A total of 82 species for the month was well below the average for the last ten years of 88.7 species. The total so far this year of 144 species is, however, around the average of 144.3 species. There were six additions to the year list, all to be expected except perhaps for the two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers on 28th and 29th. Only recorded in four of the previous ten years and the first to have been present for more than one day. It had been a struggle through the heat of the month. Passerine migrants included only one Redstart, three Whinchats and three Wheatears, and single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.

A total of 144 species so far this year

148 species by this time last year

31st

Mostly sunny, moderate SW wind. Two lone immature Gannets flew west and four Cattle Egrets also flew west, close inshore. Waders included 39 Oystercatchers, 59 Ringed Plovers and a Curlew on the beach. A party of four Arctic Terns flew west close inshore, new for the year, whilst more Common or Arctic Terns also flew west but well out to sea. Also noted were seven Swallows west, a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub and a Jay calling along the upper brook.

Butterflies included a fine male Common Blue at the Obs.

29th

Cloudy, light rain from 8.45 am, light southerly wind. The two Curlew Sandpipers were again in the remnant brook where they remained for much of the morning, ignoring dog walkers, but finally being flushed by a Collared Dove! This is the first documented record of this species being present for more than one day. Other waders noted included a flock of 82 Oystercatchers on the beach, a very high count for this locality, five Whimbrels west, and two Curlews, one of which was flagged and ringed. Also noted were three Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Grey Herons west over the sea, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying east high over the scrub, 15 Swallows west and seven Linnets.

28th

Two Curlew Sandpipers were in the remnant brook and later along the nearby shoreline. Our first at the site for three years. Other waders included single Curlew and Common Sandpiper. Also noted were a Brent Goose on the beach, a Grey Heron and a Peregrine. Away from the beach there was the regular Great Spotted Woodpecker, a few Swallows west, all three regular Wagtails, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

27th

Cloudy, with steady rain from 8 to 10 am, and a light SE wind. A drake Wigeon flew east over the tidal pools, our first of the autumn. Waders included 34 Oystercatchers on the beach and a single Whimbrel west. Also noted were two Whinchats in the grassland bushes, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub and three Long-tailed Tits along the east bank.

Butterflies noted were Small White, Red aAmiral and Holly Blue, Shaded Broad-bar was in the scrub and a male Common Darter by the sewage works entrance.

26th

Sunny periods, light ENE wind. Nine Mallard along the shoreline early morning, 12 Common Scoters flew east and another five flew west. Waders included the first Greenshank of the autumn, west. Five Black Terns, three and two, flew east. A Spotted Flycatcher, along the east bank, was there first of the autumn and also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Elm Wood and the Obs, and a Wheatear in the coastal path bushes.

25th

Sunny with a moderate NE wind. More like the early autumn we expect, or at least hope for! Ducks were moving over the sea with 38 Teal, four Shovelers and eight Common Scoters. A Common Sandpiper was the only wader of note and an Arctic Skua headed slowly east chasing Sandwich Terns as it went. Attention turned to the land where a female/immature Redstart and a Whinchat were both new for the year and a Wheatear and a Cetti’s Warbler were also noted.

24th

Sunny periods, light NE wind. An Egyptian Goose and five Gannets flew east, another Gannet flew west. Waders included 18 Oystercatchers and 61 Ringed Plovers on the beach, a Snipe on the beach early morning flew off west, there were singles of Whimbrel, Curlew and Redshank and 75 Turnstones were roosting between the groynes. Also noted were Great Spotted Woodpecker and Cetti’s Warbler.

23rd

A Cattle Egret on the beach off the Obs was our 140th species for the year.

22nd

Sunny with a moderate northerly wind. There were 25 Ringed Plovers on the beach and 70 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Also noted were a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Obs, a single Sand Martin west, a Grey Wagtail along the upper brook and a Lesser Whitethroat.

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

20th

Sunny periods, light westerly wind. There were 34 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs and our first returning Sanderling was within a flock of 130 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Also noted were a Hobby, the female Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Yellow Wagtails west, a Cetti’s Warbler and Willow Warbler and a count of 66 Carrion Crows on the shingle.

19th

Cloudy, light SW wind. Waders included 35 Ringed Plovers and a Redshank on the beach off the Obs and 95 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Also noted were the regular Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Swallows west and a Willow Warbler.

18th

15 Whimbrel and 20+ Swallows and five Yellow Wagtails flew west. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard again.

17th

Sunny, light northerly wind. There were 31 Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin on the beach. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker was along the east bank and a Green Woodpecker was heard calling from the Obs. Also noted was a Cetti’s Warbler heard in the Elm Wood and two Lesser Whitethroats.

15th

Cloudy then sunny, moderate NNE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a juvenile Gannet flew east and two Arctic Skuas flew west. Waders included 12 Oystercatchers on the beach, a Ringed Plover flew high SW inland and a Common Sandpiper flew west along the shoreline. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood and a Chiffchaff heard at the Obs.

13th

Sunny, very warm, calm. There were 20 Mallard feeding along the shoreline early morning that, eventually, flew off inland. Waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit which flew west in the company of a Whimbrel, there were eight Oystercatchers on the beach and a flock of 27 Ringed Plovers gathered on the beach off the Obs, with a single Dunlin, on the incoming tide. Common and Sandwich Terns were offshore. Also noted was the Great Spotted Woodpecker, which flew from the east bank into the churchyard, and four Grey Wagtails and a Willow Warbler were also noted.

12th

Waders included six Oystercatchers and 20 Ringed Plovers on the beach and two Whimbrel west. 15 Common Terns flew east. A Pied Flycatcher seen briefly along the east bank, then it flew across to the trees by the Elm Wood and disappeared not to be refound. This was new for the year and appears to be part of a wider arrival in the county. Also noted were a female Great Spotted Woodpecker along the east bank, two Grey Wagtails, and a Cetti’s Warbler heard in the Elm Wood .

A Small Copper butterfly by the scout wood was our 23rd species for the year. Only three species on the site list have not been seen so far this year; the curiously scarce these days Small Tortoiseshell, the quite likely Clouded Yellow and the unlikely Ringlet.

10th

Sunny, warm, light northerly wind. A pair of Gadwall flew west offshore and a Grey Heron flew NW over the area. A flock of 12 Whimbrels flew west. Also noted were five Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, three Swallows west and a Lesser Whitethroat along the east bank.

9th

A Shoveler flew west, there were three Whimbrel on the shingle and there was a glimpse of an ever elusive Cetti’s Warbler.

8th

Sunny, warm, light SW wind. One Gannet flew east and there were three Little Egrets on the beach. Ten Oystercatchers flew east, one Curlew flew west and a 100 Turnstones gathered on the groynes, again almost all were adults in various degrees of moult from breeding plumage. A Sedge Warbler was the only migrant of note.

A few Small Whites and a Meadow brown were the only butterflies and a Jersey Tiger moth was by the scout hut.

7th

Sunny, warm, light SW wind. Five Gannets flew east and there were four Little Egrets on the beach. Waders noted were five Oystercatchers on the beach and five Ringed Plovers and 50 Turnstones between the groynes. Also noted was a Hobby, that flew low following the line up the brook, and our first Wheatear of the autumn.

A Water Vole was found in the grass just outside the churchyard well away from any water. It was alive but aloud a close approach. A cat was showing some interest but was shewed away. Returning to the spot later, there was no sign of the vole.

5th

Cloudy with a light SW wind. Wader numbers continue to build up. There were 20 Ringed Plovers and 58 Turnstones roosting between the groynes but they still lack variety. Seven Common Terns flew west close inshore and included one juvenile. Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling again by the Obs.

In addition to Small Whites and Gatekeepers, Green-veined White, Holly Blue and Meadow Brown butterflies were noted.

3rd

Sunny, warm, light northerly wind. There were four Oystercatchers and a Curlew on the beach, a Whimbrel was heard and 15 Ringed Plovers and 49 Turnstones were roosting between the groynes. 15 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach an 26 Sandwich Terns and ten Common Terns flew east. Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling by the Ons and a Grey Wagtail in the brook by the wooden bridge.

Small White and Gatekeeper butterflies were still plentiful and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was at the Obs.

2nd

A flock of 24 Black Terns, and two Little Gulls, were over the tidal pools, Also noted were migrant Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler.

1st

Sunny with a light northerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Gannet flew west and, unusually, there were four Grey Herons on the beach off the obs. Waders included a Curlew and 15 Turnstones on the beach whilst Whimbrel and Ringed Plover were heard calling. 70 Common Terns flew west. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling by the Obs, one Swallow, two Long-tailed Tits at the Obs and a Goldfinch at the Obs which flew west, pausing briefly in the Obs trees.