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Saturday 8th October 2022


 A decent day for visible migration, despite the wind direction. Finches took centre stage with 631 goldfinch and 380 linnet flying south. These were joined by 2 redpoll, and 13 chaffinch. Other families were decently represented with 28 skylark and 3 woodlark also moving south, and for hirundines, 29 house martin and 34 swallow. 2, probably 3 sparrowhawks were also present during the morning, with at least two passing through.

5 spoonbill flew over during the morning and an obliging snow bunting was found in the afternoon at the tip of the peninsula, though it didn't stay long. 

On the moth front, the above pic is of a Dark Chestnut. You know winter is approaching when the first of these emerges.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 2, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

Friday 7th October 2022

Lesser Calamint

 Another quiet and blustery day. Goldfinches continued to pass in good numbers (relatively speaking) with 700 flying south over the course of the morning, along with almost 300 linnet. Chaffinches and greenfinches were also present in larger numbers than usual but only in less than 3 figure numbers. 4 skylarks flew south and hirundines trickled through in several small flocks. 

Lesser Calamint has colonised the slope of Darrell's Battery. It's U.K stronghold is on the Essex/Suffolk border with just a handful of records elsewhere.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 5, Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 1.

Thursday 6th October 2022

Another day of strong winds made day to day tasks a little harder, observations were less than usual, but some red-throated divers passing by were at least notable. A few meadow pipits passed by, but goldfinch were by far the most numerous passerine passing, with 264 passing south during the morning. Some siskin over were expected migrants and 21 house martin flying south shows there's still a few around locally. 


White Point is a former migrant, now breeding here, and still flying well into the autumn.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Goldfinch 3, Grey Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 1. 

Wednesday 5th October 2022

 

Mild conditions with strong winds increasing as the morning progressed. Battling south despite the wind 78 House Martin, 62 Swallow & 3 Mipit plus offshore 4 Common Scoter, 4 Pintail, 2 Red-throated Diver & Grey Plover with northbound 9 Brent. Grounded migrants consisted of 3 Chiffchaff & Blackcap with whatever else was here keeping well hidden out of the wind.

With the mild nights the moth traps are producing a very predictable variety of classic early October species. Amongst very few micro-moths are Eudonia angustea which can be out well into the autumn.

Ringing: nil.


Tuesday 4th October 2022


Strong south westerlies made for a slow day migration wise. 3 continental blackbirds and 27 redwing were classic examples of October migrants. A Lapland bunting flying over the reserve was another, though sadly only seen/heard by two observers. Brent geese and other waterfowl were slowly passing south all day, numbers increasing as the season wears on. 



You might recognise White-shouldered House Moth from your homes, but we don't have them turn up in our traps very often. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 3, Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Redwing 1.
 

Monday 3rd October 2022


Some good movement today, especially of house martins, of which at least 450 were swirling around the observatory for most of the morning. A female reed bunting was the first ringed at the observatory this year, and 36 house martin juveniles were convinced to join it in this status late morning. Another woodlark went south, and blue tit numbers at the obs have picked up again. One of the previous weeks redstarts was recaptured, showing a nice increase in its fat levels, which is why its still hanging around. Overall a pleasant day of interesting, if not overwhelming, migration. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blackcap 3, Blue Tit 9, Chiffchaff 5, Dunnock 1, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 1, House Martin 36, Meadow Pipit 2, Reed Bunting. 

Sunday 2nd October 2022

 

Good to have a bit more visible migration this morning with southbound 367 Goldfinch, 235 Mipit, 203 Swallow, 112 Linnet, 14 Cormorant, 8 Chaffinch, 7 Pied Wag, 6 Skylark, 3 House Martin, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Grey Wagtail, Heron & Siskin with offshore 28 Black-headed Gull, 9 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Gull, 2 Dunlin & Great Crested Grebe. On site migrants not plentiful but included 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Song Thrush & Cetti's Warbler. Despite Cetti's being frequent in suitable habitat this is only roughly the 20th Landguard record.

The Brick is another early October regular in low numbers that is probably living on the Poplars.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit.