Wednesday 20th May 2026

 

Handful of new migrants including 2 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, Hobby, Spot Fly & Willow Warbler. On the move southbound 18 Swallow, 16 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin & a Swift + 8 House Martin in/north. Offshore heading south 6 Sanderling & 3 Grey Plover with northbound 16 Brent.

Figure of 80 lives on Poplars so we get a few each year. Warmer conditions trying to creep in so we should start to get more moths.

Ringing: 4 Starling (pulli), 2 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, 2 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Tuesday 19th May 2026

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) out on the beach. 

A bleak morning with strong S winds and rain, leading to ringing being abandoned. A male Wheatear was present on the peninsula following an absence of any Wheatear for 11 days. Multiple Chiffchaff singing in the compound.  

Sea-watching: 3 Oystercatcher, Gannet 3, 2 Common Gull, a Fulmar and a Kittiwake all south. 4 Common Gull, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormorant and a Great Black-backed Gull north. 

Moth trapping: 1 new moth species, the Beautiful Plume, alongside 17 species. One of which was the Treble-Bar, a fairly common moth across Britain, the larvae of this moth feeds on St John's-Wort, a common plant species here.  

Treble-Bar (Aplocera plagiata). 

Monday 18th May 2026

 

Male Linnet (Linaria cannabina) out on the reserve. 

A bright morning with a gentle SW wind slowly increasing. A Black Redstart still calling frequently from the fort. Two different families of Great Tit with young flying around the reserve. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen late evening in the compound.    

Sea-watching produced a Canada goose north only. 14 Swallow observed flying south overland. 

Moth trapping: 1 new species for this year, among a catch of 30 species, our first Small Elephant Hawk-moth of the season, typically a fairly common species here late summer.   

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)

Bird ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler. 

Sunday 17th May 2026

 

Few new migrants in today with 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & a Mipit plus southbound 25 Swallow & a House Martin. An independent young Wren may well be from a brood in the cottage garden seen a few days ago that are now wandering.

Coronet was first noted here in 2004 & has become annual from 2016 onwards. Formerly on Elms it has, apparently, shifted its foodplant to Privet.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren

Saturday 16th May 2026

 

Three baby Great Tits first seen last Saturday are doing well still being fed by mum & Dad which they tend to do for the first couple of weeks out of the nest before they have to fend for themselves.

A slightly warmer morning with at least 6 Reed Warbler chuntering away. At least 22 Swallow, Sand Martin & a Yellow Wag flew south. A Cuckoo flew out of the Customs' House grounds over the caravan site. More baby Starling's are out & about which seems slightly earlier than recent years. Of interest a Whitethroat ringed last year at the end of June has returned.

Sea-watching almost non-existent with a Med Gull the only thing worth mentioning. 

Broad-bodied Chaser's are starting to emerge into the sunshine.

Oak-tree Pug is one of those pugs that can be confused with similar congerers.

Moth trapping: 24 Species present, with 3 new species for this spring, Cinnabar, Vines Rustic and Pale Mottled Willow. 

Bird ringing: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Willow Warbler

Friday 15th May 2026

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) seen near the point.  A little delve into the scientific name reveals Greek and Latin origins of the words: Haematopus - "blood-red footed" and ostralegus  - "oyster-gatherer". 

NW winds continue, however a small dose of migrants: 3 Reed Warbler and a small increase of Lesser Whitethroat. A Black Redstart continues to call from the roof of the fort. Our first 2 Juvenile Magpie were also spotted mobile around the reserve.  

Sea-watching produced: 6 Shelduck, 3 Black-headed gull, 2 Sandwich Tern and a Fulmar, all north. No south movement observed.

Moth trapping: 9 Species present across our 3 traps. No new species for this spring today. However our largest catch of Large Yellow Underwing, with 3 individuals, there will be more as we get into summer!. The Large Yellow Underwing is potentially the most abundant large moth in the UK.  

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

Bird ringing: 3 Willow warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch.  

Thursday 14th May 2026

 

Greater black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), a few pairs nest nearby on the docks annually.

Another somewhat slow day, with wind WNW, 2 new arrival Reed warblers heard calling from within the compound. Out on the reserve the first juvenile Dunnock was spotted. A single Swift was seen heading north and a Turnstone in near-full breeding plumage was seen near the tip of the peninsula.   

Sea-watching produced; 5 Gannet and 3 Scoter north. 3 Black headed gulls, a Cormorant and a Shelduck south.  

Moth trapping: A small catch once again with only 7 species present. However new for this year, 2 examples of the migratory Dark Sword-grass. The larvae feed at night on or below the ground on herbaceous plants and their roots, due to this there is no evidence of them breeding in the UK.    

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

Bird ringing: 1 Reed warbler, 1 Willow warbler.