Grounded migrants were 3 Reed Warbler & a Chiffchaff with southbound 5 Swallow, House Martin & Swift. Otherwise it's baby bird time. Some Lesser Whitethroat & Whitethroat are busy feeding young whereas others are singing there heads off.
Ringing: 2 Great Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Wren, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet.
Breezy morning. Migrants were typically in short supply but included a Spot Fly. A Grey Wag is likely to be a failed breeder going walkabout. 2 Chaffinch & 2 Coal Tit are probably dispersing juveniles. Southbound 19 Swallow, 5 Swift & a House Martin should really be at their breeding grounds in early June. 32 Med Gull & 27 Black-headed Gull heading south & into the river in dribs & drabs suggests a disaster on a breeding colony somewhere.
Some of us had given up hope for our breeding Long-tailed Tits but as if from nowhere we ringed 9 juveniles today. The first successful breeders for us here at LBO. Over night rain also blessed us with a few migrants (we will take what we can get right now). These include 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Warbler, a smattering of Swifts and Swallows and a House Martin South. Observed offshore were 2 Avocet, 6 Barnacle Geese and 10 Med Gull. A final Starling count reached 230 feeding out on the reserve and back up to 9 Shelduck. Still waiting for that end of May extra special bird though...
Stronger winds seemed to stir up some half decent birds throughout the morning. 1 Hobby in off the sea decided to take a dive at the Starlings before heading North. Also in the raptor department 1 Male Sparrowhawk North and a Marsh Harrier South. 9 House Martin South also a good count for us as they have been so scarce this year here. Other migrants 2 Avocet, 87 Brent Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 2 Swift and 1 Whimbrel.
Later news: A Turtle Dove dropped in the compound early afternoon!
Even though it was expected, rain first thing was still a bit of a shock to the senses. No doubt the flora appreciated it but the snails were out in full force. Unfortunately the wind and rain had little effect on changing up the bird life although 1 Singing Chiffchaff was not fazed. 2 Swallow have been seen regularly for the past week and one wonders if they might be scoping for a potential nesting site. 9 Brent Geese went South for some odd reason but otherwise very little else to report.
Seemingly indecisive weather today as a we had a bit of sun, cloud and fluctuating winds but the rain is due tomorrow. Highlights today include a Common Buzzard who was soon chased off by the local Crows, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 House Martin, 5 Med Gull, 1 Stock Dove, 12 Swallow and 2 Swift. Offshore 8 Common Tern and 10 Kittiwake South.
Dull with a couple of spots of rain am (but again blink & you would have missed it). Migrants were 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Reed Warbler. 10 Brent flew out & north & 11 Swallow flew south. Offshore southbound 17 Kitts, 5 Oyk & Whimbrel with northbound 9 Sandwich Tern, 4 Kitts & a Common Scoter plus another Common Scoter flying into the river.
Definitely a day to be by the seaside. A further 135 Brent Geese Tundra bound this morning. The best time to catch flocks going over seems to be either early morning or late evening. Still some Swallow around, 1 Swift and offshore 1 Common and 1 Sandwich Tern.
It might not be the most vibrant moth we record here but Cydia microgramana is nationally rare. It lives here on Restharrow.
Ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch.
A very chilly start to the day given the time of year. A Fulmar going North was notable and a few hours later another one was spotted on the river. Also very unseasonal was a lone Redwing which seems to have replaced the Ring Ouzel which wasn't seen today. A further 40 Brent Geese North today. Other migrants include 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 5 Common Scoter and 7 Swallow.
There's a bit of a chill to these Northerlies but some birds are coming through nonetheless. The long staying Ring Ouzel is on the brink of breaking a record. Other migrants include 1 Black Redstart, singing Chiffchaff and Reed warbler, 2 Chaffinch, 1 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 1 Skylark, 5 Swallow and 2 Swift.
