Saturday 27th September 2014

Viz mig this morning included 172 Swallow, 71 House Martin, 38 Goldfinch, 31 Chaffinch, 16 Meadow Pipit, 9 Grey Wagtail and 2 Skylark heading south. Offshore 7 Sandwich Tern, 5 Shelduck and a Gadwall flew north and 3 Brent Geese, 2 Pintail and 8 Teal flew south whilst a Gannet drifted south with the tide. Other birds of note were a male Stonechat at the north end of the reserve and single Firecrest and Reed Warbler at the Obs.

Highlights in the moth traps were a Bordered Straw and two Pearly Underwings. Also in the traps were 60 Green Birch Shieldbugs, photo above, which have been present in good numbers all month. Another Western Conifer Seed Bug was found midday.

58 Birds ringed; 14 Meadow Pipit, 9 Chiffchaff, 7 Dunnock, 6 Blue Tit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 3 Great Tit, 2 Wren, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Firecrest, 1 Swallow, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Linnet, 1 Chaffinch. Also 2 Controls were caught; 1 Robin, 1 Meadow Pipit.