Saturday 2nd August 2025

Just over a week of North-westerlies things are starting to stagnate a little but they have carried a Small Red-eyed Damselfly which wasn't recorded last year. This smart male up by the observatory. 35 Sandwich and 25 Common Tern seen feeding off the point briefly joined by a Little Tern. Other migrants 22 Curlew, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Swallow, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Willow Warbler.

Maple Prominent puts in an appearance most years although prone to absences.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Friday 1st August 2025

Starting to feel like the bulk of Willow Warbler have moved on however at least a couple still hanging around. Sandwich Tern count up to 52 fishing out the front this morning. 8 Sand Martin and 17 Swallow South throughout the morning. It's been a while since we've had a Swift but most have probably already gone! Our first young Kittiwake and a record breaking flock of Greenfinch this year - 5 birds. Up by the observatory a Great Green Bush Cricket crawled out the undergrowth to catch a few rays.

If you are local you might of noticed the abundance of Jersey Tiger moths lately! First noted in 2019 they've become very common in the Felixstowe area. Poplar Hawkmoth also lives here on the Poplars - Surprise Surprise...

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren.

JULY RINGING TOTALS 2025

 196 birds of 26 species won't be breaking any Landguard records but we have had some interesting highlights this July. 

Willow Warblers have stolen the show. Reflecting on the last 10 years our highest July count for 'Willies' ringed was 10 in 2023 whilst in 2022 and 2018 we failed to get one at all. This month we managed 36 so have they decided to take a different route or are they beginning to leave earlier? 3 Green Woodpecker seems to be a reflection of a reasonably good breeding year and 3 Black Redstart is good with at least 2 local broods having success. Cetti's have enjoyed another successful year of colonising and where are these Sedge Warblers appearing from? Juvenile Siskin also another species we don't usually get.

Ringing total suggests Linnet has struggled again and whilst better than last years 6 birds ringed we would ideally hope to see 50+ ringed. House Sparrow is another local species of concern and has been low for the last couple years. Previous July's before 2023 we would ring between 20 - 60 no problem. No visit from the Starlings yet this year another factor in keeping the overall total down.

 

Thursday 31st July 2025

A couple belts of rain through this morning but another good day for Willow Warbler considering it's still July. A small group of terns have been feeding off the point lately - 27 Sandwich and 4 Common. In the past this was often the norm but they have been mostly absent this year. Other migrants 1 Reed Warbler, 14 Sand Martin, 13 Swallow and 12 Willow Warbler.  Offshore 3 Curlew, 3 Gannet, 1 Kittiwake, 10 Oystercatcher and 3 Redshank. Harbour Porpoise still present and it's still pretty easy to flush a Jersey Tiger moth as you stroll round.

Evergestis extimalis is a pretty scarce moth nationally but occurs mostly in the South East. Occasionally it shows up.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warbler.

Wednesday 30th July 2025

 

Although locally common along rivers and streams this is only the 4th site record for Banded Demoiselle.

A bit less cloud than yesterday however Northerlies still bringing new birds through. Out on the reserve the Linnets had a Sparrowhawk to worry about on top of the usual Kestrel. Number of Linnets ringed has been poor so far this year but we are still seeing some late broods emerging. Migrants today 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 19 Swallow and 5 Willow Warbler. Offshore 15 Common Tern, 14 Sandwich Tern, 2 Teal and 1 Turnstone.

Bird's Wing is fairly common and widespread inland, although we only have less than 10 records here.

Ringing: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 29th July 2025

 

This Red-legged Partridge has been a lone wolf here nearly all Spring and Summer.

Dunlin heard going South to kick off the day. Plenty of Willow Warbler coming through aided by the continuing North Westerly breeze. Looks like a brood of Black Redstart have been successful as we were graced with 3 new young'uns today. Offshore saw 6 Common Tern, 3 Redshank, 31 Sandwich Tern, 3 Shelduck, 1 Med Gull and 2 Tufted Duck in off the sea. Other migrants 1 Sand Martin and 4 Swallow.

Dingy Footman is fairly frequent in small numbers here. This yellow form stramineola is rare here despite only being found in Britain.

Ringing: 2 Black Redstart, 5 Linnet, 1 Robin, 2 Reed Warbler, 12 Willow Warbler. 

Monday 28th July 2025

 

Trickle of departing summer migrants continues with 7 Swallow, 3 Willow Warbler & Garden Warbler although its difficult to know at the moment whether the Lesser Whitethroats & Whitethroats on site are locally bred or moving through from elsewhere. Another Green Woodpecker visited, Little Egret went south & Peregrine was perched on its regular spot on the nearest dock crane. 2 juv Black Reds around Darrell's Battery have, presumably, been reared somewhere nearby.

Rosy Minor failed to put in an appearance last year so good to see this one this morning. It is now on the IUCN Red List as "near threatened". Depressingly, it's getting to the stage whereby more moth species are on the Red List than not!

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker.

Sunday 27th July 2025

 

Autumn migration trickling on with 11 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler & Yellow Wagtail. Little visibly moving with southbound 5 Black-headed Gull, 4 Oyk, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Gull, Swallow & Whimbrel. 2 Sanderling on the beach & juv Black Redstart on the reserve.

Oak Processionary first arrived in Suffolk thirty years ago with individuals then assumed to be primary migrants. Two today on light north-westerlies are probably individuals wandering from inland & are our first here for five years.

Ringing: 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock.