Tuesday 26th May 2026

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), an not so common visitor to the site this morning. 

Another glorious morning at Landguard, most notable bird was a Grey Plover that joined a flock of Sanderling on the beach early morning. A Greenfinch was caught, a now less regular visitor to the site, however this individual had Trichomonosis, so not ringed and released.  

General migration: Brent: 33 north and 14 East. 1 Oystercatcher West, 2 North, and 4 South. 2 Swallow South. 

 Moth trapping: Many moths emerging in the heat, with 78 Species recorded today. Todays photographed moth below, the Marbled Clover, feeds on wasteland plants as larvae and adult moths feed on flowers such as viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare).   

Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca) is a nationally scarce species seen in most years since 2014 but only once prior to 2005.

Bird ringing: 1 House Sparrow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Linnet. 

Monday 25th May 2026

 

Decidedly hot for May. Another 100 Brent went out then north, 10 Sanderling were on the beach & the first Little Tern of the year went past. On site 3 Chiffchaff & 2 Chaffinch (including a male singing briefly). Otherwise its baby bird time of the year.

Clouded-bordered Brindle puts in an appearance here about one year in three.

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin. 

Sunday 24th May 2026

 

Another 127 Brent headed out towards the far north. In the good old days they mostly left earlier in the spring & stopped at staging grounds on the way, but over the past 40 odd years or so many wait until the end of May before departing on the long flight to the high Arctic. Other migrants hard to come by included 2 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler & Wheatear. An Avocet over the obs heading up river always worth a mention as we don't see many this close despite plenty of them in nearby locales. 5 Sanderling were on the beach & a single Barnacle flew south along the shore.

First Rosy Wave since 2012 although we have very few records at all prior to that. It's a Nationally Scarce species that lives on Sea-beet with this one looking a bit faded & tatty already.

Ringing: 4 Great Tit.