Monday 24th August

The strong onshore wind saw a gathering of gulls in The Bight on the rising tide including 55 Great and 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 19 Mediterranean and two Yellow-legged Gull. 

Large numbers of terns and waders joined them over the high tide including juvenile Black Tern and Little Ringed Plover with minimum counts of 352 Dunlin, 349 Ringed Plover, 243 Common and 108 Sandwich Tern, 28 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Knot, 10 Sanderling, five Turnstone and a Grey Plover. 

Black & Common Tern - Kevin Rylands

Also in the estuary 260 Redshank, 206 Curlew, 12 Greenshank, 11 Whimbrel, three Teal, two White and a Yellow Wagtail. 

The wind also reduced bird activity in the bushes with a lone Willow Warbler the only noted migrant.

Other Wildlife: In sheltered areas, the hoverflies Striped-winged Dronefly Eristalis horticola and Hornet Plumehorn Volucella zonaria, with two Clouded Yellow, plus Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis and the ant-like flower beetle Anthicus antherinus.

Hornet Plumehorn Volucella zonaria - Alan Keatley

Striped-winged Dronefly Eristalis horticola - Alan Keatley

Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis - Alan Keatley

Resting on the pond dipping platform the male Ruddy Darter and a Common Darter and a brood of final instar Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea were found on the Golf Course. 

Ruddy Darter - Alan Keatley

Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea - Kevin Rylands