Friday 19th May 2023

Still seeming like a June day rather than May, the passage was extremely quiet today. The highlight was this stunning summer plumage sanderling on its way through. Lots of juvenile starlings on the wing now, the soundscape of the bird observatory was their constant begging chatter to their parents. 

This Pale Prominent is a master of disguise, though many moths have to be.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 3.

 

Thursday 18th May 2023

An almost June-like day, with very few migrants on the move, or on the reserve, but the ones there were nice and scarce. Firstly a Kentish plover was found on the beach in the early morning, and despite harassment from the local ringed plovers, remained until the late afternoon at least, allowing a lot of birders to catch up with it and even allowing for some great pictures. 

The second scarce migrant was frustratingly a single observer record that was not rediscovered despite some effort, of a common rosefinch in the sycamores around the back of the bird observatory before heading south, mid morning.

We caught our first Treble Bar of the season today, it will certainly not be our last.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 1

Wednesday 17th May 2023

A few migrants included 2 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler & Willow Warbler plus a Mipit singing. Heading south 21 Swallow, 15 Oyk, 9 Jackdaw & 9 Kitts with northbound 21 Brent, 15 Shelduck & 5 Kitts. A Ring-necked Parakeet paid a visit (also seen yesterday afternoon).

Green Carpet is a fairly common species that only occurs here very sporadically.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Reed Warbler.

Tuesday 16th May 2023

A clear and sunny day, once again a little quiet on the migrant front. Highlights were a grey wagtail at the jetty at the point and a flyover spoonbill. Another reed warbler was singing at the Butts and a skylark was the first we've seen for a week or two. Lots of butterflies now on the wing, with Brown Argus joining the other resident species today. 

Light Brocade occurs in low numbers in most years.

Birds Ringed: Willow Warbler 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

 

Monday 15th May 2023

Quite a decent list of birds today, 42 species observed despite a strong and irritating north westerly. A good day for finches with chaffinch, goldfinch, a single greenfinch and an unidentified redpoll species in addition to the local linnets. Odd but pleasant to hear chaffinch song from the compound. A marsh harrier south and a buzzard that landed in the holm oaks of the bird observatory were also notable as was the second Turtle Dove of the spring.

We don't see many Sharp-Angled Peacock moths on the first emergence of the year.

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 1. 

Sunday 14th May 2023

 

Pleasant selection of new migrants today including 7 Reed Warbler, 6 Swallow, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler,  Black Red (different to bird a couple of days ago) Garden Warbler, Yellow Wag plus a couple of new Lesser 'throats & Whitethroats in addition to those settling in to breed. Offshore a total of 13 Little Tern, 3 Kitts, 2 Fulmar, Common & Sandwich Tern on the move.

Micro moths still in short supply. Eudonia angustea lives on mosses.

Ringing: 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Saturday 12th May 2023

A nice surprise this morning was our first purple sandpiper in over a year being found on the jetty at the point of the peninsula, along with a common sandpiper, the most notable migrants fresh in. 

Aside from this long overdue return, the rest of the morning was much of a muchness, with all the regular suspects singing or feeding young out on the reserve. Only a single swallow was observed today, heading north.

Birds Ringed: Linnet 1.