A total of 100 species were reported during the month. This is a little below the ten-year average of 104 but the first three-figure total since last October. However, the total of 158 species for the year is the highest end of September total, and well above the ten-year average of 150.1 species. Ten species were added to the year list but there were no real surprises. There have been up to three Ospreys in the Swale area this month so sightings here on five dates was not unexpected.

The report for the month is based primarily on contributions received from Graham Blunt, Geoff Burton and Ted Lee.

A total of 158 species so far this year

147 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, calm. There were two Red-throated Divers and five Great Crested Grebes and a Common Scoter offshore, a Gannet flew east and two flew west, five Brent Geese flew west and two Wigeon landed close inshore. Waders included a Knot with nine Sanderlings on the beach and a Snipe landed briefly on the beach. A juvenile Pomarine Skua came in from the west, chased a tern and then flew west. There were ten Mediterranean Gulls on the beach. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Stonechats and six Chiffchaffs.

29th

Sunny, light northerly wind. One Great Crested Grebe offshore, two Gannets flew east, 26 Brent Geese, a flock of 17 Teal, an Arctic Skua and two Little Gulls flew west, and there were four Common Scoters. A Rock Pipit on the shingle ridge was our first this year. There were up to 11 Stonechats early morning, but many soon dispersed, a male Redstart (second record for the year) and a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub, and a Goldcrest (another first for the year) and a Firecrest along the east bank.

28th

An Osprey flew west, a Golden Plover was noted, three Arctic Skuas flew west and a Green Woodpecker flew over the football pitch.

27th

Sunny, calm the patchy cloud and light SE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe on the sea and three Eider flew east. A Marsh Harrier flew east then south at 8.05 am and an Osprey, with a flat fish in its talons, appeared at 8.40 am, followed by one five minutes later without a fish, possibly two birds? Waders included a Curlew and three Redshanks on the beach. Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying west over the scrub, many Swallows and a few House Martins hawking over the area, three Stonechats and a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, and a Willow Warbler in the churchyard.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Comma and Red Admiral, and a Holly Blue. Common Darter dragonflies were also seen.

25th

Sunny, moderate NE wind. 42 Brent Geese flew west, a Wigeon and a Common Scoter were together offshore and a Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds. Waders included 30 Oystercatchers and a 101 Ringed Plovers on the beach.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral and there were many Ivy Bees in the Elm Wood.

24th

Cloudy with a moderate easterly wind. There were three Little Egrets on the beach. Four Shelducks and a Pintail flew west, three Teal and four Wigeon rested along the shoreline, a flock of 30 Common Scoters flew east and another was on the sea off the Obs. Waders included 34 Oystercatchers, 120 Ringed Plovers, and a Golden Plover, a Curlew and a Redshank on the beach. Three Arctic Skuas flew west and seven Sandwich Terns were resting on the beach on the incoming tide and a Guillemot was offshore. Also noted were a Kingfisher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, a Wheatear and the Stonechats.

23rd

Strong northerly wind. Ten Gannets flew west, five flew east, there were at least eight Brent Geese and Shelduck, Wigeon and Common Scoter were also noted. Five Arctic Skuas and a group of six Little Terns flew west. Three Stonechats were the first returning birds, there were several Meadow Pipits and a Lesser Whitethroat was also noted.

22nd

Strong NNE wind. The sea watch produced 20+ Brent Geese, 15+ Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua west. Gannets, mainly juveniles, and Sandwich Terns flew east. Also noted were Wigeon and Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, a Curlew and a Grey Wagtail. A rare afternoon visit, included the Little Grebe and a Common Sandpiper in the brook and eight Pied Wagtails on the football pitch.

21st

A three-hour sea watch included two Manx Shearwaters, 32 Arctic Skuas and a Little Gull west and several Gannets east. Wigeon and Common Scoter were also noted. A Little Tern was amongst Common and Sandwich Terns on the shingle. Two Kingfishers were along the brook and a Firecrest was seen in the trees along the brook.

