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Saturday 19th March 2022

 


A quieter day today, wind was from the north east, preventing most nets being opened. Observations were also quiet, with no bramblings or siskins through, but all the regular breeders still present, including a large flock of linnets.

Another fulmar went south in the early hours, but the only goose movement was from 4 greylags heading south also.

Ringing was better than the last few days, with 5 new birds ringed and a control blue tit, and we look forward to discovering where that was ringed.

A different moth was found in the traps today, another common species, though variable, a Clouded Drab.

 

Ringed Birds: 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Redwing
Controlled birds: 1 Blue Tit

RINGING RECOVERIES

Long-tailed Tit ringed Landguard  11th March 2020 retrapped 16 km away at Hollesley 5th November 2021.

Great Tit ringed Landguard 26th March 2020 retrapped 71 km away at Croxton, Norfolk 23rd January 2022.

Blue Tit ringed Landguard 19th September 2020 retrapped 5 km away at Trimley 17th March 2022.

All of the above will be birds that have wandered down here as youngsters but good to see that they are still going 18 to 22 months later presumably retrapped near, or at, where they have settled down.

Blackbird ringed Landguard 5th November 2021 retrapped 732 km away at Thisted, Viborg, Denmark on 14th March 2022. This bird will have been on autumn migration here and on spring migration in Denmark on its way back to its natal area.

Friday 18th March 2022


A calm day, becoming more windy as the day progressed. A few birds of note, some siskins still moving and the Cetti's warbler still present though mobile. Ringing was slightly better than yesterday, despite the wind and a new moth for the year was present in the trap.

Lots of the regular birds are in full voice currently, most obviously blackbird, wren and dunnock, the latter of which was very much in evidence today with 25 recorded. A peacock and small tortoiseshell were our butterflies of the day. 

The moth in the trap was a male Diurnea fagella, a common moth in spring, though infrequent at Landguard. The female of the species only has vestigial wings and has not been recorded on site.

Ringing totals: 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Redwing.

Thursday 17th March 2022

 


Flock of 40 Sanderling on the beach early morning is a goodly sized flock. Two Red Kite heading over is only the 14th site record with a Cetti's Warbler bursting into song only the 17th ever of its kind here. Other sightings of note included southbound 2 Buzzard, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Rook, 2 Siskin & a Skylark. Grounded migrants few but worth a mention are 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest & Black Redstart. 2 Purp still with us.

A few Peacock & Small Tort butterflies were on the wing but the moth traps are largely empty.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Wednesday 16th March 2022

 

This Short-eared Owl is presumably making its way back to its breeding grounds. Migrants today included 16 Redwing, 2 Brambling, 2 Chiffchaff plus southbound 50 Starling (of which 17 had quite probably roosted here) & 10 Siskin. Offshore not a lot moving but southbound 15 Barnacles & 11 Shelduck with northbound a Red-throated Diver plus a few local Greylags coming & going. 2 Dunlin were on the point early morning with the 2 Purps. 30 Crows on the beach at one point is a high count here probably consisting of a load of marauding juvenile delinquents up to no good.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Tuesday 15th March 2022


 A fairly calm day today, with a gentle east wind, gradually picking up over the morning. A few birds around, a flyover brambling, white wagtail and a flock of barnacle geese the most notable movement. A male reed bunting was also the first for a couple of days. 

Most of the recent regulars were still present, including 2 of the 3 firecrests, 3 purps at the point and the local ringed plovers and oystercatchers still being territorial. A young male sparrowhawk is also still hanging around, with a large female heading north midmorning. 

A bumblebee, peacock  butterfly and Hebrew Character moth were the only insects of note.

Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren.

Monday 14th March 2022

 

Entertaining pleasant spring morning with 20 Redwing, 7 Chiffchaff, 3 Firecrest, 2 Skylark & Siskin plus southbound 7 Jackdaw, 4 Rook, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Goldfinch & Mipit. Offshore movements negligible. 2 Purps are present & accounted for with a male Pheasant the first of its kind since last October..

Ringing: 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Firecrest, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush. 

Sunday 13th March 2022

 

An immature Glaucous Gull was present offshore for about quarter of an hour from 0740 hrs plus the first Black Redstart of the year was by the Mine Station. Other migrants on site were 34 Redwing (most quickly moving inland), 18 Blackbird, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, Brambling, Mistle Thrush & Stock Dove. On the move heading south 3 Jackdaw, 2 Mipit & 2 Crow. Offshore southbound 3 Barnacle Geese, Gannet, Little Egret, Red-throated Diver & Shelduck with northbound 60 Cormorant, 25 Brent, 3 Common Gull, Common Scoter & Red-throat. Usual 2 Purps were on the point. The usual 3 Red-leg Partridge increased to 8 - not known for their migratory prowess if we get 'extras' it tends to be this time of the year that they turn up.

Ringing: 6 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush.