The total of 67 species for the month was below the ten-year average of 72.1 species. The total of 136 species so far this year was slightly below the average of 137.1 species. Weather conditions, with heat and no rain, made for difficult conditions. Additions to the year list were Black-tailed Godwit on 1st, Mistle Thrush on 7th and, more surprisingly, only our fourth Long-eared Owl for the site, on 24th. Wader passage was slow to build up but there were 35 Turnstones on 28th and Whimbrels were recorded in reasonable numbers. Our first returning Willow Warbler was on 24th and there were three on 28th.

136 species so far this year

140 species by this time last year

31st

A juvenile Kittiwake flew west.

30th

Sunny, calm. There were five Oystercatchers on the beach, a flock of nine Whimbrel flew west and there were 27 Turnstones roosting between the groynes, all appeared to be adults. 25 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach included 13 juveniles, four Sandwich Terns on the beach included two juveniles and 13 Common Terns flew west. Also noted were five Swallows west and two Willow Warblers.

29th

Sunny and very warm. There were eight Oystercatchers, 16 Turnstones and 29 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach. Two juvenile Sandwich Terns flew east and a Common Tern flew west. Also noted were a Grey Wagtail by the sluice and a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub.

In addition to the still numerous Gatekeepers and Small Whites, there were Small Heath, Painted Lady and Common Blue butterflies noted.

28th

There were three Willow Warblers along the east bank and two juvenile Reed Buntings in the scrub.

27th

Sunny, light westerly wind. An unseasonal Brent Goose was on the tidal ponds amongst a gathering of Great Black-backed Gulls. Waders noted were five Oystercatchers, a Curlew and a Turnstone on the beach. There were eight Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were two Stock Doves, 87 Swifts heading west, most in the early morning, a Yellow Wagtail west, a Grey Wagtail along the middle brook and a Lesser Whitethroat along the east bank.

26th

The biggest news today was of an over night fire that burned a significant area of grassland near the Marsh Pool. A Sedge Warbler along the brook was our second of the month.

25th

Sunny, light northerly wind. There were three Little Egrets and five Oystercatchers on the beach and a Curlew flew west. A Reed Bunting dropped into bushes by the coastal path. Only the second July record in the last 13 years, i.e. since the species stopped breeding on the site. Also one Swift flew west and a Lesser Whitethroat was along the east bank.

Butterflies included Holly and Common Blues and a Red Admiral.

24th

A Long-eared Owl appeared in flight over the area at 7.30 am and headed towards the caravan park. An extraordinary record. Only the fourth for the site, on an unexpected date. The previous three were two in off the sea and one in scrub, which at the time occupied much of the current sewage works. Also noted were three Common Sandpipers, our first returning Willow Warbler and a Cetti’s Warbler heard.

23rd

Cloudy, light northerly wind. Waders noted were eight Oystercatchers on the beach, four Whimbrel flew east and two Curlews flew east along the shoreline and a flock of 11 Turnstones circled off the groynes. A flock of c35 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach and football pitch early morning included five juveniles. Seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls included three juveniles and there were ten immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. A Grey Heron flew north over the sea and four Common Scoters flew east. Also noted were two Swifts and a Sand Martin and a Swallow and a Green Woodpecker was heard calling again.

22nd

Light cloud, calm. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore and three Little Egrets on the beach. There were five Oystercatchers on the beach, a flock of seven Turnstones flew west and another, in full breeding plumage, was on the groynes. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with two juveniles was on the sea, there were 37 juvenile Herring Gulls and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and two Sandwich Terns flew west. Also noted, five Swifts, a Sand Martin and seven Swallows flew west and a Lesser Whitethroat was in the scrub.

A Jersey Tiger moth was seen along the east bank.

20th

Sunny, light northerly wind. There were three Little Egrets and three Oystercatchers on the beach. Three Common Terns, including and adult feeding its fledged chick, were close inshore. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker by the Obs, a Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub and a Goldfinch by the sewage works entrance.

