Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) seen this afternoon inside the compound behind the kitchen.  Starting clear but then swamped by a bank of fog until lifting and burning off late morning, a slight W wind. 22 Redwing and 4 Siskin seen flying over the compound, out on the reserve 2 Shore Lark remain. A Black Redstart was observed down viewpoint road mid morning. 3 Buzzards seen soaring high by 11am. Mid-day a Yellow-browed Warbler was heard and later seen in the compound behind the kitchen (16:30).  22 Meadow Pipit, 10 Swallow and 7 Rook also South over the top of the observatory.  Seawatching  South: 95 Wigeon, 11 Teal, 7 Common Gull, 6 Pintail, 5 Brent Goose, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret and a Knot. North: 4 Common Scoter, 3 Brent Goose, 2 Heron and a Cormorant. West: 3 Egyptian Geese.   Feeding offshore: 8 Black-headed Gull and 6 Great Black-backed Gull. Moth trapping: 29 moth species between our 3 traps this morning. Moth of the morning, very deservingly so, is the Merveille du Jour, which makes an appearance october most years Merveille du Jour (Griposia aprilina). Bird ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Robin.  

 Glorious sunny, calm autumnal day. A Barn Owl was quartering the Butts pre-dawn & not long after daylight 14 Little Egret went north. Also on the move southbound 16 Mipit, 8 Siskin, 6 Crows, 5 Spoonbill, Grey Wag, Jackdaw, Rock Pipit, Rook & Woodlark. Offshore movements negligible. On site at least 20 Mipit, 14 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap plus a Lesser 'throat showing characteristics of C.c.blythi. A Purp was on the point & the 2 Shorelark are still with us. Cypress Pug inhabits various ornamental Cypress trees. Failed to get one last year, although it has been almost of annual occurrence in the past 20 years since it arrived in Suffolk in the early part of this century. Ringing: 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock.

A sunny morning with a W wind. A nice mix of birds inside the compound with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Reed Bunting, another Brambling ringed. South overhead; 146 Swallow, 60 Meadow Pipit, 2 Redpoll, 1 Skylark, 1 Woodlark. A Blackbird was observed flying in off the sea then heading out again. 5 Jay and a Merlin also observed on site. Out on the reserve 1 Wheatear and 2 Shore Lark. A Turnstone and a Rock Pipit on the beach.    Seawatching: South: 238 Wigeon, 133 Teal, 53 Brent Goose, 24 Black-headed Gull, 23 Cormorant, 14 Pintail, 7 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Little Egret, 1 Turnstone.   Feeding offshore: 2 Mediterranean Gull.   Moth trapping: 29 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning goes to the Red-green carpet of the Autumn Plumb on cue (right on time).  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata).  Bird ringing: 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Brambling, 1 Chaffinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Jay.  

Shorelark (Eremophila alpestris).  A sunny morning, starting with a WSW turning into SSW by late morning. Quiet within the compound with around 10 Chiffchaff and 6 Blackcap, overhead; 94 Meadow Pipit and 25 Skylark south and a Redpoll. 1 Shorelark remains on the nature reserve. 2 Sanderling and a Rock Pipit on the beach.  Seawatching: South: 8 Common Gull, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Cormorant, 6 Black-headed Gull, 4 Wigeon, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher, a Gannet and a Hobby.  North: a Cormorant.  Feeding offshore: 2 Mediterranean Gull.    Moth trapping: Moth of the morning falls to the Box-tree moth, a moth that only first turned up here 8 years ago, became abundant but is having a poor year this year.   Box-tree (Cydalima perspectalis). Bird ringing: 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blue Tit.  

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) A sunny and bright morning with a W wind. A mix of birds within the compound with a Ring Ouzel heard early morning and our first Goldcrest of the Autumn ringed. 58 Meadow Pipit south with 15 on. 17 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin south. A Siskin also south. 3 Wheatear on the reserve. A Short Eared Owl in and off the sea. 2 Rock Pipit south and one on the reserve.  Seawatching:   South: 47 Wigeon, 7 Cormorant, 5 Teal, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Brent Goose, 2 Curlew, 2 Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull South West: 2 Shelduck,  Moth trapping: moth of the morning goes to the Thicket Knot-horn has become rarer here in recent years. This one is a late emerging individual.  Thicket Knot-horn (Acrobasis suavella). Bird ringing: 6 Robin, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Brambling, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Woodpigeon.   

 Shorelark increased to at least two - these are our first September records with the previous earliest ever on 3rd October in several years. Drizzly morning with a southerly wind. Southbound 201 Wigeon, 163 Brent, 92 Teal, 16 Pintail, 11 Common Scoter, 9 Dunlin, 8 Common Gull, Gannet, Oyk, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver & Tufted Duck. An Arctic Skua offshore in the afternoon departed north. Passerines southbound were 31 Mipit, 24 Swallow, 2 Rock Pipit, Skylark & Yellow Wag. On site at least 20 Robin, 18 Mipit, 5 Songies, 3 Brambling, 3 Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Snipe & Whinchat. 4 Common Sandpiper on the point was odd for us.Hoary Footman first turned up in 2021 although we failed to get one last year. This one is, presumably, a migrant. Ringing: 5 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 House Sparrow.

