Thursday 3rd March 2011

Cold north-easterly so basically grim. A new Blacky was the only migrant although it was a fat one that is probably contemplating a flight across the North Sea as its next move. The Firecrest that eluded us all winter is still here as is the long staying male Pheasant.

Wednesday 2nd March 2011

Biting north-easterly breeze not nice at all. Despite the murky conditions offshore the first Fulmar of the year put in an appearance and a female Long-tailed Duck went north. A Firecrest on site was the same one as last noted in November 2010 that has presumably been skulking on site somewhere. 4 Long-tailed Tits included 2 originally trapped last October - the first time we have ever caught any that have been trapped the previous autumn. Long-tailed Tit is a transient visitor to Landguard and is a species that we don't record every spring. Other migrants today are singles of Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush plus some new Great Tits. Finally a Kestrel put in an appearance for the first time in ages - this species often deserts us for the first couple of months of the year and this year was no exception.

Tuesday 1st March 2011

St.Davids Day - but no daffs in flower yet. The local Little Owl was in fine voice pre-dawn. At least 15 Great Tits on site (7 new ones & 8 retraps from previous years) with the new ones carrying plenty of fat and all in very good condition. Also new in today were singles of Dunnock, Blue Tit, Greeny, Spadger, Songie & Blackie. It's always good to catch a new Spadger and i am begining to believe the population has not only bottomed out but may even be recovering. Offshore the first Gannet of the year went north & 2 Red-breasted Mergansers south. Also in the bushes a brief visitation mid-day by 2 Long-tailed Tits and a Mistle Thrush. Also worth a note is a Dunnock trapped that was originally ringed here in September 2005. Considering the northerly air flow a reasonably entertaining morning.

Tuesday 22nd to Monday 28th February 2011

Winter slowly grinding to a halt with a few signs of spring - although with the winds going north-easterly that's probably put the mockers on it. Male Pheasant, 2 Purps & at least 5 Meds still with us but Common Gull numbers dropping away as the week progressed. On the 22nd 13 Barnacles north, 3 Great-crested Grebes south, 3 Skylarks on the reserve & at least 1 Woodcock in the observatory compound. Snow Bunting near the point on both the 22nd & 23rd with Skylarks increasing to 7 on the later date. Single Fieldfare on both 24th & 26th plus single Redwing on both 25th & 28th. A bit of movement in the sunshine on the 27th saw 8 Goldfinch south and singles of Carrion Crow & Jackdaw north plus 2 Skylarks on site. The Great Tit movements began on the 28th for the first time this spring, on which date also noted were 6 Common Scoter north and a new Blacky. Skylarks were common breeders here up to mid 90's but in recent years to see them on the reserve is reasonably notable - the birds seen over recent days are presumably birds that were frozen out of their natal areas earlier in the winter that are on route to from whence they came.

Volunteers needed

A lot of work has been carried out on the nature reserve recently. Volunteers are urgently required to assist with installing a boardwalk across the site near the Point. If anyone is able to help over the next couple of weeks please can you get in touch with Sarah Wynne, the Landguard Ranger, on 01394 675283 or sarah.wynne@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk Many thanks if you are able to help.

Tuesday 15th to Monday 21st February 2011

More Barnacles on the move this week with 40 south 18th, 10 out then north 19th & 38 south 21st - we would love to work out what they are doing. The male Pheasant has been around all week as have up to 30 Ringos, 5 Sanderling & 2 Purps. Plenty of gulls still following ships including at least 9 Meds. A Snow Bunting on 17th and 21st is presumably the same bird. On the 18th 3 Curlew and a Red-breasted Merganser went south with a Fieldfare on the reserve plus a Woodcock in the observatory compound. The 19th brought a single Brambling which is very unusual for this time of the year. On the 20th 2 new Blackies were trapped, one thin & one fat so i can only presume the thin one had been trying to migrate and the other one has fattened up to do so. Also on the 20th single Skylark and Fieldfare. The 21st saw 7 Skylarks on the reserve which constitutes a "fall" and the best count of grounded skylarks for some time. Also today a new Robin - very few new Robins have been caught here in February. In conclusion it would appear that with some new migrants about some birds think spring is on the way.

Tuesday 8th to Monday 14th February 2011

Please bear with us folks with the new recent reports/blog type system & re-vamped web page as its an ongoing process at the moment. The 8th brought us a flock of 8 Waxwings flying south, a single Skylark south plus one on the reserve, 7 Meadow Pipits and the second Pheasant of the year. On the 11th 4 Shorelarks on the beach, 2 Redwings, a Skylark north then south and a single Curlew south. On the 18th the Pheasant seen again, 2 Fieldfares and single Shore & Skylarks. The 13th saw a pair of Eiders north then south. Apart from this its more of the same with a few waders on the beach (with the odd Ringed Plover starting to perform their display flight already !), the occasional Red-throated Diver offshore and plenty of seagulls. For those of you with an interest in the history of the site and an old map showing the location of the recently enlarged pond on the Butts then can I divert you to Sarah's blog on the Landguard Partnership website for some interesting information?