Tuesday 11th April 2017

A Black Redstart continues to show well this morning and a Common Redstart was seen in the same area. The Little Ringed Plover was present on the reserve early morning and up to 6 Wheatears were also seen. A single Sand Martin heading North was the first recorded for this year at Landguard but with clear skies most of yesterdays arrivals have moved on. Little movement over the sea with 2 Swallow heading south and a Mute Swan coming into the estuary.

6 birds ringed: 1 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Redstart and 1 Kestrel

Monday 10th April 2017

Back to a North Westerly Breeze today but the southerly wind yesterday did deliver a few migrant birds for today, which include this male, along with another male, Redstart on the reserve. The Little Ringed Plover was present for a second day with 1 Black Redstart and 2 Wheatear continuing to show well during the morning. Also seen this morning 7 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and 1 White Wagtail. Visible migration with 23 Swallow and 3 Goldfinch moving South.

Only 3 moths this morning after a chilly night from the North Westerly breeze but included the first Shuttle-Shaped Dart of the year.

12 birds ringed; 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Wood Pigeon

Sunday 9th April 2017

A southerly breeze coming up from North Africa gave plenty of promise, but little reward due to a full moon and clear overnight skies. Having said that, it was not all bad, as this Little Ringed Plover shows. Unusually, feeding on the common, it normally occurs infrequently as a fly over, mostly in Autumn. Apart from that 7 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, a sprinkling of Swallows past, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Fieldfare and 1 Whimbrel north.

10 birds ringed:  6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Robin.

Saturday 8th April 2017

We only have a few pairs of Blue Tit resident at Landguard, as the poplar is coming into leaf the trees will soon be obscuring many things from view.

We continue to have clear sky and subsequently the movements of birds has not yet picked up. On the sea 4 Goldfinch were going South, 1 Turnstone going North and 3 Cormorant coming in. On the reserve 2 White Wagtail, 1 Black Redstart and 1 Wheatear. Resident birds are moving along with the spring and Song Thrush were seen gathering nesting materials.

In the moth traps Chamomile Shark is always a good moth to get and is not one we see every year.

2 birds ringed; 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch

Friday 7th April 2017

An increase to 3 Wheatear on the reserve this morning and a yellow Wagtail going over heading North were the only obvious signs of any migration, along with one new Robin and a meadow Pipit there was not much else to note.

Movement was also very quiet over the sea with 5 Cormorant and 4 Shelduck heading North and singles of Brent goose, Oystercatcher and Red-throated Diver going South.

Ringed birds: 1 Blackcap, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren

Thursday 6th April 2017

A Brambling was on site singing early morning along with small numbers of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Firecrest. Singles of Black Redstart and Wheatear remain on the reserve.

Little movement over the sea with 5 Common Gull, 4 Cormorant, 3 Rook and a Swallow going South and 3 Brent Geese going North.

Turnstone on the reserve

Early Thorn is a well camouflaged moth that appears in early spring and again in mid summer.

Ringed birds: 2 chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Blackcap, 1 Wren.

Wednesday 5th April 2017

Back to a cooler, northerly direction for the wind today, curtailing spring migration for a while. What little there was about included this Common Buzzard that went over mid morning, a rare visitor here, though relatively common nearby. Little else of note except 5 Chiffchaff, 1 each of Goldcrest, Wheatear and Redwing and a couple of migrant Song Thrushes and a migrant Sparrowhawk.

Some of the early butterflies are beginning to emerge including this Green-veined White.

Ringed 6 birds: 3 Chiffchaff and 1 each of Redwing, Song Thrush and Goldcrest.