Committee Members Appeal

Landguard Conservation Trust (the organisation that runs & administers the bird observatory) will require a new treasurer at the end of the year in order to familiarise themselves with the post in order to take over officially from the spring AGM. As a Registered Charity this is a position that must be filled in order that the "show can be kept on the road". Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

Landguard Conservation Trust also require a Membership Secretary as we have been running without one with the task currently being undertaken by the present Treasurer. Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

Landguard Conservation Trust also require a Librarian. Members who require further details are asked to e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk for further information and a job description.

The Bird Observatory cannot function without committee members so members are asked to please consider taking on one of the above tasks. For an informal chat about any of the above positions please speak to either the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer who will be happy to provide further advice.

Wednesday 14th November 2018

A Stoat has been on site the last couple of days.

Some vis mig with southbound 146 Goldfinch, 58 Wood Pigeon, 40 Starling, 28 Mipit, 27 Linnet, 22 Siskin, 20 Chaffinch, 4 Skylark & 3 Pied Wagtail. Offshore a handful of Common Scoter coming and going but almost nothing else. Grounded migrants include half a dozen Goldcrest left over from recent arrivals, 2 Fieldfare plus a Great-spotted Woodpecker that paid a visit. A Purple Sandpiper that flew north along the shore is probably one wintering in the area that moves to & fro the groynes up the town, the point and across the river into Essex.

Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Tuesday 13th November 2018

Snow Bunting on the vegetated shingle by the beach. 

Strong Southwesterly breeze and clear after heavy overnight rain. Noted on the reserve, 21 Starling, 16 Goldcrest, 5 Goldfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Snow Bunting & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 50 Woodpigeon. Going out to sea East, 444 Cormorant. Going South, 166 Goldfinch, 116 Starling, 45 Meadow Pipit, 34 Chaffinch, 29 Woodpigeon, 25 Linnet, 23 Skylark, 5 Stock Dove, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Siskin, 2 Brambling, 2 Brent Goose, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Snipe.

9 birds ringed: Lesser Redpoll 5, Goldcrest 3, Blue Tit 1.

Monday 12th November 2018

Shaggy Scalycap has appeared in its usual location although it looks like something has been having a little chew !

A Barn Owl hunting pre-dawn is the first one seen here for six years. Some vis mig this morning with southbound 238 Goldfinch, 108 Chaffinch, 63 Siskin, 33 Starling, 28 Mipits, 26 Skylark, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Linnet & 5 Brambling. On site a handful of new Goldcrest plus some leftovers from recent days, 14 Mipit, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Turnstone, Blackcap, Redwing & Woodcock. Offshore tedious, once again, with southbound 3 Brent, 2 Wigeon, Curlew, Gannet, Grey Plover, Oyk & Shelduck, with northbound 5 Brent & Oyk. The bulk of the Cormorants headed out to sea well to the north of us this morning suggesting that the fishing is better up that way at the moment.

11 birds ringed: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap, 1 Black-headed Gull.

Sunday 11th September 2018

Scavengers clean up the dead Rabbits (plenty of Rabbits with myxomatosis at the moment).

Heavy showers early on with an increasing wind speed through the morning. A Puffin went north at 0728 hrs and a Great-northern Diver was fishing just offshore for a while before departing south into Essex. Also heading south offshore 7 Brent, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, Gannet & Knot with northbound 11 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver & Gannet. Little moving over land but included 19 Starling, 9 Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, 4 Mipit, Chaffinch, Siskin & Swallow. Grounded migrants limited to a handful of Goldcrests but nothing else apparent.

Ringing: 2 Goldcrest, 1 Wren.

Saturday 10th November 2018

Cormorant going out to sea in the morning.

Southwesterly breeze and clearing during the morning after overnight rain. An overnight arrival of Goldcrest in the Observatory compound joined the remainder of the Goldcrest flock that have not yet dispersed from the previous few days, a Rock Pipit was on the groynes at the Butts and a Porpoise was seen offshore during the seawatch.

Noted on the reserve, 50 Goldcrest, 15 Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Med Gull, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Snipe & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 4 Brent Goose & 1 Red-throated Diver. Going out to sea East, 1150 Cormorant. Going South, 24 Starling, 23 Goldfinch, 15 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, 7 Siskin, 6 Brent Goose, 6 Chaffinch, 3 Redpoll & 3 Wigeon.

18 birds ringed: Goldcrest 14, Blackbird 1, Redwing 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1.

Friday 9th November 2018

An adult male Black Redstart at the Observatory this morning.

A strong Southeasterly breeze, starting overcast but becoming brighter. A small fall of Goldcrest were in the Observatory compound this morning, a female Firecrest was seen mid morning and three Swallow went South over the reserve.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Goldcrest, 30 Meadow Pipit, 7 Linnet, 2 Redwing, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Med Gull & 1 Snipe. Going North, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Brent Goose, 1 Gannet & 1 Guillemot. Going out to sea East, 1345 Cormorant. Going South, 16 Meadow Pipit, 16 Starling, 14 Siskin, 10 Goldfinch, 5 Brent Goose, 5 Wigeon, 4 Skylark, 3 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 3 Swallow, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redpoll, 2 Shelduck, 1 Linnet & 1 Red-throated Diver.

63 birds ringed: Goldcrest 53, Robin 4, Black Redstart 1, Blackbird 1, Firecrest 1, Goldfinch 1, Redwing 1, Woodpigeon 1.