Saturday 27th July

Another hot sunny day with rather too much on show from some less prudish visitors to the site however, the appearance of two immature Lapwing in Greenland Lake was a sight to behold, the first July record here since 2013. 

Lapwing - Alan Keatley

The early afternoon neap tide was just high enough, and recreational boat traffic across the estuary certainly chaotic enough, to push into the sanctuary of the site hundreds of Curlew, 413 Oystercatcher, 3-figure count of Redshank, 70+ Sandwich Tern, 49 Dunlin, 21 Canada Goose, 18+ Whimbrel, 18 Mediterranean Gull (2 juv, 10 fs, 0 ss, 6 adults); seven Ringed Plover, four Sanderling, four Mute Swan, three Bar-tailed Godwit, three Black-tailed Godwit, single Greenshank, Grey Plover and the resident Slavonian Grebe.   

Gulls too assembled in The Bight and among these a Polish-ringed Black-headed Gull back for its fourth year, a German-ringed Mediterranean Gull, also a Welsh-ringed Sandwich Tern extended its stay of about a fortnight, plus a new arrival, ringed in Inner Farne, back for its third autumn.  Quite a number of adult colour-ringed Oystercatcher seen today, having returned from breeding grounds, plus a wasp-ringed bird trapped here back in 1989.

A steady passage 50+ Swallow and four Raven passed overhead. Just the regular, standard bird species in the bushes and dunes.

Wildlife News: Four Emperor Dragonfly, the first Migrant Hawker of the year, and a Black-tailed Skimmer on Warren Point.  Second brood Brown Argus were on the wing with several Red Admiral and Painted Lady and lots of the regular butterflies throughout.

 Migrant Hawker - Alan Keatley

 Brown Argus - Alan Keatley

Waisted Beegrabber Physocephala rufipes - Alan Keatley