March Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 21st 0930hrs start. Usual arrangements on the events page of  www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 19th March 2015

Yet another bleak and foggy day today, with fewer birds around on-site than yesterday. Thick cloud and overnight fog grounded 14 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare and 40 Starling. Other birds of note came in the form of 3 Goldcrest, 20 Dunnock, 20 Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, 22 Linnet, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Snipe and 1 Yellow-legged and 1 Caspian Gull, picked out by a few lucky observers.

Just 3 out of the 5 Black Redstarts were still around this morning, favouring the area near the cottage.

Offshore was a little quiet but 1 Oystercatcher, 7 Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Mute Swan with 1 Female Common Scoter and 1 Grey Plover lingered.

Ringing: 2 Dunnock, 1 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren and 1 Collared Dove.

Wednesday 18th March 2015

Finally spring appears to have arrived, as the early morning fog lifted to reveal several grounded migrants. Both returning summer visitors and departing wintering ones. The first Chiffchaffs appeared with at least 10 on site, plus 5 Black Redstarts, several thrushes, including 3 Fieldfare, along with Redwings and Song Thrushes moving through along with 128 Starlings, at least 1 Goldcrest and also Corn, Reed and Yellow Buntings for good measure. On top of that 2 Woodlark were noted briefly before flying off high south, whilst offshore along with 3 or 4 Red-throated Divers, a full summer Great-northern Diver was reported to be flying north by one lucky observer.The Ringed plovers are starting to return, with 4 seen today, along with a Turnstone (above) feeding on the point.

11 birds ringed, including 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Greenfinch and 1 each of Goldcrest, Black Redstart, Robin and Chaffinch.

Tuesday 17th March 2015

Bleak conditions again this morning with fog and mist, but despite this, it didn't put the birds off too much.
15 Brent Geese during the morning heading North offshore was the most notable, but quiet otherwise.

A few migrants around this morning with 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Goldcrest, 25 Dunnock, 10 Blackbird and 5 Song Thrush.

Notable species today came in the form of 1 Rook, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stonechat and 1 Yellowhammer, (pictured above).

Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Robin, and 1 Woodpigeon.

Ringing Recoveries

Willow Warbler ringed here 6th September 2014 retrapped 16 days later 926km away at Etang-de-Molsen, Messanges, France on it's way south to Africa, Blackbird ringed here on autumn passage 20th November 2013 found dead 18th January 2015 239km away at Halesowen, West Midlands & a local Wood Pigeon ringed here 12th October 2013 found dead 10th February 2015 10km away at Walton-on-the -naze.

Monday 16th March 2015

To start the day off, just to mention that Christopher Bridge, our new Warden for the 2015 season has now arrived on-site with us and will be here until mid November.

The bleak conditions continued throughout the day, further haltering spring migration. The best of the rest on-site came in the form of 1 male Black Redstart and 1 female Stonechat, along with 6 Song Thrush, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Long-tailed Tit, signs that spring is slowly making an appearance.

Our resident Little Owl put in an appearance early on, as did a brief Firecrest.

Offshore, sea watching produced 8 Red-throated Divers, 4 Gannet, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Drake Shoveler and 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing: 2 Song Thrush, 1 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Robin.

Sunday 15th March 2015

The bleak conditions have temporarily put a block on spring migration, however some of our breeding species are beginning to return to the site, including this Linnet. Otherwise there is very little to report, the best being the 2 Firecrests that are still around, but that is about it on site. Offshore 3 Red-throated Divers and a Kittiwake flew north, and 3 Gannets lingered close inshore for a short time.

Only 1 bird was ringed today, that being a Wood Pigeon.