The total of 77 species for the month was well below the ten-year average of 85.6 species and there were no additions to the year list during the month. It was mild at the beginning of the month and cold at the end. The mild weather resulted in a Peacock butterfly at the Obs on 11th and two Sandwich Terns on the beach on 15th. There were two Ravens on 5th and two Great White Egrets on 11th. Goldcrests and Firecrests were seen regularly during the month and the Cetti’s Warbler was heard on a few occasions. Two White-fronted Geese on the last day of the month was our only contribution to the influx of White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese into the country that accompanied the cold weather towards the end of the month.
A total of 173 species so far this year
166 species by this time last year
31st
Cloudy then sunny, cool, light northerly wind. Ten Red-throated Divers flew east and there were two Great Crested Grebes offshore. Two White-fronted Geese flew west over the beach at 11.55 am and a Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 9.30 am. Waders included 55 Ringed Plovers and the Purple Sandpiper. There were 126 Herring Gulls on the beach. Also noted were a female Kingfisher, the pair of Stonechats, and a Firecrest along the east bank.
29th
Cloudy, light NE wind. Four Red-throated Divers flew east, two flew west. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew east and an adult Little Gull flew east close inshore. A Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds and there were nine Teal, seven drakes, and a pair of Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. The Little Grebe was in the brook below the sluice.
23rd
A Fulmar flew east.
22nd
Sunny, light SE wind. A Red-throated Diver was offshore, and three flew east. There were three Common Scoters east, and later offshore, and four Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. An adult Gannet was offshore and a Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds. Waders included 40 Oystercatchers, 52 Ringed Plovers and three Lapwings, flying west over the sea. There were four Teal on the Marsh Pool. Also noted was a Redwing along the east bank, which flew off inland, the pair of Stonechats and the Cetti’s Warbler in the scrub, more vocal than hitherto but with the volume turned down.
21st
A Red-breasted Merganser was reported.
20th
Sunny and calm. Nine Red-throated Divers flew east, one was offshore and two Mute Swans flew east. A Great Northern Diver, four duck Common Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers and a pair of Goosanders were offshore. Also, six Common Scoters flew east. Waders included 55 Ringed Plovers, 20 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper, with 25 Redshanks roosting on the Marsh Pool where there were also four Teal. Also noted were the Little Grebe in the brook, a Grey Wagtail, the pair of Stonechats, and the Cetti’s Warbler, heard again briefly by the caravan park.
19th
There were two Great Northern Divers offshore and a Kingfisher was also noted.
17th
Sunny, light SW wind. A Red-throated Diver was offshore, a Great Northern Diver flew east, there were eight Great Crested Grebes offshore, and a Gannet, a Shelduck and five Teal flew west. Waders included 40 Ringed Plovers on the beach opposite the Obs, 49 Sanderlings along the shoreline and the Purple Sandpiper roosting on the groynes. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew east and also noted were a Little Grebe along Coot Strait, the adult male Sparrowhawk in the trees by the Obs, a Chiffchaff and a Firecrest opposite the entrance to the sewage works and a Reed Bunting.
16th
Two Great White Egrets flew over and the Purple Sandpiper was on the beach. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard, in a single burst of song, and two Firecrests and a flock of 15 Long-tailed Tits were along the east bank and at the Obs.
15th
Cloudy, light southerly wind. There were three Red-throated Divers and the duck Common Scoter offshore and ten Gannets flew east. Waders included 44 Ringed Plovers and the Purple Sandpiper on the beach off the Obs and 15 Sanderlings along the shoreline. There were nine Great Black-backed Gulls, all but one adults, and two Sandwich Terns on the beach. Two drake Teal were again on the Marsh Pool and the Little Grebe along the middle brook.
13th
Sunny and calm. There were four Red-throated Divers, 12 Great Crested Grebes, the duck Common Scoter and five Red-breasted Mergansers, four drakes and a redhead, offshore. Waders included two Golden Plovers west low over the sea, 44 Sanderlings along the shoreline and the Purple Sandpiper. There were two drake Teal on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were the Little Grebe in the middle brook, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood, and a Chiffchaff at the Obs.
12th
A Great Northern Diver drifted east and a drake Goosander flew west.
11th
Sunny, mild, light SW wind. Nine Red-throated Divers flew west, and there were eight Great Crested Grebes and the duck Common Scoter offshore. One large auk sp flew east. Also noted were an adult Sparrowhawk along the east bank, an adult Kestrel hunting over the area, and a Kingfisher and a Firecrest.
A very late, and rather tatty, Peacock appeared at the Obs.
10th
Sunny periods, mild, moderate SW wind. A Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe and the duck Common Scoter were offshore. A Kittiwake and a Sandwich Tern flew east. Also noted were a female Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Obs, two Stonechats, and two Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests and a Firecrest along the east bank.
8th
Three Red-throated Divers and five Common Scoters flew west, whilst the “resident” scoter was still offshore. Also noted was a Grey Heron and a female Stonechat.
6th
Sunny, moderate SW wind. A Great Northern Diver, three Great Crested Grebes and the duck Common Scoter were offshore. A flock of c50 Brent Geese on the beach included a pair with three juveniles. Waders included 38 Sanderlings, 63 Dunlin and the Purple Sandpiper roosting between the groynes. There was no sign of Teal or Shoveler on the Marsh Pool but 25 Redshanks roosted on there at high tide. Also noted was a female Stonechat opposite the Obs and a Reed Bunting was heard.
5th
A summer plumage Great Northern Diver, several Red-throated Divers, the regular duck Common Scoter and two redhead Goosanders were noted offshore. The Purple Sandpiper was seen and, for the third time recently, two Ravens were seen. They flew off inland.
4th
Cloudy, some light rain, light SE wind. A Great Northern Diver flew west and there were three Great Crested Grebes offshore. There were four Teal and four Shovelers on the Marsh Pool with 36 Mallard. Another Shoveler flew high west over the area. The regular nine species of wader included the Purple Sandpiper. Also noted was a Little Grebe along the middle brook.
A “mini forest” is being created between the churchyard and the brook which will involve the planting of 1,500 saplings of native trees in close proximity, which should encourage rapid growth. It is based on the theories of the Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki.
3rd
Mostly sunny with a light SW wind. Two Red-throated Divers flew east, a Great Northern Diver was fishing (crabbing) close inshore and five Great Crested Grebes and a Common Scoter were offshore. Waders included 61 Ringed Plovers, 83 Dunlin and the Purple Sandpiper, roosting between the groynes, and 11 Snipe were visible on the Marsh Pool. A drake Teal and three Shovelers were also on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were a Marsh Harrier west over the sea at 10.55 am, a Peregrine flew SW over the area, a Song Thrush was singing near the skate park, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were along the east bank and eight Goldfinches were by the upper brook.
2nd
There were eight Great Crested Grebes and a Common Scoter offshore. There were two Shovelers on the Marsh Pool and the Purple Sandpiper was present. Also noted was a Song Thrush, and a Goldcrest at the Obs.
