Saturday 6th December 2024

 

The Butts pond is probably as full as its going to get on a fine winters day. Today's migrant is a single Redwing. A Stock Dove is probably the same individual as in recent days & a Cetti's is still on the reserve. 

Friday 5th January 2024

 

Considering the amount of rainfall of late fungi are not in profusion although, what is presumed is Sulphur Tuft is bucking that trend and appearing in good numbers.

Another grim morning with wind, rain & poor visibility for the first few hours. 1,025 Cormorant headed out fishing. Southbound 51 Red-throated Diver, 21 Brent, 6 Shelduck, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet & Teal with northbound 5 Common Scoter & 4 Red-throats plus 2 Guillemot & 2 Razorbill offshore. A Stock Dove paid a brief visit.

Thursday 4th January 2024

 

580 Cormorant headed out on a pleasant winters morning. Offshore in a brief sea watch southbound 11 Wigeon, 7 Common Scoter, 7 Red-throated Diver and northbound 33 Red-throats. 18 Common Scoter on the sea to the north of us is much lower than the dizzy heights reached towards the end of last year although the increase in surfboarders of Felixstowe over the post Christmas period may have something to do with this. Single Cetti's on the reserve with the one at the northern end seemingly moving off the reserve to the Customs House car park behind the dog compound at mid-day.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

 

Storm force gusts yesterday pm with the highest 54.43 knots at 1800 hrs no doubt upset the Cormorants at roost overnight with 810 heading out fishing early morning. 4 Ringos on the beach included this colour ringed individual whose origin will be traced. Single Cetti's & Mipit on the reserve, 2 Wigeon flew south, single Lesser Black-backed Gull over the river plus a Razorbill offshore.

2024 MEMBERSHIP

Thank you to existing members for the support you gave to Landguard Bird Observatory over the last 12 months.It is through your continued membership and donations that the Observatory is able to continue the important work it does.

Membership for 2024 is now due. Members should have received an email reminding them - if not we may have an incorrect email on file & if this is you please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com so details can be updated.

Please can I ask you to continue to support the important work and renew your membership at your earliest convenience. The preferred payment method is by BACS transfer as the banks charge us a fee for each cheque processed.

New members who wish to support the observatory and its work are always welcome with further details on www.lbo.org.uk

All the best to blog readers for 2024.

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

 Dry to start with then rain and poor visibility from 0830 hrs not helpful. At least 1,120 Cormorant headed out early on. Songie singing in front of the observatory is not where the two regulars have been singing pre-dawn. Even more surprised to see 3 more Songies flying into the Holm Oaks. Apart from that southbound 18 Red-throated Diver, 2 Pintail, Common Scoter & Fulmar. This is our first Fulmar sighting since last June. 

Monday 1st January 2024

 

The overwintering Black-headed Gulls around the View Point at the moment are adults for the third winter in succession with first-winter birds hard to come by.

1,317 Cormorant went out fishing early on. Southbound 40 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 15 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throated Diver, 7 Brent & 2 Pintail with northbound 6 Red-throats & 2 Common Scoter. Off note was a flock of 16 Siskin south - on file there are only 13 previous January records for this species since 1982, all last century in 1993, 1994 & 1998. A Collared Dove visited briefly which is a species that is becoming notable as it is declining at a fast rate over the last couple of years. Finally 2 Cetti's on the Butts is their first January record (following on from the first Nov & Dec records at the end of last year).

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Sunday 31st December 2023

More wind with a nasty hail squall 1600hrs. Wasn't expecting any duck movement today, as its not particularly cold anywhere to the east of us at the moment, which is probably related to snow cover in Scotland forcing waterfowl to shift. A light movement of southbound 192 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 49 Kitts, 29 Red-throated Diver, 12 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, Brent, Razorbill & Red-breasted Merganser with northbound 9 Red-throats & a Gannet. Cetti's still at the north end.