Landguard Bird Observatory (@landguardbo) — Bluesky Profile | bskyView

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21 hours ago

Wednesday 11th March 2026 Drizzly start followed by increasing wind. Lot less here this morning with migrants including 5 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Skylark, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Redwing, 2 Siskin, Fieldfare & Marsh Harrier. Male Stonechat still present. Offshore movements negligible. New wandering Long-tailed Tits continue to turn up. Ringing: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff.

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1 day ago

Tuesday 10th March 2026 21 Skylark is the highest spring count since the mid 1990's & only the second double figure March count this century. Decent selection of early/mid-March fare with 15 Blackies, 11 Mipit, 8 Goldcrest, 7 Redwing, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin, Greenfinch & Yellowhammer. Single overwintering Fire & Goldcrest from last autumn noted as was the Snow Bunting from early January & the male Stonechat from recent days. Southbound 39 Brent, 17 Barnacles & 4 Oyks. A marauding "murder of 35 Crows" was less welcome as a large gang of juvenile delinquents last spring had a deleterious effect on ground nesting birds. Ringing: 6 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Linnet, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Song Thrush.

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2 days ago

Monday 9th March 2026 Fog, unpleasant for both birds & human observers, doesn't stop those disorientated individuals from turning up. Newbies in today include 12 Mipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Skylark, Curlew, Redwing, a couple of new Blackies & the first Black Redstart of the spring around by the Museum. Leftovers from recent days include 3 Goldcrest, Fieldfare & Stonechat. Lingering Snow Bunt still here. Wing lengths on Chaffinch's up to 95 mm indicating that they originate well to the north-east of here. Ringing: 3 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackbird.

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3 days ago

Sunday 8th March 2026 Pair of Goosander on the river then later on in front of the Butts probably decided against migrating back to the continent in the misty murky conditions. Scarce in spring with only 12 previous March records, all previous records at Landguard being of birds in flight. A handful of migrants include 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Mipit, Fieldfare, Rock Pipit, Song Thrush, Stonechat & a couple of new Robin. 2 Mallard were on the Butts & the Snow Bunting is still here. Satellite hibernates & comes out to play again in the spring. Ringing: 2 Chaffinch, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song thrush.

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3 days ago

2026 AGM Reminder This years AGM will be held on Saturday 14th March 2026. Members should have received an agenda plus minutes of last years meeting. If not please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com for details.

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4 days ago

Saturday 7th March 2026 2 probably 3 Woodcock in the compound late morning will be heading back to the continent & the first Stonechat of the year was on the reserve. Few other migrants noted with a new Goldcrest joining a couple remaining from yesterday with an overwintering Firecrest still with us. 7 Common Scoter offshore & a Skylark in song maybe one hanging around. Offshore 9 Red-throated Diver went north & one south but otherwise deadly quiet. Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren.

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5 days ago

Friday 6th March 2026 The trickle of early March migration continues with the first 3 Goldcrest of the spring plus 5 Jackdaw, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, Fieldfare & Red Kite. In the days before the mass introduction of Red Kites in England March was the month when genuine wild Red Kites would occur as rare visitors to our shores so its impossible to know whether this one is a genuine migrant or offspring from the release scheme. Murky offshore although 4 Pintail south worth a mention & only 7 Common Scoter noted. Single Snow Bunting still here.First Clouded Drab of the season which is an extremely variable species. Ringing: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Robin.

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6 days ago

Thursday 5th March 2026 Glorious sunny, mild morning. A new Firecrest is a tad early for the first of the spring, as opposed to the over wintering individuals. Other migrants include 3 Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Mipit, Robin, Rook & Skylark. 24 Common Scoter offshore & Snow Bunting still present. Nice to get a couple of Peacock & a Small Tort butterflies in the sun. Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.

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1 week ago

Wednesday 4th March 2026 Small arrival of Chiffchaff with other migrants limited to 2 Redwing & a new Blacky on a murky misty old morning. Some new wandering Long-tailed Tit turned up, over wintering Firecrest encountered again & we are down to one remaining Snow Bunting. Ringing: 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird.

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1 week ago

Tuesday 3rd March 2026 First Chiffchaff of the spring is bang on cue although other migrants were limited to a Skylark heard & a new Dunnock which may, or may not, be on the move. Raft of Common Scoter still offshore & one of the wintering Firecrest was noted.Twin-spotted Quaker is another one of those early season flyers that we don't encounter annually. Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet.

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1 week ago

Monday 2nd March 2026 Pleasant sunny morning with a southerly breeze produced very few migrants to bother us with a new Robin & a Skylark overhead about it. A single male Shelduck was walking around the reserve early on looking for luv, which will cause disruption when the locally paired breeders turn up any day now. 2 Snow Bunting still here.Small Quaker is an early season flyer occurring in small numbers most years although it has failed to appear in others. Ringing: 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Robin.

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1 week ago

Sunday 1st March 2026 Meteorological spring supposedly begins today but it still feels like winter down here. 105 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. Raft of Common Scoter offshore & 2 Snow Bunting present & accounted for. 2 Song Thrush singing in the compound which explains the new one ringed. Ringing: 1 Song Thrush.

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1 week ago

Saturday 28th February 2026 Dull very predictable end to the month. 2 Snow Bunting still here. Roll on spring !Only our third site record of Early Moth which is one in each of the last two year's plus this one today. It is on the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable".

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1 week ago

Friday 27th February 2026 Drizzly start to the morning. Offshore sightings have been largely non-existent with an hours effort producing southbound 9 Gannet, 5 Brent & 2 Red-throated Diver with northbound 6 Brent & Great Crested Grebe. 50 Common Scoter offshore, 2 Snow Bunting on back beach & an elusive wintering Firecrest on the reserve. Peregrine sightings have been very infrequent so far this year so good to see one this morning.Hebrew Character has started to appear which should be out from now to early May time.

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1 week ago

Thursday 26th February 2026 First Siskin of the year went past with other migrants single Fieldfare, Mipit & Skylark. Only 20 Common Scoter this morning, 3 Snow Bunting still here plus a new Long-tailed Tit visited with some locals.This Beautiful Plume is probably regretting coming out of hibernation. Ringing: 1 Long-tailed Tit.

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2 weeks ago

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Glorious sunny, mild day for the time of the year. Good chunk of time spent putting up the nets for the season so observations limited to 2 Barnacle Geese south, usual raft of Common Scoter & the Snow Bunts.Grey Shoulder-knot is not annual here so always good to get one. It emerges in the autumn, hibernates, then comes out again in the spring.

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2 weeks ago

FELIXSTOWE TOWN COUNCIL GRANT Landguard Bird Observatory is extremely grateful for being awarded an "occasional grant" from Felixstowe Town Council for funding towards replacing our computer which has been running on now outdated Windows 10. Further information on Occasional Grants, who is eligible & how to apply are on - https://felixstowe.gov.uk/council-services/grants/

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2 weeks ago

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Total of 41 Barnies south including this flock of 36 just offshore. 2 Songies singing this morning with one at the obs as well as one in the Pear tree at the Butts. Today's migrants were single Jackdaw, Redwing & Skylark. Usual raft of 50 Common Scoter offshore & 3 Snow Bunts on back beach - but for how much longer ? Moth traps have been out for the last four nights with the milder conditions finally encouraging a couple out to play with Common Quaker one of them. Folks inland will be getting a fine assortment whereas it is still bleak at Landguard at this time. Ringing: 1 Redwing.

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2 weeks ago

Monday 23rd February 2026 406 Cormorant went out fishing, 50 Common Scoter & 3 Snow Bunting still present. 48 Linnet is the best count of the year so far.

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2 weeks ago

Sunday 22nd February 2026 308 Cormorant went out fishing, 50 Common Scoter offshore, 3 Snow Bunts out the back, Fieldfare & Skylark on the reserve. Ringing: 1 Fieldfare.

