A total of 80 species for the month was yet another month below the ten-year average (83.5 species). Furthermore, the additions of six species to the year list contained no significant surprises; Little Tern on 6th and Cuckoo on 16th, probably the best. Nevertheless, the year total at the month’s end of 137 species was above the ten-year average of 133.2.

137 species so far this year

130 by this time last year

31st

Sunny and calm. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Greylag Geese flew west, and there were three Little Egrets and a Brent Goose on the beach. An Oystercatcher on the beach was the only wader, a count of 41 Great Black-backed Gulls, including only two adults, was the highest of the year, there were eight Mediterranean Gulls and there were three Sandwich Terns offshore. Also noted was a Hobby which came in-off the sea and flew west by the Obs, and a Swift and three Swallows.

Butterflies noted were Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Small White and Speckled Wood.

30th

11 Greylag Geese flew west whilst there was a minor invasion of Reed Warblers, with three individuals in song.

29th

Cloudy, light rain until 8 am, freshening SW wind. Three Greylag Geese flew west, there was one Shelduck and three Mediterranean Gulls flew west. Some vis mig with 35 Swifts, 11 Swallows and seven House Martins west whilst a Reed Warbler singing unseen along the east bank was, belatedly, our first of the year.

Small Heath and Green-veined White butterflies were noted.

28th

Sunny, fresh SW a a wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Little Egret on the beach and the Marsh Pool, two Shelducks flew west and 25 Common Scoters flew east. Six Oystercatchers on the beach were the only waders, five adult Kittiwakes flew west and three Sandwich Terns flew east. Also noted were 23 Swifts west, a Goldfinch along the upper brook and a pair of Linnets with three fledged young in the scrub.

A Large Skipper butterfly at the Obs was new for the year and Small and Green-veined Whites, Holly blue and Small Heath were also seen.

27th

A Great White Egret that flew west at 5.45 am was an addition to the year list.

26th

Sunny, moderate SW wind. An adult Gannet flew west, there were two Shelducks in the remnant brook and a Little Egret on the Marsh Pool. There were 20 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and two Sandwich Terns flew west. Also noted were three unaccompanied Mallard ducklings in the brook, a Stock Dove dropped by the Marsh Pool, 23 Swifts and 11 Swallows flew west, the first juvenile Blue Tits and Great Tits were seen and a Jay was by the sewage works entrance.

A Small Tortoiseshell on the path by the bluethroat bush was our first of the year and there were also Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Green-veined and Small Whites butterflies.

24th

Cloudy after early morning rain. Light SW wind. One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, a single adult Gannet flew east and the pair of Shelducks were again at the mouth of the brook. There were 15 immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, two Sandwich Terns flew east and one flew west. Six Swallows were also noted.

23rd

Sunny, warmer with a light easterly breeze. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a pair of Shelducks at the mouth of the brook and a Little Egret and a female Lapwing on the Marsh Pool. One Swift, five Swallows and two House Martins flew west. A female/immature Chaffinch was the first seen here since March. Usually, one or two singing birds are present during the breeding season.

22nd

Moderate northerly wind. Three Gannets flew east, there were two Shelducks and four Turnstones on the beach and ten Common Terns offshore. A westerly movement of Swallows was noted.

21st

Mild, light SW wind. A second Osprey of the spring flew NW towards Sheppey at 8.14 am. Waders noted included two Ringed Plovers and two Sanderlings west along the shoreline, and four Turnstones. Two Sandwich Terns flew east and Common Terns were offshore. Also noted were Hobby and Yellow Wagtail west and a movement of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins.

20th

One House Martin flew over the Obs.

19th

Cloudy light NE wind. One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, the pair of Shelducks were on the beach and a single, small and unaccompanied, Mallard duckling was along the middle brook. 12 Oystercatchers included a party of seven heading east, and a pair of Avocets were again on the Marsh Pool. A flock of ten adult Kittiwakes flew east at 7.45 am, there were 15 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, only one adult, a Sandwich Tern flew east and two Common Terns were offshore. Also noted was a displaying Meadow Pipit and a Goldfinch singing half-heartedly from a tree in the scrub.

Small White, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood butterflies were also noted.

18th

Small Copper, Orange-tip, Common and Holly Blue butterflies were noted as well as the alabonia geoffrella moth.

