LANDGUARD - 27th September

 Overcast and windy first thing and it wasn’t too long before the increasing SSW wind brought the first spots of rain which continued through until the main mid-morning; this soon swept through, leaving a bright and sunny but still windy afternoon.   All of the morning’s interest was offshore as birds passing by comprised 502 Brent Geese, 69 Wigeon, 44 Teal, 7 Pintail, the first Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn, 55 Dunlin, a Purple Sandpiper, 6 Knot, a Redshank, 3 Red-throated Divers, 37 Sandwich Terns, 26 Common Terns and 3 Arctic Terns.

LANDGUARD - 25th September

 Calm and clear first thing but after about an hour, thick fog descended to linger for a while before the sun won through, leaving yet another unseasonably warm autumn day; today’s migrants included 15 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinches, 24 Swallows, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Black Redstart on the fort and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Oak Nycteoline

LANDGUARD - 24th September

 Calm again with morning fog lingering for a few hours before giving way to light cloud which in turn, gave way to bright sunshine by lunchtime; today’s limited selection of migrants comprised 10 Grey Wagtails, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears, 45 Swallows south, a Goldcrest (the first of the autumn, albeit probably not a Scandinavian bird) and a Redstart.   

Other bits of note included a Ring-necked Parakeet which circled the point before heading back towards town, a Whimbrel, a close Guillemot south, a Pochard south, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Sandwich Terns.

First site record of Hoary Footman

LANDGUARD - 23rd September

 Bright and sunny but with a brisk and increasing westerly breeze; the small selection of migrants comprised a Cetti’s Warbler caught and ringed (always scarce here despite being common in the surrounding area), a Yellow Wagtail, 72 Swallows and 46 Meadow Pipits south, 9 Chiffchaffs, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 6 Grey Wagtails, 6 Blackcaps and 2 Wheatears.

Cetti's Warbler

(not) LANDGUARD - 22nd September

 A nice morning at Minsmere in calm, sunny conditions; there were a few waders on the scrapes including a Pectoral Sandpiper from South Hide (been there a couple of days), just 4 Avocets, a Grey Plover, 135+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 2 Ruff, a Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 18+ Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank along with increased wildfowl since my last visit including 315+ Barnacle Geese, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and Pintail.   

There were few other migrants around with a trickle of Meadow Pipits, House Martins and Swallows heading south, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps and a few Chiffchaffs whilst other birds included a Great White Egret, 2 Bittern sightings, a single remaining Common Tern, 2 Kingfishers and 6+ Stonechats.   

In the fine conditions the Bearded Tits were very active, flying up high with lots of small flocks whizzing around everywhere, Dartford Warblers were very obvious as well with a male in full song and a couple more were flitting about and like everywhere else, Cetti’s Warblers are starting to sing again.

Dartford Warblers

Bearded Tits

LANDGUARD - 21st September

 Nice and bright, warm and sunny with a light WNW breeze; a few migrants in the area included 174 Swallows south, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Chiffchaffs, a Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 80 Meadow Pipits, a Wheatear, 6 Grey Wagtails, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Song Thrushes (the first two, greyish, continental type birds of the autumn).

Sparrowhawk

Garden Warbler

LANDGUARD - 20th September

 Cloudy with a slightly stronger NW wind than of late; there wasn’t really one feature of the day but a series of random sightings to keep everyone’s interest which included (in no particular order) an Arctic Skua offshore, a group of 10 Egyptian Geese in off the sea (a very scarce Obs bird) and upriver, a Hobby in off the sea and a little selection of migrants comprising 3 Grey Wagtails, a Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Whitethroat.   

There were fewer birds heading south offshore than the last few days although totals consisted of 59 Brent Geese, 2 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 62 Cormorants and 2 Red-throated Divers.

Centre-barred Sallow

(not) LANDGUARD - 19th September

 A few hours at Bawdsey Quay first thing produced a Little Stint which flew down river with Dunlin and Ringed Plover as the tide was rising, a Greenshank and some wildfowl heading south offshore highlighted by a Pochard along with Teal, Wigeon and Brent Geese.   

East Lane was then very quiet before a look at Melton at high tide produced a Grey Plover, 475 Black-tailed Godwits and 15 Greenshank roosting and single Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat with a mixed Chiffchaff / Long-tailed Tit / Blue Tit flock.   

There was a decent wildfowl movement off Landguard in the evening which included 436 Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 19 Wigeon, 4 Pintail and 33 Common Scoter along with a juvenile Arctic Skua close in.

LANDGUARD - 18th September

 Morning cloud gradually dissipated on the light SSE breeze creating another warm, sunny day; most of the interest was offshore where a push of southbound wildfowl included 321 Brent Geese, 207 Teal, 71 Teal and 10 Pintail along with a Heron, 2 Dunlin (heard overhead before dawn), 6 Oystercatchers, 33 Sandwich Terns, 22 Gannets and an Arctic Skua.   

Elsewhere it was still quiet with 42 Meadow Pipits, 40 Swallows and 7 Grey Wagtails south (I caught two out three and three out of four which dropped into the trap) with 10 Wheatears, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Another day, a different Convolvulus Hawkmoth

LANDGUARD - 17th September

 Largely sunny and bright with light SW winds (apart from a weird spell for an hour in the morning when thick fog appeared from nowhere!); there was a trickle of birds overhead but nothing really compared to yesterday which included a Chaffinch, a Sparrowhawk over the sea, 50 Meadow Pipits, 73 Swallows and 4 Yellow Wagtails.   

Offshore 34 Teal and 18 Wigeon went south while on the land 3 Chiffchaffs, 7 Wheatears and a Black Redstart was about it.   

A fine, pristine Convolvulus Hawkmoth was the highlight in the moth traps.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth

LANDGUARD - 16th September

Warm and humid with a light westerly breeze; there was a bit more life out there than the last couple of days especially overhead as birds heading south included 12 Grey Wagtails (I caught nine of them!), a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 96 Meadow Pipits and 55 Swallows.   

Grounded migrants added 5 Chiffchaffs, 11 Wheatears, a Black Redstart, a Blackcap and a Coal Tit to the day list whilst 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Grey Plover and a Red-throated Diver (the first of the autumn) were offshore.   

Also of note was a smart Clouded Yellow in the compound – my first one of these for absolutely ages!   

A look at Melton in the afternoon at low tide produced increases to 87 Teal and 24 Wigeon, 10 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, presumably the same two Hobbies as last time over the trees on the east side of the river and my first Snipe, Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit for this site.

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull ringed as a chick on Havergate Island in 2013

(not) LANDGUARD - 15th September

 Bit of a change of scenery as I headed across the boarder into Essex for a walk along the coast at Dengie (where I did some surveying a long time ago); it was pretty quiet but bits and pieces included an Osprey fishing offshore, a Merlin chasing Linnets over the fields (an overdue year tick!), 2 Grey Plover, 55 Grey Plover and 21 Bar-tailed Godwits with hundreds of Curlew and Oystercatchers on the receding tide, 85+ Mediterranean Gulls with huge numbers of Common Gulls, 35+ Little Egrets, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail.   

A little look from the two causeways at Abberton Reservoir then produced an excellent 10 Great White Egrets and 75+ Little Egrets (both counts probably the highest I’ve seen in the UK), 60+ Pintail, a Ruff, 3 Common Sandpipers, 23+ Common Terns, 2 Grey Wagtails and 5 Yellow Wagtails.

LANDGUARD - 14th September

 Mid-September, nice ESE breeze coming in right from the continent, a bit of drizzle just before dawn and spells of light rain through the morning – just what you pray for to deliver a good selection of migrants at a prominent east coast migration site….well, no actually, the nets were literally empty of any birds and the bushes were devoid of any new birds.   

All of the morning’s limited interest was offshore despite the poor visibility where my highlights comprised a Sooty Shearwater north at 09:45 (a year tick!), a Little Tern feeding with 62+ Sandwich Terns off the jetty, 65 Teal south, 2 Purple Sandpipers flushed off the beach to head north and 3 Gannets.

