Tuesday 25th June 2024

More young birds today, including the ones we've been expecting since last autumn, the first two Cetti's warbler fledglings ever recorded at Landguard, also the only Cetti's warblers of any kind recorded in June. After last autumns influx of 13, and at least 3 singing males and 2 females present this year, it was more a case of  'when will we see?' than a 'will we see?' a breeding attempt. More young dunnocks are cropping up every morning it seems along with a few advanced whitethroat juveniles, presumably the ones observed at the Butt's pond a few weeks ago. 2 sand martin south were also notable and the starling flock is on again building up with 120 on the reserve this morning.

First noted here in 2004 and annual since 2017, Langmaid's Yellow Underwing has colonised. 

Birds Ringed: Cetti's Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 2, Dunnock 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1. 

Monday 24th June 2024

Very warm today, with only a light breeze from the south tickling the trees. 16 more curlews flew south, yet another grey wagtail went over the obs, and a few swifts were feeding over the reserve in the early hours. Aside from this it was a typical summer day, a few baby birds and some regular species starting to sing again after churning out their first brood of youngsters, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and house sparrow most obviously. 3 coal tits were present in the growing tit flock, visitors from town most likely. 

Failed to get a Lime Hawk-moth last year, but with its food plant not present here, its only the odd wanderers that find us.

Birds Ringed: Coal tit 2, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1.  

 

Sunday 23rd June2024

 

First genuinely warm sunny day of the year. Wouldn't mind betting that these 3 Turnstone are not going to bother migrating to the far north this year. Apart from 2 Swallow heading south it's basically a mixture of locally bred birds plus juvenile dispersal from nearby including Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Grey Wagtail.

First Mottled Beauty for six years, after being annual for several years prior to that.

Ringing: 2 Dunnock, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat.

Saturday 22nd June 2024

A mixture of returning migrants and first of the year fledglings today. 2 young chiffchaff were the first for 2024, accompanied by some more young blue, great and coal tits and some more young wrens. Young dunnocks are also a daily occurrence, which is a pleasant change from last year. The ringed plover chicks are still around, the parents doing a good job of keeping them safe so far. A southerly curlew was a sign of the upcoming autumn, before we're even finished with summer.

 Evergestis limbata was until recently a rare migrant but is now a regular that has colonised. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 3, Chiffchaff 2, Dunnock 3, Great Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Wren 2.   

Steve Piotrowski, 1951 - 2024

Steve Piotrowski, 1951 - 2024

Steve, who passed away earlier this week, was one of the founder members of Landguard Bird Observatory back in 1982. He currently holds the position of LBO President. A tribute to Steve plus the funeral arrangements are available on - 

https://stevenpiotrowski.muchloved.com/

Friday 21st June 2024

A misty start to the morning quickly burnt off into a standard summer day. A grey wagtail heard over the obs was notable, though we have done better for this species this year than most springs. A few swifts were feeding over the reserve all morning, perhaps local birds, but they can travel long distances to gather food and avoid bad weather, so they could be from much further afield. One of last years Cetti's warblers was recaught, with a brood patch, so hopefully she's feeding young somewhere on the reserve. 

 First noted here in 2017, Beautiful Hook-tip is a real success story and is now fairly common here.

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 1. 

Ringing Recoveries

Blackcap ringed LBO 2nd October 2023 was retrapped 347 km away in Alderney 20th March 2024. This bird will be on autumn passage here & on spring passage in the Channel Islands.

Starling ringed LBO 7th August 2022 was killed by a cat in Felixstowe 22nd May 2024.

Another Starling also ringed LBO 7th August 2022 was retrapped 19 km away in Melton 12th June 2024.

Chiffchaff ringed on spring passage at LBO 18th March 2024 was retrapped 59 km away at Kessingland on 9th May 2024 which may, or may not be near its intended breeding site although it's difficult to know with this species.

Two young Goldfinch ringed last June at LBO wandered around to Trimley being retrapped this spring.

Song Thrush ringed LBO 3rd March 2024 probably failed to find a mate here, got bored & wandered around to Trimley being retrapped there 20th April 2024.

Sparrowhawk ringed LBO 23rd September 2023 was retrapped Trimley 19th May 2024 will be a wandering juvenile male.

Blackcap ringed Trimley 24th May 2024 was retrapped at LBO 13th June 2024 is a wandering male looking for a vacant territory in the hope of finding a mate at this late spring juncture.

Thursday 20th June 2024

Another classic summer day here. Little in the way of migrants. A couple of med gulls out on the sea, one of the previous days juvenile blackcaps still hanging around, a singing reed warbler and a roving tit flock that included 3 young coal tits. 

More lesser whitethroat chicks on the wing, but very gradually. Skylarks stopped breeding here in 1998, so a singing bird today was notable. 

Records of the Lackey have increased over the last half a dozen years, which is notable as it is now listed on the red list as "vulnerable".

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Coal Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1. 

Wednesday 19th June 2024

 

Migrants were a Reed Warbler plus a Sand Martin north. Offshore southbound 9 Teal, 3 Sandwich & a Little Tern with northbound 18 Common Scoter & a Grey Heron. Apart from that it's baby bird time. Worth a mention is the presence of up to half a dozen Stock Dove early morning in recent days feeding on the reserve which depart over the docks.

Sometimes forget to display common species as "moth of the day" with Ephestia woodiella one such species that was only noted for the first time in Suffolk less than 30 years ago.

Ringing: 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 18th June 2024

Some first for the season today, first fledgling lesser whitethroats in the compound and the first hornet clearwing moth for the year. 

Another dispersing juvenile blackcap turned up in the compound, and another adult whitethroat, curiously not in any sort of breeding condition. Perhaps a bird that was unsuccessful in finding a mate and is now wandering. It's a little late for a late arriving whitethroat, but we can't be sure. 

Ringed plover chicks survived the night and are quite independent already, if still not incredibly confident on their feet. Parents are being very attentive, which is a positive sign, even if one is spending a lot of time threatening linnets. 

Hornet Moth, or Hornet Clearwing Moth, is a species associated with poplars, which are an abundant tree on site. The larvae feed on the trees before emerging as adults in mid-late June. They only have a single emergence a year. 

Birds Ringed:

Blackcap 1, Dunnock 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Wren 1. 

 

Monday 17th June 2024

Some interesting avian events today. The first adult great spotted woodpecker ringed in the Observatories history paid us a visit with his offspring. It's quite early for juvenile woodpecker dispersal, and what the adult was doing here is mysterious. The first fledged blackcap was seen at the observatory, along with yet another family of fledged great tits and a female whitethroat. 

Out on the reserve, a ringed plover pair has managed against high odds to hatch a brood of chicks. Its still early days and there are a lot of predators, scavengers and human traffic for them to compete with, so its worth being extra alert and respectful if you visit the reserve in the next month. Fingers crossed they can be as successful with fledging as they were with hatching. 

Peppered Moth is a master of disguise.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Goldfinch 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Great Tit 3, Whitethroat 1, Wren 1. 

 

Sunday 16th June 2024

 

Botanically brilliant at present with a guesstimate of 100,000+ Viper's Bugloss plants if anyone wants to come & do a count ! Windy with some heavy showers and lower than average temperatures is suppressing the insect populations with very poor numbers of lepidoptera to be seen both by day & night. Bird migration presently poor with this morning highlights being 3 Curlew & 2 House Martin south. Some breeding bird species are doing okay with others failing to rear many, or any, young at all  so far although second, or third, attempts are underway for some. With the inclement weather conditions it can feel more like purgatory than pleasure. Only five days to go to the longest day of the year after which it's all downhill - it's being so cheerful that keeps us going !

Spectacle larvae live on Nettles so should do much better this year after many lean times in recent years down here.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

Saturday 15th June 2024

Still at the mercy of the relentless southerly gusts, highlights of migration monitoring were 14 curlew heading south along with 41 swift. A lot of the local birds are making use of the big puddle to the south of the obs, including this juvenile pied wagtail. 

White Colon is a nationally scarce species that does well here on the Restharrow.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, House Sparrow 2. 

Friday 14th June 2024

Strong south westerlies encouraged a few failed breeders to move south at sea, 33 curlew and a single whimbrel already done for the year. 2 stock dove have been hanging around for a few days, the species has bred here in the past, and it would be nice if they did so again. Starling numbers are building up on the reserve again with 150 spread out today. The cottage house sparrows have fledged some young, with the first 3 having been introduced to the observatories feeders.

Moth numbers and variety have been pretty dismal recently, though Heart and Club have started to emerge. 

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, House Sparrow 3.  

 

Thursday 13th June 2024

For those interested, some decent sized Stinking Goosefoot is on display on the reserve.

A male blackcap with a ring on was an unusual visitor today, presumably a failed breeder from nearby, as none are breeding on the reserve that we know of. A buzzard headed south along the beach and a few late scoter headed north, along with 3 sandwich tern, a single common tern and 2 turnstone.

More young birds are on the wing, with dunnocks adding to the reserve creche along with some blue tits and more wrens.

Noted in only a dozen previous years, Lilac Beauty is becoming more regular in recent times. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1, Linnet 1, Wren 1. 

 

Wednesday 12th June 2024

 

Bit of a migrant free zone this morning with 2 Heron, a Little Egret & a couple of Swallows going past the best we could manage. Otherwise its baby bird time.

Celypha rufana is a recent colonist first noted here in 2017. 

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 1 Linnet, 1 Magpie.

Tuesday 11th June 2024

Two reed warblers were singing on the reserve this morning, perhaps the previous days birds but could well be new birds in. A solitary greenfinch sang mournfully from the observatory compound before moving on, presumably a failed breeder. Yet another grey wagtail was attracted to the Observatory pond, this time a post breeding adult female, hopefully a successful one. We have done much better for this species this spring than most years. It will be interesting to see if this is continued in the autumn. 

Very poor moth trapping due to the cool nights and north westerly airflow. This hasn't stopped the odd Dark Arches from flying.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 1, Magpie 1.

 

Monday 10th June 2024

A wet and windy morning was almost business as usual this year. No sound of yesterdays marsh warbler or its backing chorus of two reed warblers. The only movements of note were overhead or out to sea. 9 sandwich tern flew south, as did 3 house martin and 1357 swift. By the standards of the last two years, this is an impressive day count, but in the past the observatory  has recorded a day number of 18,000. 

 Dark Spectacle is a regular in low numbers whose larvae feed on nettles. 

Sunday 9th June 2024

 

A Marsh Warbler is a classic June scarcity chuntering along to himself with a Reed Warbler doing the same nearby. Other migrants hard to come by with southbound 3 Swallow & a House Martin. 3 Jackdaw paid a visit, 2 Turnstone were on the point & a Sanderling on the beach. Both Lesser Whitethroat & Whitethroat now have youngsters out of the nest which is good to report. 

Cooler nights are not conducive to many moths although it didn't prevent the first Shore Wainscot of the year appearing. This is a nationally scarce species living on Marram Grass.

Ringing: 4 Linnet, 2 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Reed Warbler.

Saturday 8th June 2024

A late wheatear was a bit of a surprise today, as was a fledged grey wagtail in the observatory Helgoland. Another reed warbler was singing quietly in the observatory holm oaks, a female blackcap skulked in the tamarisks and a few species passed over, 2 stock dove and 9 swift and 6 swallow south. Another curlew flew south, the end of the breeding year for them presumably. 

First Archer's Dart of the year. Another species that Landguard does well for.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Linnet 2, Woodpigeon 1, Wren 3. 

 

Friday 7th June 2024

An early morning cuckoo and a couple of quietly singing reed warblers were the notable migrant highlights today. Another late chiffchaff was in the observatory compound. The local crows started off with 4 young, and have swiftly dropped to two. Opportunistic scavenger/predators don't have it as easy as we may think. 

Mullein Wave is a coastal species that we do well for in small numbers.

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 4.

Thursday 6th June 2024

A few migrants trickling through today, 2 new chiffchaff and a new whitethroat on site, and a reed warbler singing in the observatory compound. 3 house martins and 6 swallows flew south, along with 4 Canada and 2 barnacle geese. More and more linnets are fledging, and the first juvenile goldfinch of the year was seen.

Bordered Sallow lives on restharrow, so does well with us. 

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 2, Linnet 6, Whitethroat 1.

Wednesday 5th June 2024

 

Last knockings for spring migration with singles of Blackcap, Firecrest & Reed Warbler with first knockings of autumn migration as represented by another 2 Curlew south. Difficult to know whether 3 Swallow south at this time of the year are tardy spring birds or individuals who have had enough and are on their way out. The first dispersing juvenile Coal Tit of the season appeared mid-day. Single Peregrine carrying breakfast is worth a mention as very few have been seen this spring.

Lot cooler overnight so moth trap contents were much reduced on the previous night although this did not prevent the first Elephant Hawk-moth of the season paying a visit.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 2 Starling, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Firecrest, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 4th June 2024

A muggy overcast morning didn't produce much on the bird front. First fledgling wrens of the year were out, joining the gang of young robins, linnets, great tits and starlings on the reserve, providing a crop of inexperienced prey for the local kestrels and magpies. A chiffchaff was still present in the observatory compound, along with whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and Cetti's warbler. 

2 curlew south may have been our first 'autumn' birds. Presumably failed breeders or non-breeders that have decided not to bother going to the breeding grounds this year. Not a great sign for a Red listed species. On the wader front, we still have a lingering turnstone and some sanderling in various stages of plumage. 

Only one Beautiful Marbled was noted in 2023 so hopefully this early one signifies a better year for them.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 3, Robin 2, Starling 1, Wren 1. 

Monday 3rd June 2024

Another classic summery morning. A cuckoo was the only migrant of much note today, though kittiwakes continued to pass south and the 2 turnstones remain on the jetty, joined by a sanderling. 

A song thrush on site was the first for a while, we've yet to see any juveniles here this year.  

Plum Fruit Moth has only been noted here in two previous years. It does what it says on its vernacular name and we only have one plum tree.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 2, Starling 2. 

Sunday 2nd June 2024

 

Migrants included single Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo & Siskin + southbound 6 Swallow & a House Martin. Offshore southbound 2 Sandwich Tern, Fulmar & Gannet with northbound 25 Little Tern, 3 Kitts & 2 Gannet. A Buzzard was present most of the morning much to the disdain of the local Crows. 2 Egyptian Geese went south then upriver are possibly the same individuals as other recent sightings. A dispersing juvenile Chaffinch popped in with the days of them nesting here now gone. Worth highlighting are the better Little Tern numbers in recent days as sightings seen in recent years have been very poor.

Pale Tussock is one of those common enough species that only very occasionally pays us a visit.

Ringing: 4 Linnet, 2 Starling, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Magpie.

Saturday 1st June 2024

Most of what movement occurred today was at sea. 114 gannet joined 4 fulmar and 9 kittiwake heading south, whilst 64 little tern, 31 of which were moving north, is the largest total we've had of the species in a long time. An arctic skua was the one scarcer species moving south, despite several hours observation. 

Plenty of Mullein moth larvae munching their way through the Great Mullein plants on the reserve.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 2.