17th

Cloudy, cool, light northerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, the pair of Shelducks and, late morning, a flock of 74 Turnstones arrived and commenced feeding between the groynes at the e astern end of the beach. Also noted was a Red Kite beyond the church and, presumed same, heading west over the Tankerton slopes, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, a Common Tern east, and seven Swallows. Snatches of song were heard from a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub. Not heard for some time but this species tends to go quiet when settling down to breed.

16th

A Cuckoo that flew west low over the area, pausing briefly on bushes along the coastal path, was our first of the year.

Also noted were our first Small Copper butterfly of the year and a Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly which landed by the remnant brook.

15th

Cloudy, cooler, moderate northerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, two Mediterranean Gulls and two Common Terns flew east and ten Great Black-backed Gulls, one adult, were on the beach. A pair of Avocets dropped briefly onto the Marsh Pool.

14th

Sunny, cooler, moderate NE wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Gannet flew east and a Barnacle Goose flew west and two Shelducks were on the shingle ridge. Four Mediterranean Gulls flew east over the Obs, a second calendar year Common Gull and two Common Terns were offshore. Also noted were Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel, seven Swallows west and 71 Carrion Crows on the beach.

13th

The first Small Heath butterfly of the year was noted.

12th

Sunny, warm, light easterly wind. There were six Great Crested Grebes offshore. Two Shelducks flew east, a pair was on the Marsh Pool, and two Gadwall and two Tufted Ducks flew west. No waders were reported. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew west, eight Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and two Common Terns offshore. Eight Jackdaws were flycatching over the estate.

Butterflies noted included our first Large White and Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Small White and Orange-tip.

10th

Sunny, warmer, light easterly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe and two Little Egrets. Waders noted were a Bar-tailed Godwit along the shoreline off the Obs, a Curlew on the beach, two Common Sandpipers on the Marsh Pool and at the mouth of the brook and two Turnstones. A second Whinchat of the spring, another male, was in the bushes along the coastal path, along with a female Stonechat (rare here at this time of the year) and a Wheatear on the shingle ridge (only the fourth of the spring). Also noted were two displaying Meadow Pipits.

8th

Cloudy, cool, moderate NE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, five Shelducks flew east and three circled over the area with a pair settling on the Marsh Pool. Waders noted were a flock of 12 Dunlin heading east and two Whimbrel with a Curlew also heading east. Also noted were a Hobby heading west, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls over the estate and six Swallows and two Yellow Wagtails west.

7th

Cloudy, cool, with a moderate NE wind. A Cattle Egret, new for the year, flew west at 5.55 am. Flocks of 12 and 30 Common Scoters flew east. A Hobby flew west low over the football pitch and sewage works at 10.40 am. Waders noted were one Oystercatcher east, seven Dunlin east close inshore and a Whimbrel. There were 14 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach including two adults.

6th

Two Little Terns offshore were new for the year.

5th

Cloudy, showers, cool, fresh NE wind. Unpleasant conditions. 13 Gannets and two Sandwich Terns flew east. Three Swifts and ten Swallows flew west.

4th

A Hobby, our first this year, was a surprise, as it flew east against the prevailing winds.

3rd

Sunny with a light NE wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore and six Little Egrets on the beach and the Marsh Pool. Waders noted were 13 Oystercatchers east and also 13 Turnstones. Two Mediterranean Gulls flew west and there were 21 Great Black-backed Gulls (only one adult) on the beach. Also noted was one Sand Martin and 11 Swallows west.

Orange-tip, Speckled wood and Peacock butterflies were noted.

2nd

A Shelduck was on the Marsh Pool and eight Common Scoters flew east. Waders included seven Oystercatchers, two Curlews west, and one east, and nine Turnstones. Some visible migration today with two Swifts, four Sand Martins, a trickle of Swallows and “numbers” of Yellow Wagtails, all west. Also a Red Kite was seen in flight over the scout hut.

1st

Sunny, warm and calm. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore and two Little Egrets on the beach. Waders included a lingering Snipe on the Marsh Pool, at least 13 Common Sandpipers on the beach, with one later on the Marsh Pool, and a Whimbrel. Other birds noted included two Red Kites low over the sea, a Swift and two displaying Meadow Pipits.

Green-veined White and Speckled Wood butterflies were noted.