A total of 71 species for the month was a little below the ten-year average of 73.6 species. There were two additions to the year list; an early, or perhaps wandering, Garden Warbler on 15th and a Black-tailed Godwit on 29th. However, the annual total for the end of July of 140 species is above the ten-year average of 136.4 species. A feature of this month is the return of wader species which included our first Sanderling and a maximum of 30 Turnstones on 28th and a maximum of 33 Whimbrels on 30th. A duck Eider offshore on 17th was only our second of the year.

A total of 140 species so far this year

136 species by this time last year

31st

Cloudy, light rain, light NW wind. There were three Little Egrets on the beach, 31 Mallard were gathered at the mouth of the brook early morning and, later, 27 Turnstones were along the shoreline off the Obs. Also noted were one Sandwich Tern east, four Sand Martins and 13 Swallows west. whilst a Green Woodpecker, calling at the back of the Elm Wood, was only the third report of the year.

30th

Cloudy, light northerly wind. There were four Little Egrets on the beach. 16 Oystercatchers flew east, and another seven were on the beach, nine Whimbrel flew west at 6.55 am and another nine were on the tidal ponds at 10.30 am, joining others to create a flock of 24 which settled on the shoreline of the Obs. 15 Turnstones were also noted. Also seen, two Swifts flew west and two juvenile Long-tailed Tits were along the east bank.

Butterflies noted included Comma and Holly Blue and a selection of day-flying moths were Lattice Heath, Shaded Broad-bar, Rush Veneer and the now regular Jersey Tiger.

29th

A summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit which flew west over the shingle was our first of the year. Also noted were a Ringed Plover and two Dunlin and a Hobby.

28th

Sunny, light northerly wind. Our first returning Sanderling and an increase to 30 Turnstones. There were four Little Egrets on the beach. Also noted were six Swifts west, a Grey Wagtail over the Obs and a Greenfinch trilling from the bushes opposite the Obs.

Moths noted were a Jersey Tiger in the scrub and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth along the upper brook.

27th

Five Shovelers flew west and 20 Common Scoters flew east. One Bar-tailed Godwit was noted. Five Crossbills flew west over the football pitch; our second record of the in this invasion year. The pair of Moorhens continue to look after their five chicks.

26th

Cloudy, light westerly wind. There were five Little Egrets, four along the shoreline and one on the Marsh Pool. Waders noted were eight Oystercatchers on the beach, three Redshanks along the shoreline and two Turnstones. Also noted were two Sandwich Terns, and one Swift and six Swallows west.

25th

Northerly wind. A single Brent Goose was on the beach. Waders noted were 23 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel heard and two Curlews west. Also noted were a Peregrine along the beach and two Sand Martins.

24th

Cloudy, moderate NNW wind. Three Gannets flew west, including two juveniles and a flock of c70 Common Scoters wheeled around offshore before heading east. Waders noted were eight Oystercatchers and single Ringed Plover, Redshank and Turnstone on the beach. Six adult Common Gulls flew west, singly, and there were seven immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were a Sandwich Tern, five Swifts and three Sand Martins west and a Chaffinch heard calling by the Obs was the first report this month.

Another Jersey Tiger was seen, at the Obs.

23rd

Cloudy, light NW wind. There were two Little Egrets along the shoreline. Waders noted were 12 Oystercatchers on the beach, three Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin flying west along the shoreline and five Turnstones between the groynes. Also noted were 15 Swifts, four Sand Martins and five Swallows west.

Butterflies noted were Gatekeeper, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown whilst, one-two dragonflies around the churchard might have been Migrant Hawkers.

22nd

Common Scoter, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper were noted, there were “large pulses” of Swifts and a few Swallows.

21st

Sunny periods after heavy overnight rain, light SW wind. There were three Little Egrets on the beach. Waders noted were two Oystercatchers on the beach and three Turnstones in full breeding plumage on the groynes. An adult Great Black-backed Gull was accompanied by two begging juveniles. There origin is unknown but this gull rarely breeds in Kent. The recent rain has finally half-filled the Marsh Pool and there was also some water in the Obs Pool. No waders on the Marsh Pool but there were 71 Black-headed Gulls and two Little Egrets resting there at high tide. Also noted were 27 Swifts west and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. There was a duck Mallard with six well-grown ducklings along the middle brook and a Moorhen with five very small chicks below the sluice.

19th

Cloudy, some light rain after overnight downpours, light SE wind. Three Gannets flew east and there were two Little Egrets on the beach. There were four Oystercatchers on the beach, three Common Sandpipers flew along the shoreline and an adult Ringed Plover was the first returning bird.

18th

Sunny, warm and humid, calm. There were six Oystercatchers on the beach and a total of 13 flew west. A Whimbrel on the shoreline flew off west and 13 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach included two juveniles. Also noted was a Lesser Whitethroat which flew across to the brambles opposite the Obs.

17th

Sunny, warm and humid, calm. A duck Eider, which drifted east on the offshore, was only our second of the year after one in April. Waders noted were six Oystercatchers on the beach, a party of four Whimbrel west and four Common Sandpipers which departed west from the beach. Also noted were a Swift heading west, Great Spotted Woodpecker, calling in the sewage works, two Grey Wagtails which flew over the scout hut, snatches of song from a Lesser Whitethroat around the Elm Wood, 90 Carrion Crows amassing on the beach and a Buzzard drifting west beyond the estate.

Butterflies included Common Blue, Essex Skipper and a Small Copper.

16th

Sunny periods, moderate westerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Gannet flew east and there were two Little Egrets on the beach. A Whimbrel was heard calling. A few Mediterranean Gulls included a juvenile, there were two adult Common Gulls, two Sandwich Terns flew west and an adult and juvenile Common Tern rested on the beach. A pair of Moorhens along the middle brook had at least two small chicks. Also noted were three Swifts, two Sand Martins and a Swallow heading west.

Butterflies included Speckled Wood and Red Admiral.

15th

Four Common Sandpipers were on the shingle and an unusually early Garden Warbler showed well along the east bank.

14th

Sunny periods, warm, light to moderate SW wind. There was one Little Egret on the beach and 18 Mallard were gathered in the brook below the sluice. There were eight Oystercatchers on the beach, a Bar-tailed Godwit flew west and a Greenshank, the first of the return passage, was along the shoreline. There were ten Mediterranean Gulls and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and an adult Common Gull flew east. Also noted were seven Swifts and a House Martin west and three Pied Wagtails on the beach.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined Whites, an abundance of Gatekeepers, a tatty Small Skipper, a Peacock, a Common Blue and a Marbled White. In addition, two Jersey Tiger moths were seen, one accompanied by a Box Bug.

10th

Very warm. There were three Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were noted, and there was the expected build-up of Mediterranean Gulls, with 45 including some juveniles. An Oystercatcher, six Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail flew west.

9th

A westerly breeze. There were three Oystercatchers, and two Whimbrel on the beach. Swifts and four Swallows were noted and a Yellow Wagtail flew west.

8th

A cold morning with blustery winds. Good views enjoyed of a Hobby over the scrub and a distant Kittiwake.

5th

A moderate SW wind with rain. Two Swifts and a Swallow were noted.

3rd

A Redshank was heard. Also a Jay and a Goldfinch.

2nd

Cloudy, cooler, light westerly wind. A Great Crested Grebe was offshore, two immature Gannets were fishing offshore, there were four Little Egrets along the shoreline and a flock of 25 Common Scoters flew east. An Oystercatcher, a calling Whimbrel and a single adult Dunlin were the only waders noted. There were 21 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, with two second calendar year Common Gulls amongst the, 15 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and three Sandwich Terns offshore. Also noted, a single Yellow Wagtail flew west.

Butterflies noted were Gatekeeper, several, Meadow Brown, Green-veined and Small White and Marbled White.

1st

Two Whimbrel landed on the beach and an Oystercatcher was heard calling.