Saturday 24th September 2022

 

The first Redwing of the autumn plus 2 Brambling early on gave a distinct impression that winter is now on its way. Other migrants present included singles of Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush & Wheatear. Vis Mig was limited to southbound 45 Mipit (+ 21 in off) 3 Grey Wag & 2 Swallow plus northbound House Martin & Swallow. Offshore movements poor although a few Common & Sandwich Tern are loitering in the river.

Beaded Chestnut is an autumnal species only here in low numbers.

Ringing: 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.

Friday 23rd September 2022

A rainy start didn't really turn into the wet morning we were predicted, as is often the case here. However, it did seem to dampen the migration, with barely any warblers observed, and much reduced wildfowl and swallow passage. A pair of chaffinch between the observatory and the mine station, were the most notable passerines, which really says it all.

Barred Red is common in coniferous plantations but has only visited Landguard a half dozen times in the past. 

Birds Ringed: Chaffinch 1.

 

Thursday 22nd September 2022

A good amount of 'regular' migration today, with plenty of seabirds passing offshore and a few hirundines and blue tits on land. It seems only yesterday we were bidding the Brent geese farewell as they headed north, today we had 71 passing south in multiple groups, along with 3 red-throated divers, gadwall, dunlin and scoter. A guillemot close offshore was a nice contrast to the razorbill seen in the same area yesterday. It's unusual to see grey herons migrating south, even more so as a flock, but a flock of nine slowly made their way south mid morning, joint second largest flock we've had here. 24 blue tits on and around the site was almost equally unusual, we assume this is dispersal from natal areas, which is perhaps borne out by the fact that the 11 ringed today were all 1st years. 

Monopis monacuella is a red data book species that lives on rotting animal remains, faeces and old birds nests, the latter two of which we have in abundance, often combined!

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Blue Tit 11, Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Robin 1.

Wednesday 21st September 2022

 

Camera trap out overnight for the first half of September recorded Badger on four nights which are the first Landguard records of a species that is spreading on the Felixstowe peninsula.

Few migrants with southbound 98 Swallow 11 Mipit, 3 Grey Wag & House Martin. On site migrants included 11 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, Brambling & Song Thrush. A Razorbill was sat offshore drifting south.

This first site record of a worn Portland Moth suggests it has flown a fair way to reach us on its travels.

Ringing: 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 20th September 2022

White Wagtail

A quieter morning today, though with several highlights. Despite the low level of visible migration, grey wagtails were moving through in better numbers than we've seen the rest of the autumn. Yesterdays female brambling was joined by a male and a young white wagtail was out on the reserve amongst the pied wagtails. Blue tits have noticeably increased over the last few days, with a lot of dispersing juveniles present. 

Barred Sallow is another autumnal species that only visits occasionally.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 9, Brambling 1, Grey Wagtail 6, Meadow Pipit 4, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

 

Monday 19th September 2022

 

The paucity of departing summer migrants continues but when the first Brambling & Goldcrest arrive then one feels the "winds of change" is in the air. Other migrants on site include 2 Chiffchaff & a Chaffinch (several days without any Blackcap or Wheatear is a sad reflection of the state of play at what should be these species peak periods!). Vis mig consisted of just 26 Mipit & 2 Grey Wag south (with NO hirundines noted). Offshore southbound 17 Teal, 5 Brent & 3 Common Scoter with northbound 26 Wigeon, 10 Teal, Arctic Skua & Pintail.

Cool breezy north-westerly nights results in very few moths in the traps and nothing different to the species featured recently. This faded female Common Darter was sunning herself on the nature reserve.

Ringing: 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Brambling, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Sunday 18th September 2022

 

Windy morning with very few migrants on site which included 28 Mipit, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wag & a House Martin. 15 Mipit, Grey Heron & the first Rock Pipit of the autumn went south overhead. Offshore southbound 10 Dunlin, 4 Golden Plover, 3 Curlew, 3 Oyk, 3 Teal, Brent, Common Scoter & Red-breasted Merganser plus northbound 4 Brent & Guillemot.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing varies in its colouration and is one of few species noted in the windy conditions this morning.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, 1 Wood Pigeon.