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2 weeks ago

Saturday 21st February 2026 Couple of notable sightings this morning with a croaking Raven paying a visit winding up the local crows, our eighth site record with only three of those this century, all being in the last two years. Also a Yellowhammer landing in the Hawthorn by the observatory before departing north being our first since 22nd February 2024 almost two years ago to the day. Early spring passage of Yellowhammers from late February onwards used to be the norm but, alas, no more. Also this morning southbound 4 Egyptian Geese, Curlew & Oyk with 50 Common Scoter offshore, 3 Snow Bunts on the back beach & a Skylark. The moth traps were put out last night, as it is getting milder, producing 'nil pois' reminding us that it is still winter & it can take a couple of milder nights to get things going.

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2 weeks ago

Friday 20th February 2026 Predictable morning. Todays migrants are 3 Lapwing & a Skylark. 50 Common Scoter offshore, 6 Sanderling on beach early doors & the usual 3 Snow Bunts on back beach.

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2 weeks ago

Thursday 19th February 2026 Vicious easterly gale overnight gusting to Force 9. Rain, then drizzle with wind abating this morning. 700 Cormorant went out fishing early doors, 3 Snow Bunts on back beach, 2 Turnstone with 2 Lapwing the mornings migrants obviously keen to head back to breeding grounds.

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3 weeks ago

Wednesday 18th February 2026 534 Cormorant went out early with at least 2,900 coming in from the north an hour or so later to the feeding grounds offshore. Since more effective effort has been put into persecuting them at Loompit Lake over recent years it is not sure where at lot of them now roost. The early morning birds heading out will be from Trimley Marshes with some still roosting at Loompit. Birds coming in from the north will be from an unknown roost up to 50 miles away with flocks coming in from the south probably roosting in North Kent. They are a dynamic species well used to moving roost sites in response to human harassment but with some individuals living up to 30 years old experienced birds can soon go back to remembered traditional roosting sites. During the afternoon this winter flocks are now often seen heading north from daytime loafing sites as space is limited at Trimley Marshes. If anyone is aware of roosts in North Suffolk it would be interesting to know more. Bit windy although a tight raft of Common Scoter is visible bobbing up & down in the waves with an additional flock of 20 flying north distantly. 3 Snow Bunts still with us.

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3 weeks ago

Tuesday 17th February 2026 Butts pond nice & full at the moment. 430 Cormorant went out fishing early, 4 Stock Dove & a Canada Goose flew south, Common Scoter flock distantly offshore & 3 Snow Bunts still here. 2 Peregrine were having a tête-à-tête offshore before one saw the other off.

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3 weeks ago

Monday 16th February 2026 Pleasant morning after yesterday's windy deluge. 11 Starling flew south. Also noted 70 Common Scoter, Cetti's, Mipit, Skylark & the first 2 Greenfinch since this species was last noted on 17th November 2025. Long gone are the days when Greenies were a daily feature here regardless of the time of year.

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3 weeks ago

Sunday 15th February 2026 Wet n' windy. Please cut & paste any recent blogs to find out what may, or may not, be here !

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3 weeks ago

2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This years AGM will be held on Saturday 14th March 2026. Members should have received an agenda plus minutes of last years meeting. If not please email landguardbomembership@gmail.com for details.

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3 weeks ago

Saturday 14th February 2026 Some pleasant sunshine for a change after a dull chilly start. 415 Cormorant went out fishing plus another 450 came in from the north. Very little moving offshore. 3 Skylark & a Curlew northbound are today's migrants. 70 Common Scoter offshore, 2 Sanderling & 2 Turnstone on the beach with 3 Snow Bunts still with us.

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3 weeks ago

Friday 13th February 2026 350 Cormorant went out early with at least 160 coming in from the north later. Southbound 18 Red-throated Diver, 4 Teal & 2 Shelduck with northbound 20 Red-throats, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet, 3 Velvet Scoter, 2 Brent, 2 Shelduck & Curlew. February is not a good month for Velvets here with only five previous records for this month on file. 50 Common Scoter offshore & 3 Snow Bunting on back beach.

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