Saturday 29th July 2023

A young reed warbler singing falteringly to itself was a bit of a surprise in the rain this morning. This was followed by another sedge watbler in the compound, along with a few willow warblers. Still a lot of movement offshore, with waders still dominating as one might expect; grey plover, bar-tailed godwits, curlew, whimbrel, turnstone, oystercatcher, knot and sanderling. Small numbers of all, but passage is passage here! Yellow wagtails passing in singles, and small groups of hirundines passing, with sand martin dominating, if 17 south can be called 'dominant'.

Drinker is another moth species that has become more infrequent over the years.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Greenfinch 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 1.

Friday 28th July 2023

Overcast skies and a slightly weaker wind made for some interesting bird observations. A garden warbler and a sedge warbler in the obs compound were the first of the autumn, and a wheatear briefly out on the beach was also first of the autumn. Other notable birds were flyover grey and yellow wagtail and meadow pipit. 

The first emergence of common blue butterflies this year was very poor with the second emergence barely getting going here. 

Buff Footman is a far from annual record for us.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 1, Garden Warbler 1, Linnet 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, Willow Warbler 1.

 

Thursday 27th July 2023

Another blustery day was good for watching waders pass, but also saw yesterdays brief flurry of interesting passerines move on overnight. 10 species of wader were observed, with the largest numbers being of oystercatcher (28) and whimbrel (13). A sparrowhawk was terrorizing the large mixed flocks of finches and starlings out on the reserve. More young herring gulls fledge by the day, and family parties are noisily passing throughout the days. 

Second emergence of Chocolate-tip, which lives on the poplars.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1. 

Wednesday 26th July 2023

Common Darter used to be common here but not anymore with sightings much more infrequent.

After a couple of cooler nights a few more passerines are getting on the move including 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Wood Warbler plus some "Sylvia's" which may, or may not, be locally bred. Southbound 40 Swallow, 18 Black-headed Gull, 7 Sand Martin, 6 Curlew, 6 Oyk, 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover & a Marsh Harrier in off. 2 Black Red were in the aggregate yard, 2 Lapwing on the reserve early morning with a juvenile Skylark also present.

Only our fourth site record of Small Scallop.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Wood Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

 

Tuesday 25th July 2023

Pretty quiet day here, common sandpiper being the avian highlight. Also present was a great spotted woodpecker, with a teal heading south and northward and southward movement of various terns and gulls. Still as autumn progresses the chances of a fall or some interesting rarities increases day by day. 

This incredibly small moth is presumably Phyllocnistis xenia as there are mines noted on the poplars here each year.

 

Monday 24th July 2023

An adult Cuckoo was this mornings highlight on a dull old morning with occasional annoying fine drizzle. Southbound just 3 Med Gull, 2 Curlew, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Whimbrel, Common Tern, Kittiwake & Shelduck with northbound 3 Swift & 2 Shelduck.

The nationally scarce Sandhill Rustic of the race demuthi is restricted to the coastal area from north Kent to south Suffolk.

Sunday 23rd July 2023

 

Wet 'n windy night followed by a windy day so far. Little to write about with southbound just 24 Swift, 5 Oyk, 4 Black-headed Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Med Gull & Dunlin with northbound 2 Sandwich Tern & Gannet.

One of the worst July nights ever for 'mothing' due to the strong wing & rain with only a few larger species, like Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, finding their way into the traps.