A total of 150 species so far this year

A total of 147 species by this time last year

The total of 90 species for the month could not have been closer to the ten year average of 89.9 species. The year total of 150 species, however, was well above the ten year average of 141.6 and higher than any of the last ten years. The first half of the month in heatwave conditions was dire but from 16th there were eight additions to the year list including three skua species and our first Pied Flycatcher (and second) for four years. Other highlights included a flock of 20 Cattle Egrets flying west on 22nd (only seven singles before) and 46 Redshanks, two Spotted Redshanks and 25 Greenshanks on 23rd.

31st

Sunny periods with a fresh NE wind. A Great Skua and three Wigeon (the first of the autumn) flew west and 25 Common Scoters were offshore. Waders included two Sanderlings, two Snipe circling the area and a Common Sandpiper along the upper brook. Many Sandwich Terns were moving east whilst others were fishing offshore but no Common Terns were seen; has been very scarce so far this autumn. Other birds included two Teal resting along the middle brook, two Swallows battling east against the wind, a Yellow Wagtail west and two Jays along the east bank.

A Painted Lady below the Obs was part pristine and part missing!

30th

A Great Skua which flew west at 9 am was new for the year. It reamins to be seen just how many we see this autumn! Also, an Arctic Skua landed on the sea close inshore at 9.40 am.

29th

Cloudy with a moderate NE wind. An immature Gannet flew and three Little Egrets flew west. Waders included 25 Oystercatchers on the beach,# and a single Lapwing, the first of the month, and a Whimbrel circling over the area. A juvenile Arctic Tern, flying west close inshore, was new for the year. One Arctic Skua drifted west and Sandwich Terns were present again in good numbers all morning with a flock of 18 settling on the beach. Also noted were a Stock Dove, a Meadow Pipit on the coastal path and a Wheatear on the beach.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Red Admiral.

27th

Cloudy, a shower, calm to light NE wind. Two immature Gannets flew west. Waders included flocks of ten Black-tailed Godwits east and 16 west, and four Bar-tailed Godwits west following the shower. There were 17 Oystercatchers, two Redshanks and a Greenshank on the beach, four Whimbrels flew high east over Brook Road and a Common Sandpiper was again in the brook. There were at least 12 Sandwich Terns and one Common Tern offshore. Other birds included a Cuckoo flying west over the sea, one Yellow Wagtail west and a Reed Bunting.

A Willow Emerald Damselfly was along the east bank.

26th

Sunny periods with a light northerly wind. Waders included 16 Oystercatchers, a single Curlew and the Sanderling with a damaged wing on the beach, 40 Ringed Plovers and 62 Turnstones roosting between the groynes, a Common Sandpiper along the middle brook and our first Snipe of the autumn. The Pied Flycatcher was still along the east bank, though elusive, a Reed Warbler and a Willow Warbler there and a Kingfisher and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen.

Small, Green-veined and Large White butterflies were noted. At least a dozen Willow Emerald Damselflies were around the Elm Wood.

25th

There were four Teal and three Greenshanks on the beach. A second Pied Flycatcher of the autumn was present along the east bank where a Spotted Flycatcher was also present. A late Swift was also seen.

23rd

Remarkable numbers of ‘shanks this morning with a flock of 46 Redshanks with two Spotted Redshanks in tow (those new for the year) and a flock of 25 Greenshanks. Needless to say they didn’t hang around long but there were still four Greenshanks present later. Also, a Willow Warbler was along the east bank.

22nd

A flock of 22 egrets flying west at 8.30 am consisted of 20 Cattle Egrets and two Little Egrets. Cattle Egret was first recorded here in May 2018 and has been annual since (a total of seven singles). Two Whinchats in the scrub, not seen early morning, were the first returning birds.

20th

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was the first recorded this month.

18th

A juvenile Long-tailed Skua flying east close inshore at 5.55 am was new for the year. An adult Gannet was close inshore, occasionally flying around, so hopefully not a victim of avian flu. A flock of Common Sandpipers on the beach built up to an exceptional 24 birds. Two Reed Warblers were also noted along the east bank.

16th

Away from the sea, a boost to the year list came in the forms of a Pied Flycatcher (our first for four years of a bird that used to be an annual autumn migrant) and a Garden Warbler along the east bank, and a Turtle Dove seen to fly into the sewage works at 9.28 am. The latter two are also scarcer than they once were. Also noted were a Kingfisher, a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler.

15th

A Great Crested Grebe was the first recorded this month. Waders included a summer plumage Grey Plover flying west and 50+ Turnstones. An Arctic Skua pursuing a tern out by the turbines was an addition to the year list. An adult Sandwich Tern was feeding a juvenile on one of the buoys. Also noted were a Kingfisher, a Sand Martin west, “plenty” of Swallows and three Willow Warblers down the brook.

13th

Three Teal flew west. Waders included the Sanderling with the damaged wing (present since May 20th) and a Curlew west and a Redshank. Four Swallows flew west and a Reed Warbler and a Willow Warbler were also noted.

12th

There were seven Teal flying around the shoreline. Waders included three Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, six Whimbrel west and a Redshank. There was some movement of Swallows and Yellow Wagtails and two Willow Warblers along the east bank.

11th

Waders included five Oystercatchers and five Ringed Plovers, a Sanderling, five Whimbrel west and a Common Sandpiper. Two Stock Doves were feeding amongst the seaweed at the eastern end of the beach, five Swallows flew west and there were eight Meadow Pipits on the beach.

10th

Two Teal flew west were the first of the return passage. Waders included six Oystercatchers, the “resident” Sanderling and single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper heard. Four Sandwich Terns offshore inlcuded one juvenile and three Swallows flew west.

9th

Waders included three Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, two Whimbrel west, two Redshanks and 73 Turnstones. Also, one Yellow Wagtail flew west.

8th

Two Gannets flew east and eight Common Scoters flew west. A total of 22 Whimbrel flew west during the morning session. Other waders included two Curlews west and a Common Sandpiper. A Yellow Wagtail flew west and Sand Martins and Swallows also. There was one Willow Warbler. The only other bird of note was a Budgerigar. It is a long time since we had one of these; are they less popular as pets or is it tighter security these day!

A Willow Emerald Damselfly continues the run of about one per year at this site.

6th

A Hobby was seen early morning. There were three Mute Swans, waders included a Dunlin and a Redshank on the Marsh Pool and a Reed Warbler and a party of ten Long-tailed Tits were along the east bank.

5th

Common Gull, Kingfisher and Jay were noted.

4th

A Golden Plover in breeding plumage flew west. There were good numbers of Mediterranean Gull. A pulse of nine House Martins were the first seen since June and a few Swallows were also on the move. Two Willow Warblers wees still along the east bank.

3rd

A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew west. Waders included 18 Ringed Plovers, six Sanderlings, a flock of 17 Whimbrel which landed briefly on the beach and 56 Turnstones. Also noted were a Kestrel and a Kingfisher and, at last passerine migrants, in the shape of three Willow Warblers along the east bank.

2nd

There were four Little Egrets. Waders noted were Oystercatcher, five Ringed Plovers, one Sanderling, one Redshank on the Marsh Pool and 50+ Turnstones. There were six Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, including two juveniles, and four Sand Martins and two Swallows flew west.

1st

Given the recent hold of hot summer weather conditions, a total of 45 species for the first of the month wasn’t bad. An adult Gannet was on the sea, a single Grey Heron was on the Marsh Pool with seven Little Egrets and there were another four egrets on the beach. There were six species of wader including Sanderling, three Dunlin on the beach and a Common Sandpiper. A Jay was also seen.