Saturday 28th July 2012

18 new birds ringed today, 10 Linnet, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Blackbird. On the move elsewhere 17 Common Tern, 9 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Swift, 16 Little Tern, a juvenile Marsh Harrier and  Gannet. A good selection in the moth traps including July Highflyer, Dark Spinach, Fanfoot and Dotted Fanfoot, all good records for the site.

Friday 27th July 2012

Quiet bird wise today with a Great-spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat being the only new birds on site. Passing over were 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Dunlin, 7 Common Scoter, a Turnstone, a Curlew and A Whimbrel. Hawkmoths were out in force in the traps with 3 Poplar, a Privet,  a Pine and a Garden Tiger.

Thursday 26th July 2012

A brief respite from the sun this morning with some welcome cloud cover early on. Warblers were evidently on the move with juveniles of Whitethroat, Willow Warbler (2), Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff all ringed. A 1st Summer Caspian Gull was off the point at 06:10 along with 26 Common terns and 4 each of Sandwich and Little Tern. Other noteworthy movements included a Hobby, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Little Egret heading North. In the moth traps Rosy Wave and Reed Dagger are notable records for the site.

Wednesday 25th July 2012

Stinking hot sunny morning. A female Peregrine was whizzing around the reserve early on. A handful of hirundines, a Yellow Wag & a Redshank went south amongst a paltry selection of birds on the move. An adult Yellow-legged Gull put in an appearance & a Turnstone was along the riverbank. Butterflies & dragonflies are worth a look at the moment with several female Emperors ovipositing in the Butts pond. Finally a Porpoise was in the river out the back doing what Porpoise's do.

Tuesday 24th July 2012

Another scorcher today with fewer birds ringed due to very visible nets! A juvenile Whitethroat was the highlight of a dozen ringed. One of the Black Redstarts remained on the fort and a very early Tree Pipit passed through. A great Spotted Woodpecker also made a brief visit. Odonata were represented by Emperor Dragonfly, Common Darter and Blue-tailed Damselfly at the butts pond.

Monday 23rd July 2012

Glorious clear sunny morning. On the move 24 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wags & a Redshank south with a Grey Heron flying out to sea. c.30 Swifts were loitering around the site for the first few hours of the day. 2 Black Reds are still around the Fort, at least 1 Ringlet is still at the north west end of the Butts & a Hummingbird Hawk-moth put in a brief appearance on some Vipers Bugloss. Hare'sfoot inkcap might well be an addition to the site fungi list (that doesn't exist - a fungi list that is !).

Sunday 22nd July 2012

Not much on the visible movement front this morning with only 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Sandwich Tern and 4 Curlew offshore. Juvenile birds were abound with 22 ringed in total, including Nightingale and Pied Wagtail. The usual suspects were all out in the butterfly department along with another Hummingbird Hawkmoth and a Buff-tip in the moth traps.