151 species so far this year

163 species by this time last year

17th

Sunny, cool (up to 13.5c), with a moderate northerly wind. One Red-throated Diver flew east and there were three Great Crested Grebes offshore. 18 Gannets flew west and there was some wildfowl movement with one Greylag Goose and 24 Brent Geese, four Wigeon with two Pintails, and three Common Scoters west. Four Teal and three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Also noted was a steady movement of Common Gulls, 46 which were mostly adults. A Redwing flew west over the Obs.

A Green-veined White butterfly and a Common Darter dragonfly were in the Elm Wood.

15th

Sunny, light to moderate southerly wind. There were three Red-throated Divers and four Great Crested Grebes offshore. 13 Little Egrets included eight on the Marsh Pool and a Grey Heron on the tidal pools later flew west. Waders included 71 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, the Purple Sandpiper and 22 Redshanks along the shoreline that then moved onto the Marsh Pool to roost. There were six Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, one immature, and seven Sandwich Terns resting on the beach. Also noted were two chasing Kingfishers, a Song Thrush over the Obs, two Jays flying west over Brook Road, c150 Chaffinches and a single Goldfinch west and a Reed Bunting.

A Clouded Yellow was the only butterfly seen.

14th

Sunny, light southerly wind. There were five Red-throated Divers together on the sea beyond the tidal pools and three Great Crested Grebes offshore. Waders included the presumably returning adult Purple Sandpiper amongst a roost of 107 Turnstones. Whilst the Turnstones jostled for position on the rocks between the groynes, our sandpiper was only interested in sleep after its journey across the North Sea. Two Snipe and 18 roosting Redshanks were on the Marsh Pool. An Arctic Skua flew west close inshore whilst another harried the gulls and terns towards the Street. Also noted were seven Skylarks and three Reed Buntings west and two Rooks, an adult and a juvenile, dropped onto the beach.

Small White and Red Admiral butterflies were seen at the Obs.

12th

Sunny periods, light southerly wind. There were three Red-throated Divers, three Great Crested Grebes and three Common Scoters offshore. 148 Brent Geese flew west and another two, on the beach, included a juvenile bird. 12 Greylag Geese also flew west. Waders included 51 Oystercatchers on the beach, a Dunlin, and two Snipe and 30 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. There were five Great Black-backed Gulls, four adults and an immature, on the beach and five Sandwich Terns rested on the beach. Also noted were a Grey Heron on the tidal pools, eight Skylarks west and two Reed Buntings.

A shoal of Grey Mullet were seen in the brook by the wooden bridge.

10th

Sunny, cool, moderate SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Grey Heron and a Shelduck flew west and a Brent Goose was on the beach. A Wigeon was seen in flight offshore and there were three Teal in Coot Strait. Waders noted included 37 Oystercatchers, 92 Ringed Plovers and three Curlews on the beach, a Dunlin flying west along the shoreline and two Snipe and 20 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. An Arctic Tern was fishing close inshore. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14 Skylarks west, the pair of Stonechats, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, two Jays, a Brambling heard amongst a flock of Chaffinches, and a Greenfinch was also heard.

A Speckled Wood in the Elm Wood was the only butterfly seen.

9th

There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and six Brent Geese, six Wigeon and five Common Scoters flew west and an unidentified auk flew east. Waders included one Sanderling, and six Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. A single Teal was also on the Marsh Pool whilst seven Sandwich Terns rested on the beach. Also noted was a Kingfisher, at least two Stonechats and the Brambling, still present in the scout hut area.

8th

Sunny, fresh NW wind moderating during the morning. One Red-throated Diver, a Gannet, 27 Brent Geese, four Wigeon, three Arctic Skuas and six Common Gulls flew west. There have been few days of “sea watching weather” this autumn but this one was rather disappointing. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore. Waders included a high-flying Snipe over the sea and six Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. Five Skylarks flew west and Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches were also on the move. Last but not not least, there was a Brambling on the scout hut car park late morning. Our first of the year.

7th

Cloudy, dull, moderate northerly wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and four Gannets flew west. A flock of 90 Brent Geese flew east close inshore, 25 flew west and 24 Common Scoters flew east. Waders included 95 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, two Sanderlings west and six Redshanks and three Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Four Teal were also on the Marsh Pool. An Arctic Skua and two Mediterranean Gulls flew east and a party of ten Kittiwakes flew west. Also noted were 30 Chaffinches west and a Reed Bunting.

5th

Sunny and warm. There was one Red-throated Diver and three Great Crested Grebes offshore, five Little Egrets on the beach, six Brent Geese and 12 Wigeon flew west and there were four Teal on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 97 Ringed Plovers, 100 Turnstones, a Golden Plover and three Sanderlings on the beach whilst a Lapwing flying west was our first reported since July. One Snipe and five Redshanks were on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were Great Spotted Woodpecker, a lone Swallow west, two Grey Wagtails, the pair of Stonechats, Cetti’s Warbler, three Chaffinches west and a flock of 20 Linnets.

3rd

Sunny, warm. There were four Red-throated Divers and four Great Crested Grebes offshore. Two Great White Egrets flew west over the sea at 10.38 am, our first this year, and a Grey Heron was on the beach. There were 45 Mallard and three Teal on the Marsh Pool, and another seven Teal flew west. There were 119 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, four Redshanks on the beach and a Snipe on the Marsh Pool. A Mistle Thrush flew west over the Obs, our second this year. Also noted were a Common Tern which flew west close inshore, a female Kingfisher in the brook and the groynes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker over the scrub, three Swallows, the pair of Stonechats, ten Chaffinches west and a Reed Bunting.

2nd

Sunny, warm, light southerly wind. Single Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe were again offshore and a juvenile Gannet flew east close inshore. Waders included 110 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, three Golden Plovers west, two Snipe on the Marsh Pool and five Redshanks. Also noted were a female Kingfisher on the groynes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail, and a Reed Bunting. Bird of the day, however, was a Wood Sandpiper, reliably reported and only the sixth record for the site. It is hoped to more details of this sighting.

1st

Sunny, warm, light southerly wind. The Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe were offshore and 20 Little Egrets were along the shoreline. Waders included a Snipe in flight over the area and seven Redshanks on the beach. 32 Mallard and five Teal were on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were a Skylark west, the pair of Stonechats, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, a Jay high over the estate, 15 Linnets and a Reed Bunting.