Saturday 23rd November 2024

 

1,158 Cormorant headed out fishing. Southerly gale increasing throughout the morning. Southbound 35 Brent, 18 Common Scoter, 11 Common Gull, 6 Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, 4 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 2 Wigeon, Goldeneye, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Teal & Velvet Scoter with northbound 2 Gannet, Little Egret & Red-throated Diver.

Friday 22nd November 2024

 

Light dusting of snow first thing with a biting strong breeze should shift the last leaves on the trees. Only grounded migrants were a couple of new Blackies & Woodcock. 7 Goldfinch flew south. Offshore southbound 15 Common Gull, 5 Black-headed Gull, 4 Pintail, 4  Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Brent, 2 Redshank & Red-throated Diver with northbound 3 Brent & Oyk. An unidentified large falcon eluded identification.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Thursday 21st November 2024

 

Migrants this morning were a handful of new Blackies, Redwing, Snipe, Snow Bunting, Woodcock & the first new Robin for ten days as it was thought autumn had finished for them. 6 Starling came in off the sea so they are still arriving for the winter. Offshore southbound 24 Teal, 22 Lapwing, 12 Dunlin, 10 Common Scoter, 9 Wigeon, 5 Brent, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver & Little Egret with northbound 5 Brent, Common Scoter, Oyk & Red-throat. On the point 6 Turnstone, Purp & Rock Pipit.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin.

Wednesday 20th November 2024

 

Chilly, bright n' breezy morning with a slight frost brought a small handful of migrants & some refugees from snow cover inland. 423 Cormorant headed out fishing pre dawn plus 22 more in from the north later on. On site a handful of new Blackies, 9 Lapwing, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Skylark, 2 Song Thrush & Woodcock. Southbound 83 Teal, 40 Common Scoter, 11 Knot, 7 Black-headed Gull, 4 Goosander, 3 Brent, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, Goldeneye & Ringed Plover plus northbound 27 Common Scoter. 4 Kitts are, hopefully, a sign of wintering birds starting to appear offshore. Finally a Purp on the point.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird.

Ringing Recoveries

Black-headed Gull ringed LBO 15th January 2010 and seen every winter either at LBO or Felixstowe Pier up to 25th February 2023 was at several sites in Gdynia, Poland from 18th January to 26th March 2024, has now been seen 1,504 km away at Talska (ereras), Siauliai, Lithuania on 29th October 2024. Having wintered in Felixstowe for 13 years, Poland last winter & now seen in Lithuania one wonders where its going to go this winter ? 

Blackbird ringed Sandwich Bay, Kent 14th January 2024 was retrapped 74 km away at LBO on 16th November 2024. Presumably a continental bird that winters in the UK coming in via a different route this winter ?

Tuesday 19th November 2024

Cold wet morning dampened the enthusiasm levels some what not helped by nothing moving offshore. 402 Cormorant headed out fishing in the gloom early on. From a sparse selection of records worth a mention are 3 Song Thrush, 2 Woodcock, Little Egret plus Purp & Rock Pipit on the point.

A visit into the rooms under the observatory produced this Bloxworth Snout. First noted here five years ago it is probably now got itself established in Felixstowe.

Monday 18th November 2024

 

Wasn't expecting a juvenile Red-rumped Swallow that stayed for c.10 minutes - one would have thought that we were used to expecting the unexpected by now ! Otherwise migrants were 2 Chaffinch, Brambling, Redpoll, Woodcock plus a new Blacky. Offshore very quiet. 3 Turnstone, Purp & Rock Pipit on the point. 196 Cormorant went out fishing early on with another 320 coming in from the north to the offshore feeding grounds suggesting that persecution at the roost inland continues this winter.

December Moth just about makes it onto the year list in most recent years.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Sunday 17th November 2024

 

193 Cormorant headed out fishing early on. 13 Mipit, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, couple of new Blackies, Siskin, Songie plus 8 Starling in off are today's meagre offerings in the migrant department. Offshore movements almost non-existent. Late Common Darter & Red Admiral are starting to get notable.

Ringing: 5 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.