Saturday 3rd January 2026

 

Sunny & frosty with a wicked wind chill. Total of 74 Lapwing headed south but no sign of any other cold weather movement. 3 Snow Bunting on the back beach.

Friday 2nd January 2026

 

Moon about to collide with the Shotley peninsula early this morning.

232 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. Southbound 8 Shelduck, 2 Lapwing, Little Egret & Marsh Harrier will be heading south for warmer climes. Good to see one of the local adult Peregrine sitting out of the wind on the nearest dock crane. 4 Snow Bunting along the back beach were the first for a while.

LBO MEMBERSHIP 2026

Thank you to existing members for the support you gave to Landguard Bird Observatory over the last 12 months. It is through your continued membership and donations that the Observatory is able to continue the important work it does.

Membership for 2026 is now due. Members should have received an email reminding them - if not we may have an incorrect email on file & if this is you please email the membership secretary on landguardbomembership@gmail.com so details can be updated.

Please can I ask you to continue to support the important work and renew your membership at your earliest convenience. The preferred payment method is by BACS transfer as the banks charge us a fee for each cheque processed.

New members who wish to support the observatory and its work are always welcome with further details on www.lbo.org.uk

All the best to blog readers for 2026.

Thursday 1st January 2026

Cold start to the new year with an unpleasant wind chill. On the move southbound 2 Marsh Harrier who have decided it's getting colder & maybe wise to move to milder climes. Apart from these southbound 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shelduck, 2 Common Scoter & 2 Mallard with northbound 11 Brent & 11 Red-throats.

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.