Saturday 16th September 2022

Strong north westerlies made this the quietest day in weeks. Very few birds passing at sea or overland. Highlight was an arctic skua flying north. 3 teal and a wigeon flew south.

There were few moths in the cold and windy conditions. Feathered Ranunculus is an autumnal flier.

Birds Ringed: Robin 1

Friday 16th September 2022

Strong winds meant it was a significantly quieter morning than yesterday. Grey wagtails didn't seem to mind the weather however as we had 9 fly over the observatory during the morning. A great spotted woodpecker took the usual pilgrimage down the point, the first for a few weeks, but completely avoided the observatory on the way down and back. 

On the moth front, we had our first Frosted Orange in five years.

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldfinch 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 1, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Thursday 15th September 2022

Steady movement today, with more hirundines and pipits passing through in small numbers. A female redstart was still present in the bushes in front of the obs, though harassed constantly by robins, which have increased steadily here also. Blackcap numbers were low today as were willow warblers, though the latter are slowly giving way to chiffchaffs as the season progresses. Two grey wagtails were ringed today which is the 'highest' day capture total all year. 

Feathered Brindle

The nationally scarce Feathered Brindle can be fairly common here although this year they've been a couple of weeks late in being recorded. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 6, Dunnock 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Meadow Pipit 5, Willow Warbler 1, Woodpigeon 2.

Wednesday 14th September 2022

 

This Bonxie flying around over the river mouth, even landed on the jetty before being washed off by a little wave, is probably on its last legs as Bird Flu has devastated this species.

On a more cheerful front a handful of migrants included 20 Mipit, 8 Blackcap, 7 Wheatear, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser 'throat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat & a couple of new Robins. Very little vis mig with southbound 143 Swallow, 15 Mipit, 3 Grey Wag & a Heron with offshore movements insignificant.

Scarce Bordered Straw is an autumnal immigrant that varies in numbers between years.

Ringing: 4 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 13th September 2022

Hoary Footman

A quieter morning, though still with some highlights. A male redstart was present on the Butts, with a female type in front of the observatory, a spotted flycatcher was our first ringed of the autumn and another sedge warbler paid us a visit. 

In non bird news, a brown long eared bat was found on site, the first record in the daytime for Landguard. 

On the moth front, a Hoary Footman was only the second record of this immigrant species since the first record last autumn.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Blue Tit 2, Chiffchaff 4, Grey Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 8, Sedge Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

Monday 12th September 2022

Another good migration day, though without any real scarcities. Good numbers of swallows moving south, slightly outnumbered by the meadow pipits, of which there were 368 trickling through all morning. All three wagtails were well represented with 8 yellow wagtails briefly on the reserve, and 5 grey wagtails flying south, and the ubiquitous pied wagtails were slightly down at 24 present today. A single pied flycatcher was present very early in the morning, and 2 chiffchaff amongst the birds ringed were the first in several weeks. A female redstart was in front of the observatory early in the morning, possibly from yesterday or a new bird.

Centre-Barred Sallow lives on Ash, and consequently doesn't visit us very often.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, Great Tit 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Meadow Pipit 6, Robin 2, Willow Warbler 4.

Sunday 11th September 2022

 

Misty, murky start dropped in an entertaining selection of what 'in the good old days' would be common mid-September fare but in these avian depleted days is noteworthy. Counts included at least 40 Blackcap, 37 Mipit, 20 Robin, 16 Wheatear, 15 Willow Warbler, 14 Lesser 'throat, 7 Whinchat, 3 Grey Wag, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Pied Fly, 2 Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Siskin & Spot Fly. Vis mig curtailed by murky conditions but as it cleared included southbound 91 Swallow, 40 House Martin, 37 Mipit & Tree Pipit plus a Sand Martin going north. In the butterfly department 2 Clouded Yellow are worth a mention.

Beautiful Plume is infrequent here although it regularly enters peoples houses in Felixstowe.

Ringing: 23 Blackcap, 7 Willow Warbler, 4 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear.