The total of 87 species for the month was below the ten-year average of 93.9 species. The year total of 124 species was just below the ten-year average of 125.9. It was a quiet month with perhaps the best birds being two Spoonbills on the beach at dawn on 6th, a flyby Little Ringed Plover on 11th and the record-breaking 30 Common Sandpipers that came in with the tide on 30th. However, most summer visitors had made some sort of appearance by the end of the month, albeit in small numbers, with Swift just making it on 30th. The dominance of NE winds for the second half of the month, combined with clear skies, had much to do with the poor outcome.

A total of 124 species so far this year

131 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, moderate easterly wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, and three Shelducks, a pair and another drake, were on the shingle. A single Curlew was on the beach and then, later, a flock of 30 Common Sandpipers appeared on the shoreline on the incoming tide. One of the largest gatherings noted at this site. Our first Swift of the year flew east along the promenade at 7.05 am. Also of note, a Greenfinch was “wheezing” along the upper brook.

29th

Sunny, cool, fresh NE wind. Very little to report in uncomfortable conditions. A Great Crested Grebe flew east, two Shelducks were on the beach. There were two Swallows, the Cetti’s Warbler continues to sing and a Long-tailed Tit was in the churchyard.

27th

Sunny, light NE wind. There were ten Great Crested Grebes offshore, four Little Egrets on the beach and a pair of Shelducks on the sea and the Marsh Pool. The only waders were two Oystercatchers, a single Curlew and a Turnstone. Ten Mediterranean Gulls flew east, ten Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach and two Sandwich Terns were offshore. Also noted were two Sand Martins, ten Swallows west, a single Redpoll heard calling as it flew over the Obs, a Lesser Whitethroat in song in the Elm Wood and two Buzzards soaring over Studd Hill.

Butterflies noted were Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small White and Brimstone.

26th

Two Avocets flew east, and a Bar-tailed Godwit flew west along the shingle.

25th

Cloudy then sunny, calm. There were six Great Crested Grebes offshore and our first brood of Mallard ducklings, eight, were along Coot Strait. Waders noted were one Oystercatcher, two Curlews, a Whimbrel west, two Snipe in the Marsh pool and 23 Turnstones between the groynes. There were 16 Great Black-backed Gulls, only one adult, on the beach. A Reed Warbler, new for the year, was heard and showed well along the east bank. Also noted were 24 Swallows west and two singing Lesser Whitethroats, in the Elm Wood and in the scrub.

24th

More activity today. A Shelduck was on the Marsh Pool and two Gadwall flew east. A Marsh Harrier flew east, two Whimbrel flew east with a Curlew, and a group of four flew west. Some visible migration with a few Sand Martins and 30+ Swallows west, a Yellow Wagtail on the shingle ridge, a Wheatear, and a Siskin flew over calling.

23rd

Sunny, cool, light NE wind. One Gannet flew west and the Brent Goose remained on the beach. Waders noted included four Oystercatchers east, a Snipe on the Marsh Pool, a Curlew and a Greenshank. Also noted was a Garden Warbler singing in the scrub, our first of the year and one of the less common warblers here, and a Greenfinch trilling by the entrance to the sewage works.

22nd

Sunny, cool, light NE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, five Gannets flew east and the Brent Goose was on the beach. A Common Sandpiper in the brook was our first of the year and a Bar-tailed Godwit flew east. There were 20 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Two Lesser Whitethroats were in song, in the Elm Wood and in the bushes opposite the Obs.

A Comma and a Red Admiral brought our year list of butterflies to ten. Green-veined White was also seen.

20th

Sunny, cooling NE wind. There were eight Great Crested Grebes offshore, four Canada Geese flew over the area and the Brent Goose was on the beach. 11 Mediterranean Gulls flew east. Two Swallows flew west and a Lesser Whitethroat sand in the Elm Wood.

18th

Sunny, calm. There were 12 Great Crested Grebes offshore, seven Shelducks flew west and the lingering Brent Goose was on the beach. Waders included seven Oystercatchers and a Whimbrel west, two Curlews and a Redshank on the beach and 98 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Eight Mediterranean Gulls and two immature Common Gulls flew west, there were 14 immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, two Sandwich Terns offshore and three Common Terns flew west. A loud Green Woodpecker, chased by a Woodpigeon through the Obs trees, was our first of the year. Also noted were four Sand Martins, 12 Swallows and three House Martins west, a Wheatear, our first Lesser Whitethroat in song in the scrub, and a Willow Warbler in song along the upper scrub and later by the Obs.

A Wall butterfly, scarce at this site, was at the Obs and an Orange-tip, a Small and Green-veined White were also seen.

17th

One Fulmar flew west and the lingering Brent Goose was on the beach. A Whimbrel west was our first of the year, there were two Common Terns offshore and, finally, a Redpoll west over the Obs was also new for the year.

