Saturday 23rd March 2024

A blustery cold morning was not the sort of weather we expected our first willow warbler to be recorded on. With the next earliest of our 18 March records being the 28th, this is 5 days earlier, a sign of the climate warming times one can assume. 3 wheatears and 2 black redstarts were other highlights of a quiet morning. Starling numbers have risen to 550, which is unusual outside of autumn. 4 grey plover south were the most notable movements at sea. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 1, Willow warbler 1. 

Friday 22nd March 2024

With no sign of the forecast rain, the morning was a little more interesting than we expected. Blackcaps had arrived early doors, most of which were very fat, so not hanging around. Chiffchaffs are still trickling steadily through, and 7 wheatear on the reserve with a black redstart was the highest total we've had yet. Finches were noticeably moving, with 122 siskins and 217 chaffinch heading south, with a smaller number of goldfinches moving too. 5 meadow pipit on the point late morning may have been brought in by the eventual rain.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 6, Chiffchaff 8.

Thursday 21st March 2024

Nice conditions, low wind, overcast skies, produced one whole first bird species for the year, a blackcap. Chiffchaffs are still trickling through and one redwing was still hanging around the obs at noon. 1763 cormorant were passing by in various directions, though the vast majority (1551) were moving north. A few new blackbirds were in, and a female great tit was probably not sticking around, as she was carrying a lot of fat, which is not something we see in our locals.

 

As so often happens here, the moth records are more interesting than the birds, with this species, only the third site record of Dotted Chestnut. Previous records of this species were in 2014 and 2020.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 3, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 6, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 1, Redwing 1.

Wednesday 20th March 2024

 

Spring Equinox brought the first male Wheatear of the year which is slightly odd as we usually get several days of males before any of the girls show up. Annoying fine drizzle all morning delivered 14 Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Rock Pipit and a couple of transient Jackdaw & Robins. Southbound 38 Black-headed Gull, 12 Red-throated Diver, 4 Barnacle Geese, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Gannet, 2 Mipit, 2 Shelduck, Brent, Goldfinch, Little Egret & Rook. Cetti's is still with us & worth a mention is a Porpoise offshore in recent days as everyone enjoys seeing one.

Ringing: 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Linnet, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Tuesday 19th March 2023

Wind picked up today, but spring was still in the air, with the first two black redstarts and first grey wagtail of the year. A shag flew south early doors, and shelduck numbers were up to 7. One wheatear was on the reserve. Other signs of spring have been the constant singing and fighting of many species, with 9 crows fighting up and down the reserve, occasionally upsetting the local magpie pairs who join in occasionally. This is due to an influx of young crows attempting to usurp the territories of the local pairs and being seen off in no uncertain fashion. A lot of the other species are singing their hearts out, checking out nesting sites and bringing in nest material. The local magpies are extending their already sizeable nest into a veritable Fort Knox, in response to the aggression of the crows. It's always good to see the breeding efforts, though the colder weather later in the week may dampen their spirits. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 5, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 2. 

Monday 18th March 2023

A sunny and calm day really felt like spring today. The first wheatears, 2 females, were recorded, as was our 3rd earliest swallow. The only earlier records for swallow were 17/03/05 and 14/03/17. A hen harrier south was an unusual march record for the observatory, and a male peregrine was our first in days. Chiffchaffs were clearly on the move with 15 recorded across the reserve, and 2 new robins upsetting the locals were fresh in. The Cetti's Warbler remains at the Butts and the rock pipit was still present near the tip and the wardens cottage. 

Butterflies were much in evidence today, along with mining and bumblebees. A cracking male Brimstone and 2 Commas were first records for the year.

This Oak Nycteoline will have overwintered as an adult. They are scarce here at LBO and usually non-existent in spring.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 10, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 2, Redwing 1, Robin 2.  

 

Sunday 17th March 2024

 

More rain this morning. Offshore southbound 19 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Shelduck, 2 Pintail & 2 Velvet Scoter with northbound 3 Brent & 2 Red-throats. On site 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch & Redwing. Single Rook went south & Cetti's by Butts Pond.

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Redwing.

AGM Reminder

 This years AGM will be held on Saturday 23rd March 2024. Members should have received an agenda plus minutes of last years meeting. If not please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com for details.