Saturday 31st July

A Merlin heading south offshore early morning was the least expected sighting, the first record for the month and only four ever August records. Also out to sea seven Arctic, six Common and a Little Tern.

Counts from the estuary included 266 Curlew, 202 Redshank, 69 Dunlin, 56 Sandwich and two Common Tern, 43 Whimbrel, 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Greenshank, five Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey and a Little Ringed Plover, and at least one juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. 

juvenile Caspian x argentatus hybrid or Yellow-legged Gull - David Flack

Elsewhere 17 Sanderling were on the beach, seven Common Sandpiper were on the base of Langstone Rock, two Stock Dove were on Railway Saltmarsh; single Sedge Warbler, Teal and a Water Rail were at the Main Pond, five Willow Warbler were on site and a Wheatear was in the Bight.

Sanderling - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: Despite the overcast conditions at least 12 species of butterfly were on the wing including Painted Lady and the second brood of Brown Argus. The first Warren Patchwork Leafcutter Megachile centuncularis was nectaring on Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea, several Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes were on the flowering Cat's-ear and new species for the year included Jersey Tiger, Migrant Hawker, Common Frog, the digger wasps Crossocerus podagricus and wesmaeli, Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea and Chrysogaster solstitialis.

Crossocerus podagricus - Alan Keatley

Chrysogaster solstitialis - Alan Keatley

Friday 30th July

The first Balearic Shearwater of the year flew south early morning with four Manx Shearwater with 10 shearwater sp too distant to identify.  Also passing a dark phase Arctic Skua, an Arctic, 30 Sandwich and six Common Tern, 30 Kittiwake, 25 Gannet, 18 Common Scoter, 11 Swift, five Fulmar and a Mediterranean Gull.

Thursday 29th July

Two Roseate Tern were present on the morning tide with 68 Sandwich and a Common Tern, also in the estuary 66 Dunlin, four Sanderling, three Mediterranean Gull, two Ringed and two Grey Plover with a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on Finger Point. Elsewhere a Teal was on the Main Pond, with single  Wheatear and Willow Warbler further signs of autumn. 

An evening seawatch ahead of Storm Evert saw just 14 Gannet, 10 Kittiwake, eight Sandwich and two Common Tern, two Whimbrel and a Mediterranean Gull.

Wildlife News: The next brood of Peacock have emerged with several fresh individuals on the wing. The first Dasysyrphus albostriatus of the year was recorded.

Peacock - Alan Keatley

Dasysyrphus albostriatus - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 27th July

Counts from the estuary on the evening tide included an autumn record 71 Whimbrel, 28 Sanderling, 17 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 10 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Greenshank, six Bar-tailed Godwit, just six Sandwich Tern, four Dunlin and two Common Tern. Offshore 16 Common Scoter and eight Manx Shearwater.

Sunday 25th July

The first juvenile Yellow-legged Gull of the year was offshore with 40 Sandwich and nine Common Tern and 27 Mediterranean Gull feeding in the estuary or offshore. Also in the estuary 268 Curlew, 130 Dunlin, 72 Sanderling, 27 Whimbrel, 16 Ringed Plover, seven Greenshank, three Turnstone, two Bar-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and the first Snipe of autumn.

Further signs of passage overhead with 17 House and four Sand Martin, eight Swift and four Swallow.

Saturday 24th July

A new unringed Roseate Tern was the highlight with 27 Common but just 36 Sandwich Tern. The rapid decline of Sandwich Terns on site is matching by declining breeding success of the Straight Point Kittiwake colony, a lack of available food is the likely cause. The same lack of small fish has impacted on the Bass nursery offshore, all no doubt the result of the failed beach recharge scheme.

Roseate Tern - Dave Jewell

Common Tern - Dave Jewell

Also in the estuary 226 Curlew, 21 Ringed Plover, 19 Dunlin, 14 Turnstone, 13 Whimbrel, 11 Mediterranean Gull, three Common Sandpiper, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Greenshank, two Knot and a Little Ringed Plover. Elsewhere 33 Sanderling were on the beach, 72 Swift, 10 Swallow, three Sand Martin and, more unusually, 14 Raven were overhead.

Friday 23rd July

The early morning tide saw an increase in waders with counts including 304 Curlew, 77 Dunlin, 54 Sanderling, a high autumn count of 37 Whimbrel, two Grey and two Ringed Plover and single Black and Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary 44 Sandwich Tern, 10 Mediterranean and three Common Gull, including the first juvenile.

Out to sea 21 Mediterranean Gull, 12 Kittiwake, six Lesser Black-backed Gull were part of a large feeding flock of gulls.

Wednesday 21st July

A morning visit saw a flock of eleven Sand Martin fly through quickly, but a group of  35 Sanderling feeding on the beach were not in such a hurry. The tide was out, but in the estuary there was a gathering of at least nine Mediterranean Gull of various ages and up to 35 Sandwich Tern coming and going.

Wildlife News: The first Sycamore Piercer Pammene aurita for the Recording Area was found near the railway, moth 684 for the Warren. 

Sycamore Piercer - Alan Keatley

Other insects active in the high temperatures included the first Willow Mason-wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus of the year, a Wool Carder Bee continuing to guard the Lamb's-ear and evidence of migration with a steady steam of Small White and a few Red Admiral.

Willow Mason-wasp - Alan Keatley

Small White - Alan Keatley

Following last winter's erosion of much of the Desert and part of Warren Point it was good to see a display of Sea Holly recovering on the remaining beach.

Sea Holly - Alan Keatley

Sunday 18th July

The first juvenile Wheatear of the autumn was on Warren Point, with a juvenile Siskin and a Willow Warbler in the bushes further evidence in the change of seasons. The Nuthatch and Coal Tit were also still present with 15 Sand Martin, 14 Swallow and six Swift overhead.

Elsewhere nine Common Scoter were offshore and 32 Sandwich and five Common Tern were in the estuary with 16 Dunlin, seven Sanderling and the Little Ringed Plover.

Wildlife News: The first Beewolf of the year were on the wing with good numbers of Little Flower Bee and Hairy-saddled Colletes and the sand wasp Ammophila sabulosa. 

Beewolf

Little Flower Bee 

Also on the wing 13 species of butterfly including Ringlet, Common Blue and Red Admiral; and six dragonflies including Small Red-eyed Damselfly and Golden-ringed Dragonfly. 

Saturday 17th July

Counts from the estuary included a Little Ringed, four Grey and three Ringed Plover, 356 Curlew, 60 Redshank, 35 Sandwich and seven Common Tern, 29 Dunlin, 26 Whimbrel, eight Mediterranean Gull, four Knot, two Sanderling, a Greenshank and a Turnstone.

Sanderling - Garry Hayman

Elsewhere the second Nuthatch of the year was in the Entrance Bushes and the summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver was off Langstone Rock

Wildlife News: The first Wool Carder Bee Anthidium manicatum for the Recording Area were on the Lamb's-ear near the Go-karts, with Hairy-saddled Colletes Colletes fodiens, Coastal Leafcutter Megachile maritima and Little Flower Bee Anthophora bimaculata also active in the hot weather. 

Wool Carder Bee - Alan Keatley

The first Marbled White of the year was one of 15 butterfly species recorded including Small Skipper, Comma and Ringlet with seven dragonfly species including Small Red-eyed Damselfly on the Main Pond, a Black-tailed Skimmer and a Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Large numbers of Marsh Helleborine are in flower across the site and Meadow Vetchling was rediscovered after an absence of over 30 years. 

Marbled White - Alan Keatley

Small Red-eyed Damselfly - Alan Keatley

Thursday 15th July

An Arctic Tern flew into the estuary early morning with 35 Sandwich and three Common Tern, including the first two juveniles, and the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Wader counts included 298 Curlew, 210 Oystercatcher, nine Whimbrel, seven Dunlin, two Ringed Plover, two Black and a Bar-tailed Godwit. 

Elsewhere the summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was off the seawall and a Coal Tit was in the Entrance Bushes. 

Wildlife News: The first Common Darter of the year was on the wing along with a female Black-tailed Skimmer and a male Broad-bodied Chaser in Greenland Lake. 

Common Darter - Dave Jewell

Broad-bodied Chaser - Alan Keatley

Scarlet Tiger - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 13th July

Three Little Ringed Plover were in the Bight with 21 Dunlin, a Knot and a Grey Plover, also in the estuary 12 Sandwich and a Common Tern were roosting on Finger Point and six Mediterranean and 52 Black headed Gull, 215 Curlew and three Greenshank in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere a Tawny Owl was in the Entrance Bushes.

Stonechat - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: A female Black-tailed Skimmer was on Warren Point and a Golden-ringed Dragonfly was in Greenland Lake. 

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Monday 12th July

A Roseate Tern was in the estuary with three Common Tern, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a summer plumaged Knot. 

Sunday 11th July

Two Roseate Tern were in the estuary most of the day with 33 Sandwich and two Common Tern; also present 283 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 24 Dunlin, 17 Mediterranean Gull, five Greenshank, five Whimbrel, four Ringed Plover, including the first juvenile, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey Plover and a Sanderling.

Roseate Tern - Lee Collins

Roseate Tern - David Flack

Offshore a subadult Pomarine Skua, 30 Common Scoter, 20 Kittiwake, two Great-crested Grebe and two Great Northern Diver.

Elsewhere 30 Swift and a juvenile Peregrine were overhead and a Common Sandpiper was on the seawall.

Saturday 10th July

A Roseate Tern was fishing offshore early morning with a single Arctic, 36 Sandwich and six Common Tern, also offshore 18 Common Scoter and 12 Manx Shearwater.

Over the high tide most of the terns moved to the Bight with wader counts including 271 Curlew, 68 Redshank, 35 Dunlin, six Black and four Bar-tailed Godwit, four Whimbrel, four Grey, a Little Ringed and a Ringed Plover, two Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.

Little Ringed Plover - Lee Collins

Elsewhere 61 Swift were overhead and the first two Willow Warbler of the autumn. 

Friday 9th July

Counts from the estuary included 238 Oystercatcher, 232 Curlew, 32 Redshank, 22 Sandwich and a Common Tern, 18 Dunlin, eight Bar-tailed Godwit, six Mediterranean Gull (4 ad & two fs) and four Grey Plover.

Wildlife News: Insects recorded today included two new Minute Black Wasp Diodontus minutus, a Wall Brown and female Broad-bodied Chaser and along the Back Path, the first adult Great Green Bush-cricket.

Minute Black Wasp - Alan Keatley

Thursday 8th July

One Little Ringed Plover remained over the evening tide with two Black-tailed Godwit new arrivals with at least 22 Sandwich Tern present. Elsewhere a the location of a roosting Tawny Owl in the Entrance Bushes was betrayed by several angry Blackbird.

Wildlife News: The highlight was a Two-banded Wasp Hoverfly Chrysotoxum bicinctum the first recorded sighting since 1981, with a notable influx of migrant hoverflies, especially Marmalade and Long Hoverfly. 

Two-banded Wasp Hoverfly - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing the first Hairy-saddled Colletes Colletes fodiens and Waisted Bee-grabber Physocephala rufipes of the year, Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes, Large and Small Skipper, Large White, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.  

Waisted Bee-grabber - Alan Keatley

A Pyramidal Orchid on Warren Point was a welcome sight as none have appeared at the regular site this year. 

Pyramidal Orchid - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 7th July

The three Little Ringed Plover remained over the evening high tide with other counts including 40 Sandwich and two Common Tern, 14 Dunlin, six adult Mediterranean Gull, four Grey and a Ringed Plover, three Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper. Elsewhere the summer plumaged Great Northern Diver remains offshore.

Little Ringed Plover - Lee Collins

Tuesday 6th July

Three Little Ringed Plover were in the Bight with 76 Sandwich Tern, including the first juvenile and three colour-ringed birds, 147 Curlew, 10 Dunlin, 10 Mediterranean Gull, four Grey Plover, four Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore with 12 Common Scoter.

Monday 5th July

Counts from the evening high tide included 197 Curlew, 59 Sandwich Tern, 29 Redshank, 15 Mediterranean Gull (7 ad, four 2s & four 1s), 13 Whimbrel, six Dunlin, three Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit and two Turnstone.

Sunday 4th July

A rewarding early autumn day with three Roseate Tern briefly over the evening tide the highlight, an overdue first for the year. There were in the Bight with two Little and 39 Sandwich Tern, the latter included a Dutch ringed bird 5SN, and returning birds KJB and KDB.

Three Roseate and a Little Tern amongst Sandwich Tern - David Flack 

Also in the estuary two Little Ringed Plover, 18 Mediterranean Gull, 233 Curlew, 38 Redshank, six Dunlin, four Grey and a Ringed Plover, two Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper. 

Elsewhere a Treecreeper was in Dead Dolphin Wood, two broods of two Reed Warbler had fledged at the Main Pond and offshore 13 Gannet, 12 Kittiwake, four Common Scoter and single Arctic Skua, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver.

Roseate Tern - David Flack

Wildlife News: A Blue Jellyfish Cyanea lamarckii was in the estuary.

Saturday 3rd July

Counts from the high tide included 199 Curlew, 179 Oystercatcher, four Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit and two Whimbrel, with a Stock Dove in the Railway Saltmarsh.

Elsewhere the summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver was offshore with 79 Black-headed and two Mediterranean Gull (1st sum and an adult), 25 Sandwich Tern, 15 Common Scoter and 13 Gannet. In the bushes fledged Cirl Bunting and Blackcap with a fledged Rock Pipit along the seawall. 

Thursday 1st July

Counts from the estuary were limited to 146 Curlew, eight Sandwich Tern and three Dunlin. 

Wildlife News: In contrast to birdlife there was plenty of insect activity in the unmown areas with the first Ringlet and Gatekeeper of the year alongside Pantaloon Bee and Black & Yellow Longhorn. 

Pantaloon Bee - Alan Keatley

Ringlet - Alan Keatley

Black and Yellow Longhorn - Alan Keatley