16th

Sunny periods, light SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Shelducks flew west and there were single Little Egret and Brent Goose on the beach. Waders noted were one Curlew, one Snipe in the Marsh Pool and 64 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Also noted, five Swallows flew west and 11 Goldfinches flew west and two male Wheatears appeared on the groynes at 10 am.

Butterflies noted were Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Peacock and Orange-tip.

15th

Cloudy, light SW wind. There were eight Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Gannet flew east and a single Brent Goose was on the beach. Waders included 35 Oystercatchers west, two Redshanks on the Marsh Pool and 50 Turnstones between the groynes. A Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea. There were 132 Herring Gulls on the beach and nine Sandwich Terns offshore. Also noted were five Swallows and 22 Goldfinches west whilst another Goldfinch was singing along the upper brook.

Our first Holly Blue was in the churchyard and Small and Green-veined Whites were also noted.

13th

There were nine Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Shelducks, one west and two offshore, and a Brent Goose on the beach. Waders included one Ringed Plover, 16 Sanderlings and a Dunlin on the beach, two Snipe and two Redshanks on the Marsh Pool and 59 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Flocks of Mediterranean Gulls, totalling 107, flew west and seven Sandwich Terns were offshore.

12th

A migrant Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler along the brook were both additions to the year list.

11th

Cloudy, cool with a freshening SE wind. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore, five Gannets flew east, a Shelduck flew west, and another appeared on the Marsh Pool. A Little Ringed Plover calling, flew west over the beach at 10.20 am. Other waders noted included six Sanderlings and a Dunlin on the beach, a Snipe on the Marsh Pool and 50 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Vis mig lacked variety but 24 Swallows and 31 Goldfinches flew west.

10th

A Sand Martin and 50+ Swallows flew west and a Yellow Wagtail was our first of the year.

9th

Sunny, very warm, calm. There were ten Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Canada Geese on the sea drifting towards Hampton, and a duck Red-breasted Merganser close inshore. There were two Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool. Waders included five Sanderlings and two Redshanks on the beach and five Snipe on the Marsh Pool. A Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea at 8.15 am. Also noted were two Sandwich Terns offshore, a Swallow and a Meadow Pipit west, and three Whitethroats in song.

All five species of butterfly noted so far were seen; Brimstone, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small White and Orange-tip.

8th

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. Three Great Crested Grebes offshore included a pair displaying. Two Gadwall flew west, two Common Scoters flew east and a duck Red-breasted Merganser was offshore. Waders included seven Sanderlings on the beach and three Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Two Sandwich Terns occupied their favourite “8 knot” buoy. An immature male Wheatear was on the beach and our first Whitethroat of the year was seen in the bushes opposite the Obs.

The first Orange-tip butterfly of the year was at the Obs.

7th

There were six Great Crested Grebes offshore. Waders included our first Green Sandpiper of the year, a single Ringed Plover and six Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Also noted, a single Swallow flew west.

6th

Sunny, warmer, calm. There were two Spoonbills on the beach at dawn but they soon flew off west. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore and four Brent Geese again on the beach. Waders included 21 Sanderlings and five Redshanks on the beach and four Snipe on the Marsh Pool. There were two adult Mediterranean Gulls on the beach. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard, a Blackcap was singing along the east bank and two Chiffchaffs were also in song.

The warmer weather brough out the butterflies for the first time this month. Peacock and Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Small White. Three adult foxes were present in the grass between the east bank and the brook.

4th

Sunny periods, light SW wind. Six Red-throated Divers flew west, there were five Great Crested Grebes offshore, four Brent Geese on the beach, a Shelduck flew west and a duck Red-breasted Merganser was offshore. Waders included 33 Oystercatchers, ten Sanderlings and six Redshanks on the beach, two Snipe on the Marsh Pool and 60 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls and an immature Common Gull flew west. The Cetti’s Warbler and three Chiffchaffs were present and three Goldfinches and two Siskins flew west.

3rd

There were six Brent Geese on the beach, three Snipe on the Marsh Pool and two Sandwich Terns flew west. 16 Sand Martins, two Swallows and a House Martin flew west. A Wheatear was in the scrub and a Raven flew over the scrub.

2nd

Cloudy, moderate northerly wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, 21 Brent Geese on the beach and two Shelducks flew west. Waders included 12 Sanderlings, a Snipe on the Marsh Pool and 55 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. Three Mediterranean Gulls, three Common Gulls and two Kittiwakes flew west. Also noted was one Meadow Pipit west, the Cetti’s Warbler and two Chiffchaffs.

1st

Light cloud, calm. Eight Red-throated Divers flew east, another three were offshore, ten Great Crested Grebes were offshore and a Red-necked Grebe, last seen here on March 18th, but presumably the same individual seen regularly off the Tankerton slopes, was also offshore. There were 11 Brent Geese on the beach. Waders included 27 Oystercatchers and nine Sanderlings on the beach. six Snipe and 12 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool and 56 Turnstones roosting between the groynes. No sign of the Purple Sandpiper last seen on March 30th. Seven Great Black-backed Gull, only one adult, were on the beach. Also noted were eight Sand Martins west low over the sea.