Saturday 12th May 2018

Cloud cover and a light breeze this morning. A Common Pipistrelle was feeding around the Observatory before dawn this morning which is the first recorded at Landguard for this year, an Orange Tip Butterfly was at the far end of the Butts and there was vismig with Goldfinch and Swallow going South.

Noted on the reserve 8 Whitethroat, 4 Common Tern, 3 Sanderling, 2 Wheatear & a Jackdaw. Going North, 18 Common Scoter, 2 Oystercatcher & 2 Sandwich Tern. Coming in off the sea going West, 3 Oystercatcher & 2 Cormorant. Going South, 52 Swallow, 34 Goldfinch, 5 Black-headed Gull, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Tern, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Shelduck & 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Busiest night of the year so far in the moth traps including Spectacle

1 bird ringed: Dunnock 1.

Friday 11th May 2018

 Local Pied Wagtail are starting to collect and ferry food.

A clear but chilly start to the day with a strong wind coming off the sea from the South East. A male Whinchat was seen in front of the Observatory and then moved towards the Butts, a single Wheatear remained on the reserve and offshore coming into high tide at the point Terns were feeding and moving through North.

Noted on the reserve, 30 Starling, 12 Common Tern, 12 Shelduck, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Little Tern, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Wheatear & 1 Whinchat. Going North, 12 Arctic Tern, 7 Common Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern & 4 Shelduck. Going South, 10 Swallow.

The Coronet used to be novel here but it is now appearing more frequently.

3 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 2, Robin 1.

Recent Ringing Recoveries

Blackbird ringed Helgoland, Germany on 10th October 2017 retrapped 506 km away at Landguard on 31st October 2017. Lesser Redpoll ringed Landguard 10th October 2017 retrapped 473 km away on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man on 28th April 2018.

Thursday 10th May 2018

 Little Tern on the beach.

A strong Westerly wind and overcast this morning. The first Whinchat of the spring for Landguard was seen on the bramble in front of the Observatory this morning, having only had singles of Little Tern so far this spring a group were feeding offshore then roosted on the beach and a couple of Wheatear are still on the reserve.

Noted on the reserve, 16 Shelduck, 12 Little Tern, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Tern, 2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 White Wagtail & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going North, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Tern & 1 Cormorant. Coming in off the sea, 6 Common Tern, 6 House Martin, 2 Dunlin, 1 Swift & 1 Yellow Wagtail. Going South, 38 Swallow, 20 Goldfinch, 10 Common Tern, 2 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard & 1 Curlew.

Always good to get a Chamomile Shark.

2 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Wednesday 9th May 2018

A handful of new Phylloscopus warblers passing through including half a dozen Willows and 4 Chiffs. Other migrants included 5 Wheatear 3 Jackdaw, Blackcap & a new Robin.On the move southbound 11 Swallow, 6 Goldfinch & 2 Sand Martin. Apart from this it is largely down to the regulars many of whom are into their breeding cycle although the way some of the Whitethroats are singing it suggests that some of the females are still to arrive.

Moth trapping getting more interesting by the day including Pebble Prominent.

12 birds ringed: 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Linnet, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 8th May 2018

 Shelduck congregate on the reserve in the morning during spring.

There was an offshore haze that cleared by mid morning, otherwise clear sky and very light breeze this morning. With the continued good weather there are very few grounded migrants at the moment, the Wheatear that had stopped off have fed and continued North. Breeding season underway for the resident birds at Landguard, they have been busy collecting nesting material and are now incubating eggs.

Noted on the reserve, 70 Linnet, 20 Starling, 13 Shelduck, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Willow Warbler. Going North, 3 Sandwich Tern & 1 Swallow. Going out to sea East, 2 Cormorant. Going South, 8 Swallow.

One of the frustrating things with micro moths are the species that you cannot be 100% sure of, several individuals of the Paronix family have been trapped over the years, this mornings example probably being Paronix anglicella but one can not be quite sure.

3 birds ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 1, Woodpigeon 1.

Monday 7th May 2018

The colours of the Starling show up well in this image.

A still and clear morning, as it warmed Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue Butterflies were seen on the Lilac near the Observatory, the first for this year at Landguard, a Hairy Hawker was also a first for this year here too.

Noted on the reserve, 5 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting & 1 Sparrowhawk. Going North, 14 Black-headed Gull, 7 Swallow, 4 Cormorant & 2 Sandwich Tern. Going South, 5 Shelduck, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Swallow, 1 Cormorant & 1 Redpoll.

First Silver Y of the year, Early ones are presumed to be migrants although this one does look freshly emerged.

9 birds ringed: Linnet 3, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 1, Wren 1.

Sunday 6th May 2018

Its hard to believe that we only had two records of Speckled Wood last century as they now occupy all the sunny glades around the site.

Far to nice for much to drop in on the coast on migration. Migrants included 9 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap & the second Jay record of the spring. Offshore a dozen Black-heads went north with overhead movements southbound 3 Swallow, 3 Goldfinch & 2 Jackdaw. Many of the other summer migrants are settling in to breed with the suggestions so far, is that we will get 5 pair of Whitethroat & 3 pairs of Lesser's.

A few more moths starting to put in an appearance including Epiblema scutlana.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap.