Saturday 27th July 2019

A Wood Sandpiper coming in off & inland calling is only the tenth site record. Southbound 73 Black-headed Gull, 9 Common Gull, 6 Oyk, 4 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Tern & 2 Med Gull. 11 Lapwing came in off the sea, landed briefly & when shifted by dog walkers went south. 2 Little Tern may be approaching the last ones of the year as they depart early. Rain for most of the morning has limited coverage on site although the long staying juvenile Redstart is still on the seaward side of the observatory plus at least one Willow Warbler present.

Two more additions to the site list. Cynaeda dentalis is a rare species that lives on Viper's-bugloss which is a common plant here so it is one that we have been expecting to record eventually. Ypsolopha sequella is a common woodland species that has failed to wander here before. Traps very busy with, for example, 552 Large Yellow Underwing in the moth traps.

Friday 26th July 2019

The violent storms last night took out the anemometer at 2340 hrs so no idea what the overnight low temperature was with the radar tower also dead this morning. First Nightingale of the year was this departing youngster on its way to Africa. Also on site young Kestrel. On the move southbound 162 Black-headed Gull, 19 Common Gull, 15 Oyk, 12 Swift, 7 Wigeon, 4 Dunlin, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 2 Heron, Common Tern, Gadwal & Redshank.

Acrobasis tumidana was noted for the first time last year - two were in the traps this morning.

Ringing: 3 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Collared Dove, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, 1 Nightingale, 1 Robin.

Thursday 25th July 2019

Hummingbird Hawkmoth are partial to Viper's Bugloss.

Overnight low of 20.4 Celsius around dawn made for a sultry night and morning. Southbound 45 Black-headed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Swallow, Common Gull, Common Sand, Redshank, Whimbrel & Yellow Wagtail with northbound 5 Common Tern, 2 Gannet & Sandwich Tern. On site single Green Woodpecker & Willow Warbler.

Moth traps very busy. Waved Black is a Nationally Scarce species only previously noted in 1995 & 2002.

Ringing: 8 Goldfinch, 7 House Sparrow, 4 Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Whitethroat.

Wednesday 24th July 2019

Southbound 60 Black-headed Gull, 10 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel & Yellow Wag with northbound 3 Sandwich Tern. On site Green Woodpecker, Lapwing & the lingering juvenile Redstart.

Brown-veined Wainscot is a reed bed species that only rarely visits.

Ringing: 110 Starling, 2 Linnet, 1 Dunnock, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 23rd July 2019

Overnight low of 18.8 degrees followed by a hot sultry morning. 2 Green Woodpecker were the first of the autumn on a fairly typical date. Southbound 4 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Oyk, Curlew & Yellow Wag.

Moth traps busy. The Festoon is a nationally scarce species that only visits us on rare occasions.

Ringing: 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 1 Starling, 1 Whitethroat.

Monday 22nd July 2019

First 2 Willow Warbler of the autumn makes it feel like its finally happening with a supporting cast of a juvenile Cuckoo plus southbound 21 Black-headed Gull, 18 Sand Martin, 17 Swift, 15 Swallow, 5 Curlew, 4 Common Gull, 3 Common Scoter, Grey Heron, Whimbrel & Yellow Wag. 21 Cormorant in off mid-morning could be returning from the continent. Also on site another new Blackcap & at least one Tree Sparrow.

Vine Moth used to be very notable but they have become two a' penny of the years. Obviously not living on grape vines here.

Ringing: 2 House Sparrow, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit.

Sunday 21st July 2019

Southbound 6 Sand Martin, 4 Med Gull, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Swallow, 3 Oyk, 2 Common Tern, 2 Curlew & Yellow Wag with northbound 11 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern & Med Gull. On site the 2 Tree Sparrow still here, a couple more dispersing Blackcap, Song Thrush plus 2 Mipit on the reserve.

Ground Lackey is a nationally scarce species on local saltmarsh that visits us each year at this time.

Ringing: 4 Great Tit, 3 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.