Saturday 12th May 2023

A nice surprise this morning was our first purple sandpiper in over a year being found on the jetty at the point of the peninsula, along with a common sandpiper, the most notable migrants fresh in. 

Aside from this long overdue return, the rest of the morning was much of a muchness, with all the regular suspects singing or feeding young out on the reserve. Only a single swallow was observed today, heading north.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 1.

Friday 12th May 2023

A strong north wind made the day feel a lot more wintery than a May day should. Migrants were sensibly keeping their heads down, a chiffchaff in the compound and 2 wheatears on the reserve bucking that trend  a little. With rain mid morning, observations were few, through watching a hunting fox was entertaining and educational for the observers sheltering in the obs. 

Dark Spectacle is present here in small numbers, living on nettles.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1.

Thursday 11th May 2023

A reed warbler singing from the northern end of the reserve was about the only migrant of note today, with a single blackcap in the compound, 6 wheatears on the reserve and a trickle of swallows being the supporting cast. Oystercatchers are more active around the reserve currently, though its unlikely they'll breed here, ironically the unused parts of the dock are far safer for them.

Double-striped Pug is one of the better marked pug moths when freshly emerged.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Wheatear 2.
 

Wednesday 10th May 2023

On site this morning 5 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, Black Redstart, Firecrest & Willow Warbler plus the breeding Lesser 'throats & Whitethroats. Heading south 77 Swallow & 3 Sand Martin with northbound 3 House Martin. Offshore southbound 5 Kittiwake, 2 Oyk, Common Tern & Grey Heron.

Brimstone is one of the more colourful species here in low numbers that has several emergences a year.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wood Pigeon.

 

Tuesday 9th May 2023

A wet and miserable morning. Observations were pretty standard, a few whimbrel south, along with 47 swallows, lesser and common whitethroats were singing around the reserve and our first peregrine in several days was of note. 

Waved Umber is annual in recent  years, and as it lives on privet and lilac hopefully it has colonised.

Birds Ringed:0

Monday 8th May 2023

A calm morning, with the wind gradually progressing. A trickle of migrants again, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, blackcap and chiffchaff, with our third garden warbler of the spring. Swallows flew south in single number parties and a buzzard flew north. 

Least Black Arches is one of a number of species now beginning to emerge.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

Sunday 7th May 2023

 

Good numbers of worn newly arrived Painted Ladies & Red Admirals in the Fort moat this afternoon plus a Humming-bird Hawk-moth on the Green Alkanet which is early in the season for us.

A selection of migrants on site including 6 Whitethroat, 5 Lesser 'throat, 5 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Little Tern, Mipit, Sanderling & Whimbrel. At least 97 Swallow & a Swift flew south. Offshore 5 Brent went north with single Gadwal & Fulmar south. 

Argyrotaenia ljungiana has two emergences a year although we don't often record any on the first one. Moth totals still pathetic with numbers and variety hopefully about to pick up this week with warmer nights (fingers crossed).

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren.