Tuesday 19th May 2026

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) out on the beach. 

A bleak morning with strong S winds and rain, leading to ringing being abandoned. A male Wheatear was present on the peninsula following an absence of any Wheatear for 11 days. Multiple Chiffchaff singing in the compound.  

Sea-watching: 3 Oystercatcher, Gannet 3, 2 Common Gull, a Fulmar and a Kittiwake all south. 4 Common Gull, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormorant and a Great Black-backed Gull north. 

Moth trapping: 1 new moth species, the Beautiful Plume, alongside 17 species. One of which was the Treble-Bar, a fairly common moth across Britain, the larvae of this moth feeds on St John's-Wort, a common plant species here.  

Treble-Bar (Aplocera plagiata). 

Monday 18th May 2026

 

Male Linnet (Linaria cannabina) out on the reserve. 

A bright morning with a gentle SW wind slowly increasing. A Black Redstart still calling frequently from the fort. Two different families of Great Tit with young flying around the reserve. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen late evening in the compound.    

Sea-watching produced a Canada goose north only. 14 Swallow observed flying south overland. 

Moth trapping: 1 new species for this year, among a catch of 30 species, our first Small Elephant Hawk-moth of the season, typically a fairly common species here late summer.   

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)

Bird ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler. 

Sunday 17th May 2026

 

Few new migrants in today with 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & a Mipit plus southbound 25 Swallow & a House Martin. An independent young Wren may well be from a brood in the cottage garden seen a few days ago that are now wandering.

Coronet was first noted here in 2004 & has become annual from 2016 onwards. Formerly on Elms it has, apparently, shifted its foodplant to Privet.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren