The anticipated pigeon movement didn't disappoint with 45,500 Woodpigeon counted overhead this morning, a flock 17 Lapwing heading west within one group. The clear skies meant many other species passed too high to record but at least 20 Skylark came through nearer sea-level.
With overnight clear skies numbers of Chiffchaff were down with half a dozen recorded, along with 22 Long-tailed Tit, four Goldcrest and a Firecrest. A Dartford Warbler in scrub near the Visitor Centre presumably a lingering bird.
A Purple Sandpiper was a surprise amongst 810 Dunlin in The Bight, with a Curlew Sandpiper still present. Also in the estuary 252 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 90 Shelduck, 27 Greenshank, 27 Turnstone, 23 Knot, 21 Sanderling, 20 Grey and 19 Ringed Plover.
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| Purple Sandpiper & Dunlin - Lee Collins |
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| Curlew Sandpiper - Lee Collins |
Off site a Pallid Swift was reported again over Golden Sands late afternoon, with presumably the same bird along Shutterton Brook mid morning.
Other Wildlife: Two more flighty Crimson Speckled were recorded, the first behind Visitor Centre, then another along the Back Path. Another Vagrant Emperor was also reported.
Other insects included a few Aphodius prodromus and Aphodius foetidus on pony dung and a couple of Dune Scarab on the seaward side of the much reduced dune ridge. Several Gorse Shieldbug were active, interestingly all 'spring' generation than late summer generation individuals.
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| Gorse Shieldbug - Alan Keatley |
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| Dune Scarab - Alan Keatley |
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