LBO Home Page

Saturday 2nd April 2011

The Short-toed Treecreeper continues to linger on at Landguard, seen in front of the Bird Observatory compound. Amazingly it wasn't actually traped today. Other highlights found were 2 Black Redstarts and 2 Firecrests. A Brambling was heard calling. There were 12 Chiffchaffs recorded and 6 Wheataer. A Great Skua was seen migrating south. Also of interest today was a Slow Worm found within the Bird Observatory compound. There were 3 species of Butterfly found; Peacock, Small Tort and Comma. 23 birds were ringed today: 1 female Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Robin, 2 Great Tit and 2 Song Thrush.

Friday 1st April 2011

The Short-toed Treecreeper was found once again, trapped within the Bird Observatory compound. Also of note was a Black Redstart on the common. Birds on the move were 1 Fulmar migrating south and 12 Brent Geese, 9 moving north and 3 heading south. The Peregrine was seen perched on the Felixstowe dock cranes. Only 2 birds ringed today, 1 Redwing and 1 Chiffchaff.
MARCH RINGING TOTAL 2011:   269 of 26 Species

Top 3 Species Ringed March 2011:   1. Great Tit - 55     2. Blackbird - 53     Chaffinch - 40

This is much better than last year, only 190 birds were ringed in March 2010 of only 19 species.

Thursday 31st March 2011

The Short-toed Treecreeper continues to linger on at Landguard. It was retraped once again early morning and has once again gained weight, which is very good news! It will be interesting to see how much longer it stays here. Also of note today were 3 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Wheatear and a lovely male Firecrest. Birds migrating through were 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannet, and 2 Curlew. Only 3 birds ringed today, all 3 were Goldcrests.

Wednesday 30th March 2011

The "nordic" Jackdaw Corvus monedula monedula/sommerringii was still here early on and has several feathers missing from one wing so may well hang around. Nice arrival of new birds in today including the first Willow Warbler of the year. Departing winter visitors included 16 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, Brambling, 3 Siskin & several new Robins and Blackies. New in were at least 3 different Black Reds and a Lesser Redpoll. On the reserve only 2 Wheatears today plus a Skylark with another flying south overhead. Groyne 19 held 3 Purps this morning - the first time they have put in an appearance for some time. Finally the Short-toed Treecreeper has been re found in the last hour having been elusive all morning. In the moth traps the 1st site record of Caloptilia betulicola. Quite an entertaining mornings birding.

Tuesday 29th March 2011

The Short-toed Treecreeper was yet again around for visiting birders to see. It was caught early morning within the compound and was seen showing well on Icky Ridge. It is good to see this bird is doing well and increasing in weight each day! Other birds of note today were 3 Wheatear on the common; 3 Curlew moving north, 3 Canada Geese moving north, 1 Greylag Goose moving north, 2 Mute Swans moving north and 1 Yellowhammer moving south. The ringing today was very poor; birds ringed were 1 Robin, 1 Wren and 1 Goldcrest. Later in the day a "Nordic" Jackdaw turned up that flew off into the docks & offshore 3 Eiders & a Gannet flew north.

Monday 28th March 2011

The Short-toed Treecreeper was again present for visiting birders to see. It was retraped and reweighed. It now weighs 8.2 grams which is excellent as when first caught only weighed 7.6 grams. Other birds of interest included a nice male Firecrest, 3 Black Redstarts of which 2 were fine males, 5 Wheatear and 6 Chiffchaff. 2 Red-throated Divers were seen moving north and 15 Brent Geese were also passing through. There was a Grey Seal offshore. Also late news of our first Swallow of the year flying north in the afternoon.

Sunday 27th March 2011

Not a lot of turnover of birds today from yesterday. The Short-toed Treecreeper is still here currently on the ridge north of the bird observatory compound (Left Battery or "Icky" ridge - so named as the 1st ever Icterine Warbler seen donkeys years ago was here). 2 Wheatears & Black Red still present as are most of yesterdays small "fall" of Goldcrests. New in today are singles of Great Tit, Goldcrest and a female Blacky weighing only 72g - this is very thin for a Blacky and one can only presume the poor girl has been using up fuel flying around the North Sea looking for land. Collared Doves have hatched so lets hope mum sits tight on them to keep them warm in this cold wind.