A total of 138 species so far this year

132 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, very warm, light easterly wind. Four adult Mute Swans were resting close inshore. Two Oystercatchers, and two Curlews west were trhe only waders noted. A Grey Wagtail was along the upper brook.

28th

Cloudy, warm, light SW wind. An immature Gannet flew west and a Grey Heron flew east over the estate. Three Common Sandpipers on the groynes at the e astern end of the beach were the first returning birds. Four Oystercatchers were also seen. Also noted were 34 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, 39 Swifts and a Yellow Wagtail flew west and a Lesser Whitethroat was by the Obs.

26th

Cloudy, warm, moderate SW wind. Two Gannets flew east and there were two Little Egrets on the beach. Two Oystercatchers flew west, another was on the beach, six Curlews, two and four singles flew west, and five Turnstones were between the groynes at the eastern end of the beach. A Great Spotted Woodpecker in the scrub was our first report here since March. Evidence of post-breeding dispersal. Also noted were a Sandwich Tern east and, 16 Swifts west.

Our first Gatekeeper of the year was at the Obs. This brings the total of species of butterfly to 21. As the all time list is only 26, few additions can be expected. Clouded Yellow, Brown Argus, Wall, Ringlet and Purple Hairstreak remain to be seen.

25th

Sunny, warm, moderate SW wind. An influx of Mediterranean Gulls with ten west and 11 resting on the beach. Single Oystercatcher and Curlew were also noted.

A good morning for butterflies with 12 species recorded including a Brimstone at the Obs, which danced around in a spiral, in the company of five Small Whites.

23rd

Sunny, fresh SW wind. Five Crossbills flew west low over the sluice at 6.40 am, “chipping” as they went. Not a common species here but there have been large numbers in the county recently so not a total surprise. Very little else of note; one Curlew west, five Mediterranean Gulls west, six Swifts and a Swallow west, and two Lesser Whitethroats together along the east bank. 73 Carrion Crows on the beach was a high count.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined White, Marbled White, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue, Comma and our second Small Copper of the year.

21st

A Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Turnstone and two Swifts.

20th

An easterly breeze. A Great Crested Grebe was offshore, two Gannets flew east and a Redshank was heard.

19th

Sunny, very warm and calm. One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, a Gannet flew east and there were ten Little Egrets along the shoreline. An Oystercatcher and a Curlew flew west. Also noted were five Swifts and two Swallows.

18th

Sunny, warm, light westerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, seven Little Egrets along the shoreline and waders were represented by one Oystercatcher, two Turnstones and a Curlew flew east. 38 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach included two adults. Also noted was a Swift and three Swallows.

The Marsh Pool is drying up rapidly.

17th

A Great Crested Grebe was offshore, nine Little Egrets and 23 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach.

16th

Sunny, some light cloud, warm, light SW wind. A Fulmar flew west, a Gannet was offshore, eight Little Egrets were along the shoreline and 14 Common Scoters flew east. Waders noted were nine Oystercatchers on the beach and flying east, five Lapwings west and six Turnstones between the groynes. An adult Mediterranean Gull and 26 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Also noted was a Red Kite soaring south of the estate, a Stock Dove on the coastal path, two Swifts, three Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail west and a Lesser Whitethroat at the Obs.

Nine species of butterfly were Small White, Marbled White, Small and Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, and Comma and Red Admiral. An Emperor dragonfly patrolled the brook above the sluice.

14th

Light cloud, warm, moderate SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, eight Little Egrets along the shoreline, two Gadwall and three Curlews flew west and three Mediterranean Gulls flew west and another four were on the beach. Also noted was one Stock Dove, a Swift flying west and a Lesser Whitethroat.

A Drinker moth caterpillar and a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth were noted. The latter has been scarce or absent in the last few years.

13th

Four Gadwall flew east and three Little Egrets and three Swallows were also noted.

12th

Sunny, warm, moderate easterly wind. 0ne Great Crested Grebe was offshore, seven Gannets flew east and there were two Little Egrets along the shoreline. Also noted was a Sandwich Tern flying east.

11th

Sunny, light easterly wind. Three Great Crested Grebes were offshore, a Fulmar and four Gannets flew east and eight Oystercatchers were along the shoreline by the chalets. There were 26 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach with only one adult. Also noted was a single Swallow and a snatch of song from a Lesser Whitethroat.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper and Holly Blue.

9th

Sunny, light SW wind. One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, there were four Mute Swans on the sea towards Hampton, five Shelducks flew west, and two flew east, and a flock of 17 Common Scoters flew east. There were two Little Egrets along the shoreline towards Hampton and, again, a Redshank along the shoreline was the only wader. Four Mediterranean Gulls and four Sandwich Terns flew west. A distant auk, described as a “Guilledot”, flew west, and a Hobby, a glimpse of a Lesser Whitethroat, elusive when not singing, two Stock Doves, and four Long-tailed Tits at the Obs, were also noted.

Butterflies recorded were Large Skipper, Small White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Speckled Wood.

8th

A very quiet morning but the highlight was several pulses, of 110+ Swifts, screaming as they flew through.

7th

Cloudy, rain until 7.40 am, light SW wind. Three Great Crested Grebes were offshore, a single Brent Goose was on the beach and a Little Egret was on the beach, on the Marsh Pool and then roosting along the east bank. Three Oystercatchers on the beach flew off west and three Turnstones flew west. There were two Sandwich Terns offshore and a party of six Common Terns flew west. A Song Thrush, with Blackbirds on the grass west of the skate park, was the first reported since March!

5th

Cloudy, light rain on and off from 7.15 am, light SW wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Brent Geese on the beach, a Shelduck flew west and a Little Egret was on the Marsh Pool. A Redshank in the remnant brook was the only wader noted. Five Mediterranean Gulls and three Sandwich Terns flew west and 26 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Also noted were two Stock Doves, eight Swifts and two Swallows.

4th

Clouding over, moderate SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and two Brent Geese on the beach. Also noted were a Buzzard flying low west, two Stock Doves, one Swallow west and a Grey Wagtail heard.

3rd

A flurry of late waders with five Sanderlings, a Dunlin, two Redshanks and 12 Turnstones noted.

2nd

Sunny, moderate westerly wind. A Great Crested Grebe and a Fulmar flew west, a Brent Goose was on the beach and there were 23 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Also noted a Swift, four Swallows and a House Martin flew west.

Butterflies noted were Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Small White and Holly and Common Blue.

1st

A Mediterranean Gull was noted and our first Meadow Brown butterfly of the year was seen.