Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin.
Thursday 21st November 2024
Wednesday 20th November 2024
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Ringing: 4 Blackbird.
Ringing Recoveries
Black-headed Gull ringed LBO 15th January 2010 and seen every winter either at LBO or Felixstowe Pier up to 25th February 2023 was at several sites in Gdynia, Poland from 18th January to 26th March 2024, has now been seen 1,504 km away at Talska (ereras), Siauliai, Lithuania on 29th October 2024. Having wintered in Felixstowe for 13 years, Poland last winter & now seen in Lithuania one wonders where its going to go this winter ?
Blackbird ringed Sandwich Bay, Kent 14th January 2024 was retrapped 74 km away at LBO on 16th November 2024. Presumably a continental bird that winters in the UK coming in via a different route this winter ?
Tuesday 19th November 2024
Cold wet morning dampened the enthusiasm levels some what not helped by nothing moving offshore. 402 Cormorant headed out fishing in the gloom early on. From a sparse selection of records worth a mention are 3 Song Thrush, 2 Woodcock, Little Egret plus Purp & Rock Pipit on the point.
Monday 18th November 2024
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Ringing: 1 Blackbird.
Sunday 17th November 2024
Ringing: 5 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.
Saturday 16th November 2024
Fungi knowledge very poor. This is Blackening Waxcap, also known as Witch's Hat.
Handful of new Blackies, Songies plus 2 Lesser Redpoll was as good as it got around the observatory. Offshore movements sparse with southbound 9 Black-headed Gull, 7 Brent, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Snipe, Little Egret & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Gannet, 4 Brent & a Red-throat. Those togger friendly 3 Purps were at the point although the English Dictionary is yet to catch up with the current usage of this term.
Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Song Thrush.
Friday 15th November 2024
A relatively quiet morning as the observatory bade farewell to its seasonal warden for the year. Still blackbirds arriving off the sea, some coming in with the container ships going into the docks. A woodcock on the beach was clearly fresh in and there was a small movement of red-throated divers off the beach, with 8 heading south and 4 heading north. 3 purple sandpipers, 4 turnstone and a rock pipit were on the jetty and 242 cormorants headed out of the river to feed.
It's very unusual to see Lathronympha strigiana on the wing this late in the year.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 8, Wren 1.
Thursday 14th November 2024
Less blackbirds around today, though most of the usual suspects were still around. 2 purple sandpipers and a rock pipit were still on the jetty, 5 Cetti's warblers were singing around the reserve and hundreds of cormorants moved throughout the morning, with 350 heading south, 127 straight out to sea and a paltry 10 north. 3 Egyptian geese were slightly notable, though they have been much more common a sight this year, as the feral population grows. A single redpoll called over the observatory early morning, and a single great crested grebe flew south.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 6, Goldcrest 1, Wren 1.
Wednesday 13th December 2024
Ringing: 16 Blackbird.
Tuesday 12th November 2024
A switch in wind direction to north westerly didn't noticeably change the range of species encountered today, or numbers. 20 blackbird were onsite, many fresh in. 277 starling came in off the sea during the morning, as did a late morning woodcock. 374 cormorant flew south along with 136 black-headed gull, 2 kittiwake and 11 common gull. Still some meadow pipits moving with 5 heading south and 4 feeding on the reserve. A single swallow south was notable this late in November. 5 red-throated diver flew north and a handful of ducks went south, 2 gadwall, 5 teal and 4 wigeon. A single great-crested grebe went north.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 3, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1.
Monday 11th November 2024
A switch in the wind direction made for a diverse range of species recorded. 8 long-tailed tits were the first we've had this autumn, much later than we usually expect them. They brought with them at least one new blackcap. A few birds remained from the weekend, a golden plover and the snow bunting out on the reserve and a brambling within the observatory compound. 3 lesser redpoll were new in, a snipe flew over and a few thrushes remained, with a mistle thrush moving west, at least 15 blackbird, 3 song thrush and 2 redwing onsite as a whole. 3 little egret flew south, 3 purple sandpipers and two turnstone were on the jetty and a colour ringed ringed plover was photographed on the beach. Interestingly this was a bird that had been seen here as a juvenile last year after being marked in Poland. Has it returned to Poland to breed itself in the intervening months? We can hope so.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Lesser Redpoll 2, Long-tailed Tit 8, Song Thrush 2.
