A total of 86 species for the month was a little above the ten-year average of 83.9 species. The first above average this year. The year total, however, at 131 species was below the ten-year average of 134 species. Seven species were added to the year list this month included a rare spring record of Spotted Redshank on 1st and a Spotted Redshank on 17th with two on 20th. Turnstones were unusually scarce this month with maximum of eight on 8th and 17 on 17th and no further records for the month.

131 species so far this year

137 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, warm, light easterly wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, and two Little Egrets, a single Oystercatcher and 54 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Highlight, however, was our small contribution to the movement of Red Kites through the county with two north at 9.45 am and one west at 10.13 am. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing near the bluethroat bush and then in the usual area along the middle brook. Possibly two birds, or one bird desperately roaming the area in search of a mate!

Butterflies noted were Painted Lady, at least five, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small White and Large Skipper.

29th

A Spoonbill flew west over the sea at 7.15 am, two Greylag Geese flew east and a Fulmar was offshore. Also noted were two Sandwich Terns on a buoy offshore, two juvenile Long-tailed Tits and a Carrion Crow “murdering” a Slow Worm on the now dried-up Marsh Pool.

28th

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Fulmar, ten Gannets and three Shelducks flew east. Two Oystercatchers were the only waders noted. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew west, a second calendar year bird flew east and the flock of Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach reached 90! Also noted, one Sandwich Tern and five Swifts flew east, there was one Swallow and a Greenfinch was again singing along the upper brook.

27th

Sunny, cooler, moderate NE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, four Gannets flew east and another four flew west. 20 Mallard were gathered on the shingle by the mouth of the brook. No waders were recorded. There were 73 immature Great Black-backed Gulls and two Sandwich Terns on the beach and two Common Terns flew east.

Butterflies noted were only Speckled Wood and Small and Green-veined Whites but a Harlequin Ladybird larvae, resting one one of the poles of the Scout Hut “garden”, was unexpected and, perhaps, not particularly welcome given its reputation!

26th

Two Gadwall flew west and a Wheatear in the scrub was the first here since 24th April. Also noted were Hobby and Lesser Whitethroat and good views of the elusive Cetti’s Warbler were enjoyed.

Large Skipper was the 16th species of butterfly for the year.

25th

Sunny, very warm, calm. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, one Gannet flew east and a Shelduck flew west.

Butterflies included Large White and Meadow Brown, new for the year, and Painted Lady. A Lattice Heath moth was also seen in the grassland.

24th

A Ring-necked Parakeet, which flew west over the football pitch and sewage works, was an addition to the year list. Also noted were Gadwall and Sandwich Tern, three Swifts, a showy Reed Warbler along the brook and a Reed Bunting near the caravan park.

23rd

Sunny, very warm, light SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Fulmar, a Greylag Goose, four Shelducks and two Whimbrel flew west. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the sea and a Common Tern was offshore. Also noted, a Reed Warbler was singing along the e ast bank.

22nd

An Avocet was again in the Marsh Pool. Also noted were Marsh Harrier and Buzzard, a Reed Warbler singing along the upper brook, a Rook and a Reed Bunting in the scrub.

21st

Sunny, warm, light SW wind. Three Great Crested Grebes offshore included a displaying pair. A Fulmar, two Greylag Geese, two Egyptian Geese and two Sandwich Terns flew west, four Gannets and an adult Kittiwake flew east and a Common Tern was offshore. An Oystercatcher on the beach and a Common Sandpiper on the Marsh Pool were the only wader representatives. 54 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach included only one adult. Vis mig included four Swifts, 11 Swallows, a House Martin and three Goldfinches west whilst a Yellow Wagtail flew south following the line of the brook. There were two singing Reed Warbler, by the Obs and in the scrub.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip.

20th

Sunny periods, warmer, moderate SDW wind. Seven Gannets flew west, a Grey Heron flew west high inland and an Avocet and a Common Sandpiper were on the Marsh Pool. Five Mediterranean Gulls flew east, a high count of 61 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach included only four adults and a Sandwich Tern flew east. Pick of the day were two Spotted Flycatchers, one in the Elm Wood and one behind the Obs. Vis mig included 29 Swifts, only one Swallow and 30 House Martins, including a pulse of 19 low over the sea; all west.

18th

Sunny, light SW wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Little Egrets on the beach and a drake Shelduck on the Marsh Pool. Six Oystercatchers were the only waders seen, there were 28 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and two Common Terns flew west. Highlight of the day was a Cuckoo, seen and heard briefly in the bushes opposite the Obs. Our first of the year and a typical date. Vis mig noted was two Swifts, ten Swallows and nine House Martins. The Sedge Warbler was in territory for its 17th day.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip.

17th

A Spotted Flycatcher, in a sycamore east of the Marsh Pool, was our first of this increasingly scarce migrant this year. 17 Turnstones was the highest count this month and, also noted, the Sedge Warbler was singing and in display flight, and two Grey Herons were seen.

16th

Sunny, light westerly wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and a Shelduck dropped onto the Marsh Pool. One Oystercatcher flying west was the only wader recorded. Four Mediterranean Gull flew high over head and there were 41 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were three Sand Martins, 13 Swallows and two House Martins Red west and a party of six Long-tailed Tits most of which were juveniles.

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

15th

One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, six Gannets flew east and the Shelduck was on the Marsh Pool. Four Oystercatchers flew west. There were eight House Martins, Swifts and Swallows were also noted and a Reed Warbler.

14th

Cloudy, cold, moderate NW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and four Shelducks flew west. There was still some vis mig with 16 Swifts, eight Swallows, a House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail west. Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, heard calling, perhaps surprisingly, only our first Jay of the year, in the Elm Wood and a Greenfinch singing along the upper brook.

13th

Sunny, shower, light Westerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, three Common Sandpipers on the beach were the only waders, and six Common Terns had joined the gulls in their feeding frenzy offshore. There were 25 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was collecting grass cuttings, presumably for a nest nearby. The change to a westerly wind encouraged some vis mig with 22 Swifts, 27 Swallows, a House Martin and two Yellow Wagtails west. The Sedge Warbler continues in territory by the caravan park but, presumably, a different bird was singing near the Obs. A Reed Warbler was seen and heard briefly along the east bank.

12th

There were three summer plumage Sanderlings. All three hirundines were recorded. As well as the “resident” Sedge Warbler, our second Reed Warbler of the spring was also singing. A Reed Bunting was also noted.

11th

A quiet morning. The Sedge Warbler was present for its 10th day.

10th

Five Swifts were seen.

9th

Sunny, warmer, light NE wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and seven Gannets flew east. The Avocet was again on the Marsh Pool where the pair of Shelducks also made an appearance. Other waders noted were 27 Oystercatchers, 26 flew west and one on the beach, a Whimbrel flew west, a Redshank was on the beach and a Greenshank was heard. Also noted were 40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, almost all immatures, two Stock Doves, five Swallows west, the Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the bushes opposite the Obs and a Chaffinch singing in the churchyard. The first juvenile Starlings of the year, about seven, were perhaps a few days earlier than usual.

8th

An improvement in the wader collective. An Avocet was on the Marsh Pool, a summer plumage Grey Plover and seven summer plumage Sanderlings were on the beach, three Turnstones were on the groynes and another five flew west. The Sedge Warbler was still in residence and another Willow Warbler (only our third this spring) was noted.

7th

Sunny, cool, with a light NE wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and two Little Egrets on the beach. Waders noted were ten Oystercatchers, nine flying east, a lone Curlew and a Common Sandpiper on the Marsh Pool. There was an increase to 45 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and a single Sandwich Tern offshore. Also noted were three Swallows, the Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the s crub and a Chaffinch singing in the churchyard.

A Small Heath was our 11th butterfly of the year.

6th

Cloudy, cool, moderate NE wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Gannets flew east, the pair of Shelducks was on the Marsh Pool and the Mallard broods were down to five and six ducklings. Five Oystercatchers were the only waders and there were 25 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were three Swifts flying low against the NE winds, seven Swallows west and the singing Sedge Warbler was present for its fifth day.

5th

A Little Tern flew west at 7 am and a Reed Bunting was present in the scrub.

4th

Cloudy, cool, light NE wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore. An Osprey that flew west close inshore at 9.35 am was our second record this year. A pair of Shelducks were on the Marsh Pool and broods of five and 12 Mallards were noted. Two Oystercatchers and a Curlew were the only waders seen. Also noted was a Buzzard flying west at 7.45 am, five Swallows west and the singing Sedge Warbler was present for its third day.

2nd

Sunny, warm, light SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore and two Little Egrets on the beach. A Mute Swan offshore was joined by another four, which had been seen flying west by Herne Bay. Two Shelducks and 12 Common Scoters flew west and another two Shelducks were on the Marsh Pool. A single Curlew and Turnstone were the only waders recorded. There were 36 immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. A Sedge Warbler and a Reed Bunting were singing in the grassland west of the caravan park. Also noted were a Buzzard displaying over Studd Hill and a Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail, both flying west.

1st

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore, one Little Egret, and a pair of Shelducks on the Marsh Pool. Waders noted were a Curlew on the beach and, on the rising tide, an Avocet on the Marsh Pool, a summer plumage Spotted Redshank on the shoreline which was only our second spring record at the site, with a flock of 17 Common Sandpipers and a Ringed Plover. Two Turnstones were also noted. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew west. A Hobby flew east over the Marsh Pool an also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood, unusual at this time of the year, the Cetti’s Warbler and broods of five and 12 Mallard ducklings.

Butterflies noted were Small and Green-veined Whites, a female Orange-tip and a Red Admiral.