 371 birds of 30 species is only half last September's ringing total. 2 Tree Sparrows were the first ones ringed here since 2019. Blackcap 60 Chiffchaff 56 Robin 49 Blue Tit 46 Willow Warbler 37 Meadow Pipit 36 Great Tit 9 Great Spotted Woodpecker 7 Cetti's Warbler 6 Dunnock 6 Sedge Warber 6 Whitethroat 6 Goldfinch 5 Lesser Whitethroat 5 Song Thrush 5 Garden Warbler 4 Grey Wagtail 4 Reed Warbler 4 House Sparrow 3 Pied Flycatcher 3 Linnet 2 Redstart 2 Tree Sparrow 2 Wood Pigeon 2 Chaffinch 1 Jay 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Spotted Flycatcher 1 Starling 1 Swallow 1 Total 371

A misty morning with overnight rain and wind blowing from the west. Our first Siskin, Redpoll and Redwing of the autumn around the compound. A Snipe heard this morning and last night. A Redstart and Chaffinch ringed alongside 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers with the latter on one net round! A Rock Pipit on the beach. 4 Swallows south and 6 Meadow Pipit remaining on site.  Seawatching:  South: 201 Wigeon, 72 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 5 Brent Goose, 4 Cormorant, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Pochard, an Arctic Skua, a Common Gull, a Great Crested Grebe, a Little Egret and a Pintail.  North: 3 Common Scoter, 2 Cormorant, 2 Gannet North, an Oystercatcher and a Red-throated Diver. Feeding offshore: 22 Sandwich Tern, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Black-headed Gull.  Moth trapping: 36 moth species recorded in our 3 traps and around the compound today. Moth of the morning goes to to the several male vapours flying around by day presently. Vapour Moth (Orgyia antiqua). Bird ringing: 5 Robin, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Brambling, 2 Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redstart.

 An overcast morning with a slight NNW wind. Quiet within the compound with a small mix of warblers and 2 Chaffinch, on the reserve: a single Wheatear near the Butts and 2 Rock Pipit on the beach. 4 Meadow Pipit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker overhead south.  Seawatching:  South: 220 Teal, 12 Wigeon, 9 Cormorant, 8 Brent Goose, 7 Wigeon, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, a Common Gull, a Common Tern and a Gannet.                                                                                                                                               North: a Brent Goose.                                                                                                                                         West: 7 Cormorant.                                                                             Feeding offshore: 4 Mediterranean Gull.            Moth trapping: 32 species between our 3 traps. moth of the morning falls to the Red-line Quaker, which is a scarce autumnal visitor here from areas with willows.  Red-line Quaker (Leptologia lota). Bird ringing: 3 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Willow Warbler. 

 Onshore wind. Southbound 438 Brent, 303 Wigeon, 220 Teal, 92 Black-heads, 27 Shelduck, 8 Common Gull, 6 Pintail, 3 Med Gull, Curlew, Dunlin, Gannet, Knot & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Sandwich Tern & 4 Common Scoter. Onshore counts again poor with Vis Mig southbound just 3 Mipit, 2 Grey Wag, single Kes & Swallow. Grounded migrants are truly pitiful for the time of the year with just 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap & Lesser 'throat with visitations from single Buzzard & Jay.  We do appreciate that whinging about the poor state of migration & low dailly tallies is now so routine it has become the "new normal". However it's being so cheerful that keeps us going - we are resilient & defiant enough that we ain't going to let the bastards grind us down !Probably told you before that Channel Islands Pug first turned up here five years ago & is now our commonest Pug moth. Living on Tamarisk this years flight period should be coming to an end soon, unless it decides to keep going in the mild conditions. Some very good positive news amongst all the "doom & gloom". Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.

 Common Gull (Larus canus). Starting overcast but then turning sunny with a slight NW breeze. 2 Brambling over the observatory early morning. Lesser 'throat, Song Thrush, Skylark, Tree Pipit & Wheatear out on the reserve. Black Red on containers by the car park & 5 Buzzards soaring in the thermals over the Port late morning. Seawatching: Earliest ever autumn Goldeneye with our only previous September record on the 30th, 2010. North: 7 Heron, 2 Arctic Skua,Common Scoter & OystercatcherSouth: 11 Wigeon, 8 Teal & 4 Shelduck. Moth trapping: L-album Wainscot arrived in the year 2000 and has colonised and slowly spreading north in the UK.  L-Album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album) Bird ringing: 5 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Starling.    

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros).   A sunny morning with a light breeze from the south. Quiet within the compound, 3 Wheatear out on the reserve and a Black Redstart calling from the fort roof mid morning. A Grey Wagtail, 2 Jackdaw and 2 Rock Pipit over the reserve. A small number of Swallows with 8 south and 14 Meadow Pipit also south. A Jay briefly visited us again, imitated a Buzzard very well and then flew off.  Seawatching: South: 78 Teal, 65 Wigeon, 16 Black-headed Gull, 13 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 1 Pintail, West: an Oystercatcher. Feeding offshore: 15 Sandwich Tern and a Common Tern.  Moth trapping: 24 species between our 3 traps. Only the second Autumnal Rustic in the last ten years. It is declining species on the IUCN red list, classed as near threatened. Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa).  Bird ringing: 6 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Song Thrush.  

Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula). A Sunny morning with little wind. Meadow Pipit migration reducing to 7 south and 4 feeding on site, 2 Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail also south. 3 Peregrine over the observatory. A Black Redstart heard on the fort and unusually, a Jackdaw perched on the motus tower at the observatory. A Jay being ringed is  also of note with few individuals passing through this area.  Seawatching: South: 28 Teal, 13 Cormorant, 10 Spoonbill, 2 Common Tern, a Common Gull and a Grey Heron. North: 10 Common Scoter, 7 Common Tern, 2 Cormorant, an Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, a Shearwater species and a Grey Heron. Feeding offshore: 5 Sandwich Tern and a Common Gull.   Moth trapping: 27 Species between our 3 traps this morning. Moth of the morning goes to the Chequered Grass-moth, it has not had a good year so difficult to know why this late individual has come out.  Chequered Grass-moth (Catoptria falsella). Bird ringing: 9 Blue tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Jay. 

 The first site record of Fox was a one off sighting in 1994 & since 2001 they have colonised & are now ubiquitous across Felixstowe despite culling in the countryside nearby. Garganey flying south was only the tenth site record & our first for ten years. Entertaining southerly movement including 502 Teal, 242 Wigeon, 64 Swallow, 35 Brent, 25 House Martin,18 Common Tern, 13 Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 7 Avocet, 6 Turnstone, 5 Common Gull, 5 Common Scoter, 5 Shelduck, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Gadwal, 3 Gannet, 2 Heron, 2 Knot, 2 Oyk, Arctic Skua & Sanderling with northbound Black Tern, Gannet & Red-throat + a Skylark in off. Measly numbers of grounded migrants with 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, Songie & Whinchat best of a grim selection.Barred Sallow wanders down here in the autumn from areas with Beech & Maple. Ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.

Sanderling (Calidris alba).  An overcast morning with little wind, clearing by late morning. Our first Song Thrush of the autumn ringed and an influx of on site Blue Tits. In the moat of the fort, 3 Black Redstarts. 16 Pied Wagtail on the grass in front of the observatory. 2 Sanderling along the beach and an Oystercatcher. Hirundine movement dropping to just 6 Swallow south. Meadow Pipit visible migration dropping to just 5 South and 6 feeding on site.  Seawatching: South: 116 Teal, 15 Cormorant, 14 Black-headed Gull, 11 Sandwich Tern, 11 Wigeon, 8 Shelduck and a Red-throated Diver.   South West: 8 Grey Heron. West: 1 Gadwall. Feeding offshore: 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 9 Common Tern, 7 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.  Moth trapping: 45 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Brick, it lives here in low numbers on the poplars.  Brick (Sunira circellaris).  Bird ringing: 9 Blue Tit, 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Woodpigeon.   

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). A sunny morning with wind dropping significantly to a light NW. A Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker within the compound and a Skylark overhead. Out on the reserve 2 Wheatear and 2 Whimbrel. 2 Mute Swan at the entrance to the port. Hirundine movement: 250 Swallow, 116 House Martin and 17 Sand Martin all south.  Seawatching: South: a Cormorant and an Oystercatcher.North: 4 Gannet, 4 Cormorant and a Common Scoter. East: a Cormorant.Feeding offshore: 5 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern. Moth trapping: 52 species between our 3 traps recorded this morning. Moth of the morning falls to the Beaded Chestnut is a declining autumnal species now on the IUCN Red list as Near Threatened.   Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis).  Bird ringing: 9 Meadow Pipit, 4 Blue Tit, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Great Tit, 2 Robin, 1 Goldfinch.      

 Ivy Bee arrived in the UK in 2001 & has spread north fairly quickly. Despite the wind a few bits n' bobs of note including a Merlin hunting a passerine offshore, 2 Cattle Egret south & our first Chaffinch since mid-June. The supporting cast included southbound 263 Swallow, 190 Mipit, 9 House Martin, 2 Grey Wag & Sand Martin with offshore southbound 14 Med Gull, 10 Shelduck, 7 Black-headed Gull, 3 Greylag Goose, 3 Teal, 2 Red-throated Diver & Oyk with northbound 4 Common Scoter, 2 Oyk & Red-throat plus a Marsh Harrier in off. On site 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser 'throat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat. 2 Black Red were around Darrell's Battery. A Wall Brown butterfly was again by the Butts pond & at least 10 Clouded Yellow were noted.Black Rustic is an autumnal species was first noted in 1993 & has since colonised. Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin.

A cloudy and breezy morning with only a small amount of visible migration including 32 Swallow and 3 Meadow Pipit south. Quiet within the compound with mainly Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Out on the reserve a single Wheatear.  Seawatching: South: 8 Sandwich Tern, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, a Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Shelduck and a Whimbrel. North: 1 Great Black-backed GullFeeding offshore: 11 Sandwich Tern and a Common Tern.  Moth trapping: 18 moth species between our 3 moth traps. Lunar underwing has started coming out in recent days.  Lunar Underwing (Anchoscelis lunosa).  Bird ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Robin.  

 Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), seen near the cottage.  A sunny but blustery morning with wind from the west. A Redstart was seen on the roof of the fort as well as 2 Black Redstarts in the moat late afternoon. A Whinchat near the cottage mid morning. Hirundine movement: 109 Swallow and 6 Sand Martin. Seawatching produced: South: 5 Cormorant and 4 Teal. North: 1 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Feeding offshore: 35 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Tern.  Moth trapping: 23 Species recorded between our 3 traps - low species count due to the high winds overnight.    However another Wall Brown was spotted today, potentially two...  the Wall is a declining species in Suffolk that has been noted here for the past five autumns in low numbers.Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), sighted today near the pond near the butts and on wednesday in the moat of the fort.  Bird ringing: 11 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit.    

An overcast morning with rain starting mid morning. Inside the compound a small mix of warblers including Lesser Whitethroat. Out on the reserve 2 Jackdaw, a Kestrel and a Snipe that was flushed. 13 Meadow Pipit south over the reserve. Hirundine movement: 34 Swallow, 6 House Martin and a Sand Martin south. 2 Knot out on the beach.    Seawatching produced: South: 94 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 9 Pintail, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 4 Scoter, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Sanderling, 2 Snipe, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Hobby and 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Shoveler, West: a Merlin. North: Arctic Skua and a Gannet.  Moth Trapping: 27 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Dusky Lemon Sallow, an IUCN Red List species, classified as Near Threatened. It turns up most years wandering from areas with Wych elms.  Dusky Lemon Sallow (Cirrhia gilvago). Bird ringing: 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Meadow Pipit. 

 First site record of Queen of Spain Fritillary which is a rare immigrant to our shores. Quieter morning with southbound 170 Swallow, 72 Mipit, Grey Wag & Sand Martin. Offshore southbound first 8 Brent of the autumn, 7 Wigeon, 6 Teal, Marsh Harrier (+ another one in off) & the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn with northbound an Arctic Skua. On site 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Spot Fly, Lesser 'throat & Reed Warbler.The Delicate is a fairly regular immigrant species that maybe established at times in recent years. Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). An overcast morning with stronger winds from the SW. A few warblers moving through the compound with 3 Garden Warblers ringed. Out on the reserve: 7 Wheatear, a Black Redstart and a Whinchat at noon. Also of note is our first Black Tern, first since August 2023.   Hirundine migration picking up once again to 2,950 Swallow counted moving through up to mid day, with 64 House Martin and 12 Sand Martin mixed in, all moving south.  A Hobby flew south along the beach and a Peregrine and Kestrel were seen in flight. Seawatching: South: 26 Teal, 13 Wigeon, 9 Cormorant, 6 Oystercatcher, 3 Dunlin, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Pintail, 2 Turnstone, a Black-headed Gull, a Common Scoter, a Greenshank, a Grey Plover and a Shelduck.  North: a Black Tern and a Gannet.   Feeding offshore: 13 Sandwich Tern and an Oystercatcher.   Moth trapping: 41 Species recorded last night between our 3 traps, with 262 Large Yellow Underwing now filling our traps, a slight decrease from yesterday's 319. Moth of the morning, however is the Feathered Brindle, a nationally scarce species that does well on vegetated shingle areas on the coast.  Feathered Brindle (Aporophyla australis).  Bird ringing: 7 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Robin, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Dunnock. 

 It is planned to take down the temporary fencing for ground nesting birds & botany on the reserve this  Thursday 17th September at 0930 hrs. Many hands make light work so all welcome. Please wear appropriate clothing & footwear for the job in hand with a pair of gardening type gloves also useful. If anyone wishes to undertake future voluntary tasks on the nature reserve the Ranger will be present to provide further details.

 Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata).  Migration picking up with a bright but mostly overcast morning with a small amount of rain before sunrise. A decent amount of visible migration, with 415 Meadow Pipit south. Hirundine migration really picking up with 1806 Swallows, 4 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin south.  Inside the compound: A Grey Wagtail over early, a Redstart and a Sedge Warbler, both caught in a mist net late morning as well as multiple Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. Out on the reserve: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Black Redstart near the point, 4 Wheatear and 15 Pied Wagtail mobile, on the beach a Ring Plover and a Turnstone.   Seawatching:South: 113 Teal, 56 Common Tern, 52 Sandwich Tern, 32 Wigeon, 22 Black-headed Gull, 17 Cormorant, 17 Shelduck, 4 Common Gull, 4 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, a Common Scoter, a Curlew, a Grey Plover, a Hobby, a Pintail and a Shoveler.  North: 5 Common Scoter. South West (towards river): 9 Shelduck,Feeding offshore: 11 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern and a Black-headed Gull.  Moth trapping: 54 Moth species between our 3 traps. Yellow-tail is the moth of the morning, slightly bit later in the year than expected.  Yellow-Tail (Sphrageidus similis).  Bird ringing: 7 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Meadow Pipit, 3 Robin, 2 Great Tit, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redstart, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk. 

 Rain to mid-morning then some annoying showers later on that appear to have dropped very few migrants in. On site 6 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 2 Lesser 'throat, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Willow Warbler. Southbound 40 Sand Martin, 17 Swallow, 2 Teal & Whimbrel. Purp on the point & Sanderling nearby. Vestal is a migrant that we only see on rare occasions despite it being noted more frequently by others in Suffolk. This fresh "red-striped" individual doesn't look like it's migrated far to reach us. Ringing: 1 Blackcap.

 Small selection of typical mid-September fare on an increasingly breezy morning. Southbound 433 Swallow, 12 Sand Martin, 11 Mipit, 8 House Martin, Hobby & Yellow Wagtail. On site migrants, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser 'throat, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatear, Blackcap & Sedge Warbler. Single Sanderling on the beach & a Great Spot visited. Beautiful Hook-tip first appeared ten years ago, colonised, and now appears to be having a second emergence in the autumn in addition to it's main one in the summer months. Always comforting that some species are doing well in these troubled times. Ringing: 5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Robin, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler. 

2 Turnstone (Arenaria interpres).  Rain overnight, clearing early morning. A small mix of warblers inside the compound including Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcaps. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers also visited the compound. Out on the reserve a Whinchat, a male Redstart, a Skylark and 2 Wheatear. Out on the beach 2 Turnstone and a Purple Sandpiper. Hirundine movement: 276 Swallow and 4 House Martin south. 18 Meadow Pipit south. Seawatching: South: 2 Cormorant, 2 Teal,  North: 3 Common Tern, 3 Shelduck and a Cormorant. Feeding offshore: 6 Sandwich Tern.  Moth trapping: 21 moth species present between our 3 traps - a decrease due to the overnight rain. Moth of the morning is the Carnation Tortrix, appearing in the UK in the early 1900's and has undertaken a slow northwards colonisation across England over time.     Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana).  Bird ringing: 8 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin. 

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus). A sunny and still morning with slightly more visible migration, compared to yesterday, with 400 Swallow and 30 Meadow Pipit both south. Other hirundine migration: 15 House Martin and 6 House Martin south. Out on the reserve 1 Wheatear and a Redstart. A Great Spotted Woodpecker inside the compound. 1 Yellow Wagtail also south.    Seawatching: South: 30 Teal, 6 Cormorant and a Curlew. South West: 5 Shelduck. Feeding offshore: 4 Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Tern and a Common Gull.   Moth trapping: 54 moth species between our 3 traps last night. Frosted Orange pays a visit on infrequently occasions and not every year. Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago). Bird ringing: 8 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.   

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) - not a regular sight from Landguard.  A cold but sunny morning with strong W winds. Hirundine movement starting to pick up again from the bad weather yesterday with 175 Swallow, 1 House Martin both South. Meadow Pipit migration is starting with 10 Seen over the duration of the day, 2 Spotted Flycatchers seen with one inside the compound and anouther near Manor Road. 1 Wheatear out on the reserve, 2 Reed Warblers and a Whinchat. Late night one Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper over the observatory.  Seawatching produced: South: 4 Wigeon, 3 Cormorant, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Dunlin. Towards the port: 5 Cormorant and 5 Egyptian Goose. Feeding offshore: 2 Common Tern and a Common Gull.     Moth trapping: 19 Species last night between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning, Bright-Line Brown-Eye is a regular in the moth traps in low numbers.  Bright-Line Brown-Eye (Lacanobia oleracea). Bird ringing: 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Robin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher. 

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) chasing each other in the late evening sunshine.    A wet morning, continuing to late evening before clearing up. The rain set in from around 5am with sightings from the observatory peaking on an Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns offshore and 2 Grey-headed Yellow Wagtails feeding on the nature reserve, 1 Wheatear also observed within the conservation cordons. Hirundine migration hit hard with only 5 Swallow South.  Seawatching produced: South: 28 Teal, 14 Greater Black-backed Gulls, 9 Common Tern, 7 Sandwich Tern, 3 Cormorant, 3 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Grey Plover. Feeding offshore: 7 Sandwich Tern and an Arctic Skua.  Moth trapping: 37 species between our 3 traps last night. Moth of the morning, the Scarce Bordered Straw is an immigrant species that turns up in variable numbers one year to the next. Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera). Bird ringing: na 

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) seen on the left, Sanderling (Calidris alba) on the right.  A warm and bright morning with most notable migration coming in the form of Swallows.  Seawatching produced: South: 53 Cormorant, 6 Teal, 3 Oystercatcher, 3 Wigen, 2 Shelduck.  North: 14 Sandwich Tern. Towards the port: an Oystercatcher. Feeding offshore: 3 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, a Great Black-backed Gull. Moth trapping: 57 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning, Small Brindled Tortrix is a nationally scarce species on poplars still appear this late in its flight period.   Small Brindled Tortrix (Gypsonoma minutana)  Bird ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.

 Hard work. Southbound 28 Swallow, 7 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, 5 Oyk & Teal plus a Gannet north. On site more birds appeared to have left us than arrived with meagre offerings including 5 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser 'throat & 2 Wheatear. Good to see a couple of juvenile Common Tern with adults off the point. Yet another Great Spot turned up - they must have had a bumper breeding season judging by the newbies turning up. Good to get a Clifden Nonpareil which have been turning up in recent years. The one's here are possibly primary immigrants as opposed to the recent colonists. Ringing: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). A sunny and bright morning but a slightly chilly wind from the W. Quiet within the compound. 211 Swallow south over the nature reserve, 4 Meadow Pipit and a Grey Wagtail. Out on the reserve: a Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 17 Pied Wagtail. 3 Ringed Plover on the beach. A Clouded Yellow butterfly also seen near the cottage.  Seawatching produced: South: 3 Common Scoter, an Oystercatcher. Feeding offshore: 8 Black-headed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Common Gull and a Common Tern.  Moth trapping: 27 moths between our 3 Traps. Pick of the bunch is the Old Lady, it wanders into the buildings in the Autumn. Old Lady moth (Mormo maura).  Bird ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 1 Sedge Warbler.  

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba). Windy from the get-go with rain forecast late morning producing a quick downpour after 8am. Quiet within the compound with a Garden Warbler mist netted. Hirundine migration slowing with 182 Swallows and 4 House Martin, viewed flying south. Out on the reserve 3 Wheatear. A Peregrine flying along the shore line and a Kestrel. Seawatching produced: South: 6 Teal, 3 Oystercatcher, an Arctic Skua, a Cormorant, a Common Scoter, a Curlew, a Sandwich Tern, a Whimbrel and a Wigeon. North: 4 Common Scoter. Feeding offshore: 6 Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull.  Moth trapping: 38 moth species recorded between our 3 traps. Straw Underwing is appearing in double figures most mornings recently.  Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura). Bird ringing: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap.   

One of our juvenile Carrion Crows (Corvus corone) reared on site developing well. A cloudy morning with wind building over the duration of the morning. Migration slow, with around 115 Swallow passing through south. A small mix of warblers within the compound represented by the ringing totals. 5 Wheatear out on the reserve and some 16 Pied Wagtail.   Seawatching produced: South: 3 Oystercatcher. North: 8 Sandwich Tern, a Common Scoter. Feeding offshore: 15 Black-headed Gull, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Juvenile Common Tern and a Common Gull Moth trapping: 41 Species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is our second Passenger this Autumn, it is an immigrant species that looks set to colonise over time - with one of the caterpillar food plants being bramble - it will certainly do well at Landguard!.  Passenger (Dysgonia algira). Bird ringing: 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler. 

 Southbound 382 Swallow, 41 House Martin, 2 Swift, Little Egret, Sand Martin & Whimbrel. Migrants on site include 6 Wheatear, 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser 'throat, 2 Reed Warbler, Mipit, Pied Fly & Whinchat. Regular trickle of new Robins in recent days as youngsters get kicked out by their parents to find their own way in the world. Yet another Great Spot visited & a Black Red was noted. With only a couple of records in the past 12 years good to get a Tawny Speckled Pug although prior to that it turned up a bit more often. It is on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened. Yet another declining species ! Ringing: 4 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler.