Sunday 10th November 2024
Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Redwing.
Saturday 9th November 2024
An interesting morning with a little more diversity than usual. A black redstart was the first for a few days, a fieldfare was fresh in and a purple sandpiper was still on the jetty. 2 goldeneye south were the first for weeks. It was a slightly 'finchy' day, with 8 new chaffinch, a lesser redpoll and a male brambling. A number of thrushes were around the obs, with at least 22 redwing, 25 blackbird and 8 song thrush in the observatory scrub and moving through. Still new goldcrests, wrens and robins are popping up each day. 6 lapwing went north, with 10 heading west and 3 turnstone joined the purple sandpiper on the jetty.
The first site record of Sprawler was last year with today producing the second.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 5, Brambling 1, Chaffinch 5, Goldcrest 2, Lesser Redpoll 1, Linnet 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 4, Wren 2.
Friday 8th November 2024
A cold and quiet morning didn't see much moving. Another blackcap and chiffchaff were in the observatory compound along with a few new goldcrest, blackbirds and song thrushes. Out on the jetty 2 purple sandpipers were joined by 4 turnstones and a rock pipit. The local kestrels were joined by a female sparrowhawk and a peregrine. A winter plumaged red-throated diver was on the river.
This immigrant Red-headed Chestnut is the fourth site record of a species that arrives late in the season.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 2.
Thursday 7th November 2024
A typical November day saw a little gull heading south, a red-breasted merganser just off the jetty and 6 purple sandpipers on said jetty, the highest total we've had all year. On land there were still a few redwing around, and some lingering chaffinch. A lone male greenfinch was only the second of the species to be ringed here all year, a far cry from last century when they numbered in the 4 figures here in the spring. Another lone redpoll was around the observatory and a woodcock was flushed. Still more new goldcrest each day, joining the regular gang loitering in the poplars behind the kitchen.
An adventive species from the Antipodes, Light Brown Apple Moth is our commonest moth in the traps at the moment.
Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 2, Goldcrest 4, Greenfinch 1, Linnet 1, Wren 1.
Ringing Recoveries
Starling ringed LBO 1st October 1994 was found long dead in a man-made structure in Trimley St. Mary 28th October 2024. Not a bird 30 years old but a ring on a skeleton.
Grey Wagtail ringed LBO 11th July 2024 was retrapped 227 km away in Parnassiaweg, Bloemendaal, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands on 21st September 2024. Only the fourth UK ringed Grey Wagtail to be found in The Netherlands, three of which were ringed at LBO.
Grey Wagtail ringed LBO 5th October 2024 had its metal ring read in the field 89 km away at Rainham Marshes, Greater London on 1st November 2024 showing what can be achieved with a decent camera & a bit of patience photographing the ring from different angles.
Blue Tit ringed Trimley 6th September 2024 took six weeks to wander around the dock to find its way here - could have walked round here in that time !
Wednesday 6th November 2024
Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redwing, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush.
Tuesday 5th November 2024
A much quieter day than yesterday, though the diversity was similar. 2 woodcock were observed late morning though neither paid the observatory a visit. A merlin and black redstart were the first of their kind for a week or more, black redstarts in particular have had a poor autumn here. A few thrushes were still around, though not in the numbers they have been, a few redwing were being harassed by a sparrowhawk along with some song thrushes. Goldcrests were still in double figures, though most were birds from previous days. 3 purple sandpiper were on the jetty and a late swallow was perched on the telegraph wires opposite the obs early doors. Meadow pipits were having a last small push with 20 on site throughout the morning.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 6, Grey Wagtail 1, House Sparrow 1, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 2, Wren 2.
Monday 4th November 2024
A nice combination of dull skies and gentle easterly winds made for another interesting day. 3 woodcock were the most we've had in a day this autumn, with two paying the bird observatory a closer visit. A willow warbler was unexpected and pale, though it fell well within the bounds for an 'ordinary' one, though is the second latest record we've had after a bird seen on 9-10/11/1992. This was joined by 3 chiffchaffs and a blackcap, starting to get late even for these latter species now. A brambling was feeding in the observatory compound, a great spotted woodpecker took a trip down the peninsula and yet another new Cetti's was ringed. A definite increase in blackbird numbers, with at least 40 on site today, with several arriving off incoming ships, along with a handful of starlings. 2 purple sandpipers were on the jetty along with a single rock pipit.
Out to sea, the most notable movement was from shelduck with 142 moving south throughout the morning, and 9 north, the biggest movement of the species we've had this year. 38 wigeon, 2 teal, 107 Brent geese also moved south along with a single red-breasted merganser and a pintail.
The second emergence of Treble-bar finishes in mid-September, so are they having a third emergence this year?
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 14, Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 1, Brambling 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 5, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 8, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Robin 9, Song Thrush 3, Starling 2, Willow Warbler 1, Woodcock 2, Wren 6.
Sunday 3rd November 2024
An encouraging light easterly made for an interesting morning. Southbound 611 Brent, 102 Wigeon, 98 Teal, 47 Black-headed Gull, 32 Shelduck, 13 Common Scoter, 12 Common Gull, 10 Skylark, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Gadwall, 2 Dunlin, Arctic Skua, Greylag Goose, Shoveler & Velvet Scoter with northbound 89 Brent, 2 Red-throated Diver & Gannet plus a Little Gull offshore. On site a small arrival including 40 Blackbird, 13 Goldcrest, 8 Mipit, 7 Song Thrush, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Redwing, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Grey Wag, Brambling, Lapwing and an adult male Hawfinch. 3 Purps were on the point & an adult female Peregrine headed out to sea to go hunting. Starlings were starting to arrive in off from the continent with 709 logged by midday.
Ringing: 12 Goldcrest, 10 Blackbird, 5 Robin, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Brambling, 1 Hawfinch, 1 Wren.
Saturday 2nd November 2024
Nice easterlies with some annoying drizzle that lasted longer than it was predicted to made for some interesting observations, as we might expect. A short-eared owl was briefly on the reserve, along with an influx of thrushes, 25 redwing, 25 song thrush and 2 fieldfare in from the sea. An arctic skua went north and 2 pomarine skuas went south, our best skua day of the year, sadly. 1471 Brent geese south was a massive increase on the trickles we have been having, these were accompanied by 110 wigeon, 87 teal, 5 shoveler, a gadwall, 2 red-breasted merganser and 22 shelduck. 2 purple sandpipers were still on the jetty with 3 turnstone and a rock pipit, and a woodcock was in the observatory compound.
Getting late in the year for Double-striped Pug to still be on the wing.
Friday 1st November 2024
A slightly quieter morning today, with mostly the usual suspects present or moving past. A brambling joined 42 goldfinch, 13 chaffinch and a single greenfinch heading south, a goosander flew up river and a black-throated diver flew east over the observatory out to sea. 5 turnstone on the jetty were joined by 2 purple sandpipers and a rock pipit. A Dartford warbler was out on the reserve along with a black redstart, both species we haven't seen here for some weeks.
First noted in 2019, Oak Rustic has now colonised the Holm oaks.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 4, Chaffinch 1, Goldcrest 1, House Sparrow 1, Redwing 1.
OCTOBER RINGING TOTALS 2024
A much poorer October than last year with only 330 individuals of 27 species ringed compared to 533 of 33 species in 2023. Some of this can be attributed to a poor redpoll autumn, with only 7 ringed this year as opposed to 2023 where at 109 individuals it was the most numerous species ringed. Meadow pipit numbers have also been dire this autumn, and not a single one was ringed this month, and barely any in September. Chiffchaff numbers are less than half of last years 73 and blackcap numbers are just over a third of what they were.
On the opposite side of the scale, 15 grey wagtail is a massive improvement on 5 last year, though they have been in good numbers here all year. 51 robin is a good number considering the awful breeding season they seem to have had, at least locally, and the same goes for blackbirds, though both species are well boosted by immigrants at this time of year.
