Saturday 17th June 2023

 

Very much a migrant free zone this morning with local breeders plus their offspring. 18 Canada Geese flying south  going off to moult somewhere we know not where with 18 Common Scoter north also heading to moulting grounds. The Black Redstart continues with his forlorn sojourn broadcasting his dulcet tones from the Fort roof and having a circuit around the reserve to feed up to carry on again following breakfast. Both Mr & Mrs Kestrel put in an appearance although she has been a scarce visitor recently.

Ethmia bipunctella has shown up a couple of times this week. It is a "nationally scarce" species feeding on Viper's Bugloss and will remain scarce unless it evolves to vary its diet !

Ringing: 8 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch. 
 

Friday 16th June 2023

A typical June day with soaring temperatures and few migrants. A reed warbler was singing from the Icky Ridge and the black redstart has returned after ten days to sing his lonesome song from the fort buildings. Plenty of juvenile birds on the wing, and the insect numbers are up significantly.

Only the second site record of Suspected, with the previous one being 14 years ago. 

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Great Tit 2, Linnet 7, Starling 1. 

Thursday 15th June 2023

Another hot day was good for moths and insects, and also produced a good bird, possibly the best of the spring. A well marked Blyth's Reed Warbler was ringed early in the morning, only the second to be ringed here. This is a scarce visitor that breeds as close as Scandinavia, and there are small influxes every year, with some birds even holding territory for a short while. Aside from this very exciting highlight, the rest of the morning was very quiet, with just the breeding locals recorded, and a reed warbler in the moat.

Living on birch, Lesser Swallow Prominent is fleeting in its appearances with us.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Great Tit 1, Linnet 2, Robin 1.

Wednesday 14th June 2023

 

Looks like it could be a good year for Stinking Goosefoot judging by the numbers so far.

Single Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail flying over & yesterday's Nightingale are todays offerings in the migrant department. Offshore a flock of 12 Kittiwake flew past.

First site record of Clouded Brindle. Two additions to the site list in two days is surprising considering the lack of migrant activity as both are presumably local wanderers.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Linnet.

Tuesday 13th June 2023

An unexpected avian highlight this morning was a nightingale caught early morning. Presumably a failed breeder moving out of its territory in preparation for its moult and return migration. Aside from this, the species list was much the same as previous days. Certainly more excitement in the insect department today. 

Muntjac are normally very elusive, and its hard to know how many are actually present on site at any one time. Seeing three at once here is quite unusual, but one or two of them have been very bold this year.

We had our first site record of Coleophora amethystinella today. This species was first recorded in Suffolk 20 years ago and has finally reached us.

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Linnet 4, Nightingale 1, Woodpigeon 1.
 

Monday 12th June 2023

 

Migrants included Chiffchaff & Reed Warbler. 6 Barnies went south. Baby birds time of the year including a young Coal Tit that may have come from no further away than the conifers in Adastral Close or Langer Park. A handful of Sandwich Terns coming & going in recent days is a tad concerning as they may be failed breeders wandering.

The moth traps have finally got busier. The last couple of nights have seen a mass emergence of Green Oak Tortrix with a mere 123 in the traps this morning (plus many more scattered around the site). They are a species that are prone to come out in force some years but are barely noticeable in others. 

Ringing: 16 Linnet, 2 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Reed Warbler.

Sunday 11th June 2023

 

Broad-bodied Chaser have been emerging from the ponds at the cottage, observatory & The Butts in bumper numbers this year.

On site migrants were Reed Warbler & Turtle Dove. Southbound 3 Curlew & 2 Oyk with northbound 7 Barnacle Geese, 6 Sandwich Tern, 5 Med Gull & 2 Common Gull. Visits from dispersing juveniles were Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush & Stock Dove.

The only previous Alder Moth here was in 1995. Hopefully we don't have to wait another 28 years for the next one.

Ringing: 14 Linnet, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blackbird, 1 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Starling.