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Monday 18th March 2023


A sunny and calm day really felt like spring today. The first wheatears, 2 females, were recorded, as was our 3rd earliest swallow. The only earlier records for swallow were 17/03/05 and 14/03/17. A hen harrier south was an unusual march record for the observatory, and a male peregrine was our first in days. Chiffchaffs were clearly on the move with 15 recorded across the reserve, and 2 new robins upsetting the locals were fresh in. The Cetti's Warbler remains at the Butts and the rock pipit was still present near the tip and the wardens cottage. 

Butterflies were much in evidence today, along with mining and bumblebees. A cracking male Brimstone and 2 Commas were first records for the year.



This Oak Nycteoline will have overwintered as an adult. They are scarce here at LBO and usually non-existent in spring.


Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 10, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 2, Redwing 1, Robin 2.  

 

Sunday 17th March 2024

 

More rain this morning. Offshore southbound 19 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Shelduck, 2 Pintail & 2 Velvet Scoter with northbound 3 Brent & 2 Red-throats. On site 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch & Redwing. Single Rook went south & Cetti's by Butts Pond.

Ringing: 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Redwing.

AGM Reminder

 This years AGM will be held on Saturday 23rd March 2024. Members should have received an agenda plus minutes of last years meeting. If not please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com for details.

Saturday 16th March 2024


 A nice sunny and calm day, for once. Migration was slow, but the sunny weather did bring out the insects, with mining bees and a few peacock butterflies taking the wing in the warmth. One of last years Cetti's Warblers was retrapped, proving at least one of last years influx has overwintered. A trio of chiffchaffs and the first two linnets ringed this year were a nice sign of the incoming season. Red-throated Divers were passing in reasonable numbers with 111 heading north and 22 south. Ringed Plovers were displaying out on the reserve. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 3, Great Tit 1, Linnet 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Redwing 1. 

Friday 15th March 2024

 

Good to have a couple of first-winter Black-headed Gulls at the View Point over recent days as very few around this winter. The highlight was the return of the Cetti's Warbler by the Butts pond as haven't recorded one since mid-February although difficult to know whether it is the same individual. Very little rewards on a windy morning included 9 Chaffinch heading south plus 3 Redwing, 3 Skylark, 2 Mipit & a Chiffchaff on site. Offshore 60 Common Scoter but next to nothing moving.

Our earliest ever Eudonia angustea by quite some margin, although just read up that they do hibernate so this one has been lured out by the mild conditions.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff.


Thursday 14th March 2024

More hints of migration with the first Firecrest of the spring, as opposed to the overwintering ones. Other migrants included 6 Skylark, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing & Reed Bunting plus 3 Stock Dove visited. Offshore southbound 24 Black-headed Gull, 10 Shelduck, 9 Brent, 4 Shoveler, 3 Oyk, 3 Red-throated Diver & Dunlin with northbound 10 Brent, 3 Red-throats & 2 Common Scoter with c.50 Common Scoter sat just to the north of the observatory watch point.

Ringing: 3 Chaffinch, 2 Firecrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting.

Wednesday 13th March 2024

 

With the weather ameliorating a few migrants including 31 Redwing, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Skylark, 2 Woodcock, Stonechat & a couple of new Blackies with southbound 40 Chaffinch, 2 Rock Pipit & a Mipit. Offshore movers & shakers included northbound 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck & Common Scoter with southbound 20 Greylag, 20 Dunlin, 12 Brent, 12 Pintail, 2 Oyk, 2 Shelduck, 2 Red-throats, 2 Tufted Duck, Barnacle Goose, Curlew, Goosander & Redshank. A Dunlin was with the Ringos on the beach.

Agonopterix subpropinquella are coming out of hibernation. Most of those we see later in the year are of the dark form.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, 2 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush.