Saturday 17th August 2024

A misty start to the morning was apparently helpful for keeping some migrants around. Our 3rd pied flycatcher and garden warbler of the autumn were in the observatory compound, along with 15 willow warblers, a blackcap, reed warbler and another garden warbler out by the mine station. A turtle dove flew north over two lucky observers. Lesser whitethroat numbers have increased in previous days, with 9 on the reserve at the very least, whereas whitethroat numbers are still low, with only 2 being encountered all day. The autumn finch flock of 80 linnet, 20 goldfinch and 5 greenfinch have attracted the attention of another young sparrowhawk and the local kestrels. 

Only the third site record of Apotomis betuletana with the last record being 20 years ago. It is a birch wood species. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Garden Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 1, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 7. 

 

Friday 16th August 2024

Last nights wind and rain didn't do much for migration other than to keep birds grounded. A new willow warbler and whitethroat were in the observatory compound, one of the juvenile Cetti's was still warbling quietly and amongst 33 sandwich tern feeding off the peninsula was one common tern, with some putative black terns just too distant to confirm. 

 

More autumnal species, like Orange Swift are now appearing.

Birds Ringed: Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1. 

Thursday 15th August 2024

A brisk westerly helped keep some migrants around today. 3 reed warblers were in the observatory compound along with a handful of lesser and common whitethroats, chiffchaffs and willow warblers. A gadwall flew south, as did 15 swift, 9 swallow and 14 teal. A few more waders on show today, with singles of grey and golden plover, 4 sanderling, 13 oystercatcher and 3 ringed plover on or going past the reserve. 

Good looking candidate for Caloptilia honoratella which is a species first noted in Suffolk five years ago and is spreading rapidly across the U.K.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 3, Robin 1, Whitethroat 3, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 1.  

 

Wednesday 14th August 2024

 

Migrants include 6 Lesser 'throat, 2 Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, Wheatear & Whitethroat. 15 Swallow went south with offshore movements non-existent. Juv Cuckoo, that turned up late morning,  is worth highlighting as very few are seen these days.

Acrobasis tumidana was noted annually from 2018 - 2021 but gave us a miss the following two years so good to see it has reappeared again this year.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 13th August 2024

One of the local gulls teaching its offspring how to hunt rabbits. 

Still a sprinkling of migrants around, despite the change in wind direction. A new reed warbler and a whitethroat were in the compound, the latter are almost as scarce as the former so far this autumn. Chiffchaffs and willow warblers were in low numbers around the compound and a yellow wagtail flew south. A or The wheatear was still out on the reserve. 

A busier night for several inland moth species we don't usually see very often, including this Tawny speckled Pug. It is now on the red list as 'near threatened'.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 2, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 1, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 2, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1.

 

Monday 12th August 2024

A strong easterly wind held promise, which did not manifest. A new pied flycatcher in was very welcome, as was our 2nd garden warbler of the autumn, presumably both from abroad. A wheatear was still present on the reserve, though the jury's out as to whether it's a long staying bird getting reported daily or a new bird each time. 

Living on birch, Lesser Swallow Prominent is not annual here. 

Birds Ringed: Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Willow Warbler 1. 

Sunday 11th August 2024

 

Plenty of queens with males in attendance awkwardly flying around at the moment.

Migrants include at least 17 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser 'throat & 3 Swallow but little else on the move on a warm morning.

Prays ruficeps is having a good year. It feeds on Ash but it can't do that here so suspect it is on something else like Wild Privet as it has also been recorded as a foodplant.

 Ringing: 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.