Saturday 6th April 2024

A few migrants in today, though yesterdays ring ouzel was nowhere to be seen. A male stonechat was out on the beach, a willow warbler was the first we've seen in days and a lovely adult shag was in the river behind the Obs. A couple of blackcaps were in the compound along with a chiffchaff and the female siskin that has been enjoying our feeders the last two days. Despite the strong wind, it was warm enough for 4 species of butterfly to be on the wing; Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Green-veined White. 

Caloptilia cuculipinella was first seen in Suffolk ten years ago and at LBO only 3 years ago. Living on privet there's a chance it's colonised.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Linnet 1.

Friday 5th April 2024

Windy and wet conditions didn't prevent the first ring ouzel of the year turning up on the reserve, but may have had something to do with it being very elusive! A handful of other migrants were observed, a couple of swallows, 2 chiffchaffs and yesterdays siskin was still hanging around. A fulmar heading south was the first in some weeks.

Birds Ringed: Chaffinch 1.

Thursday 4th April 2024

A very slow day with strong winds and rain showers intermittently seemed to really halt the migration here, at least to the observers. Not a single migrant warbler was seen, though 7 siskin flew south, along with 5 Mediterranean gulls, and 17 common gulls . 2 Cetti's warblers were singing around the reserve, and the starling flock gradually built up through the morning, but made no effort to cross the water.

 

Northern Drab is a nondescript species that appears to be declining in Suffolk judging by the paucity of records in recent years.

Birds Ringed: Siskin 1.

Wednesday 3rd April 2024

 

Windy with them April perennial favorites that we all love - showers !. Migrants were a couple of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, single Black Red & Mipit. A Long-tailed Tit paid a visit, 4 Sanderling were on the beach & 2 Turnstone on the point. Offshore 15 Black-heads, 2 Meds, 2 Oyks plus single Curlew & Peregrine flew south. Hardly riveting stuff.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit.

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

A much slower day than yesterday, strong south westerlies and intermittent rain weren't as productive as they could have been. A chiffchaff and a fresh robin and a wren were the only signs of migrants in the Obs compound. Seawatching was about as productive, with a couple of gannets and some red-throated divers passing. The crows in the picture are eating a washed up small shark, a dogfish of some variety. Another dogfish was found by the Observatory pond, presumably carried in by the very active fox we have here. 

Birds Ringed: Robin 1, Wren 1.

 

Monday 1st April 2024

A busier morning than the last week was a nice start to April. Finally seeing some willow warbler movement with at least 4 around the reserve amongst 15 chiffchaff and a couple of blackcap. 2 black redstarts were new in, including a fairly cracking male. The other bird was a young male singing from the fort throughout the morning. A few finches were moving, with 17 siskin being the first for days, with some briefly alighting in the Obs trees, though not long enough for photos. 

Clouded Drab is a variable species noted here in small numbers at this time of the year.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 8, Linnet 3, Willow Warbler 3. 

March Ringing Totals 2024

142 birds of 21 species ringed is slightly up on the last three springs although paltry when compared with March ringing totals last century. Three Grey Wagtail are notable because we catch very few in spring. In addition to a new Cetti's Warbler were two individuals retrapped that were ringed last October.

Sunday 31st March 2024

 

Bleach Cup fungus Disciotis venosa in the moat.

Cool Easterly wind resulted in a migration hiatus on land with nothing more than a single new Chiffchaff to show for the efforts. Up to 350 Starling on the reserve are waiting for a more favorable day to migrate to the continent. Not a lot offshore with northbound 3 Little Gull, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Greylag & Red-throated Diver with southbound 3 Canada Geese. 

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff.