Saturday 21st June 2025

While the Great Tit seems to have had a sterling breeding season so far, others like the Blackbird seem to be struggling a bit. However the first Blackbird fledgling of the year received a colour ring this morning and also the first juvenile Whitethroat ringed too. This morning just 3 Curlew heading South and 4 Barnacle Geese rested with the Shelduck for a while. 1 Harbour Porpoise at the point.

Why go on Safari to see Leopards in Africa when you can bare witness to the Leopard Moth in your own local reserve? While it can feed on a number of trees and shrubs it's still pretty rare here (Roughly every 1 in 3 years).

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Whitethroat.

Friday 20th June 2025

Plenty of fledged Lesser Whitethroats to be heard 'tacking' around the place today. The first Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker also made an appearance. It's been a brilliant year for Broad-bodied Chasers as many have emerged from the pond up on the fort. On site 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Goldfinch whilst offshore 2 Kittiwake, 1 Med gull and 4 Sandwich Tern. 

Lilac Beauty vanished here between 2008 and 2017 but is now back to being more of a regular occurance.

Ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Wren. 

Thursday 19th June 2025

Some more success stories to report today. The first juvenile Cetti's warbler have appeared, one of our Robins has managed to turf out a second brood and up to 9 juvenile Pied Wagtails feeding out on the reserve. They do say good things come in threes. What is not ideal for baby birds however, is this Grey Squirrel spotted right at the point of all places. Migrants include 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Curlew, 2 Sand Martin and 3 Swift. Peregrine up in the docks around first light.

Moth trap produced another rare migrant. Small Marbled is only our second record the first being 10 years ago.

Ringing: 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great tit, 2 Robin.

Wednesday 18th June 2025

 A few Swift feeding up in the morning but they soon pushed off which didn't leave us much else out of the norm except a singing Chiffchaff and 3 Swallow. Young Goldfinch have been out and about a couple weeks now. Starling numbers dwindling out on the reserve lately but a second brood of two ringed today just shows the new boxes on the cottage are being effective. Sparrowhawk in the compound later in the evening.

Aproaerema polychromella is a rare and pretty little moth to our shores. It's a first site record here and no surprise as the food plant is native to the Canary islands! (Tenerife).

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue tit, 3 Great tit, 2 Starling and 1 Wren.

Tuesday 17th June 2025

 

Dramatic scenes early morning serve as a reminder just how tough nature can be. Some of the adult Herring Gulls have learned to cast aside their scavenging behaviour and actively hunt the youngest of Rabbits as they emerge from their warrens. Mother's instinct is strong enough to try protect the kits but unfortunately sometimes it's just not enough. Very thin on the ground for migrant birds - 3 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Swallow and 2 Swift. Still new Great Tits turning up!

Small yet stunning Orange Pine Tortrix must of wondered here from somewhere else considering it's a Scots Pine specialist.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 4 Great Tit, 1 Woodpigeon.

Monday 16th June 2025

 

Yesterday's Large Skipper.

Migrants - Wot migrants ! Baby bird time of the year with the first juvenile Chiffchaffs turning up. Chiffchaff don't nest here but do as near as along the railway line at Langer Park so the nearest ones haven't got far to get here.

Dingy Shears have only been noted here in three previous years this century so pleasing to see this one this morning.

Ringing: 5 Great Tit, 2 Chiffchaff.

Sunday 15th June 2025

 

Southbound 35 Wood Pigeon (where are they going in June ?), 13 Black-headed Gull, 6 Curlew, 5 Swift, 4 Gadwal, 3 Swallow, 2 Common Gull, Canada Goose, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck & Whimbrel with northbound 4 Sandwich Tern. A Blackcap will be a failed breeder wandering with a Black Redstart on the reserve just a tad distant to see whether it's an adult or a youngster going off on it's own. First baby Lesser 'throats of the year have come out to play.

First Clouded Yellow of the year was on the reserve with a Large Skipper in the Fort moat also well worth a mention as we failed to see one in 2024.

Acleris ferrugana shows two tufts of scales a quarter back from the head which, according to some literature is diagnostic, but in others is not. More confusion reigns as published photos of this & A.notana have been labelled incorrectly !

Ringing: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren.