Thursday 14th May 2020

Another chilly start to the morning with a light wind from the north picking up as the morning progressed.

There were a few migrants still passing through with a Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Blackcaps in the bushes along with the usual singing local summer migrants. Vis-mig was quiet but a single Skylark headed north.

The Stonechat was still on the Reserve along with 3 Wheatears by the Tank Blocks and a Sanderling was on the beach.

On the Sea 17 Common Terns and 7 Little Terns were feeding offshore and a single Kittiwake headed north.

A Muntjac was seen by the fort first thing this morning.

Cochylis atricapitana is common here with the larvae feeding on a range of weed species including Ragwort which is not very common here, so its far likely they are feeding on St John's Wort which is abundant.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler

Wednesday 13th May 2020

The northerly airflow is curtailing any action although for many species spring migration will be done & dusted before long. Today's migrants include 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler plus the female Stonechat present the last couple of days who, when trapped, was found to be carrying some fuel reserves and is quite possibly a bird of the nominate race, Saxicola torquata rubicola, heading back to her breeding grounds on the continent as British birds will be feeding young by now. Offshore a couple of Gannet went north & 5 Sanderling were on the beach.

Only the second site record of Seraphim showed up. It is not that rare a species where it occurs but is one that doesn't wander much to places like this.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Linnet, 1 Stonechat.

Tuesday 12th May 2020

It was hard to imagine we're in May first thing this morning, with a chilly start making it feel a little like autumn and the thermometer only reading 4°C, before eventually warming to a pleasant sunny day.

Not only did the weather feel slightly autumnal but the birds as well. A Brambling dropped into the Holm Oaks with a pair of Chaffinches before heading north. We've had 6 previous May Brambling records with the latest being a single on the 19th. A 'continental' type Robin was also ringed, presumably still heading back to its breeding grounds somewhere in the north.

Also around were at least 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler. On the reserve a Stonechat was by the Practice Guns and 2 Wheatears were still by the Tank Traps.

On the Sea 25 Common Terns and 12 Little Terns were feeding in the mouth of the river first thing this morning.

The cool nights are certainly not very productive for moth trapping and there was a distinct drop in the numbers found in the traps, so partly in desperation I think this is the first time we've put up a photo of a Heart & Dart. One of the commonest and most widespread species in the UK.
 
Ringing:1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Willow Warbler

Monday 11th May 2020

A bitter cold north east wind isn't particularly welcome after experiencing a brief spell of warm weather.

With the high tide backed by the strong wind it caused a bit of havoc with the fencing for Nesting Birds on the seaward side of the Reserve. A chilly march out saw the fencing put back into place, hopefully the waves will leave it be and the job won't need to be repeated tomorrow.

Apart from the usual breeders in their bushes, it was rather thin on the ground on the land with only a Stonechat and 3 Wheatears of note.

Offshore was a little more exciting, with a Arctic Skua heading North, along with 6 Gannets and a Sandwich Tern. In the River a group of around 30 Common Terns and 15 Little Terns were feeding before heading out.

With the cold weather moth numbers have plummeted over night although it didn't stop this Silver Y from finding the trap.

Ringing: Nil

Sunday 10th May 2020

Orange Tips are present just outside the recording area along View Point Road north of the Custom's House but only occasional does one wander down to visit us.

Glorious start with the wind increasing as the day progressed. Migrants hard to come by although 8 Sanderling were on the beach & 3 Wheatear on the reserve. 4 Swallow & 2 Yellow Wagtail went south plus 35 Common Scoter south offshore. In the bushes it's becoming a case of Lesser Whitethroats & Whitethroats pairing up in their territories plus a returning male Blackcap from last year singing in the observatory compound.

Chamomile Shark is only noted a couple of times annually but is obviously present at a low population density and always a joy to see.

Ringing: nil.

Saturday 9th May 2020

Yesterdays Sanderling 

Another warm and reasonably still day, with the wind picking up slightly from the north-east as the morning progressed.

There were a few birds singing in the bushes at first light with at least 8 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcap and a Reed Warbler. Vis mig was quieter than yesterday with 15 Swallows, a House Martin, a Yellow Wagtail, Stock Dove and a Jay noted.

On the reserve a recently fledged Blackbird was seen by the Butts. There were also 3 Wheatears by the Tank Blocks

On the Sea 4 Common Terns lingered off the point fishing with 2 Little Terns, a Sandwich Tern headed North and 13 Brent Geese headed out.

In the trap this morning was the first Diamond-back Moth of the year, presumably this one is a migrant and in some years they can reach plague proportions filling the trap and kicked up in their hundreds while walking on the reserve.

Ringing: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.

Friday 8th May 2020

Barely a breath of wind or a ripple on the sea at first light this morning, with only a slight breeze picking up by midday.

The pleasant conditions brought a few migrants in, with 15 Whitethroats, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcap and a Garden Warbler in the bushes, although there were strangely no Phylloscopus warblers about. A wandering pair of Long-tailed Tits were ringed, sadly the outcome of a failed breeding attempt elsewhere. Vis-mig included a Corn Bunting, 25 Swallows, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Siskin and a Jay.

On the sea 15 Little Terns moved nosily north, as did a pair of Avocet, 4 Oystercatcher and a Common Tern. A Whimbrel and 2 Curlew headed South and a Sanderling was on the Beach.

The White-shouldered House Moth is common in buildings. Its larvae feed on dried plant and animal debris but not on your clothes. Only occasionally do we find them in the moth trap.

Ringing: 6 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Long-tailed Tit