Saturday 17th February 2024

 

Today's migrants were a single Redwing plus 2 Skylark overhead. Linnet numbers slowing increasing in the mild benign conditions & the first grounded Shelduck of the spring had a quick walk around the reserve looking for an unpaired potential mate. 3 Song Thrush singing & a Cetti's still at the north end.

The first site record of Early Moth which is a late winter flyer not noted here before. It is a Red Listed species classified as "vulnerable" that lives on Hawthorns & Blackthorn.

Friday 16th February 2024

Quick visit only to empty moth traps due to other commitments produced this Agonopterix curvipunctosa which is a site specialty with Landguard the only place in the UK where it is regularly recorded. Bit surprised to get one this early in the season.

Thursday 15th February 2024

1,757 Cormorant went out fishing plus 700 more came in from the north an hour later. Migrants were the first Fieldfare of the year plus a Skylark overhead. Cetti's still here.

Mild conditions prompted an urge to put the moth traps out a couple of weeks earlier than usual. Dotted Border is a classic early season flyer. The females are flightless with only the males being recorded here although a nocturnal search may well reveal them with a bit of effort.

Wednesday 14th February 2024

 1,400 Cormorant went out early. 2 Mipit south are today's migrants. Still 2 Cettis with us. 1,800 Starlings came into the roost at the north end. 

Tuesday 13th February 2024

 

1,520 Cormorant headed out fishing plus 80 more came in from the north. 28 Brent went out then north and 5 Barnacle Geese went south. Rock Pipit still here but nothing else to offer you. Drizzle now set in to cheer one up !

Monday 12th March 2024

1,480 Cormorant went out fishing. We have a couple of migrants this morning in the shape of single Redwing & Skylark. 13 Barnacles flew south just offshore, Cetti's & Rock Pipit are still present & accounted for.

Sunday 11th February 2024

 

1,590 Cormorant went out fishing, 2 Songies singing, Cetti's & Rock Pipit still with us. The Goldfinch flock has increased to a dozen although this will be due to local wanderers rather than migration. Evening roost at the north end saw 2,500 Starlings collecting but less than half of these roosted on the reserve.