Saturday 1st June 2024

Most of what movement occurred today was at sea. 114 gannet joined 4 fulmar and 9 kittiwake heading south, whilst 64 little tern, 31 of which were moving north, is the largest total we've had of the species in a long time. An arctic skua was the one scarcer species moving south, despite several hours observation. 

Plenty of Mullein moth larvae munching their way through the Great Mullein plants on the reserve.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 2.

MAY RINGING TOTALS 2024

We ringed slightly fewer birds May '24 than '23, though only by 5 individuals. A slightly more diverse month at 24 compared to 19 last year. 

Highlights were first spring pied flycatcher for years, indeed the species hasn't been seen on site in spring for several years let alone been ringed. 4 spotted flycatchers was a welcome improvement on '23's single bird, and several were present that did not get ringed. 

Several individuals turned up as presumably failed breeders, grey wagtail and blackcap females with old brood patches were unusual captures, as were any grey wagtails at all in May, so 3 is a pleasant surprise, though this doesn't necessarily bode well for local breeders. Starling numbers were significantly better than last year, despite the fledged brood size being 2 on average. 

Fledgling numbers seem equal or lower than last years, but there's a few months for that picture to turn around for some species. 

Species	No. ringed
Great Tit	12
Willow warbler	12
Linnet	10
Lesser Whitethroat	10
Starling	10
Chiffchaff	8
Blackcap	8
Blackbird	6
Reed warbler	6
Whitethroat	5
Robin	4
Spotted Flycatcher	4
Dunnock	3
Garden Warbler	3
Grey Wagtail	3
Nightingale	1
Pied Flycatcher	1
Wren	1
Goldfinch	1
Song Thrush	1
Blue tit	1
House Sparrow	1
Sedge Warbler	1
Redstart	1
Total	112

Friday 31st May 2024

A wet and blustery day made observations tricky. Despite this, a chiffchaff  was singing briefly in the rain at the observatory, whilst a fulmar, several gannets and kittiwakes went past north and south depending on their feeling. The hoped for Manx shearwater did not make an appearance despite slightly promising weather conditions. 

This male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly was roosting in the Helgoland trap, and has since been moved somewhere drier and more sheltered. 

Gypsonoma sociana colonised in 2017 and is now doing very well living on the poplars. 

 

Thursday 30th May 2024

Back to unsettled weather, with a brisk northerly wind. However the morning had an early spring feel as there were a few migrants around and at least 3 that should have moved on before now. Another two blackcaps, a female with a brood patch and a briefly singing male could be failed breeders moving to a different area to try again, though the male could just be a late migrant. A willow warbler late morning was also a late migrant, as was a Short-eared owl found in the afternoon. This was our latest spring record of this species by 2 days out of our 5 previous May sightings. 

Spurge Hawk-moth was formerly a rare vagrant here, but now seems to live here. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Linnet 1, Reed Warbler 1, Starling 2, Willow Warbler 1. 

Wednesday 29th May 2024

Another quiet and windy day on the reserve. Most of the regulars were still accounted for, the local Cetti's warblers were still singing around the compound. A few birds were taking advantage of the strong winds to pass by. 19 house martin moved south along with 21 swallow, both species well down on previous years. Kittiwakes have been passing through almost daily recently with 6 heading south through the morning, presumably younger non-breeding birds. 

 

Living on nettles the Snout should do well this year. 

Birds Ringed: Linnet 1.

Tuesday 28th May 2024

Despite the cooler weather, it really is feeling like summer here now. Most of the migrants have moved through, though a spotted flycatcher or 2 have been hanging around the last few days. Another reed warbler was in the observatory compound, but these two species are fairly late migrants and almost expected late spring. Still some late waders on the jetty, 3 sanderling and 2 turnstone showing little interest in heading north just yet. 

Adela croesella is a day flying moth living on privet.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Linnet 1, Reed Warbler 1.

 

Monday 27th May 2024

 

Late spring migrants still on the move include Redstart & Robin although if they are heading to the far north in Scandinavia above the Arctic Circle you don't want to arrive up there until the end of May. Other, more expected late May movers were Chiffchaff & Spot Fly. Heading south 29 Swallow, 11 Goldfinch, 8 House Martin, 6 Swift & Little Egret.

First Sand Dart of the year. This is a nationally scarce species that is a species that has increased here over the years coinciding with the increase in sand.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Redstart, 1 Robin, 1 Starling.

Sunday 26th May 2024

 

Despite the onshore breeze & rain first thing migrants hard to come by. Southbound 19 Swallow, 7 Kittiwake, 5 Gannet, 3 Swift, House Martin, Sandwich Tern & Whimbrel with northbound 4 Sandwich, Little Tern & Sand Martin.

Satin Wave are now emerging which is a species that likes sandy grassland plants so does well in some years.

Ringing: Nil.