LANDGUARD - 11th September

 Overcast through the morning, although it became brighter and sunnier by lunchtime with a light SW breeze; it was the first day of the autumn so far with a little overhead passage to talk about as birds on the move included 447 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Grey Wagtails and 31 Meadow Pipits accentuated by a Hobby and an Osprey which circled high over the docks just after midday.   

Grounded migrants were thin on the ground but comprised 5 Wheatears, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler.

LANDGUARD - 7th September

 Very calm with warm, bright sunshine throughout becoming virtually hot by late morning; it remained very hazy though bordering on misty first thing, meaning there was no chance of any meaningful seawatching and all the interest had to be gleaned from the land.   There was a nice selection of migrants which included a good total of 14 Grey Wagtails (seven of which were lured into the Heligoland trap), 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, a Tree Pipit, a Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Willow Warblers and 2 Redstarts.   

Also of note were 32 House Martins and 4 Swallows south and a little but notable influx of presumably local 13+ Robins.

Grey Wagtail

Sycamore caterpillar

LANDGUARD - 6th September

 Light ENE winds and bright but hazy sunshine throughout didn’t drop too many migrants into the area but those that were included the Wryneck again – I glimpsed it briefly in the compound, 9 Wheatears, 3 Willow Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Whinchat.   

Also of note were 26 Teal south, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Kestrels.   

A look at Melton in the very warm and sunny afternoon, coincided with high tide so it was tricky viewing but some good totals included 22 Greenshank, 43 Curlew and 365 Black-tailed Godwits.

Mating Migrant Hawkers

LANDGUARD - 4th September

 Largely overcast through the morning with a stiff NE wind becoming bright and sunny by the afternoon; the now daily scattering of migrants was highlighted by a superb Wryneck which I found in a mist-net mid-morning.   Also present were 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and 2 Blackcaps.   

Elsewhere, a Black Tern was offshore with 94+ Sandwich Terns first thing, 30 Teal went south, 2 Knot flew north and 11 Swallows couldn’t make up their mind which way to go.   

Also of honourable mention was an Osprey scoped up the river hovering over the water opposite Trimley Marshes first thing – rubbish views and a long way outside the Obs recording area but still nice though!

Wryneck

LANDGUARD - 3rd September

 A bit more east in the wind and brighter conditions – becoming actually sunny by late morning produced small numbers of migrants which today consisted of a Reed Warbler, 4 Grey Wagtails (two of which were lured into the Heligoland trap), a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroats, a Redstart and 3 Yellow Wagtails.   

Also of note were 21 Teal south, single Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling and Turnstone on the jetty and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.

LANDGUARD - 2nd September

 Same same again weather wise, overcast with the moderate northerly breeze flirting with the east; as in the last few days there was a little smattering of migrants across the area which today included 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Wheatears, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Reed Warblers, a Redstart, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Willow Warblers whilst a smart young, male Sparrowhawk found the nets.   

Offshore, the few birds of note comprised a Curlew, 6 Common Scoter, 13 Teal, 13 Gannets and 4 Oystercatchers before 4 Little Terns were feeding off the jetty in the evening.

Golden-rod Brindle - The first for Landguard and fourth for Suffolk

(not) LANDGUARD - 1st September

 A quiet day off with a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaffs at Bawdsey Quay along with 46 Sandwich Terns roosting on the river, a Bar-tailed Godwit with the Curlew and 2 Hobbies on the Ferry side of the river squabbling over a kill.   

Totals at Melton at low tide then included increases to 7 Wigeon and 34 Teal, 60 Ringed Plover, 21 Curlew, 225+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Turnstone, 10 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 175+ Redshank and 2 Kingfishers.

These last few baby Swallows spent most of their time begging to each other and not getting much for their troubles

Sand Martin

Little Egret

LANDGUARD - 31st August

 A touch of drizzle at dawn, albeit far less than yesterday produced another little selection of grounded migrants across the area which today comprised a Snipe (a Landguard tick for me!), 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, a Redstart, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warblers and 3 Pied Flycatchers.   

There was a bit more offshore than of late as well including 108 Teal and 11 Wigeon south, 67 Cormorants straight in off and up the river, 2 Arctic Skuas on the sea before heading north, 15 Dunlin and 35 Gannets.

Redstart