Saturday 4th October 2025

 

Named Storm "Amy" Force 6 - 8 gusting Severe Gale 9 in the early afternoon makes birding very difficult with an annual visit by the Suffolk Bird Group blowing the cobwebs away but producing not a lot. Worth a mention 6 Swallow & 4 House Martin battling south, 7 Mipit, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Chaffinch a Stonechat along View Point Road & a Wheatear at the front of the Fort. 7 Sandwich Tern were in the river & 2 Common Tern headed south.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch

Friday 3rd October 2025

 

'Just a wee trim please sir.' This adult male blackbird in post breeding moult was colour ringed as a youngster back in May 2022. If you have any sightings of our colour ringed Blackbirds please just drop us an email.

Strong winds and scattered showers always pose a challenge for the daily records but an Arctic Skua annoying the Sandwich Terns is better than a poke in the eye. Late morning a couple Gannet battled against the wind South before turning tail and whizzing back north. Also moving on the sea were 4 Brent Geese, 2 Cormorant, 1 Common Tern, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Med Gull, 3 Teal and 11 Wigeon. As per migrants on site just 2 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit and 1 Song Thrush managed.

Ringing: 2 Chaffinch.

Thursday 2nd October 2025

 

Woke up 8 Redwing this morning as the nets were opened. The air was filled with Robin calls too as new arrivals were being chased around by other lingering migrants and resident birds. Mid-morning an Arctic Tern was feeding just offshore, caught a couple fish off the surface and continued its way Southbound. A few new Goldcrest have arrived but really struggled to find a Chiffchaff this morning! 

Also to report 2 Blackcap, 12 Chaffinch, 12 Goldcrest, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 39 Meadow Pipit, 2 Siskin, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Stonechat, 5 Swallow and 2 Wheatear. Offshore 16 Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 15 Sandwich Tern, 10 Teal and 16 Wigeon.

Ringing: 3 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Robin, 2 Song Thrush.

Wednesday 1st October 2025

Large female Sparrowhawk on the lookout.

Calm conditions will continue however a little decrease in the volume of birds coming through this morning. 3 Black Redstart are still with us often seen hopping around the bushes on the reserve. 8 more Redpoll dropped in and a record flock of 12 Egyptian Geese heading North was quite out the ordinary. Also of note 7 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail, 60 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 20 Robin, 2 Skylark, 1 Siskin, 2 Sparrowhawk, 7 Swallow, 5 Song Thrush, 5 Stonechat and 2 Wheatear.

Offshore 33 Black-headed Gull, 2 Brent Goose, 1 Common Tern, 4 Cormorant, 3 Med Gull, 3 Pintail, 11 Sandwich Tern, 2 Teal and 32 Wigeon. 

Ringing: 4 Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Great Tit, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Wren.

 

SEPTEMBER RINGING TOTALS 2025

 

It has been the busiest September we've had for quite some time. Just over double the birds last year; 721 over 36 species has kept us far too busy to complain about the lack of recent scarcities. In terms of species it has been a very typical Autumn selection for Landguard but it is hopeful to see many iconic species in reasonably healthier numbers.

Species	No. Ringed
Blackcap	139
Chiffchaff	135
Meadow Pipit	100
Willow Warbler	59
Robin	56
Blue Tit	42
Goldcrest	38
Great Tit	16
Long-tailed Tit	15
Grey Wagtail	15
Reed Warbler	14
Song Thrush	13
Lesser Whitethroat	9
Whitethroat	8
Pied Flycatcher	7
Cetti's Warbler	6
Blackbird	6
Woodpigeon	5
Sedge Warbler	5
Dunnock	5
Redpoll	4
House Sparrow	4
Spotted Flycatcher	3
Wren	2
Sparrowhawk	2
Linnet	2
Goldfinch	2
Wood Warbler	1
Starling	1
Redstart	1
Greenfinch	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Magpie	1
Garden Warbler	1
Coal Tit	1
Brambling	1
Total	721

Tuesday 30th September 2025

 

Stonechat numbers now up to 5.

The weather doesn't get much calmer than this down here as the morning began with a calling Siskin. 6 recorded in the end and at least 4 Redpoll too. Tit flocks have been passing through - 17 new Blue Tit and 7 Great Tit ringed today but there's always tomorrow to catch the rest... Other migrants 20 Chiffchaff, 15 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 55 Meadow Pipit, 14 Robin, 5 Skylark, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Swallow, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Wheatear.

Great day to see Clouded Yellow.

Ringing: 8 Blackcap, 17 Blue Tit, 13 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 7 Great Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redpoll, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Wren.

Monday 29th September 2025

 

Slow Worm lives here in small numbers it's just that we don't bump into them very often.

Misty start followed by a reasonable day for standard late September fare including the first 3 Stonechat of the autumn. In today's selection box at least 40 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcap, 26 House Martin, 25 Goldcrest, 11 Swallow, 5 Songies, 4 Siskin, 2 Wheatear, Chaffinch, Heron, Lesser 'throat, Redstart, Redwing & Willow Warbler. A volery of 15 Long-tailed Tit paid a visit & the usual 3 Black Red were out there. Clouded Yellow got into double figures with a worn Meadow Brown on the Butts very late on parade.

Lunar Underwing is a regular in the traps in small numbers at this season.

Ringing: 20 Goldcrest, 19 Chiffchaff, 15 Long-tailed Tit, 14 Blackcap, 7 Robin, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Song Thrush.

Sunday 28th September 2025

 

Three Glossy Ibis south is only the third site record. Also of note is a British race Coal Tit as members of this species in the autumn are usually continental birds (although it may have come from no further away than Langer Park). Southbound 420 Swallow, 43 Teal, 28 Brent, 12 Wigeon, 8 Mipit, 4 Shelduck, 3 Pintail & a juv Peregrine. On site migrants disappointingly few when one considerers the weather conditions that looked promising. Amongst a meagre selection were 22 Mipit, 15 Robin, 5 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Grey Wag, Lesser 'throat & Wheatear plus the usual 3 Black Red & elusive male Pheasant.

Moth traps held a few migrants including the first Golden Twin-spot for five years.

Ringing: 4 Blue Tit, 4 Robin, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Linnet.