Wednesday 31st December 2025

 

221 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. 3 Ringo & Turnstone on the beach.

Tuesday 30th December 2025

 

Conscious of the fact that a lot fewer House Sparrows were using the nest boxes on the cottage this year they have been inspected ready for the 2026 breeding season. Only eight of the boxes have been used this year. In 2024 c.30 pairs nested at the cottage & in the Fort. In 2025 its down to 8 pairs at the cottage & none known in the Fort. Numbers have plummeted & shown some signs of recovery on previous occasions this century but it is doubted that this species vast numbers and there ubiquitous presence around humans, many of us remember from last century, will ever be seen again. What a downer !

6 Redwing early morning were the first for a while. Otherwise a bit samey. Southbound 37 Red-throated Diver & northbound 3 Red-throats & 2 Brent were as good as it got offshore with a walk around the reserve producing the same birds in the same places.

Monday 29th December 2025

 

Calm overcast morning. 2 Ringed Plover, Rock Pipit, Sanderling & Turnstone on the beach/point area, single Lapwing on the reserve & a Fulmar flew over heading out to sea.

Sunday 28th December 2025

Dull morning although on the plus side the debilitating wind chill has abated. 277 Cormorant went out fishing early on, 4 Med Gulls is the highest count for a while, Rock Pipit & Turnstone are still with us.

Saturday 27th December 2025

 

Wind chill is getting tedious. Thousands of dead Bristlenose Starfish + assorted other species washed up along the tideline at the moment. 309 Cormorant went out fishing early on but very few other sightings this morning.

Friday 26th December 2025

 

229 Cormorant headed out fishing plus 152 in from the south & 109 in from the north to the feeding grounds. Offshore movements restricted to southbound 16 Brent, 7 Red-throated Diver & 4 Shelduck with northbound 14 Brent, 7 Kitts & 4 Red-throats. Chaffinch is quite possibly the female seen sporadically in recent days.

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch.

Thursday 25th December 2025

 

ENE force 7 - 8 with an accompanying naughty little wind chill. Offshore tedious looking into bright sunshine with southbound 7 Wigeon & northbound single Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver. Single Woodcock flushed off the reserve by one of the many loose dogs running amok.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Wednesday 24th December 2025

 

Biting north-easterly wind we have become not used to in recent times. Southbound 23 Brent, 13 Shelduck, 5 Teal, 2 Pintail & 2 Red-throats with northbound 31 Brent, 5 Red-throats, 2 Gannet & Goldeneye with 138 Common Gull offshore the best count of the winter so far. Couple of new Blackies turning up is suggestive of some late migrants coming in off the continent in these winds. 

Ringing: 3 Blackbird.

Tuesday 23rd December 2025

 

Dull cooler morning with the breeze going easterly bringing 2 Lapwing onto the reserve. Southbound 12 Teal, 7 Wigeon, 5 Common Scoter, Brent & Red-throated Diver with northbound 17 Red-throats & 3 Common Scoter. Single Chaffinch & Starling are both firsts for several days. 3 Turnstone & Rock Pipit at the point.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Monday 22nd December 2025

 

Benign winter's morning. Southbound 19 Brent, 9 Teal, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 4 Wigeon & Eider with northbound 4 Red-throats. 3 Turnstone & Rock Pipit on the point, 4 Mipit on the reserve, 3 Long-tailed Tit in the compound & Firecrest on the ridge north of Left Battery.

TERRY HOLLAND R.I.P.

 TERRY HOLLAND    1944 - 2025

Sad news this morning that Terry has passed away. Terry was a regular at LBO a couple of days a week in his retirement until this spring when declining health eventually curtailed his regular visits. He will be missed by all. R.I.P.

Ringing Recovery

Sedge Warbler ringed LBO 18th September 2025 found in a car grille (not fresh) 950 km away at Miossens-Lanusse, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, France 4th December 2025 will have been on migration at both localities but failed to cross the road successfully & should have been in sub-Saharan Africa by December. 

Sunday 21st December 2025

Dull, murky, misty morning for the winter solstice making the day feel even shorter !  147 Cormorant went out fishing. Southbound 141 Brent, 121 Teal, 29 Wigeon, 11 Pintail, 8 Red-throated Diver, 7 Shoveler & a Tufted Duck with northbound 38 Brent & 7 Red-throats so a few more ducky-goosey things on the move than recent days. 4 Turnstone & Purp on the point plus 2 Sanderling on the beach early on.

Saturday 20th December 2025

Flat calm morning allowed for three crests to be heard including one each of Fire & Gold with one not seen. On the jetty 4 Turnstone & Purp. Southbound 37 Wigeon, 29 Common Scoter, 13 Brent, 7 Red-throated Diver, 6 Great Crested Grebe, Razorbill & Shelduck with northbound 64 Red-throats, 3 Common Scoter, Great Crested Grebe & Razorbill.

Friday 19th December 2025

12 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone & Purp early morning. Offshore southbound 29 Red-throated Diver, 7 Common Scoter, 5 Shelduck & 2 Brent with northbound 172 Red-throats. A Woodcock was in the compound for the first time since the end of November. 

Thursday 18th December 2025

 

Dull, wet & windy enlivened by 4 Eider flying south just offshore with a few other movers offshore including southbound 4 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe & Oyk with northbound 9 Red-throats & 7 Common Scoter. 7 Sanderling were roosting on the beach at high tide as very few dog walkers towards the point in this weather.

Wednesday 17th December 2025

 

Thick damp mist pre dawn quickly cleared as it got light. Southbound 2 Pochard, 2 Red-throated Diver, Egyptian Goose, Goldfinch, Mallard & Skylark with northbound 4 Brent & 2 Red-throats. On the point early morning 3 Turnstone & Purp with 5 Ringos, 4 Sanderling & just a single Snow Bunting nearby. In the bushes single Firecrest & Goldcrest will be attempting to overwinter with us.

Tuesday 16th December 2025

 

Last century Linnet records in the winter were few & far between with odd birds now remaining although how many seeds are in the shriveled up Blackberries for them ?

More Red-throated Diver offshore in recent days with southbound 28 & northbound 113. Also offshore southbound 15 Brent, 3 Oyk & Curlew + 6 Common Scoter sat on the sea. 24 Sanderling on the beach first thing with 3 Turnstone & Purp on the jetty & 5 Ringos nearby. Great Spotted Woodpecker dropped in late morning, 8 Long-tailed Tit passed through & 6 Mipit were on the reserve.

Monday 15th December 2025

Fulmar heading north is a bit unseasonal as they don't normally start reappearing until right at the end of the month or into the new year. Long-tailed Duck came out of the river then north is our first since November 2022. Also northbound 12 Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter & Gannet with southbound 3 Red-throats & Gannet. 3 Turnstone & Purp on the point with 5 Ringos on the beach nearby.

Sunday 14th December 2025

 

Southbound 15 Red-throated Diver, 9 Shelduck, 19 Common Gull, 3 Common Scoter & 2 Mute Swan with northbound 64 Red-throats, 5 Brent & 4 Common Scoter plus 30 Kitts behind shipping. On site 6 Ringos at high tide, 2 Snow Bunting near the point, Purp on the jetty & Turnstone along the riverbank.

Saturday 13th December 2025

 

Glorious calm sunny morning. 2 Skylark flew south with another on the reserve. Also southbound 11 Goldfinch, 8 Shelduck, 7 Pintail, Brent & Common Scoter with northbound 3 Brent, 3 Gannet & 2 Red-throated Diver. An additional juvenile Gannet flew south, then up river then back out to sea over the top of the docks. On site a Firecrest is almost certainly one left over from the autumn contemplating wintering here.

Friday 12th December 2025

Brief early morning visit produced 12 Sanderling & 2 Snow Bunting on the beach with 2 Turnstone & Rock Pipit on the point.

Thursday 11th December 2025

 

Pink sky in the morning - must be time to go out fishing.

A total of 8 Skylark & a Mipit south are getting a bit late for autumn passage considering no cold weather to force movement. 2 Ringos on the beach suggest that the mild conditions is giving them time to come back to the nesting sites to check that it is still here. Otherwise it's the mid-December doldrums.

Wednesday 10th December 2025

Pleasant day. Rock Pipit was the first for over a fortnight, 2 Ringed Plover & 2 Snow Bunting on the reserve.

Tuesday 9th December 2025

 

Dull wet start with 160 Cormorant going out fishing 30 minutes later than yesterday (which was a clear bright start). Bit more offshore action with southbound 6 Brent, 6 Red-throated Diver, 2 Wigeon & Gannet with northbound 31 Red-throats & 14 Brent. 2 Snow Bunting still with us c.50 yards short of the point.

Monday 8th December 2025

160 Cormorant went out fishing early doors, 6 Common Scoter on the sea, 2 Snow Bunting on the reserve & Firecrest in the back hedge which will be a left over from the autumn.

Sunday 7th December 2025

 

Dull with drizzle from mid-morning. 167 Cormorant went out early, 4 Common Scoter & Marsh Harrier flew south, 13 Kitts offshore, at least 9 Mipits & 2 Snow Bunting on the reserve. 

Saturday 6th December 2025

 Rain up to mid morning. Paltry selection of sightings with southbound 6 Wigeon, 2 Brent & Shelduck. 9 Kitts offshore.

Friday 5th December 2025

 

212 Cormorant headed out early on a glorious sunny morning. 2 Snow Bunting & single Chaffinch still with us.

Thursday 4th December 2025

Strengthening gale & rain from mid-morning so not pleasant. 2 Sanderling on the beach early on, 2 Snow Bunt by the point, southbound 24 Teal & Common Scoter with northbound 26 Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver. That's your lot !

Wednesday 3rd December 2025

 

11 Mipits on the reserve should really be moving south by now & 4 Snipe flushed together flew inland will be tardy individuals coming into the country for the winter. Single Chaffinch only other new migrant although left overs on site include 2 Snow Bunting & Chiffchaff.

Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon.

Ringing Recoveries

Firecrest ringed LBO 19th October 2025 was retrapped 110 km away at London Zoo on 18th November 2025. Autumn migrant with us there is no reason why it can't winter in London.

Grey Wagtail ringed LBO 5th October 2024 was photographed 89 km away at Rainham Marshes, Greater London on 1st November 2024 was again photographed at the same location on 29th November 2025 suggesting that is where it will winter for the second year running.

Six Long-tailed Tits ringed Trimley Marshes 9th November were retrapped LBO 21st November 2025 on there autumnal wanderings.

Also several Blue & Great Tit ringed Trimley this autumn have paid us a visit & several Blue & Great Tit ringed at LBO have paid Trimley Marshes a visit this autumn.

Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Glorious winters morning. 43 Ringos, 3 Dunlin & Sanderling at high tide early doors were soon shifted by dog walkers. Southbound 11 Goldfinch, 4 Brent, 3 Pintail & a Mipit were the only movers & shakers. Otherwise it's the stuff that will be wintering with us.

Monday 1st December 2025

Wet n' windy dampened enthusiasm & coverage. 151 Cormorant headed out fishing in the half light. Next to nothing moving offshore although a Razorbill did fly in from the north, pitched in, then continued past. Chiffchaff still loitering.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

November Ringing Totals

 368 birds of 20 species is the highest November total for seven years. 17 Mipits are worth highlighting as very few have been ringed in this month over the years.

Blackbird	137
Goldcrest	47
Long-tailed Tit	37
Song Thrush	27
Robin	25
Meadow Pipit	17
Lesser Redpoll	15
Chaffinch	11
Goldfinch	8
Wren	7
Cetti's Warbler	6
Blackcap	5
Chiffchaff	5
Redwing	5
Wood Pigeon	4
Black Redstart	3
Blue Tit	3
Sparrowhawk	3
Firecrest	2
Pallas's Warbler	1

Sunday 30th November 2025

 

Glorious winters morning. Scant sightings include Snow Bunting siting on the jetty, Chiffchaff & crests in the compound. Mist nets & moth traps packed away for the winter, whilst doing so southbound 4 Siskin, 2 Skylark & Mipit.

Ringing: nil.

Saturday 29th November 2025

 

Black-throated Diver offshore photo taken through a telescope in the rain is our first one for over a year. Dank & dreary morning quelled the enthusiasm somewhat with a scant selection of other sightings including 14 Kitts, 8 Common Scoter, 5 Brent, 5 Gannets plus 2 Little Egret heading south for more temperature conditions to spend the winter.

Of greater note is what was thought to be the first site record of Blastobasis vittata which is a variable adventive species from Madeira first noted in Felixstowe four years ago. Closer examination however suggests it is Tuta absoluta which is also a recent adventive species and a pest on Tomato plants.

Ringing: nil. 

Friday 28th November 2025

 

Very few migrants & almost nowt going past. Southbound 16 Siskin, 5 Brent, 3 Wigeon & Rock Pipit. Both Fire & Goldcrests are lingering & may be contemplating wintering with us. Single Snow Bunting was flying around late morning. Red-throated Diver in the river.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Thursday 27th November 2025

 

This Grey Seal pup has probably left it's colony a tad early in its weaning cycle.

A small arrival of 30 Blackies, 6 Songies, 5 Redwing & Woodcock exemplifies the fact that autumn migration hasn't quite finished for these species. Otherwise 6 Mipit are getting a bit tardy, Chiffchaff & several crests loiter on site & Snow Bunting was heard calling pre-dawn.

Ringing: 6 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.

Wednesday 26th November 2025

Misty, damp start followed by glorious winter sunshine. Handful of new Blackies, Redwing, Skylark & Woodcock new in. Several Goldcrest & Firecrest lingering & 3 Snow Bunting on the beach. 3 Mallard flying inland is worth a mention as we don't see many.

First seen in 2020 Bloxworth Snout has undoubtedly colonised living on Pellitory-of-the-wall that grows out of, and around, the Fort & then hibernating in the buildings.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird.

Tuesday 25th November 2025

 

Only our sixth site record of Raven was soon seen off to the north by our local crows. 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Redpoll & 2 Snow Bunting today. Otherwise very predictable & nothing moving offshore.

Ringing: 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Monday 24th November 2025

 

A few new migrants with southbound 7 Chaffinch, L:ittle Egret, Marsh Harrier & Redpoll plus in the bushes new Blacky, Songie & the first Chiffchaff for eight days. 10 Mipit is an increase on recent days & at least 6 Goldcrest are lingering from the autumn. 3 Snow Bunting are on the beach & Rock Pipit at the point.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.

Sunday 23rd November 2025

 

Wet n' windy morning. Worth a mention are southbound 2 Gadwal & Goldeneye with northbound 8 Red-throated Diver & 5 Gannet. New Chaffinch & Woodcock around the compound & Snow Bunting on the beach. Sun came out late morning so if anyone ventures out & sees anything please let us know (3 Snow Bunting this afternoon apparently).

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch.

JACK SNIPE MOTUS DETECTION

 

Jack Snipe fitted with a Motus tag in Sweden 5th November travelled through Sweden, Denmark, Germany & The Netherlands has pinged the LBO tower. Its last detection in Holland was at WUR Brouwersdam Sluice 2023 hrs 8th November moving the 173 km to LBO at 38.1 km/hr flying over at 0025 hrs on 9th November with the detection lasting over 5 minutes.

More information about Motus is on www.motus.org

Saturday 22nd November 2025

 

"Last knockings" at this conjuncture for passerine migration. 187 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. Single Lapwing & Snipe quickly moved inland. Rock Pipit & Snow Bunting are still with us. Negligible off shore action with southbound 11 Common Gull, 7 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, Curlew & Great-crested Grebe plus 2 Common Scoter that came out of the river.

Ringing: nil.

Friday 21st November 2025

 

Long-tailed Tits keep turning up. Apart from 21 Starling in off the sea, 4 Lapwing & a Fieldfare first thing, Siskin north plus a new Blacky probably no other new migrants in. Snow Bunting present & accounted for. Despite the cold a Red Admiral ventured out mid-day.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch.

Thursday 20th November 2025

 

First frost of the winter with a decidedly chilly north-westerly thrown in for good measures. Northbound 13 Common Scoter, 9 Brent with southbound 7 Teal, 2 Brent, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Siskin, Red-throated Diver & White-fronted Goose. New migrants on site were 2 Skylark, a couple of Blackies, Goldcrest & Snipe. Several Goldcrest, Firecrest, Rock Pipit & Snow Bunting remain from recent days. 

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest.

Wednesday 19th November 2025

 

Cold, wet & windy - more like purgatory than pleasure. 321 Cormorant headed out fishing early on. Difficult to work out if any new migrants in the bushes although a Woodcock wizzed around first thing. Southbound 94 Common Scoter, 2 Little Egret & Little Gull with northbound 22 Common Scoter & 2 Brent. 7 Ringos, 4 Turnstone & Snow Bunting on the beach.

Ringing: nil.

Tuesday 18th November 2025

 

288 Cormorant went out fishing early on. Southbound 16 Black-headed Gull, 15 Siskin, 4 Common Gull, 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Red-throated Diver & Brent with northbound 5 Common Scoter, 3 Brent & 2 Egyptian Geese. 2 Lapwing on the reserve soon departed south & a Snow Bunting was on the beach. Grounded migrants non-existent in the bushes although at least 5 Goldcrest & a Firecrest are loitering from recent days.

Ringing: nil.

Ringing Recoveries

Blackbird ringed LBO 9th October 2023 was a road casualty 429 kim away at St.Germans, Cornwall on 1st November 2025. First Blacky recovery we have had to Cornwall will be a contintal bird on passage when caught here.

Lesser Redpoll ringed LBO 25th October 2025 was retrapped 123 km away at Icklesham, Sussex on 6th November 2025 will be on autumn passage at both sites.

Blue Tit ringed Alderton 13th October 2025 was retrapped 12 km away at LBO 22nd October 2025.

Glodcrest ringed Alderton 19th October 2025 was retrapped 12km away at LBO 22nd October 2025 will be on autumn migration at both sites.

Chiffchaff ringed Trimley on 9th August 2025 was retrapped LBO 11th November 2025 was a juvenile when ringed & will be on autumn passage here a couple of months after being ringed.

Monday 17th November 2025

 

High tides are making Purps more difficult to find as they come and go at the point.

Small arrival of classic mid-November fare plus some leftovers from recent days including 25 Blackbird, 8 Mipit, 6 Redpoll, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, Chaffinch, Firecrest, Greenfinch & Grey Wag. 220 Cormorant headed out plus an additional 342 came in from the north to the fishing grounds. High tide early on so 18 Ringos + a Turnstone attempted to roost near the point.

Ringing: 5 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Sunday 16th November 2025

 

First Wheatear for three weeks. We do have a later bird in 2010 that remained to the 26th when a harsh cold snap had set in so it presumably succumbed. Hopefully this one will head south pretty pronto.

Annoying mizzle early doors for a couple of hours dropped in 50 Blackies, 25 Mipit, 10 Redwing, 5 Songies, 4 Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl, Skylark, Woodcock & Woodlark. 2 Firecrest & Pallas's Warbler continue to loiter. 40 Starling came in off & inland & 2 Purps were on the point. Offshore southbound 28 Brent, 12 Black-headed Gull, 6 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, Goldeneye & Red-throated Diver with northbound 28 Brent, 2 Gannet & Curlew.

Still getting plenty of Rusty-dot Pearl's but with the weather due to get colder probably not for much longer.

Ringing: 16 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Song Thrush.

Saturday 15th November 2025

Not what one expects to find on the beach in the morning. 

North easterlies have delivered a decent influx of thrushes from the continent. Large flocks of Fieldfare passing over ended in a tally of 880 whilst 165 Redwing also amongst them. A steady trickle of new Blackbirds coming through also including a Dutch ringed bird. Pallas's Warbler still present early morning at least and a Firecrest in the afternoon. A Common Tern very unusual for this time of year; our last November record was back in 1983 and that was on the 2nd! Other migrants 1 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Mistle Thrush, 15 Meadow Pipit, 15 Robin, 1 Skylark, 5 Song Thrush. 1 Purple Sandpiper on the point.

 Offshore 460 Brent Goose Southbound. Also 1 Common Scoter, 5 Gadwall, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Golden Plover, 5 Pochard, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Shelduck, 19 Teal and 20 Wigeon.

Only the third Red-green Carpet this autumn.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 12 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Redwing, 4 Robin, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Wren.

 

Friday 14th November 2025

 

This grassland mushroom has sprung up all over the nature reserve. Silky Pinkgill Entoloma sericeum comes from a family of very poisonous mushrooms.

Greeted this morning by 11 Fieldfare and a few Redwing calling after rain right through the night. Peregrine was flying along the beach before heading out to sea - probably looking for tired, grounded migrants! Both Pallas's Warbler and Barred Warbler are still present but can't blame them for not wanting to leave in this weather. A single Rock Pipit feeding out on the point and a Firecrest on site. Today we were down to just 18 Linnet. Other migrants 1 Brambling, 2 Chaffinch, 7 Goldcrest, 34 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redpoll, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Starling.

Offshore late morning 4 Little Gull went South. Also 1 Goldeneye, 3 Oystercatcher and 1 Red-throated diver.  

Dark Chestnut is a Winter flyer with us.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit.

Thursday 13th November 2025

With the weather set to turn, will we get any more Clouded Yellow after today?

The morning started with another Swallow south and a couple Brambling heard calling. Another cloudy start but as the sun emerged so did the Barred Warbler along the back hedge. The Pallas's Warbler still around popping up always when you least expect it! Other migrants 15 Chaffinch, 90 Goldfinch, 43 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redpoll, 3 Redwing and 10 Starling. 

Offshore 77 Great Black-backed Gull and 2 Lapwing.

A common species, the Large Yellow Underwings still hanging on start to look quite worn this time of year.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.
 

 

Wednesday 12th November 2025

6 Pied Wagtail today.

With the wind still in the South the birding is slowly drying up here. That said a Merlin was observed heading South late morning. No sign of the Barred Warbler but the Pallas's Warbler still remains. One very late Swallow heading South - last of the year? Migrants include 6 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, 33 Meadow Pipit, 1 Siskin, 1 Skylark, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Song Thrush. 

Offshore 280 Cormorants seen coming in from the North a long way out while the usual group of 177 went out fishing early morning. Also 4 Brent Goose, 68 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Pintail, 2 Shelduck and 8 Wigeon. 

Ringing: 1 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wren.

 

Tuesday 11th November 2025

 

Oystercatcher usually gets a bit scarcer here after September but 2 on the beach today.

Slim pickings this morning in comparison to the strong start we received this November. Our saving grace, the Barred Warbler reappeared in a brief window of sunshine along the hedge on the South side of the compound. Pallas' Warbler has been doing the rounds too as it reaches its 7th day with us. Other migrants 4 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 6 Goldcrest, 34 Goldfinch, 22 Meadow Pipit, 5 Song Thrush and 4 Skylark. Next to no movement offshore save for 2 Tufted Duck.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.

Monday 10th November 2025

Weather has deteriorated with wind & rain limiting this mornings activities. Southbound 43 Brent, 21 Teal, 11 Shelduck, 7 Gannet, 5 Wigeon, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Dunlin, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe & Grey Plover plus 2 Little Gull offshore briefly. Difficult to know what's in the bushes but it would appear to hold very few migrants although single Firecrest, Redwing & Pallas's Warbler still with us. A Woodcock dived into bushes by the beach having, presumably, been flushed from elsewhere.

December moth has started to appear from yesterday onwards as winter starts to take hold.

Ringing: nil.

Sunday 9th November 2025

 

Barred Warbler unexpected although we do have three previous November birds. Pale eye intriguing for what looks like a bird of the year. Selection of autumnal fare including 15 Blackbird, 13 Redpoll, 10 Mipit, 5 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 2 Black Red, 2 Firecrest, 2 Snipe, Brambling, Dartford Warbler, Fieldfare, Reed Bunting, Siskin & the lingering Pallas's Warbler for it's fifth day. Southbound, 145 Starling, 130 Wood Pigeon, 32 Goldfinch, 23 Mipit, 7 Skylark, 7 Stock Dove, 6 Brent, 6 Chaffinch & Red-throated Diver. Yet another volery of Long-tailed Tits turned up - they seem to have had a bumper breeding season this year. Sunny morning so a good selection again of late autumn butterflies including 4 Clouded Yellow & Common Blue.

Crocidosema plebejana turns up most years at this late conjecture although earlier records are not unknown.

Ringing: 9 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Blackbird, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren.

Saturday 8th November 2025

A Merlin back on the scene again today as more and more people connect with our 2nd Pallas's Warbler this autumn. A Ringtail Hen Harrier heading South in the early hours enough to wake up even the sleepiest birder! Late morning a Dartford Warbler was found out on the reserve. Other migrants 30 Blackbird, 1 Brambling, 30 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 72 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 29 Meadow Pipit, 5 Redpoll, 15 Redwing, 22 Siskin, 1 Skylark, 55 Starling and 233 Woodpigeon. 

Offshore 48 Brent Goose, 51 Black-headed Gull, 14 Common Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Wigeon.

It must be warm given the appearance of some late butterflies - 3 Common Blue, 2 Clouded Yellow, 3 Red Admiral, 4 Small Copper, 1 Small White. 

Both male and female Common Blue recorded today. These are Landguard's latest ever.

Ringing: 9 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Redpoll, 1 Redwing, 2 Robin, 6 Song Thrush.