Saturday 29th April 2023

Another change in wind directions and temperature opened the floodgates for a few willow warblers to start passing through the peninsula. An estimated 25 birds at least were observed, the highest day total for the species all year so far. Amongst them were a few new blackcaps and a goldcrest and following those was a female sparrowhawk ringed elsewhere, exciting as we haven't had a recapture that wasn't one of ours for a couple of years. In general it was a good day for observations, though it was slightly busier for observers after the redstart seen yesterday. 6 Kittwake flying south were notable as was another southward buzzard. 58 swallows trickled through all morning, along with 15 sand martin, though no house martin slightly surprisingly. 

A few more moths are appearing as the temperatures rise and the wind is occasionally lighter. This Phtheochroa rugosana lives on white bryony.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blackcap 3, Goldcrest 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Linnet 3, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 16.

 

Ringing Recoveries

Lesser Redpoll ringed National Park de Groote Peel, Asten, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands 14th October 2020 retrapped 316 km away at LBO 26th October 2022. This is our first from The Netherlands.

Blackcap ringed Holywells Park, Ipswich 13th April 2019 retrapped 17 km away at LBO 4th April 2023 will be coming into the UK for the summer via slightly different routes.

Mediterranean Gull ringed LBO 15th January 2010 was recorded 78 km away in Great Yarmouth 20th October 2015, in Belgium 17th August 2017, in Great Yarmouth 19th January 2018 & again in Great Yarmouth 10th January 2022 was just over the river at Dovercourt, Essex on 26th February & 23rd March 2023. 

Also single Dunnock, Goldfinch & Great Tit ringed LBO last summer/autumn were retrapped 5 km away at Trimley Marshes this spring.

Friday 28th April 2023

Misty conditions this morning made for some good observations. Two sedge warblers were in the compound, one of which was singing. A handsome 2nd year male redstart and a tree pipit were the other highlights of a morning of a good diversity of migrants, with 6 species of warbler on the observatory grounds. The first hobby of the year flew north and a swift flew south, along with 4 siskin. 2 yellow wagtails also flew south, before the wind picked up and the passage dried up.

                                                      

Oak-Tree Pug has occurred consecutively in the the past 5 years, yet was an infrequent visitor before that, perhaps a climate change induced alteration in movement?

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 3, Redstart 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 2.

Thursday 27th April 2023

Strong south easterlies held the promise of more interesting migrants, and in some respects did deliver, with a summer plumaged black-throated diver flying north, 4 arctic terns doing the same and the first garden warbler of the year. Other migrants were thin on the ground, but lesser whitethroat numbers have picked up over the week.

This Emperor (Empress) moth was the first of the year recorded here, a good looking specimen and not a species we see every day.

Birds Ringed: Garden Warbler 1, Linnet 2, Wren 1.  

                                                              

Wednesday 26th April 2023

 

A small handful of migrants on a fairly calm morning including 4 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Willow Warbler, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Robin & Sand Martin.

Early Grey lives on Honeysuckles of various types so, consequently, only visits occasionally.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 25th April 2023

A very quiet day today, as stated in earlier blogs, northerlies are not conducive to good migration at this time of year. The previous days nightingales remained, still singing sporadically, a few goldfinch flew south, and wheatear numbers climbed to 5.

The starling above is an adult female, presumably breeding in the roof of the cottage. Starlings are becoming much busier on the reserve as the breeding season really begins, plenty bathing in the various pools and puddles, nest holes are not clean places.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1.

Monday 24th April 2023

Back to north westerly breezes, but the migrants were still trickling through. A 1st year marsh harrier flew over towards Trimley, nightingales increased to two singing males around the compound, with a third just outside the recording area. Hirundine numbers picked up with 8 sand martins, 20 swallows and a house martin heading south. Still a hint of winter however with another lingering brambling. The jackdaw of the monedula subspecies was still present on the reserve. Whitethroats less obvious today, and lesser whitethroat not heard nor seen today.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Linnet 1, Whitethroat 1.

Sunday 23rd April 2023

 

Annoying showers throughout the morning dropped in a small handful of Phylloscopus & Sylvia warblers. On the reserve 2 Sanderling starting to moult into summer plumage, 2 Wheatear & what might well be yesterdays Nightingale & Redstart. A tight pack of 16 Little Gull headed out to sea over the Fort early morning with efforts looking out into the yonder producing nothing more exciting than 3 Barwit & a Whimbrel.

Ringing: 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet, 1 Wren.