Thursday 27th January 2022

The number of Cormorant counted going out in the morning is dependant on how many go out before it is barely getting light. Brief observations this morning included southbound the first 3 Barnacle Geese of the year, 3 Shelduck, Brent & Red-throated Diver plus northbound a Red-throat. That's your lot.

Wednesday 26th January 2022

Sunset over Essex.

517 Cormorant headed out fishing early on & 2 Purps on the point. Both Peregrines were interacting briefly over the dock cranes with the male showing off with some classic courtship flight behaviour.

Tuesday 25th January 2022

Reed Mace has been taking over the observatory pond resulting in it drying out (not helped by lack of rain either). As we had a record year for Odonata species diversity last year across the site it is useful to have some open patches of water in the various ponds so an attempt will be made to clear some patches out in the next couple of weeks. Bird wise the 2 Purps are still here but its otherwise the locals - although the Purps look fairly settled for the winter.

Monday 24th January 2022

Dull overcast flat calm morning. Offshore southbound 10 Red-throated Diver plus 6 Kitts behind boats & a Great Crested Grebe sat on the sea. Single Fieldfare & Linnet on site plus the usual 2 Purps & Turnstone on the point.

2021 ANNUAL REPORTS & Lists updates

2021 annual notes for Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Mammals, Moths & Miscellaneous records are now available on https://www.lbo.org.uk/lbo-archive/ or via the HOME PAGE link above.

2021 ringing totals, updated annual totals & an updated ringing recoveries report are on https://www.lbo.org.uk/ringing-totals/ or via the HOME Page link above.

Several updated systematic lists are on https://www.lbo.org.uk/systematic-lists/ or via the HOME PAGE link above.

Sunday 23rd January 2022

With the tide very low Sunstar Crossaster papposus & Sea Anemonies on the jetty give us a feeling of a rocky coast. Apparently there are 70 species of Anemonies around the UK but have never attempted to identify which ones we have.

214 Cormorant went out fishing 20 minutes later than yesterday on a dull overcast rather than a clear morning. Nothing else to report.

Saturday 22nd January 2022

Living on the edge.

345 Cormorant went out very early plus 140 north at 1615 hrs which may be some of the same birds. 2 regular Purps on the point with single Great Crested Grebe & Red-throated Diver flying past only other sightings of note on another clear sunny frosty winters morning.