Saturday 9th September 2023

Despite the warm and humid still conditions, the observations were a little more exciting today. Our 3rd osprey of the year, all three of which have been autumn birds, flew low over the observatory heading south. A juvenile marsh harrier flew east out to sea. Yellow wagtail numbers on the reserve increased to 10, and 6 grey wagtails passed over during the morning. Another pied flycatcher spent the day in the compound and a good selection of migrant warblers were present, with reed warbler, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap and chiffchaff in the compound alone. 

Feathered Brindle is a nationally scarce species confined to the coast from Suffolk southwards.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 3, Grey Wagtail 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 1, Whitethroat 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Friday 8th September 2023

A slight shift in the wind direction saw a larger diversity of migrants than previous days. Willow warbler movement is tailing off, but there were a few around the reserve along with chiffchaffs, blackcaps, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats. 2 or 3 pied flycatchers were slightly less expected, but not too surprising. Grey wagtail numbers have picked up slightly with 5 passing over, and yellow wagtails were up to 6. Wheatear numbers are slowly increasing, with 5 on the reserve today.

Oncocera semirubella is a nationally scarce species that is appearing nightly at the moment.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Flycatcher 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 1. 

Thursday 7th September 2023

Another sweltering day, with a few notable migrants. 2 reed warblers were in the compound, 4 wheatears out on the reserve is the most we've recorded in the last few weeks. 3 grey wagtails passed over, despite less than optimum conditions for them to move. A single whinchat was out on the reserve.

Another arctic skua was offshore harassing the local sandwich and common terns.

Hedge Rustic has only been noted in seven previous years and is now on the red list as vulnerable.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 2, Chiffchaff 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Reed Warbler 2.

Wednesday 6th September 2023

 

Fresh Meadow Brown - the ones we normally see at the end of the flight period at this time of the year are normally worn, tatty and on their last legs so is this one newly emerged ?

Warm sticky morning which brought us 8 Blackcap, 4 Lesser 'throat, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Yellow Wag, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatear & Tree Sparrow plus the first Goldcrest of the autumn. 30 Common Scoter flew south & the first Rook of the autumn headed north.

The first Beautiful Marbled here for three years. We had thought they had colonised but obviously changed their minds.

Ringing: 6 Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest.

Tuesday 5th September 2023

Hops

A blisteringly hot morning was very quiet for observations today. A handful of migrant warblers, willow warbler, blackcap, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat were in single figures around the reserve. A single yellow wagtail flew south as the sun rose. Very little happening out to sea also.

Hops hasn't been recorded on site in memory, and this was a well grown specimen that had somehow evaded notice for a while.

Hoary Footman is a migrant species we've note here in the past 3 years.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2. 

 

Monday 4th September 2023

Antlion

A very hot and still day wasn't great for observations, however there were some highlights. The sites first Antlion was found very early on, not the familar larval stage that makes pits in sand to catch ants but the breeding adult form. Unfortunately, though not surprisingly for an insect, it wasn't relocated.

A juvenile nightingale was the other hghlight of the morning, though there was at least one black redstart on site and a few migrant warblers including singles of sedge and reed.

A decent emergence of Agriphila geniculea today, with a mere 848 in the moth traps, plus large numbers in the surrounding vegetation and on the reserve.

 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Nightingale 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1.

Sunday 3rd September 2023

Calm, overcast morning with a small handful of migrants including 6 Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Mipit, 2 Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Spot Fly & Swift plus a Honey Buzzard flying south-westerly low over the observatory just before mid-day. Robin numbers are picking up daily as a combination of juvenile dispersal & autumn migration is underway. Offshore movements almost non-existent although 5 Avocet north are worthy of a mention. A Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a visit & 2 Black Red were on the Fort. 2 adult Porpoise with a calf off the estuary mouth are always good to see.

Old Lady is having a bumper time, compared with previous years when we often have to rumage around the buildings to find any.

Ringing: 3 Robin, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.