Friday 11th June 2021

Red-legged Partridge

 Fine and clear at dawn but within minutes cloud and murk rolled in obscuring the land across the river and even the tops of the dock cranes, this lasted a few hours and it eventually turned back clear, warm and sunny by late morning.   

More hints of autumn passage came with another 8 Curlews heading south at sea along with 19 Swifts and 9 House Martins while other birds comprised a Barnacle Goose, 23 Canada Geese, a Black Redstart, a Kittiwake, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, a Reed Warbler, 3 Sandwich Terns and the Starling flock rising to at least 800.

Ringing: Dunnock 1, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 1

Pine Hawkmoth - on the odd occasion that this species is recorded here they are usually tatty and worn but this one is pristine!

Thursday 10th June 2021

Siskin

 Clear, sunny and warm first thing with a little, cooling NW breeze bringing an extended cloud belt at lunchtime which lasted through until mid-afternoon; a singing Marsh Warbler was very elusive halfway up the reserve, found late morning, it only gave brief tantalising views as it chuntered away deep in cover.

Other birds gave an autumnal feel to the summer's day with 7 Curlews south at sea being returning birds already and a dispersing juvenile Siskin looking like it was regretting leaving the forest so early along with 3 Black Redstarts, a Chaffinch, 4 Common Terns, a Buzzard, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Sandwich Terns and 5 Swallows.

Ringing: Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1, Linnet 2

Broken-barred Carpet - only the second site record

Wednesday 9th June 2021

Good to see some juvenile Pied Wagtails appearing over recent days.

Glorious sunny morning. The Rose-coloured Starling reappeared briefly in front of the observatory early morning. No grounded migrants were apparent with southbound 7 Swallow & the first 2 Siskin noted since 26th April. 7 Sanderling were on the beach & the 2 regular Turnstone by the jetty. No apologies if we forget to mention Black Redstart on the blog every day as a couple of pairs are doing the business & are very much a welcome part of the scenery this year.

Celypha rosaceana haunts areas of vegetated shingle so occurs here in low numbers.

Ringing: nil.

Tuesday 8th June 2021

Common Blue

 Another gorgeous morning, calm, warm and sunny with a little onshore breeze developing towards lunchtime; there was a trickle of southbound birds perhaps hinting that this was though the first day of autumn (!) which included 2 Curlews, 4 Gannets, 2 Swifts, a Teal and a Grey Wagtail.

Other birds of note comprised some geese heading down the coast with 2 Barnacles, 2 Greylags and 66 Canadas, 2 Black Redstarts, a Common Tern, 2 Gadwall, 3 Avocets heading up the river, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Sandwich Terns, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Sanderling and 2 Turnstone.

Ringing: Blue Tit 1, Linnet 4

Mother Shipton is a day-flyer on areas of rougher grass

Ringing Recoveries

Herring Gull colour ringed River of Life Church 1st July 2019 was at Havergate Island 9th October 2020, Herwedehaven, Dordrecht, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands 23rd January 2021 then at LBO 2nd June 2021.

Mediterranean Gull colour ringed DeKreupal Island, Enkhuizen, Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands 19th June 2020 was at LBO 1st June 2021.

Lesser Whitethroat ringed Hollesley 2nd August 2019 was retrapped at LBO 16 km away on 13th May 2021.

Also two Lesser Redpoll ringed LBO last autumn at LBO were retrapped 16 km away at Hollesley end of February & early March 2021.

Monday 7th June 2021

Firecrest

 Another beautiful day, sunny and warm with a feather-light onshore breeze; the highlight was once again the fine adult Rose-coloured Starling which spent a bit of time first thing out on the common in front of the Obs but it never stayed in one place for long and soon disappeared towards town.

Other birds comprised an unseasonal female Firecrest trapped and ringed first thing, 2 Black Redstarts, dispersing juvenile Greenfinch and Chaffinch (presumably from fairly local nest sites), 2 Common Terns, a Kittiwake, 2 Sandwich Terns, 12 Swallows south and a Swift.

Cream-spot Tiger - A beautiful and fairly regular guest in the moth traps

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Firecrest, 1 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Linnet.

Sunday 6th June 2021

With an influx of the species underway into north west Europe it was hoped that a Rose-coloured Starling would put in an appearance. This adult male ranged from the caravan park down to the point & is the 11th to be noted here with, hopefully, many more to come.

As expected, for the time of year, few other migrants present although 2 male Blackcap arrived & a Swallow was singing from the telephone wires. Otherwise southbound 5 Swallow & 3 Oyk with northbound a Whimbrel. The usual Black Red's are in their favoured spots as are the Lesser Whitethroat's & Whitethroat's on territory. 2 Turnstone at the point may be contemplating over summering with us.

The nationally scarce Tinagma ocnerostomella is a tiny tot that is a bit of a site speciality as it lives on Viper's Bugloss.

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit.