Saturday 25th May 2024

 

Poor returns not helped by a belt of drizzle. Migrants were 8 Swallow south & a tardy female Blackcap who should really be on the breeding grounds by now. Offshore 60 Common Scoter went south plus 21 north & a Fulmar glided past. A couple of male Greenfinch have been with us for at least a week and a third brood of Great Tit young have come out to play.

We do quite well for Cream-spot Tiger in most years, which is well recorded in the Brecks and along the Suffolk coast.

Ringing: 4 Great Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Starling.

Friday 24th May 2024

Another warm and quiet day, with very few migrants. Two reed warblers on the reserve were the highlights on the passerine front, a few swallows moved south and the turnstones on the jetty had increased to 7. 

Mostly it was a day of fledglings, with a second great tit brood on the wing, and the bird observatory magpie pair bringing out 5 fledglings, much more successful than the other pairs on the reserve which didn't manage that number between them. Juvenile starling numbers continue to increase, which is nice after last years dearth of them. 

Lunar Yellow Underwing is a nationally scarce species with the Suffolk Brecks, Coast and Sandlings the countries stronghold for them. 

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Great Tit 4, Starling 1. 

Thursday 23rd May 2024

A brisk south westerly wind brought the highest numbers we've had so far of swifts passing through, with 94 moving past throughout the morning. These were joined by 20 house martin, one of the largest day counts we've had this year, which is concerning, 28 swallow and 2 sand martin. A spotted flycatcher was in the observatory compound as was another reed warbler. Still some turnstone hanging out on the jetty, though now in full summer plumage they'll surely leave soon.

Figure of Eighty lives here on the poplars.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Starling 1. 

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

 

Rain finally stopped mid-am.  At least 361 Brent headed out & north towards their breeding grounds, 2 Egyptian Geese flew over & a female Mallard was by the large puddle at the entrance to the old aggregate yard. At least 15 Swallow flew south. Grounded migrants included 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Blackcap & Spot Fly.

Greater variety in the moth department now being seen including Light Emerald.

Ringing: 1 Linnet, 1 Starling.

Tuesday 21st May 2024

May is a month where you can't really predict what may turn up and when. Despite the migration season really winding down, today produced more individuals of spotted flycatcher, tree pipit and reed warbler. A great spotted woodpecker was also a notable record, more so for the fact that it quietly disappeared into the holm oaks and wasn't seen again, presumably it made a swift return back up the peninsula. 

There's still a few slow to move waders hanging around. Oystercatchers are understandable as they breed nearby and often attempt to breed in the docks, but the 6 sanderling and 3 turnstone on the jetty and beach should be on their way north. Possibly they are and Landguard is but a waystation to bulk up before fearsome sea crossings ahead. 

Burnished Brass is infrequent here, despite living on nettles which, alas, we are not short of.

Birds Ringed: Great Tit 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Linnet 1, Reed Warbler 1, Tree Ppit 1, Whitethroat 1.  

Monday 20th May 2024

Migrants were thin on the ground today, but the baby bird season is now upon us. More and more juvenile starlings are appearing on the reserve, the local great tits have fledged young on the wing, and we've recorded juvenile blackbirds, robins and dunnocks in recent days. That being said, a reed warbler and a blackcap were singing from the observatory grounds so there's still a trickle of migration.

Flame Shoulder is a common species whose numbers have been declining here. 

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Robin 1, Starling 3.  

Sunday 19th May 2024

 

There has been the odd Chaffinch around in recent days. The observant of you out there will notice that this one has leg & feet issues either due to Fringilla papillomavirus or has mites of the genus Knemidocoptes which, either way, is not doing it any favours.

A selection of migrants included 5 Swallow, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Spotted Fly, Blackcap, Common Sand, Wheatear & Willow Warbler. 11 Jackdaw paid a visit. 25 Brent went north, 6 Sanderling & 4 Turnstone were on the shore. More baby birds out & about including at least 100 Starling, a brood of Great Tit plus the first Magpie chick to venture out.

Orange Footman is far from annual here. It feeds on lichens.

Ringing: 2 Great Tit, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.