20th

Cloudy, misty then rain and thunder. 12 Greylag Geese flew NW and waders included two Curlews and three Redshank.

19th

Light SW wind. A Red-throated Diver offshore was our first returning bird, there were five Gannets offshore and a Whimbrel was on the beach. There was a westerly movement of Meadow Pipits and Swallows, a Firecrest was our first of the autumn and a Lesser Whitethroat was also noted.

18th

Cloudy, moderate SW wind. The Little Grebe was in the brook below the sluice, one Great Crested Grebe was offshore and four Gannets flew east. Waders included single Curlew and Redshank. A surprise was a cock Pheasant hiding in the tangle of vegetation by the side of the path opposite the Obs. It remained in hiding, even at point blank range, but eventually exploded out and headed for the sewage works when the digger fired up! A new bird for the year. Also noted was a Kingfisher and a flock of 16 Linnets.

17th

Cloudy with a light SW wind but little of the forecast rain! One Great Crested Grebe offshore, two Little Egrets on the beach and 20 Mallard along the shoreline. Waders noted were 18 Oystercatchers, 112 Ringed Plovers on the beach by the Obs, 73 Turnstones roosting between the groynes, a single Curlew on the beach and a Grey Plover flying west offshore. A single juvenile Mediterranean Gull and six Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Also noted was a Stock Dove on the beach and 12 Swallows hawking around the Obs.

16th

The first Meadow Pipits of the autumn were noted.

15th

Sunny, strong SW wind. A Great White Egret on the beach off the Obs flew off west. Two Arctic Skuas flew west early morning and an Osprey drifted west at 10 am. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a strong westerly movement of Sandwich and Common Terns included 16 Arctic Terns. Also noted were six Sand Martins and 60 Swallows flying west.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral and also Migrant Hawker dragonflies.

14th

An Osprey was seen circling over the site and a Little Grebe was our first of the autumn.

12th

Moderate SW wind. Waders included two Curlews. Also noted were three Swallows, a Kingfisher and a Lesser Whitethroat.

9th

A Great Crested Grebe an two Gannets were offshore. Waders included three Curlews, two Redshanks and two Common Sandpipers. Also noted were 30+ Swallows west, a Grey Wagtail, a Whinchat and a Chaffinch.

8th

Sunny, light winds. Parties of seven and four Grey Herons flew west. Two Curlews flew west. Warblers included a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler.

7th

Two Gannets flew east and eight Grey Herons flew west. An Osprey flew west then headed inland. Waders included an extremely high count of 32 Common Sandpipers, including one flock of 17 on the beach, a Dunlin, and three Snipe and a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach. Also noted were two Arctic Skuas west, a Buzzard, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Whinchats in the scrub and two Wheatears.

5th

Sunny with light SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, three Little Egrets on the beach and two Gadwall west. Nine species of waders were noted, 23 Oystercatchers roosting on the shingle, 72 Ringed Plovers and a single Dunlin on the beach off the Obs, a Knot on the tidal ponds, our first Snipe of the autumn, a Curlew and a Redshank on the beach, and four Redshanks west, two Common Sandpipers in the remnant brook and 110 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Warblers along the east bank included one Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Butterflies noted were Common and Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Peacock and Common Darter dragonfly and Common Grass Veneer moth.

4th

Sunny periods, heavy shower, moderate southerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and two adult Gannets flew east. Waders included 96 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, 117 Turnstones and single Redshank and Common Sandpiper. Also noted were seven Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, two Swallows hawking around the Obs and a Wheatear along the coastal path.

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

2nd

Warblers included the Garden Warbler for its fourth day and Lesser Whitethroat. Also noted were Kingfisher and Wheatear.

1st

Sunny with a freshening SW wind. A single Great Crested Grebe was offshore. Waders included 93 Ringed Plovers on the beach, with two Sanderlings, two Redshanks and 117 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. There were 11 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, with nine adult or near adult birds. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood, three Swallows west and a Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and four Long-tailed Tits along the east bank.

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