Saturday 22nd October 2022

 

The first site record of Crimson Speckled, which is an immigrant moth from North Africa & the Mediterranean on the nature reserve this afternoon.

Heading south at least 597 Goldfinch, 88 Linnet, 31 Mipit, 22 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 3 Chaffinch & Grey Wagtail plus a Marsh Harrier heading northwards. Offshore apart from 111 Brent southbound just 13 Cormorant, 7 Shelduck, 2 Oyk, 2 Redshank, Curlew & Kitt plus a couple of Red-throated Diver fishing. On site migrants just in very low numbers included 25 Mipit, 7 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest & Firecrest. Finally a Clouded Yellow is worth a mention.

A few immigrant moths in the traps including this Gem.

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin.
 

Friday 21st October 2022

The morning started calm, with the wind increasing as it progressed. Plenty of goldcrests were present along with a lot of migrant robins. Still some blackcaps and a chiffchaff hanging around and a firecrest (perhaps yesterdays) was still hanging around in the compound. Alas, no sign of yesterdays Pallas' warbler, unusually for one this early in the season. Another great spotted woodpecker paid us a visit as did a couple of redpoll very early in the morning. 

Goldfinch and meadow pipit numbers picked up a little today, but not to the peaks they have been, not surprising given the lateness of the date. A mistle thrush over was our second of the week, they haven't been common here this year, even during passage. 

Endotricha flammealis, or the Rose-flounced Tabby is a late record for here as they've usually finished flying by now. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 11, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Great Tit 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Lesser Redpoll 2, Meadow Pipit 1, Robin 10, Wren 4. 
 

Thursday 20th October 2022

A stormy morning with strong easterlies brought some interesting migrants. Thrushes and finches were all over the compound, with 5 brambling, 2 ring ouzel and a mistle thrush present. Our first Pallas' warbler was found mid morning and remained for the day though it was very elusive. It was joined by at least 15 goldcrest and a firecrest before the weather lifted and the birds spread out more. 15 little gulls flew south, first we've seen for a while.  

Later in the afternoon as it got dark, a jack snipe was caught behind the kitchen. The third to be ringed here in the observatories history, it thrilled the lucky small group of birders present to see it released. 

On the moth front we also had a significant find, the second site record of a red listed endangered Figure of Eight. This species has very few recent Suffolk records. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 5, Blackcap 3, Brambling 4, Goldcrest 3, Great Tit 2, Jack Snipe 1, Robin 8, Song Thrush 4, Wren 1. 

Wednesday 19th October 2022

Easterly wind resulted in a half decent offshore movement with southbound 6,763 Brent, 242 Great Black-backs, 226 Wigeon, 196 Teal, 111 Black-headed Gull, 34 Cormorant, 18 Common Gull, 12 Kitts, 11 Shelduck, 9 Goldeneye, 8 Arctic Skua, 4 Gannet, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Mallard, 2 Pintail, Shoveler & Sooty Shearwater with northbound 13 Cormorant, 9 Gannet, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throats, 3 Brent, 3 Curlew & 2 Common Tern. Considering the conditions the lack of grounded migrants, a situation that we have become accustomed to this autumn, continues although worth a mention are 13 Redwing, 6 Song thrush, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest, Black Red, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Rock Pipit, Siskin, a handful of new Blackies plus the first Firecrest of the autumn.

Immigrant Scarce Bordered Straw's have been very scarce this autumn.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 1 Song thrush.

Tuesday 18th October 2022

A change in wind direction and a drop in strength meant a nice and sunny day, but very little on the visible migration front. Finch numbers were down as were pipit numbers. A Caspian gull on the beach early morning was probably the highlight of the day. Peregrines have returned to their usual perches on the cranes above the observatory and a couple of buzzards were heading west over the docks during the morning. A young male sparrowhawk was very obviously hunting the birds on the reserve with little success, but he certainly moved them around a lot. A few blackcaps and goldcrest were present in the compound, though the latter were very elusive. 

Green-brindled Crescent is another autumnal species we get here in small numbers.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Blue Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Lesser Redpoll 2, Robin 1, Starling 1. 

Monday 17th October 2022

Another day of 'rain stopped play'. Migration was a trickle at best, with a few double figure counts amongst the single figures of most species, and not a single species in the hundreds today. A few duck, geese and waders passed at sea, with skylark and meadow pipit the most 'abundant' passerines passing.  A single snipe and a lapwing were notable waders recorded today, with the former barely touching down before flying strongly south.

The most impressive migrant of the day was a moth: a Porter's Rustic. This is an immigrant species that has only been recorded here on three previous occasions.

Birds Ringed: Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1. 

Sunday 16th October 2022

Clear breezy morning with southbound vis mig including at least 879 Goldfinch, 64 Mipit, 62 Linnet, 27 Chaffinch, 14 Swallow, 13 Skylark, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Rook, 2 House Martin & Pied Wag. Grounded migrants, once again, in short supply with just 4 Chaffinch, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, Jackdaw & Reed Bunting plus some more new tits visited.

Red-green Carpet is a mid October flyer occasionally visiting us.

Ringing: 4 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff.