A total of 139 species so far this year

144 species by this time last year

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.