included 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, Chaffinch, Jackdaw heading south & the loitering Chiffchaff from a couple of days back. Also on the move southbound 5 Brent, 3 Shelduck & 2 Greylag with northbound 23 Barnacles, 2 Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver. Finally a Dunlin was on the beach early on.
Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest
Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock.
Cold north-easterly - but at least its dry. Migrants included 5 Songies, 2 Chaffinch, Mipit, Skylark & Stock Dove although the Stockie probably hasn't come from far away. Offshore northbound 9 Gannet, 8 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver & 2 Eider with southbound 2 Wigeon & Kittiwake plus a drake Eider that flew into the river.
One of the site specialities is Agonopterix curvipunctosa with Landguard probably the only site in the UK that it is regularly recorded. Having only noted just one individual last year it was good to get this one early in the season.
Ringing: 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wren.