A total of only 76 species during the month was well below the average of 85.6 over the previous ten year period, when total ranged from 79 to 94 species. There were no additions to the year list during the month. The Long-tailed Duck continued throughout the month although, latterly, was more often seen off the Tankerton slopes, the Purple Sandpiper was present throughout and a Great White Egret on 14th was the second of the year and the eighth record for the site.

A total of 167 species so far this year

171 species by this time last year

30th

Cloudy, some light rain, moderate SW wind. There were six Great Crested Grebes and seven drake Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a Great Northern Diver flew east. Waders included 51 Oystercatchers roosting on the spit, 32 Ringed Plovers, 52 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper in the bay and 22 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. Other birds noted included a Jay along the east bank and ten Goldfinches in the Scout Wood.

29th

Cloudy with a moderate SW wind. There were six Red-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, seven Great Crested Grebes and ten drake Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Waders included 46 Oystercatchers, 31 Ringed Plovers and 71 Sanderlings on the beach. Also noted were six Goldfinches in Scout Wood and eight Linnets along the coastal path.

27th

Strong SSW wind. There were 20 Great Crested Grebes to the east of the tidal ponds and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. The Grey Plover was present and a Razorbill flew east.

23rd

Cloudy, mild. There were three Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, a Great Crested Grebe and three drake Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Two Gannets flew east and the Long-tailed Duck flew west by the Obs. Waders included 57 Sanderlings along the shoreline, 50 Ringed Plovers and 50 Dunlin roosting between the groynes and the Purple Sandpiper on the groynes. One adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and two adult Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Other birds noted included one Meadow Pipit, two Pied Wagtails on the football pitch and a Chiffchaff along the east bank

21st

There were three Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a drake Red-breasted Merganser offshore and 130 Brent Geese on the beach. Waders included 60 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper in the bay, 71 Ringed Plovers roosting amongst the pebbles on the beach, 40 Golden Plover flying west close inshore and 20 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. Other birds noted included a Grey Wagtail by the sluice and ten Linnets on the shingle ridge.

18th

A Great Northern Diver and nine Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore.

16th

Cloudy, light westerly wind. There was one Great Northern Diver and six drake Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a Teal and ten Common Scoters flew west. An increase in the numbers of Brent Geese with 220 on the beach and there were two Grey Herons on the tidal ponds. Waders included 48 Oystercatchers roosting on the spit and other birds noted were the pair of Stonechats, a Goldcrest and 18 Goldfinches.

15th

The Long-tailed Duck was on the sea behind the tidal ponds.

14th

Cloudy, light westerly wind. One Great Northern Diver flew west and three Great Crested Grebes, the two duck Eiders and seven drake Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. There were 60 Brent Geese on the beach and 32 Wigeon flew west. Waders include the Purple Sandpiper along the shoreline, c40 Snipe flushed from the Marsh Pool during a WEBS count and 58 Curlews heading towards their roost at Studd Hill. A Great White Egret that flew SE over the caravan park at 1..45 am was our second record of the year and our eighth in total for the site. Other birds noted included a Grey Wagtail by the sluice, the pair of Stonechats, and a Chiffchaff at the Obs.

13th

Cloudy, moderate northerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe and two duck Eiders offshore and a Common Scoter flew east. Other birds noted included one Kittiwake east, a Grey Wagtail along the middle brook and 23 Goldfinches in trees by the wooden bridge.

11th

Sunny periods, light SW wind. Seven Red-throated Divers and two Shelducks flew west, one Gannet, two Mute Swans and a flock of 25 female/immature Common Scoters flew east, and one Great Crested Grebe and a duck Eider were offshore. Waders included 27 Oystercatchers on the beach, c100 Golden Plovers flying west low over the sea, and 48 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper along the shoreline. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew south over the caravan park and a first calendar year flew west. Other birds noted included a Sparrowhawk, the pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff calling behind the skate park, a Jay along the upper brook and six Linnets.

9th

The Long-tailed Duck flew east and landed on the sea by the caravan park.

8th

Two Shelducks, 13 visible Snipe on the Marsh Pool and the pair of Stonechats were noted.

7th

Cloudy, light rain at first, moderate SE wind. There were four Red-throated Divers and five Great Crested Grebes offshore and 10+ Gannets with Cormorants fishing offshore. There was one drake Red-breasted Merganser offshore. Waders included 41 Sanderlings along the shoreline and a Grey Plover and the Purple Sandpiper. Other birds noted included a Chiffchaff at the Obs and four Linnets along the coastal path.

6th

Sunny, calm with a touch of frost. 13 Red-throated Divers and 58 Common Scoters flew east, two Greylag Geese, five Shelducks and the Long-tailed Duck flew west. The Purple Sandpiper was along the shoreline. Other birds noted included two Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest, a Rook flying west, a Greenfinch and a Reed Bunting.

4th

Cloudy, cold, light SE wind. A Great Northern Diver east of the tidal ponds flew off west. There were two Red-throated Divers, seven Great Crested Grebes, two duck Eiders, the Long-tailed Duck and a drake Red-breasted Merganser offshore. An increase in Great Black-backed Gulls with 22 adults, mostly on the tidal ponds. Other birds noted included a Buzzard drifting west behind the church, a Great Spotted Woodpecker along the upper brook, the pair of Stonechats, a Song Thrush and a Goldcrest.

2nd

Cloudy cold (0-1 degree C), light NW wind. There was one Red-throated Diver offshore, two Wigeon and four Teal, nine Pintail flew west and a group of eight were on the sea drifting west. The Long-tailed Duck was asleep within the arms of the tidal ponds, a Common Scoter was offshore and seven drake Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea off the Obs. Waders included a Lapwing, which dropped onto the beach, and two Grey Plovers. Other birds noted included a Little Grebe at the mouth of the brook, a Grey Wagtail, a male Stonechat, a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest and a Jay.

1st

Cloudy, cold, rain and hail showers, light NE wind. Two Red-throated Divers flew east, there were three Little Egrets, seven Teal on the tidal ponds and a flock of 12 flew west and five drake Red-breasted Mergansers offshore.