Tuesday 5th August 2025

 

Bright n' breezy. More of the same with 20 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler & Whitethroat plus southbound 10 Swallow, 7 Sand Martin, 3 Oyk & a Barwit.

Sandhill Rustic is a nationally scarce saltmarsh species that wanders down here. First noted in the early 2000's with prior to that last century it is quite likely we called them Flounced Rustics as the literature on how to identify them didn't exist in those days. How times change !

Ringing: 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blue Tit.

Monday 4th August 2025

 

Wasp Spider.

Glorious start, then the wind starting picking up a couple of hours after dawn. Similar to yesterday, although a lot less of it, with 10 Willow Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler + a new dispersing juvenile Song Thrush worth a mention.

Marbled Clover is a nationally scarce species having turned up a few times this year although an annual appearance is far from guaranteed.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush. 

Sunday 3rd August 2025

 

Pleasant start to the morning with at least 30 Willow Warblers and a supporting cast of 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser 'throat, Whitethroat & Great Spotted Wood. Southbound 12 Swallow, 9 Sand Martin, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Redshank, Common Gull & Curlew plus 17 Cormorant coming in off mid-morning suggesting that they are returning from their breeding grounds for the winter. 25 Sandwich & 5 Common Terns were feeding in the river mouth.

Obsidentify says Southern Small White although this species is not on the British List yet so is the AI correct ! It has spread into the Low Countries from Southern Europe in recent years so is expected to arrive sometime.

 (Evening update - Chris van Sway, Butterfly Conservation Europe Recorder, has confirmed this as a female Southern Small White).

Drinker is another moth species that failed to put in an appearance last year - although it never was annual in occurrence.

Ringing: 14 Willow Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin.

Saturday 2nd August 2025

Just over a week of North-westerlies things are starting to stagnate a little but they have carried a Small Red-eyed Damselfly which wasn't recorded last year. This smart male up by the observatory. 35 Sandwich and 25 Common Tern seen feeding off the point briefly joined by a Little Tern. Other migrants 22 Curlew, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Swallow, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Willow Warbler.

Maple Prominent puts in an appearance most years although prone to absences.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler.

Friday 1st August 2025

Starting to feel like the bulk of Willow Warbler have moved on however at least a couple still hanging around. Sandwich Tern count up to 52 fishing out the front this morning. 8 Sand Martin and 17 Swallow South throughout the morning. It's been a while since we've had a Swift but most have probably already gone! Our first young Kittiwake and a record breaking flock of Greenfinch this year - 5 birds. Up by the observatory a Great Green Bush Cricket crawled out the undergrowth to catch a few rays.

If you are local you might of noticed the abundance of Jersey Tiger moths lately! First noted in 2019 they've become very common in the Felixstowe area. Poplar Hawkmoth also lives here on the Poplars - Surprise Surprise...

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren.

JULY RINGING TOTALS 2025

 196 birds of 26 species won't be breaking any Landguard records but we have had some interesting highlights this July. 

Willow Warblers have stolen the show. Reflecting on the last 10 years our highest July count for 'Willies' ringed was 10 in 2023 whilst in 2022 and 2018 we failed to get one at all. This month we managed 36 so have they decided to take a different route or are they beginning to leave earlier? 3 Green Woodpecker seems to be a reflection of a reasonably good breeding year and 3 Black Redstart is good with at least 2 local broods having success. Cetti's have enjoyed another successful year of colonising and where are these Sedge Warblers appearing from? Juvenile Siskin also another species we don't usually get.

Ringing total suggests Linnet has struggled again and whilst better than last years 6 birds ringed we would ideally hope to see 50+ ringed. House Sparrow is another local species of concern and has been low for the last couple years. Previous July's before 2023 we would ring between 20 - 60 no problem. No visit from the Starlings yet this year another factor in keeping the overall total down.

 

Thursday 31st July 2025

A couple belts of rain through this morning but another good day for Willow Warbler considering it's still July. A small group of terns have been feeding off the point lately - 27 Sandwich and 4 Common. In the past this was often the norm but they have been mostly absent this year. Other migrants 1 Reed Warbler, 14 Sand Martin, 13 Swallow and 12 Willow Warbler.  Offshore 3 Curlew, 3 Gannet, 1 Kittiwake, 10 Oystercatcher and 3 Redshank. Harbour Porpoise still present and it's still pretty easy to flush a Jersey Tiger moth as you stroll round.

Evergestis extimalis is a pretty scarce moth nationally but occurs mostly in the South East. Occasionally it shows up.

Ringing: 1 Dunnock, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warbler.