Friday 31st July

Both high tides were covered and final max counts were the Slavonian Grebe, 10 Mute Swan, 26 Canada Goose, one fs Grey Plover, a Little Ringed Plover, 28 Ringed Plover, 41 Whimbrel, 117 Curlew, a Turnstone, two sp Knot, 49 Sanderling, 69 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 119 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 3-figure count Sandwich Tern, 7 Common Tern, 335+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Gull.  A juv Kestrel and a Peregrine passed overhead in the evening. Nothing of note came from cursory looks at the bushes and dunes.

Thursday 30th July

Counts from the estuary included 430 Curlew, 173 Sandwich and 10 Common Tern, 19 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and three Whimbrel. Elsewhere passerine migration was also in evidence with a couple of Wheatear and Willow Warbler on site.

Wednesday 29th July

Counts from the estuary included 710 Oystercatcher, 376 Curlew, 222 Sandwich Tern, 123 Redshank, 48 Dunlin, 22 Sanderling, 11 Ringed Plover, four Greenshank, two Mediterranean Gull, two Common Tern, a Common Sandpiper and a Turnstone.

 Common Sandpiper - Simon Thurgood

Wildlife News: Good numbers of butterflies continue to enjoy the weather with Painted Lady added to the species seen yesterday.  Also around good numbers of Common Darter, Great Green Bush-cricket and the hoverfly Volucella zonaria.

 Common Blue - Simon Thurgood

 Common Darter - Simon Thurgood

Volucella zonaria - Simon Thurgood

Tuesday 28th July

Two firsts for the year made brief appearances in the Bight today; a Ruff and a second summer Little Gull. With them in front of the hide were 602 Oystercatcher, 34 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, a Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary, but largely on the Railway Saltmarsh, 490 Curlew, 240+ Sandwich Tern, 126 Redshank, 13 Common and a Roseate Tern, six Whimbrel, at least three Mediterranean Gull, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 63 Sanderling, including the Greenland ringed bird, were along was along the beach and at least 30 Swift were feeding over the Car park late afternoon.

 Reed Bunting - Simon Thurgood

 Ringed Plover - Simon Thurgood

 

Wildlife News: Good weather brought out at least 15 species of butterfly, although some individuals looked worse for wear following the recent rain. A Holly Blue was the most unusual species for the Warren with the other species being Small, Large and Green-veined White, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Peacock, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Large & Small Skipper, Comma and Speckled Wood.

Small Skipper on Purple Loosestrife - Simon Thurgood

Monday 27th July

A Roseate Tern was in front of the hide on the rising tide this afternoon with 113 Sandwich and three Common Tern. Waders included 202 Curlew, 104 Redshank, 85 Dunlin, 22 Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover, two Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Chrysis  impressa (a scarce Ruby-tailed Wasp) - Greg Bradbury

Sunday 26th July

Seawatching picked up once the rain cleared mid morning with 690 Manx Shearwater, 140 Gannet and 80+ Sandwich Tern heading south along with two distant skua sp, a Puffin, 10+ Common, two Arctic and the first Black Tern of the year. In the estuary a Wood Sandpiper was the highlight with other waders including 336 Curlew, 66 Redshank, 52 Dunlin, 16 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plover, eight Whimbrel, six Sanderling; another 61 Sanderling were on the beach, two Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank. Also from the hide another 193+ Sandwich, 13 Common, an Arctic and a Little Tern with the Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood.

 Little Tern - Lee Collins

Wood Sandpiper - Lee Collins

Saturday 25th July

The two redhead Goosander made a reappearance in the estuary over the high tide with an Avocet on Warren Point also presumably the bird from earlier in the month. Also in the estuary 620+ Oystercatcher, 223+ Sandwich and two Common Tern, 135 Dunlin, 57 Sanderling, 10 Ringed Plover, two Mediterranean Gull, a Knot and the Slavonian Grebe.

Sandwich Tern - Greg Bradbury

 

 Great Green Bush-cricket - Greg Bradbury

Friday 24th July

The wet weather lead to an increase in wader numbers in the estuary with counts including 217 Dunlin, 40 Turnstone, 19 Black and two Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Whimbrel, 16 Ringed Plover, 10 Common Sandpiper, seven Knot (all in summer plumage), three Greenshank and a Grey Plover. Also from the hide 213 Sandwich, four Common and a Little Tern, 54+ Great Black-backed and three Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere seawatching during the morning saw at least two Balearic Shearwater head south along with 120 Manx Shearwater with 30 Swift and 20 Swallow.

Greenshank - Lee Collins

Thursday 23rd July

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was in the Bight with other counts from the estuary including 142+ Sandwich Tern, 66 Redshank, c40 Dunlin, eight Whimbrel, six Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wednesday 22nd July

Offshore 230 Manx Shearwater flew south along with 30 Gannet, 20 Kittiwake, three Common Tern and an Arctic Skua. Elsewhere two Knot and a Common Sandpiper were in the estuary and the first two migrant Willow Warbler of the autumn were in the bushes.

Tuesday 21st July

Wader counts from the hide included 106 Dunlin, 46 Redshank, 15 Sanderling, seven Whimbrel, two Ringed Plover, a Knot and a Greenshank. Also in the estuary still large numbers if Sandwich Tern with over 50 juveniles, four Common Tern, three Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: Good numbers of butterflies were on the wing including Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue and Small Copper. Also flying several Common Darter with Great Green Bush Cricket calling around site.

Monday 20th July

The first Little Ringed Plover of the year was present briefly on the morning tide with perhaps the same bird returning in the evening. Numbers of other wader species increased with 104 Dunlin, 33 Sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, three Knot, three Greenshank, two Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary 153 Sandwich and four Common Tern, 13+ Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Balearic and 60 Manx Shearwater were feeding offshore early morning and a Great Skua flew south.

Herbert the resident Slavonian Grebe - Alan Keatley

Sunday 19th July

The two Goosander were again present in the Bight over the morning tide with counts from the estuary including 403 Curlew, 164 Sandwich Tern, 35 Dunlin, 19 Whimbrel, eight Sanderling, five Common Tern, four Common Sandpiper, three Black-tailed Godwit, two Knot, a Grey Plover and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a juvenile Yellow-legged and 14 Mediterranean Gull flew south with at least five other Mediterranean Gull in the estuary, the first Grey Wagtail of the autumn and 50+ Swift flew through and a Hobby hunted hirundines over Cockwood.

Mediterranean Gull (French ringed) - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A small surviving patch of Thyme in the Buffer Zone was buzzing with insects this afternoon including the leafcutter bee Megachile martima, it's kleptoparasite Coelioxys conoidea and another parasitic bee Epeolus variegatus.
 

Saturday 18th July

Two redhead Goosander in front of the hide were part of an increasing and unexpected July pattern of occurrences. More anticipated though is the summer build up of feeding terns with 185+ Sandwich and three Common Tern present alongside three Mediterranean and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 38 Dunlin, 10 Whimbrel, nine Sanderling, two Knot and a Turnstone. Elsewhere two Sand Martin flew through with 40 Common Scoter and 21 Manx Shearwater offshore.

Friday 17th July

Tern numbers continue to build with 144 Sandwich, five Common and the first returning Roseate Tern roosting close in front of the hide. These flocks included 31 juvenile Sandwich and a first summer Common Tern. Also in the estuary four Mediterranean and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 60 Redshank, 22 Dunlin, 10 Whimbrel, three Sanderling, two summer plumaged Knot and single Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit.

 Roseate Tern - Lee Collins

 Common Tern (first summer) - Lee Collins

Mediterranean Gull (juv) - Lee Collins

Thursday 16th July

The Slavonian Grebe remained off Cockwood and four Common Sandpiper were along the estuary wall. On the beach, The Bight and saltmarsh areas at high tide, 3 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, 392 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 247 Curlew, 2 s.p. Knot, a Sanderling, 30 Dunlin, 24 Redshank, 121 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 382 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull and three adult Mediterranean Gull, one with a Dutch or Belgian ring.  At sea, 145+ Common Scoter - this and the counts for Black-headed Gull and Sandwich Tern were max counts for the year so far; birds are on the move.

Wednesday 15th July

Counts from the estuary included 90 Sandwich Tern, 18 Dunlin, 10 Whimbrel, two Sanderling and a Grey Plover. Elsewhere 37 Common Scoter were offshore and four Mediterranean Gull were along the beach.

Whimbrel - Simon Thurgood

Monday 13th July

An evening visit to catch the ebbing tide produced the resident Slavonian Grebe, 2 Teal, 8 Little Egret, one Grey Heron, 334 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 290 Curlew, 19 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 198 Black-headed Gull (one with a Danish ring), a fs Mediterranean Gull, 2 adult Common Gull, 63 Sandwich Tern (of which 12 were juveniles with adults often arriving with sand-eels to feed them) and a Common Tern (ringed).  Not a single small wader was seen.  At sea, two pale phase Arctic Skua chased the foraging terns, but little else, with only a raft of c20 Common Scoter and 8 Gannet noted  3 Swift passed over. Juveniles and a singing adult male Stonechat frequented the hide area.

Sunday 12th July

The two Arctic Skua remain offshore although the highlight was a single Balearic Shearwater, the first of the year of this critically endangered seabird. Elsewhere 51+ Sandwich and two Common Tern moving between the sea and the estuary with four Whimbrel and single Dunlin, Turnstone and Grey Plover also in front of the hide and the Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood.

 Common Tern - Lee Collins

Sandwich Tern (Dutch ringed detailed to follow) - Lee Collins

Saturday 11th July

Two pale-phase Arctic Skua were offshore today harrying Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere three juvenile Chaffinch in the car park indicated local breeding for a species that is always scarce on the Warren over summer.

Friday 10th July

An Arctic Skua remains offshore with an adult Mediterranean Gull in with the Sandwich Terns in front if the hide and a Common Sandpiper was along the seawall.

Thursday 9th July

Continuing the unseasonal theme three Goosander were offshore before heading into the estuary. Also offshore a Yellow-legged Gull and an Arctic Skua.

Wednesday 8th July

A single Avocet in front of the hide was unexpected being the first ever July record for the recording area. Three Mediterranean Gull were also in the estuary with a 15 minute look offshore mid morning saw 53 Manx Shearwater heading south.

Avocet - Lee Collins

Tuesday 7th July

At least 37 Sandwich Tern were in front of the hide along with single Grey and Ringed Plover. Elsewhere nine Common Scoter were offshore and two Bullfinch were in the Entrance Bushes.

Monday 6th July

The first returning Greenshank was in the estuary with 54+ Sandwich and two Common Tern, at least eight Mediterranean Gull (3ad, ss, 3fs & juv), 29 Great Black-backed Gull and the resident Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: Marsh Helleborine are now in in good numbers in Greenland Lake.

both Debs Redden

Sunday 5th July

The first Yellow-legged Gull of the year, a fresh juvenile, was on Warren Point along with c200 Black-headed and at least four Mediterranean Gull. Counts from the estuary included 341 Curlew, 13 Redshank, four Whimbrel, three Dunlin and twos of Common Sandpiper, Bar and Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere 17 Manx Shearwater, two Great-crested Grebe and two Common Tern were offshore.

Wildlife News: Mothing overnight produced 75 species including two new for the recording area; Anarsia spartiella and Lozotaeniodes formosana. Other highlights included the first confirmed record of Ghost Moth and 2nd records of White Satin (2) & Lime Hawk-moth.

 Ghost Moth

 Lime Hawk-moth

 Lozotaeniodes formosana

White Satin Moth

 

All Images  Debs Redden

Saturday 4th July

An early morning passage of 426 Swift was a good Warren count, but nothing else was passing overhead. In the estuary wader counts included 15 Redshank, four Ringed Plover, three Whimbrel, two Knot and two Common Sandpiper. Also present two early returning Teal, 44+ Sandwich Tern, 160+ Black-headed Gull and at least four Mediterranean Gull.

 Juvenile Sandwich Tern - Dave Jewell

First-summer Mediterranean Gull - Dave Jewell

Friday 3rd July

At least 42 Sandwich Tern including 3 juveniles were in front the hide, on the evening tide with four Whimbrel, two Knot and single Grey and Ringed Plover also present. Along the beach 95 Black-headed Gull were feeding with three Mediterranean and two Common Gull.

Ringing News: One of the Common Gulls was a returning bird ringed in Holland and recorded here in July 2011 & 2013. Details are awaited on UK ringed Sandwich Tern and a Belgian Mediterranean Gull.

Common Gull - Lee Collins

Wednesday 1st July

A distant Arctic Skua was off the seawall early morning with four adult Mediterranean Gull. Over the afternoon tide the first juvenile Sandwich Tern was in front of the hide with 62 adults and three Common Tern, a second summer Mediterranean Gull, 200+ Oystercatcher, four Dunlin and single Whimbrel, Grey and Ringed Plover.