June 2022

142 species so far this year

136 species by this time last year

A total of 69 species for the month compared with an average of 69.9 over the last ten year period. Only one addition to the year list, with Tufted Duck on 2nd, but the year total of 142 species was only exceeded once in the last ten years. The Cetti’s Warbler was last heard on 24th. The count of 42 Turnstones on 9th was the highest in June since 2013.

30th

Cloudy with a light westerly wind. Four Little Egrets were feeding in the shallows, one Grey Heron and a flock of nine Common Scoters flew west. Waders noted were one Ringed Plover, the Sanderling on the beach present for its 50th day, two Curlews, a Redshank on the Marsh Pool and six Turnstones on the beach. Three were three Mediterranean Gulls, two east and one west, eight Great Balck-backed Gulls (one adult) on the beach and two Sandwich Terns, an adult and a juvenile, flew east. One Stock Dove dropped into the grassland and three Swifts flew west.

A Shaded Broad-bar and a Cinnabar Moth were seen in the scrub.

Little Egrets – Geoff Burton
Sanderling – Geoff Burton

29th

Cloudy and calm. One Great Crested Grebe offshore, two Little Egrets on the Hampton flats and a Grey Heron flew west. Three Oystercatchers and eight Curlews including five flying west. There were two adult Mediterranean Gulls west and ten Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. One Stock Dove was in the Marsh Pool and two flew over the area.

Butterflies included the three whites, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and Comma whilst a pair of Hornet moths were mating on their favourite poplar.

Sparrowhawk – Geoff Burton
Hornet Moths – Geoff Burton

27th

Sunny with a light southerly wind. Two Little Egrets on Hampton flats. Waders noted were a flock of eight Black-tailed Godwits flew west at 8.55 am and a Ringed Plover, a Curlew and three Turnstones on the beach. One Sandwich Tern flew east, four Swifts flew west and a Reed Warbler was seen along the middle brook.

Nine species of butterfly were the three whites, Holly Blue, Large and Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Heath.

Mallard duck and ducklings – Geoff Burton
Marbled White – Geoff Burton
Large White – Geoff Burton

25th

Sunny with a moderate southerly wind. Waders noted were one Curlew west, the Ringed Plover, Sanderling and 14 Turnstones on the beach. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew west and ten Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Three Swifts flew west and a juvenile Robin was in the Elm Wood.

Ten butterfly species include our first Marbled White of the year and a European Corn-borer moth was also seen at the Obs.

European Corn-borer – Geoff Burton

24th

There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and a Sanderling and seven Turnstones on the beach. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard again but has not been heard subsequently; this was present since 30th April (56 days) and mirrors the previous resident in 2018 which was present from 13th April to 14th June (63 days).

23rd

Cloudy with a light NE wind. An adult Gannet flew east and there were three Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool. One Oystercatcher flew east, pausing briefly on the beach, the Ringed Plover was in display flight and there were nine Turnstones on the beach. Two Mediterranean Gulls and two Sandwich Terns flew east.

Our first Essex Skipper in the scrub was our 17th species of the year and other butterflies were Small and Large Skippers, Small White, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. A Water Vole was also seen.

Essex Skipper – Geoff Burton

22nd

Sunny and warm with a moderate NE wind. A Shelduck and a Curlew flew west and the Sanderling and six Turnstones were on the beach. Two Sandwich Terns flew east. Six Swifts flew west and a Swallow passed the Obs.

20th

Sunny with a fresh NE wind. The male Ringed Plover was on the beach giving snatches of song, the Sanderling and 17 Turnstones were also present. A second calendar year Mediterranean Gull flew west and five adults flew east over the Obs. There were six Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach.

Butterflies included a Painted Lady and moths were represented by another Yellow Shell.

Small Skipper – Geoff Burton

18th

Cloudy, cooling, light NE wind. Four Greylag Geese flew east. pausing briefly on the sea, and six Mute Swans rested on the sea. There were six Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool whilst waders were represented by the summering Sanderling and a flock of 16 Turnstones flying east along the shoreline. The pair of Moorhens were along the middle brook with seven newly-emerged chicks. A second calendar year Mediterranean Gull flew west and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach.

Moorhens – Geoff Burton
Yellow Shell – Geoff Burton

16th

Sunny and warm with a light northerly breeze. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Fulmar circled low over the beach, there were two Little Egrets on the Hampton flats and another on the Marsh Pool. A Lapwing flew south over the estate, the Sanderling with the damaged wing and 22 Turnstones were on the beach. A Sandwich Tern was offshore, eight Swifts flew west early morning and a Greenfinch made one of its periodic appearances.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Large Skipper and Holly Blue.

15th

Sunny, warm with a light northerly breeze. One Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Gannet flew west and there was a Little Egret and the pair of Shelducks on the Marsh Pool. The “resident” male Ringed Plover was heard again and there were 37 Turnstones on the beach. There were ten Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Three Swifts flew south and Reed Warblers were singing along the brook by the Marsh Pool and in the scrub.

13th

Sunny with a moderate to light NW wind. A Little Egret in the Marsh Pool was later roosting along the east bank. The pair of Shelducks were in the Marsh Pool and a Hobby flew west low over the sea. A Ringed Plover and 13 Turnstones were on the beach. One Sandwich Tern flew east. Four Swifts and two Sand Martins flew west.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

11th

Sunny with a moderate SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and the pair of Shelducks were again on the Marsh Pool. The damaged-winged Sanderling continues its residency (it was first noted on 12th May) and there were about 30 Turnstones. Five Sandwich Terns flew west, but numbers continue to be low with no sign of any Common Terns. Two Stock Doves, two Swifts and two Swallows flew west and the Cetti’s Warbler was present for its 43rd day. The previous long-staying individual, in 2018, sang for 63 days.

Butterflies included our first Meadow Brown (15th species of the year) and a Comma (first since April).

10th

There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and 20+ Common Scoters flew east. There were 29 Turnstones on the beach and two Mediterranean Gulls flew south. A Red Kite flew south at 9.05 am. One Yellow Wagtail flew west.

9th

Sunny with a light SW wind. Two Greylag Geese flew west, a Little Egret and the pair of Shelducks were on the Marsh Pool. A Hobby flew over the caravan park and a Buzzard was circling low to the SE. Waders noted were two Oystercatchers that circled over the area, the Sanderling with the damaged wing on the beach and a high count of 42 roosting Turnstones. There were two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 12 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and a Sandwich Tern flew east. One Swift, one Sand Martin, three Swallows and a House Martin flew west.

Another good collection of butterflies which this time included Red Admiral.

8th

Cloudy with sunny spells. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and a Little Egret, the pair of Shelducks and a Redshank was on the Marsh Pool. The latter was our first since April 14th. The Sanderling with the damaged wing and seven Turnstones were on the beach and a Curlew flew west. Two Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and near-adult, and a Sandwich Tern flew west. Two Stock Doves flew towards the beach and six Swifts flew west. A Reed Warbler was singing in the scrub by Lang Court, later in the bushes opposite the Obs and later still east of these bushes. Possibly one individual on the move? A flock of 50 Starlings feeding on the football pitch included 24 juveniles. A male Greenfinch was “wheezing” in the dead elms late morning.

A good morning for butterflies with seven species recorded; Small White, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell. Large Skipper, Brimstone and Speckled Wood.

Painted Lady, Brimstone and Holly Blue – Geoff Burton

7th

A Painted Lady was our first of this species of butterfly this year.

6th

Cloudy, light showers with a moderate SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Little Egret and the pair of Shelducks on the Marsh Pool but the only waders were single Ringed Plover and Turnstone. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew high east, there were 13 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and one Sandwich Tern flew west. Six Swifts and a Swallow flew west. An adult Gannet “floating” close inshore was presumably dead although it was not found later on the beach when the tide had receded. There has been no other evidence at this site which might relate to avian flu.

4th

Cloudy with a fresh NE wind. Five Great Crested Grebes (two and three) flew west, an adult Gannet that flew west low over the football pitch and sewage works was unusual whilst another seven, more conventionally, flew east. A Fulmar flew west. there were two Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool, a Peregrine flew north low over the area and out to sea, and a second calendar year Common Gull, close inshore, was battling to head east in the fresh winds. There were five Turnstones on the beach. Two Swifts also headed north.

3rd

Three single Grey Herons flew west and two Ringed Plovers also flew west.

2nd

Sunny with a light NE wind. A Tufted Duck which flew east over the tidal ponds was new for the year. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Fulmar flew east low over the Obs, an adult Gannet flew east and a Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds. Waders noted were an Oystercatcher east, a Ringed Plover and 14 Turnstones on the beach and a Common Sandpiper by the sluice which flew down the brook. Five Sandwich Terns flew east. A Spotted Flycatcher by the bluethroat bush was our third record of the Spring.

A Large Skipper butterfly was our earliest for the site by three days. Also seen were Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.

1st

Cloudy with a light SW wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes and the immature drake Eider offshore, three Little Egrets on the beach and a pair of Shelducks flew away from the Marsh Pool. Waders included an Oystercatcher east, a Ringed Plover and 32 Turnstones (the highest June count since 2013). Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew east, there were 18 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and one Sandwich Tern offshore. Two Sand Martins, two Swallows, two House Martins and a Yellow Wagtail flew west. The Cetti’s Warbler continues its stay, a Reed Warbler sang briefly opposite the Obs and then along the east bank and four Long-tailed Tits were the first seen here for some time.