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.