Saturday 30th March 2024

A calm and eventually sunny day seemed promising, with a light southerly wind. Alas, perhaps the conditions were too calm as despite much effort from local observers, migration was almost non existent. A blackcap, 2 chiffchaffs and 2 grey wagtails in the compound were the best passerine migrants. Offshore, a handful of oystercatchers and a turnstone went south along with a handful of Brent geese. On the river behind the Obs, a lovely summer plumaged great crested grebe was fishing late morning. 

Its quite early in the season for a Waved Umber to appear. It is a species that has only become annual in the last 7 years. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Linnet 3. 

 

Friday 29th March 2024

Slightly more evidence of migration today, despite the blustery weather. The first blackcap, wheatear and swallow for a few days were noted. Cetti's warblers were still around the site, with at least four heard. Starling numbers are still building, with at least 500 feeding on the reserve, in anticipation of heading back to the breeding grounds. Another transitory great tit was noted, another pale adult holding some fat, heading up the coast or to the near continent? It remains to be seen.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Great Tit 1

Thursday 28th March 2024

A blustery day with intermittent rain showers made for a quiet day. 3 Cetti's warblers were singing around the site, some Brent geese flew north and the highlight of the morning was a marsh harrier moving west. 2 stock dove briefly landed on the reserve before heading south. 

Wednesday 27th March 2024

 

Our second earliest ever Willow Warbler followed on from our earliest ever a couple of days ago. Other migrants hard to come by with just singles of Blackcap & Chiffchaff on the log sheet. A new Great Tit was a "pale male" allowing us to fantasize that it was of eastern origin although their are odd freaky pale males in the UK breeding population. Offshore a handful of Red-throated Divers going back & forth plus a dozen Brent going out then north is the best we can muster.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 Willow Warbler.

Ringing Recoveries

Blackbird ringed Wibrin, Luxembourg (province not country), Belgium 24th August 2022 retrapped 365 km away at LBO on 26th September 2023. Bit difficult to explain this one as Wibrin will be its natal area and the recapture date at LBO is right at the start of when autumn migration used to commence last century and several weeks earlier than it does now. No real reason for it to be moving north-west at this juncture. 

Lesser Redpoll ringed LBO 29th October 2020 retrapped 74 km away at Brandon, Norfolk 16th March 2024.

Lesser Redpoll ringed LBO 16th October 2023 retrapped 158 km away at Bracknell, Berkshire 23rd March 2024. This is our first Redpoll to Berkshire.

Lesser Redpoll ringed 10th November 2023 retrapped 17 km away at Hollesley, Suffolk 7th February 2024.

Blue Tit ringed Thorndon, Suffolk 28th February 2022 retrapped 41 km away at LBO 2nd March 2024. Slightly odd as most wandering Blue Tits are juveniles and this was an adult.

Tuesday 26th March 2024

With similar conditions to yesterday, observations were low. 3 Cetti's warblers singing from various parts of the reserve was promising, though it remains to be seen whether they breed here or not. A male reed bunting singing very briefly on the reserve was unusual as most British birds are back on their breeding grounds, suggesting (along with easterly wind) that its perhaps a continental bird. A couple of buzzards got observers pulses racing as they upset the local gulls, in the hopes that it would be the first osprey of the year, though buzzard is notable in general for its absence here. The wheatear and black redstart were not seen today, presumably having moved on overnight.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2.  

Monday 25th March 2023

A clear night and stronger wind than expected turned promising conditions into a bit of a challenge. A new Cetti's warbler ringed was the highlight, furthering hopes they may breed on site this year. It joins two others that were singing on the reserve, the highest total for the species so far this year, though we did equal that on many days last autumn. One black redstart remained out on the reserve, along with one wheatear. A swallow flew north during the morning. 

Twin-spotted Quaker turns up here roughly one year in three.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1. 

GROUND NESTING BIRDS FENCING

 

It is planned to erect temporary fencing to help protect ground nesting birds & the sensitive shingle flora on Wednesday 27th March 0930 hrs start. Please meet at the old seawatch hide and wear sensible footwear, gardening type gloves & clothing for the task in hand. Many hands make light work so the more people who can turn up the better.

Sunday 24th March 2024

Cold windy morning. A small handful of migrants present including 3 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 2 Black Red & 2 Chiffchaff. Single Curlew & Rook went south with offshore movements almost non-existent. Cetti's is still with us.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap