Saturday 1st October 2022

Strong winds and rain last night produced a few different migrants this morning. The first woodlark of the autumn spent an hour around the observatory and the reserve, even breaking into a bit of song. The ring ouzel of yesterday was joined by another bird and a great northern diver flew flew south. 

A scattering of late migrants including 11 house martin south were the remainder of the observations, with meadow pipits having a reasonable day, with 89 flying south during the morning.

After the windy and wet overnight conditions, fewer moth species were on the wing. Angle Shades was one of the species tough enough to be out in such weather.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Chaffinch 2, Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Meadow Pipit 7, Song Thrush 1. 

Friday 30th September 2022

An incredibly misty morning didn't do much for visible migration but there were surprising birds around. The fist Jack snipe of the year was recorded from the observatory and we ringed our second redstart of the autumn. Chiffchaffs were in good numbers, with a low estimate of 20 in the immediate surrounds of the obs. 6 blackcaps and 14 chiffchaffs ringed made it almost a regular autumn day by previous years standards.

Lunar Underwing is a common autumnal species living on various grasses.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 6, Blue Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Chiffchaff 14, Great Tit 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Redstart 1, Song Thrush 2.
 

SEPTEMBER RINGING TOTALS

Meadow pipit

401 of 30 species is a significant improvement of 2021's 285 of 30. This is perhaps due to the dry and warm conditions experienced this year, rain not stopping play as much as it could have. Certain species have been far better represented than last year with Willow Warbler captures in 2022 being over double that of 2021. Meadow Pipit numbers also were over double last years, though with this species it is more effort and weather dependant than others. Grey Wagtails were significantly down from 56 last year to 18 in 2022, though the effort has been identical. Blackcap and Chiffchaff numbers were up this year, though both species, and Blackcap in particular are nowhere near as abundant as they were. We seem to have experienced a mini 'invasion' of Blue and Great Tits this autumn, both were in single figures in 2021, with Blue Tits this year being the second most ringed species of September at 61. 

Blackbird	3
Blackcap	65
Blue Tit	61
Brambing	2
Chaffinch	2
Chiffchaff	55
Dunnock	7
Garden Warbler	2
Goldfinch	2
Goldcrest	2
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Great Tit	15
Greenfinch	1
Grey Wagtail	18
Lesser Whitethroat	7
Meadow Pipit	57
Pied Flycatcher	3
Redstart	2
Redwing	1
Robin	30
Sedge Warbler	2
Song Thrush	6
Sparrowhawk	2
Spotted Flycatcher	1
Starling	11
Stonechat	1
Wheatear	2
Whitethroat	1
Willow Warbler	32
Woodpigeon	9
Total	403

Thursday 29th September 2022

A very wintery start to the day, with temperatures lower than they've been in a while. Some good passage today, a ring ouzel dropped in late morning, a pied flycatcher was caught and ringed (perhaps our last of the year?) yet another great spotted woodpecker and a sparrowhawk were also processed. A pair of goldcrest adds to the handful we've seen this autumn, and chiffchaffs were all over the observatory as were blue tits. 

Clifden Nonpareil has now appeared here three years running. Feeding on poplar it could potentially colonise here. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 15, Chiffchaff 8, Dunnock 1, Goldcrest 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Robin 2, Sparrowhawk 1
 

Landguard Bird Observatory Pin Badge & Mug

LBO have teamed up with UK Birding Pins who have produced an observatory Pin Badge & Mug. Proceeds help financially support the observatory.

No stock will be held at the observatory but can be purchased from UK Birding Pins

https://ukbirdingpins.bigcartel.com/product/landguard-bird-observatory-pin-badge

New releases from this company can be viewed on: https://www.ukbirdingpins.co.uk/category/new-releases

(Please note that you may need to cut & paste these address's into your computer).

Wednesday 28th September 2022

Cool north-westerlies. Southbound 40 Mipit, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Grey Wagtail & Brambling. On site 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, Rock Pipit plus some new Blue Tits.

Brindled Green is another classic autumnal species that is here in low numbers that is perfectly camouflaged in the wild.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday 27th September 2022

Deep-brown Dart

A drier day today, still with little obvious migration but there were certainly more birds around. A female redstart was one of less than 5 ringed this year, a sad reflection on the species status in the east of England. A lot of chiffchaffs were present, as were a couple of blackcaps, both classic September migrants, though the latter was certainly not in the numbers we'd expect. The tree sparrow (or another individual) was associating with a group of finches early in the morning, but was elusive. 

Deep-brown Dart is a classic autumnal moth, in flight at the end of September and early October.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 3, Chiffchaff 8, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Greenfinch 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Redstart 1.  

Monday 26th September 2022

Strong westerly winds and intermittent rain showers made migration monitoring hard today. There were a few migrants present, double figures of chiffchaff, a few blackcaps and a willow warbler. The seawatching was also slow, with the highlight being a single tufted duck flying south.

The first Dewick's Plusia for the century and for 25 years was long overdue, but a good looking individual.

Ringed Birds: 0 

Sunday 25th September 2022

 

This mornings migrants included 4 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Pied Fly, Redwing, Stonechat plus another gang of dispersing young Blue Tits.. A Buzzard was hanging around early on even briefly landing on the top of the observatory ridge & a Marsh Harrier came in off the sea.

Sallow is another classic autumnal species that should be noted here more regularly than it is as it lives on Poplars.

Ringing: 6 Blue Tit, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Pied Flycatcher.