Saturday 5th August

A break in works and max counts over both high tides from the hide were 939 Oystercatcher 401 Curlew, 145+ Redshank, 48 Ringed Plover, 38 Whimbrel, 37 Dunlin, 23 Sanderling, 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, four juv Black-tailed Godwit, three Turnstone, two Greenshank, a Grey Plover and a Green Sandpiper calling in flight over the estuary was the first of the year.  Also 140 Sandwich Tern, 96 Common Tern arrived in groups off the sea throughout the day; ten Mediterranean Gull (4 adult, 2 fs, 4 adult).  A flock of five Roseate Tern close offshore in the evening presumably included four that were present in front of the hide on the ebbing morning tide; the best autumn count here since 2009.  The abundance of birds attracted a juv and an adult Peregrine. 

At sea, 26 Common Scoter, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull mostly flew south, a reasonable count here; two Manx Shearwater, single Arctic Skua, Great Crested Grebe and a Grey Heron flew south. 

In the bushes, 13 Blackcap, three Willow Warbler, three Sedge Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler. Overhead, 37 Swift and seven Swallow flew south 

Wildlife News: male Brimstone along the Back Path near the flood wall was exceptional for the reserve. Other selected butterfly sightings, eight Red Admiral, three Peacock and single Painted Lady and Large White  As usual, a Grey Seal was in the estuary. Two Jersey Tiger and a Golden-ringed Dragonfly around the bushes.