19th

A Common Sandpiper was our first returning bird and a Turnstone was also present. Also noted were a Hobby and a Green Woodpecker.

18th

Cloudy, cooler, light northerly wind. There were 49 Mediterranean Gulls on the football pitch early in the morning, with another three on the beach. Later, on the outgoing tide, there were 43 on the beach, including one juvenile. Also noted were an adult Common Gull and eight Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach and Sandwich Tern and a Common Tern offshore. In addition, a Stock Dove dropped onto the beach, there were two Swallows, a juvenile Yellow Wagtail was perched in a dead tree in the scrub and a Lesser Whitethroat was in the scrub.

16th

Sunny, light NE wind. Seven Common Scoters flew west and there were two Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover on the beach. Six juvenile Herring Gulls were on the beach, six Great Black-backed Gulls and two Sandwich Terns flew east. A Green Woodpecker was hear calling again and a Jay, along the east bank, was only the second to be recorded this year.

Butterflies included Speckled Wood and Holly Blue in the Elm Wood.

15th

Cloudy, fresh NE wind. A Gannet and 12 Common Scoters flew east. A single Oystercatcher was the only wader seen and there were 12 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were two Stock Doves, two Swifts flew east and there were two Swallows.

14th

Seven Common Scoters flew east. There was a Lapwing on the shingle and Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Curlew were also noted.

13th

Cloudy with a fresh NE wind. Difficult conditions with little over the sea and the small birds near invisible in the wind. Six Common Scoters flew east and waders were represented by singles of Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Curlew.

Butterflies included Painted Lady and Green-veined White and there was a Sliver Y moth on the playing field.

11th

Light cloud, moderate NE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, an immature Gannet, 15 Common Scoters and three Sandwich Terns flew east. The Green Woodpecker was again heard calling and a Swift flew east.

Butterflies included only a single Marbled White. Good numbers have been seen this year but it appears that there season is almost over.

9th

Sunny, very warm, SE breeze. Two immature Gannets flew east, there were three Little Egrets resting on the shingle by the mouth of the brook and four Oystercatchers on the beach. A Turnstone resting on the groynes was surely the precursor of many more to arrive later in the month. An adult Common Gull landed on the sea and a very vocal Green Woodpecker was calling from the churchyard and the nearby estate.

8th

Sunny, very warm, light NW wind. A Gannet, four Oystercatchers and a Sandwich Tern flew east and four Common Scoters flew west. There were 30 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were three Swifts west and a Sand Martin that flew north out to sea.

A male Brimstone by the Obs was unusual. Here, at least, they are much more frequent in the early spring.

7th

A single Turnstone flew west, there was a movement of 100+ Swifts early morning and a Mistle Thrush, that flew over the trees along the brook, was our first this year.

6th

Sunny, very warm, light SW wind. There were three Oystercatchers, 26 adult Mediterranean Gulls and 24 Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted were three Swifts and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard along the upper brook.

Three male Common Blue butterflies were knew for the year whilst Gatekeepers were numerous and Small Skipper and Marbled Whites were declining in numbers.

4th

Sunny, very warm, light SW wind. A flagged and ringed Curlew, asleep on the beach early morning, was the same hand-reared bird, released at Elmley in July 2024, and subsequently seen here on 24th October 2024. There were also four Oystercatchers and 13 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach. A Sedge Warbler was seen well along the east bank, a Cetti’s Warbler was heard briefly and a Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly along the east bank.

2nd

Cloudy, moderate SW wind. There were eight Oystercatchers on the beach and seven Curlews flew west. Also noted were eight Swifts, a Sand Martin and three Swallows west and a Reed Warbler in song along the east bank.

1st

Sunny periods, light NW wind. A Black-tailed Godwit which flew west at 7.10 am was our first of the year, there were four Oystercatchers on the beach and a Curlew flew west. Also noted were two juvenile Kestrels together, c40 Great Black-backed Gulls, four Swifts, and three Swallows west.

A good start to the month for butterflies with 11 species noted although none were new for the year.