The total of 76 species for the month exceeded the ten -year average of 73.6. There were four additions to the year list with Shag on 8th, still present at the end of the month, and our first summer record. Little Tern on 9th, Green Woodpecker on 24th and Great White Egret on 25th. A ringtail Hen Harrier on 10th was also unusual, again our first summer record. As was to be expected, the early signs of return migration were mostly of waders. An early Common Sandpiper was present on 6th, there were 25 Turnstones on 15th, 58 on 29th, five Ringed Plovers on 18th and 21 on 29th and seven Sanderlings on 28th. Also unusual was the presence of one or two Avocets on the Marsh Pool regularly throughout the month. A Sedge Warbler on 17th and a Garden Warbler on 26th were both early for these species.

A total of 136 species so far this year

140 species seen by this time last year

31st

Sunny with a light NE wind. A Fulmar flew west, two Gannets flew east and the immature Shag was present for its 24th day. An Avocet flew west, a Common Sandpiper was noted and there were ten Turnstones on the groynes. A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with three fledged juveniles were on the beach.

30th

A female Common Scoter flew east and a flock of nine Whimbrels headed west. Also noted were 12 Swallows, two Yellow Wagtails and a Jay.

29th

The Shag was still present. Waders noted were an Avocet west, two Common Sandpipers, a Redshank heard and 21 Ringed Plovers and 58 Turnstones roosting between the groynes.

28th

The Shag continues its residence, there were five Little Egrets and five Common Scoters. A party of seven Sanderlings, still in summer plumage, were our first returning birds. Other waders noted were four Oystercatchers, four Whimbrel, two Curlews and six Turnstones. An increase in the number of terns with 27 Sandwich Terns and 14 Common Terns.

27th

Sunny, warm, light NW wind. The immature Shag was perched on the groynes again. There were five Little Egrets on the beach and waders noted were two Oystercatchers, an Avocet on the Marsh Pool but flew off east and west, a Redshank heard and seven Turnstones. An adult Common Gull, a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with two juveniles and 22 juvenile Herring Gulls were on the beach. An adult Great Black-backed Gulls was on the tidal ponds and a Sandwich Tern flew west. A Green Woodpecker flew along the east bank calling loudly.

Butterflies noted included Comma, Essex Skipper and Green-veined White.

26th

A single Brent Goose was on the beach. Although the vast majority of Brents left for Siberia in March, odd birds have been seen here in all of the last four months. The Shag was again on the groynes and a Garden Warbler, along the east bank, was early for a returning migrant.

25th

Cloudy, light SW wind. A Great White Egret flew west along the shoreline at 8am. Our first of the year and our eight in total. The first record was in November 2011, second in April 2019 and then it has been seen annually since 2021. An adult Gannet and a Grey Heron flew west and the immature Shag was offshore. Waders noted included two Avocets on the beach early morning, ten Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper. Five Common Gulls included four flying west and the pair of resident adult Great Black-backed Gulls on the tidal ponds. Also noted were 125 Swifts, most have left the country now, and seven Sand Martins.

24th

Cloudy, light SE wind. The immature Shag continues in residence. There were 10 Redshanks along the shoreline early morning which flew off east and 17 Turnstones between the groynes. A juvenile Green Woodpecker flew into the trees by the Obs; new for the year.

Butterflies included our second Painted Lady of the year.

22nd

Cloudy, moderate SW wind. The Shag was resting on the “dome” and the groynes. There were five Little Egrets in the Marsh Pool. Waders noted were three Common Sandpipers along the shoreline, four Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, five Whimbrels and four Turnstones. Two Red Kites soaring over the estate were the first recorded here in July. Other birds noted included 14 Swifts, three Sand Martins, two Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail west.

Butterflies included our first Wall of the year at the Obs.

20th

Sunny, very warm, light NW wind. The immature Shag was present for its 11th day, there were six Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool and a Grey Heron, on the tidal ponds, flew off inland. There were three Common Sandpipers along the shoreline and four Turnstones on the beach. Two adults and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls flew est. Two Red Kites soaring over the estate was an unusual record here in mid-summer. Also noted were 14 Swifts, three Sand Martins and two Swallows flying west.

Amongst eight species of butterfly were all three whites, Essex Skipper, Comma and Peacock.

18th

Light cloud, light SW wind. Three Gannets flew east, the immature Shag was resting on the spit and the groynes, a Grey Heron flew west and there were six Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool. A flock of 15 Common Scoters flew east. An Avocet was on the Marsh Pool and five Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank paused briefly on the shoreline. There were five Mediterranean Gulls on the Marsh Pool and two Common Terns offshore.

17th

Sunny, light NW wind. There were eight Little Egrets, one Avocet and two Redshanks on the Marsh Pool and 12 Turnstones on the groynes. Three Great Black-backed Gulls, included one adult, and there were two Sandwich Terns offshore. Birds of the day, however, were a Raven flying west at 6.18 am and a Sedge Warbler seen and heard singing briefly in the scrub.

Butterflies noted included Essex Skipper, Marbled White and Small Heath and a Shaded Broad-bar moth was seen in the scrub.

16th

The immature Shag showed very well on the groynes. Two Avocets and eight Little Egrets were on the Marsh Pool, two Common Sandpipers flew west and 22 Turnstones were also present. A significant increase in the number of terns, on the beach and offshore, with 36 Sandwich Terns, including 12 juveniles, and 46 Common Terns, including four juveniles. 12 Mediterranean Gulls were also on the beach.

15th

Sunny, calm. The immature Shag was still present, one Gannet flew east and three Mute Swans circled the area. Waders noted were three Oystercatchers west, two Avocets and two Redshanks on the Marsh Pool and c25 Turnstones on the groynes. Also noted were two Mediterranean Gulls and two Sandwich Terns.

14th

The immature Shag was present for its fifth day. Waders noted were the Avocet, our first returning Whimbrel, three Common Sandpipers along the shoreline and eight Turnstones. Other birds noted included a Buzzard over the church, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a House Martin.

13th

Cloudy, cool, light WNW wind. The immature Shag was again on the sea off the Obs and resting on the spit, in the absence of any outflow islands. A flock of 40 Common Scoters flew west. Waders noted were a single Oystercatcher and an Avocet again on the Marsh Pool. Three Mediterranean Gulls flew west including our first juvenile of the year. Other birds noted included 31 Swifts and 39 Sand Martins west.

11th

Sunny, light northerly wind. The immature Shag returned to the outflow islands. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 8.45 am and an adult Cattle Egret flew west at 10 am. Waders noted were four Oystercatchers, the Avocet on the Marsh Pool, a Curlew west and Greenshanks, probably two, heard calling.

A good day for butterflies with 12 species recorded including our first Gatekeepers.

10th

Sunny periods, moderate SW wind. One Great Crested Grebe offshore and the immature Shag reappeared on the out flow islands. Two Avocets were n the Marsh Pool, a Curlew was on the beach and another flew west and there were two Oystercatchers on the beach. There were c25 Mediterranean Gulls around the tidal ponds as well as four Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns. Surprise of the day went to a ringtail Hen Harrier which flew west low over the sea, at 9.35 am, before circling around and being lost to view. There have been no previous records here in the period between April and August.

An Essex Skipper brought our butterfly total to 18 species for the year.

9th

A Little Tern which flew east with Sandwich and Common Terns was new for the year although this species has been seen a number of times feeding with other terns to the west off the Street. Flocks of 14 and 18 Common Scoters were also noted.

8th

Sunny, light SW wind. An immature Shag was seen on the sea off the Obs and rested on the “outflow islands” for about 75 minutes before being pushed off by the incoming tide. A party of 12 Oystercatchers flew west, there were three Redshanks along the shoreline and the Avocet reappeared on the Marsh Pool. A party of nine Mediterranean Gulls flew west and there were four Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns offshore. A Marsh Harrier flew west and also noted were four Sand Martins and a Swallow also flying west.

Butterflies noted included a Comma by the scout hut and the Common Seal was again hauled up on the tidal ponds.

7th

Unusually, a Common Seal was seen basking on the tidal ponds.

6th

Sunny periods, strong westerly wind. There were nine Little Egrets on the beach. An early returning Common Sandpiper was on the Marsh Pool. A group of seven adult Mediterranean Gulls flew west and another was on the Marsh Pool. 13 Sandwich Terns and one Common Tern flew west. Also noted were 13 Swifts flying west.

4th

Cloudy at first then sunny, moderate westerly wind. Six Mute Swans flew SE over the area then back west over the Obs. One Oystercatcher was seen and four Curlews flew west. One Sandwich Tern flew east.

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

3rd

Cloudy with a light SW wind. One Gannet flew west and five Common Scoters flew east. There were five Little Egrets and the Marsh Pool where the Avocet was still present.

2nd

The Avocet was on the Marsh Pool but flew out east over the sea.

1st

Cloudy and cool at first, sunny and warmer later. Light NW wind. One Grey Heron west and there were five Little Egrets. The Avocet was again on the Marsh Pool, two Curlews flew west and two Turnstones were on the groynes. Two Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern flew east. Also noted were 85 Swifts, a Sand Martins and two Swallows flew west.

Butterflies included our first Painted Lady of the year, Small and Large Skippers, Small and Green-veined Whites, Meadow Brown and Marbled White.