Linnets (Linaria cannabina) warming up on the fort roof early morning. A sunny bright morning with wind dropping late morning. Inside the compound a good mix of migrants with a Garden Warbler, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit over early morning. On the reserve: Pied Flycatcher, 23 Pied Wagtail, 6 Wheatear and a Redstart near the Butts. Lesser Emperor dragonfly seen near the mine station compound.  Seawatching: South: 11 Golden Plover, 3 Teal, 1 Whimbrel and a Little Egret. Towards the port: A Mediterranean Gull. Feeding offshore: 5 Black-headed Gull 3 Sandwich Tern. Hirundine migration: 636 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin.   Moth trapping: 59 moth species recorded between our 3 traps this morning. Todays pick of the bunch is Agriphila Latistria. Every year at this time, a handful of Agriphila Latistria turn up in our traps.   Agriphila Latistria.   Bird ringing: 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Swallow, 1 Whitethroat.   

Female Juvenile Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus). 175 bird ringed of 30 Species in August is our worst ringing total for August on record since 1983, with 2024 being closest with 194 birds ringed. The numbers of each species are surprisingly similar with 2024 matching 67 Willow Warblers ringed and slightly more Robins (19 in 2024), but fewer Blackbirds than 2024 with just 2 compared to 14... likely linked to the Usutu virus and extreme drought. Interesting from a weather sense as 2024 was not particularly an extreme year for drought with no amber or red warnings issued.  On the positive side after tallying our Great Spotted Woodpeckers, the number of Juveniles dispersing is the highest on record for our yearly ringed total.  Willow Warbler 67 Robin 21 Linnet 14 Reed Warbler 10 Lesser Whitethroat 7 Whitethroat 6 Pied Flycatcher 5 Redstart 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Blackcap 3 Blue Tit 3 Grey Wagtail 3 House Sparrow 3 Woodpigeon 3 Black Redstart 2 Blackbird 2 Dunnock 2 Garden Warbler 2 Sedge Warbler 2 Sparrowhawk 2 Chiffchaff 1 Great Tit 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Goldfinch 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Nightingale 1 Song Thrush 1 Starling 1 Wren 1 Wheatear 1 Total 175  

Wet overnight but bright and breezy all morning dodging all showers. Inside the compound 2 Grey Wagtail. Out on the reserve: 9 Wheatear, a male Redstart and a Tree Pipit. 2 Turnstone out on the beach. Raptors: 1 male Kestrel, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sparrowhawk. Seawatching produced: South: 25 Redshank, 4 Teal, 4 Turnstone, 3 Black-headed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier. Feeding offshore: 8 Black-headed Gull and 4 Great Black-backed Gull.       Hirundine migration included some 542 Swallows, 39 House Martin, 1 Swift all south.      Moth trapping: 31 moth species recorded between our 3 moth traps this morning. Moth of the morning is Eucosma tripoliana, it is a variable species living on Salt-Marsh, the moth wanders down here late August and September.   (Eucosma tripoliana)  Bird ringing: 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.  

Southbound 62 Swallow, 11 Turnstone, 9 Teal, 3 Oyk, 2 Sand Martin, Gannet & Great Crested Grebe. Grounded migrants include 15 Wheatear, 10 Willow Warbler, 7 Whitethroat, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Redstart, Whinchat & the first Spotted Fly of the autumn. Another Great Spotted Woodpecker visited.Hedge Rustic rarely visits. It's now on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable. Ringing: 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.

WFY and WFZ are the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) youngsters from the museum roof that fledged 12 days ago and are doing fine so far.  A mostly dull morning with moderate wind. 40 Willow Warbler passing through before rain setting in and 3 Redstart. 8 Wheatear and 14 Pied Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, out on the reserve. A Turnstone out on the beach.   Seawatching produced: south: 20 Teal, 4 Dunlin, 4 Shelduck, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cormorant, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Cattle Egret, a Grey Plover, a Little Egret and a Mediterranean Gull . North: 5 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern and a Gannet. Feeding offshore: 14 Black-headed Gull, 9 Sandwich Tern, a Common Gull and a Guillemot.    Hirundine movement included 222 Swallow and 6 Sand Martin.  Moth trapping: 36 Moth species recorded between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Antler Moth. A moth very occasionally seen here.   Antler Moth (Cerapteryx graminis). Bird ringing: 26 Willow Warbler, 2 Redstart, 1 Chiffchaff. 

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). A sunny morning with wind changing to WSW. A lot of visible hirundines migration. Inside the compound a Garden Warbler, Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Reed Warbler inside the compound and one on Iccy ridge. Out on the reserve a Whinchat, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 16 Pied Wagtail. A Turnstone on the Jetty.        Seawatching produced: South: 11 Shelduck, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Cormorant, a Greenshank and a Redshank. North: 1 Cormorant.  Hirundine migration included some 800 Swallow, 12 House Martin and 10 Sand Martin flying South throughout the morning.   Moth trapping: 55 moth species recorded this morning between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the European Corn-borer, individuals we get here could be immigrants or from resident populations.European Corn-borer (Ostrinia nubilalis).   Bird ringing: 3 Robin, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Redstart, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.    Lunar eclipse this morning with the Earth's shadow crossing the moon. 

Linnet ringed LBO 5th August 2009 was recaught 1360 km away at Laguna de San Juan, Madrid, Spain on 13th March 2010. We have seven previous movements to & one from Spain. The dates are correct & it only took the Spanish ringing scheme over 16 years to let us know. Difficult to know whether fewer of our Linnets are going to Spain than in the past or not when it's taking this long to get information back. On the plus side, better late than never & a big thank you to whoever is ploughing through the backlog of outstanding data !

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) 5 Tree pipit is the highest day count since 2015. A cloudy morning with wind dropping as showers progressed closer around 10am. Redstart within the compound. Out on the reserve 5 Tree Pipit with 4 near the cottage and 1 on the Butts making our highest day count since 2015. Some 24 Pied Wagtail, 3 Wheatear and a Yellow wagtail on the grass area. A Sanderling and a Purple Sandpiper along the beach on the reserve.    Seawatching: South: 111 Teal, 24 Cormorant, 8 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Gannet, a Curlew, a Little Egret, a Sanderling and an Oystercatcher. North: 5 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Tern and a Sooty Shearwater. Feeding offshore: 4 Black-headed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern.  moth trapping: 53 moth species recorded between our 3 traps last night. Moth of the morning is the Wax moth (shown below). This moth lives on honeycomb in beehives. It is just about annual here with us.   Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella). bird ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Redstart. 

 Small arrival of migrants on a warm muggy morning with 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Pied Fly, 2 Yellow Wag, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Lesser 'throat, Tree Pipit & Whinchat. At least 1 Black Red on the Fort, 2 Sanderling on the beach & a Purp was on the groynes on the Butts. Southbound 124 Teal, 20 Swallow, 10 Common Scoter, 10 Dunlin, 8 Turnstone, 6 Shoveler, 2 Sanderling & Oyk with northbound 12 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, 3 Common Scoter & Gannet. Feathered Gothic puts in an appearance about one year in three. Ringing: 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Garden Warbler.

Good to see ZXX doing well. Ringed on the museum roof as a chick in 2023. Not long after it fledged it got a discarded fishing hook through its bill and entangled in fishing line. Hook and line removed it survived its ordeal to reach adulthood.  A sunny bright morning with a strong E wind producing some hope, large movements of Teal south and a Pied Flycatcher late morning. 3 Wheatear present out on the reserve and a Sanderling out on the beach.   Seawatching produced south: 226 Teal, 25 Common Scoter and 5 Gadwall. North: 12 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet and 2 Shelduck. Feeding offshore: 6 Sandwich Tern.    Moth trapping: 25 moth species present between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea), a moth that should be common at this time of the year but numbers are very low, presumably to drought conditions. Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea). Bird ringing: 1 Robin. 

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).  A bright morning with a small amount of drizzle late morning. Our first Meadow Pipit of the season ringed. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Jay flying around the compound. Out on the reserve we had Nightingale briefly seen near the boardwalk. A Turnstone out on the beach and Yellow Wagtail. Seawatching produced: South: 14 Teal, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Redshank. North: 2 Common Tern and 2 Great Black-backed Gull, a Mediterranean Gull. 6 Sandwich Tern feeding offshore. Moth trapping: 47 Species caught between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Feathered Ranunculus, our 3rd record for this month, a regular in small numbers at this time of the year.  Feathered Ranunculus (Polymixis lichenea). Bird ringing: 2 Robin, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler. 

 Black -tip to Common Tern's bill can almost disappear by late summer. Slightly more migrants this morning with 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser 'throat, 4 Whitethroat, Grey Wag, Reed Warbler, Swallow & Wheatear. 2 Black Red still present & yet another Great Spot paid a visit. Offshore quiet with southbound 7 Turnstone, Fulmar & Oyk plus a few Common & Sandwich Terns feeding.Clancy's Rustic first turned up 20 years ago & has colonised over the past ten settling into two emergences a year. Ringing: 3 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

 A Spoonbill flew south early morning. Apart from a small arrival of young Robin in search of vacant territories migrants few & far between with 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser 'throat & Whitethroat. Offshore movements southbound 10 Turnstone, 4 Teal, 3 Common Scoter, Barwit, Greenshank & Oyk with northbound 2 Common Scoter & 2 Oyk. Black Red still here. Ancylosis oblitella is a Nationally Scarce saltmarsh species that is having a good season this year. Ringing: 4 Robin.

 4 Spoonbill flew south over the observatory early on is still notable for us despite the numbers now nesting up the Suffolk Coast. Migrants included 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 2 Lesser 'throat, Blackcap, Common Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, Grey Wag & Snipe. Several Black Reds still roaming around the locale. Offshore movements paltry Double digit haul of Pearly Underwing is notable as this migrant normally only occurs here in low single figures. Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk.