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Monday 23rd March 2015


A beautiful clear and calm morning, with which we were greeted by a few migrants during the morning. Early on 26 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare dropped in briefly before moving off-site.

Offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Brent Geese and a nice flock of 32 Bar-Tailed Godwit flew North. Relatively quite on the sea but around the observatory 3 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Siskin, 2 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Chiffchaff.

Several species of raptors around this morning, with 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin and at least 3 Peregrine Falcon.

Our first Wheatear of the spring was seen as the sun came out plus the first butterflies of the year in the shape of several Small Torts.

Late afternoon, the wandering White-tailed Eagle that has been around Norfolk/Suffolk for a good few weeks, was seen by our Warden, Chris, circling high over Felixstowe Docks and seen for a good 5 minutes, viewed from the top of the observatory, before heading off high and into Essex and out of view. This is the first record for the observatory! Plus c.120 Wigeon that flew North early evening.

Ringing: A good morning with 16 birds ringed - 4 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Robin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Linnet.