Monday 22nd September

A fresh north wind encouraged an amazing constant movement of hirundines north east along Dune Ridge, beach and across the estuary. Counts in two hours between 9 and 11 saw 2550 Swallow, 680 House and 170 Sand Martin, all minimum numbers, with others no doubt missed earlier and offshore.

Also, on the move at least 40 Goldfinch, eight Siskin, a few Meadow and the year's first, and no doubt last, Tree Pipit. The first three Avocet of the autumn flew north in off the sea. 

The first Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the winter arrived with a single on the morning tide and five with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in The Bight early evening. Other wildfowl also increased with 100 Teal, 96 Wigeon and a Shoveler in Shutterton Creek. Also in the estuary just eight Sandwich Tern, six Mediterranean and the 1cy Little Gull.

Wader counts included 277 Curlew, 240+ Redshank, 22 Dunlin, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Greenshank, eight Ringed and a Grey Plover, five Knot, four Sanderling, four Turnstone, two Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere 12 Chiffchaff, four Wheatear and a Blackcap were on site. 

Year list addition: 
171. Tree Pipit

Other Wildlife: By midday a few insects were on the wing in the autumn equinox sunshine, mainly centred around flowering Ivy with Ivy Bee, Red Admiral and Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata. Two Hornet were favouring fallen apples. 

Red Admiral - Alan Keatley

Hornet - Alan Keatley

Two new flies for the year were also recorded, Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii near the station and the cranefly Achyrolimonia decemmaculata in the Education Area.

Achyrolimonia decemmaculata - Alan Keatley

Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii - Alan Keatley