On the scarcity front, a water rail was the first we've ringed here for four years, and a first year quail was the first ringed at Landguard in its history.
Two tristis type chiffchaffs (Siberian) were nice, though expected, as was our only yellow-browed warbler so far this year.
|
Robin |
51 |
|
Goldcrest |
42 |
|
Song Thrush |
37 |
|
Blackbird |
30 |
|
Chiffchaff |
27 |
|
Wren |
20 |
|
Blackcap |
18 |
|
Grey wagtail |
16 |
|
Great Tit |
15 |
|
Dunnock |
13 |
|
Redwing |
10 |
|
Chaffinch |
10 |
|
Lesser Redpoll |
7 |
|
Blue tit |
7 |
|
Firecrest |
5 |
|
Cetti's warbler |
2 |
|
Tristis Chiffchaff |
2 |
|
Goldfinch |
2 |
|
Woodpigeon |
2 |
|
Siskin |
2 |
|
Willow Warbler |
1 |
|
Jay |
1 |
|
Garden warbler |
1 |
|
Quail |
1 |
|
Water Rail |
1 |
|
Yellow-browed Warbler |
1 |
|
Sedge warbler |
1 |
|
Linnet |
1 |
|
Total |
330 |
Thursday 31st October 2024
A nice calm morning brought in a few thrushes, song thrush and blackbird as well as the two winter thrushes, with 19 fieldfare on the reserve, whilst redwing seeped in the trees around the observatory. A few chaffinches had roosted overnight and moved off throughout the morning. 2 golden plover were on the beach and 2 lapwing on the reserve proper, with another rock pipit on the jetty. 3 goose species were a little surprising, with 2 Egyptian geese flying south, a single greylag north and 3 white-fronted geese moved south.
Bird of the day however was a 1st year quail that paid the observatory a visit. Only the 3rd on site record and the first to be ringed here. An educational bird for all, it was healthy and fat and moved off towards the docks upon release.
Feathered Thorn appears here in low numbers in late autumn.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 10, Chaffinch 5, Goldcrest 6, Quail 1, Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Wren 2.
Wednesday 30th October 2024
Local Cetti's are fairly vocal but don't pose long enough for any photos.
More interesting migrant wise than yesterday with 48 Redwing, 23 Fieldfare, 21 Song Thrush, 20 Blackbird, 13 Chaffinch, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Woodlark, Blackcap, Little Egret Redpoll & Short-eared Owl. Purp & Rock Pipit were on the point & an adult female Peregrine was sat on the nearest dock crane.
Ringing: 3 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap.
Tuesday 29th October 2024
What felt like an interminably long and quiet morning had a few vague highlights. A single redpoll and stonechat were on the reserve, along with a rock pipit and 7 turnstones on the jetty. A rook was a slightly notable observation, loudly yet slowly making its way across the reserve. Still some meadow pipits around, with 7 on the reserve and 4 heading south, with one confused individual going back north. A couple of swallows south were the first for several days and grey wagtails continue to trickle past, with a single individual today. A mute swan south was another less than daily occurrence.
A single chiffchaff was at the Icky Ridge, 2 med gull were observed and a red-throated diver and 2 skylark headed south.
Common Marbled Carpet is not living up to its forename as the only previous record this autumn was 6 weeks ago.
Birds Ringed: Grey Wagtail 1.
Monday 28th October 2024
A brisk morning, with some movement, though not a huge amount. 2 stonechat remain out on the reserve as does a turnstone on the jetty. A peregrine was being harassed by crows as the sun rose and a sparrowhawk was out terrorising the local passerines along with two kestrels. Out to sea a sandwich turn was our equal latest autumn record, though an Arctic tern was more expected, with several previous records into early November. A single siskin moved west inland, whilst 36 goldfinch, 7 chaffinch, 4 meadow pipit and 2 skylark moved south. Back out to sea a couple of red-throated diver moved south, along with 3 dunlin, 19 wigeon, 32 Brent goose and a great crested grebe.
The Satellite is an autumnal moth that hibernates in the winter, reappearing in the spring.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chaffinch 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 1.
Sunday 27th October 2024
Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Redwing.
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