Saturday 17th July 2021

Swift returning towards town with a bulging crop full of insects after feeding over the point

 A fine day from the start, wall-to-wall sunshine becoming very warm, albeit with a cooling onshore breeze later on; offshore this morning were 17 Sandwich Terns, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, a Common Tern, a Common Gull and a tight flock of 9 Little Egrets which seemed to come in off and head up the river.   On the land a few random birds comprised a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Grey Wagtail south, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail.

There were plenty of Dragonflies in the fine conditions whizzing around with Brown Hawker new for this Odonata-filled year.

Ringing: Wren 2, Linnet 2, Blackbird 1

Catoptria pinella is one of the better looking Grass moths

Friday 16th July 2021

 

The one surviving Ringed Plover chick can just about fly now

Overcast first thing and even a bit chilly with the light northerly breeze but the cloud broke up by 9am producing a warm, sunny day although the wind had switched into the SE cooling things down as it came in from the sea.   Most of the day's limited bird action was over the sea which included 38 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Common Terns (including the first juveniles), 4 Knot, 11 Little Terns and 19 Sandwich Terns (also including the first juveniles).

The only other bits of note comprised 3 Common Sandpipers on the jetty and 7 Lapwings on the common - both good counts for here!

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Dunnock 2

The first Brown-line Bright Eye of the summer

Thursday 15th July 2021

Redshank

 Sunny first thing but the brisk northerly breeze brought complete cloud cover by lunchtime; there were 8 Sandwich Terns and 7 Mediterranean Gulls offshore first thing, a Grey Wagtail was trapped in the Heligoland trap, single Whimbrel and Redshank were present and a Little Egret flew south.

The day was more notable though for the fine array of Odonata in the area which comprised 2 Emerald Damselfly on the Butts Pond (only previously noted in 2008), quite a few Azure and Blue-tailed Damselfly scattered through the bushes, a couple each of Ruddy and Common Darter, at least 6 Emperors, 5+ Southern Hawkers, two Black-tailed Skimmers, two Broad-bodied Chasers and two Four-spot Chasers.

Butterflies also featured heavily through the day, almost highlighted by probable Large Tortoiseshell seen briefly in the compound but it unfortunately couldn't be confirmed; the day list comprised Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Small White, Large White, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Small Heath.

Ringing: Linnet 2, Dunnock 2, House Sparrow 1, Grey Wagtail 1

Emerald Damselfly

Star-wort is a nationally scarce species on saltmarsh and is noted here only occasionally

Wednesday 14th July 2021

This juv Peregrine originating from we know not where has paid several visits recently.

On the move 115 Swift north. Offshore very quiet but included southbound 5 Dunlin, Oyk & Sandwich Tern with northbound 3 Common Scoter & Oyk. 

Large Skipper on the Butts following the species absence for a couple of years. Presumably a very small colony may still persist.

Citron Plume first noted in 2017 and has now colonised.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 13th July 2021

Common Myna

 Overcast first thing with a light northerly breeze but soon enough it was a fine, warm day; there was some evidence of early adult dispersal away from breeding grounds with single Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler and Robin finding their way into the nets - slightly unusually starting to wander just as they are starting primary moult (not the Reed Warbler though as he will wait until he gets to Africa), you would think they would keep their heads down whilst moulting.

It was quieter offshore as birds just comprised 11 Common Terns, a Gannet, 6 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Sandwich Terns whilst a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Lapwing were also dispersing into the area.

The day's dubious highlight though was a Common Myna which flew south, landed on the mine station for a while before heading off high north again - classic passage migrant behaviour! (unfortunately spoiled an hour later when it reappeared...).   One of the world's most invasive species having conquered most of Australia and South Africa amongst others from its Asian homeland.

Ringing: Linnet 1, Willow Warbler 1, Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Reed Warbler 1, Wren 1, Robin 1

True Lover's Knot lives on Heather and consequently is very scarce with us, only noted in seven previous years

Monday 12th July 2021

Sanderling

Super flat calm first thing but that meant that the light drizzle had nothing to push it away so it lingered through a large part of the morning greatly limiting what was seen and done.   Birds offshore comprised 35 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Gannets, 4 Sandwich Terns and 2 Teal whilst elsewhere were 3 Sanderling, a Lapwing, a Sparrowhawk which caught a Song Thrush and a Peregrine which caught a Linnet.

Ringing: Blackbird 1

Small Ranunculus is a Red Data Book species, living here on Prickly Lettuce

Sunday 11th July 2021

Essex Skipper - all the skipper's have been few & far between so far this summer.

Another 347 Black-headed Gull south this morning as they abandon their breeding grounds. Also heading south2 Curlew, Common Gull, Common Scoter & Oyk with northbound 3 Swallow, 2 Common Tern & 2 Oyk. Grounded migrants non-existent.

Yet another Norfolk Hawker in this bumper year for them with more this summer than the previous grand total of records.

The Lackey - sightings have picked up the last couple of summers from a very low peak.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 2 Starling, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Robin.