A total of 69 species for the month was close to the ten-year average of 69.1 as was the half-year total of 133 species compared with the ten-year average of 133.8. Two species were added to the year list with a Grey Wagtail on 20th and a Ruff on 26th. The first indications of return passage came, as usual, with waders including a few Curlews and Whimbrel, and a Spotted Redshank on 20th. A single Turnstone on 10th but no sign of a summering flock again! Unusual birds for June were a drake Wigeon west and a juvenile Stonechat on 3rd.

New butterflies for the year were Small and Essex Skippers, unusually high numbers of Marbled Whites and early Gatekeepers.

133 species so far this year

138 species by this time last year

30th

Waders were represented by a single Oystercatcher, two Lapwings over the beach and four Curlews west. Also noted were 20+ Mediterranean Gulls on the beach and five Swifts and a Swallow west.

29th

Sunny, light SW wind. One Gannet flew west and there were four Little Egrets on the Hampton flats. Two Oystercatchers were the only waders but gulls were of more interest with 42 Mediterranean Gulls, mostly adults, 44 Great Black-backed Gulls, almost all immatures, an immature Common Gull and our first two juvenile Black-headed Gulls, all on the beach. Also seen were two Swifts and a Swallow, three Yellow Wagtails flew west and there were four Pied Wagtails on the football pitch.

There were nine species of butterfly, including the first Green-veined White of the month.

28th

There were two Whimbrel and a Curlew on the shingle which gave a good opportunity for size comparison of the two species.

27th

Cloudy at first with showers at first then sunny, warm but not so warm, calm. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Oystercatchers on the beach and a Curlew flew west. Also, there were five Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern offshore.

Butterflies included the first Gatekeepers of the year at the Obs and a Shaded Broad-bar moth was in the scrub.

26th

A moulting male Ruff, on the beach, was an addition to the year list.

25th

Sunny, very warm, moderate NE wind. Six Gannets and a Sandwich Tern flew west. The adult Kestrel as usual was hunting over the area but was joined by a juvenile bird.

Butterflies were out and about from early morning in this heat. Painted Lady, Marbled White, Small Skipper, Small White and Meadow Brown were noted.

24th

Sunny, very warm but an onshore breeze was welcome. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, 29 adult Mallard were resting on the shingle at the mouth of the brook and the duck with six well-grown ducklings was along the middle brook. Compared with recent times, it was a bit of a wader fest with an early returning Whimbrel west at 5.47 am, followed shortly by an Oystercatcher, whilst an Avocet circled over the Marsh Pool before settling on the beach. Also noted were three Swifts and three Swallows west.

Butterflies were out early in the hot weather, and in numbers. Marbled Whites seem to become more numerous each year, there were many Small Skippers, one Large Skipper, Painted Lady, Comma and Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and a single Large White, not very common here, at the Obs.

22nd

Cloudy, warm but with a cooling onshore wind. Three Gannets and a flock of 25-30 Common Scoters flew east, and there were two Mediterranean Gulls and 55 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Six Sandwich Terns flew east.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Marbled White, Small Skipper and Painted Lady and a Silver Y moth was seen in the shingle vegetation.

21st

Capturing the sunrise on the summer solstice. A quiet morning for birds but five Shelducks flew west.

20th

Sunny, warm, calm. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and three Common Scoters flew east. There were four Oystercatchers on the beach and a Spotted Redshank, heard calling twice, was probably heading west. There were five Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, four flew off east, and there were also 50 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. A Grey Wagtail, that flew from the sluice towards the beach, was our first of the year after having been absent in the latter part of the winter. Also noted were four Swifts and a Swallow west and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the scrub.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Marbled White, Comma, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and Holly Blue, and a Lizard scampered across the path by the Obs.

19th

A pair of Cetti’s Warblers, feeding two young along the brook, was the first proof of successful breeding of this species although birds have held territory in the breeding season in the past. Also noted were three Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover.

17th

There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Oystercatchers and a Curlew flew west and a Hobby was also noted.

#16th

There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Gannets flew west and there were three Little Egrets, two of which flew west. Three Curlews flew west and there were three Sandwich Terns offshore. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight between the churchyard and he sewage works.

15th

Cloudy, some rain, light SE wind. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore and three Little Egrets on the Hampton flats. 67 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach included two adults. Also noted were two Swifts, two Swallows west and a Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the bushes opposite the Obs.

14th

A very quiet morning but a Fiery Clearwing moth was noted near the Obs.

13th

Sunny periods, moderate westerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and a Curlew west was the only wader seen. Four adult Mediterranean Gulls also flew west. Also noted were nine Swifts west and a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the scrub.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Heath and Holly Blue.

11th

Cloudy, cool, light SW wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore. A Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 7.10 am whilst a Curlew, also west, was the only wader of the morning. There were 53 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and four Sandwich Terns, three west and one offshore. Also noted were five Swifts and a House Martin west and two Swallows hawking over the area. There were four juvenile Pied Wagtail together on the beach.

10th

Sunny, light westerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebes offshore. Two Curlews flew west and a Turnstone was roosting between the groynes; our first since May 17th. There were 40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and a Sandwich Tern offshore. Also noted were five Swifts, eight Swallows and a House Martin west and a juvenile Pied Wagtail on the football pitch.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral.

9th

A screaming flock of 150+ Swifts appeared early morning and a Grey Heron, over the beach, was pursued by gulls.

Small Skipper and Marbled White were additions to the butterfly year list and a Wall was seen by the changing rooms.

8th

Sunny periods, light SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Little Egrets and a Buzzard soared over Studd Hill. There was one Oystercatcher on the beach, 38 Great Black-backed Gulls and six Sandwich Terns. Also noted were five Swifts and a Swallow west, the Cetti’s Warbler was heard for the first time for over a week, a Lesser Whitethroat sand in the a scrub and a Greenfinch was trilling along the upper brook.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Meadow Brown and Holly Blue and the curiously named, and curious, Swollen-thighed Beetle was seen in the scrub.

5th

There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore. Also noted were two Little Egrets, two Oystercatchers, two Mediterranean Gulls flew west and a Lesser Whitethroat was in the scrub.

4th

Cloudy, showers, light SW wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, an Egyptian Goose flew west over the church and two Avocets flew west along the shoreline. A third calendar year Mediterranean Gull flew west, there were 85 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, with only one full adult and four Sandwich Terns flew east. Also noted was one Swift, and 60 Carrion Crows on the beach.

3rd

Cloudy, cooler, moderate SW wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Gannet flew east, and a Shelduck and an unseasonal Wigeon flew west. Eight Canada Geese lingered along the shoreline for most of the morning. There were 60 Great Black-backed Gulls and three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach and a Sandwich Tern offshore. Unexpected were, a singing Meadow Pipit and a juvenile Stonechat in the grassland. Also noted were five Swifts, two Swallows and a House Martin which flew west.

1st

Sunny, light SW wind. A quiet morning but with raptors centre stage. A female Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 7.45 am. Two Red Kites flew west over the Obs and three flew west inland and a Hobby flew east over the football pitch carrying prey. Kestrel and Peregrine were also seen. Otherwise, an Oystercatcher was heard calling, there were c40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and single Swallow and House Martin flew west.

Eight species of butterfly were noted, namely Small White, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Large Skipper and Red Admiral.