Tuesday 1st September

An Osprey over Shutterton Creek at high tide caused the usual consternation amongst the gulls, terns and waders with several flocks heading offshore, elsewhere in the estuary and some Oystercatcher heading towards Orcombe Point. 

Counts included 180 Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover, 80 Sandwich and 50 Common Tern, 24 Sanderling, 19 Knot, 14 Greenshank, 12 Whimbrel, 10 Mediterranean Gull, seven Shelduck, four Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, two Common Sandpiper and a Grey Plover.

Common Tern (juvenile) - both Jim Summers

Ringed Plover - Jim Summers

Elsewhere at least 15 Chiffchaff were on site with five Willow Warbler, four Whitethroat, two Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail, three Common Scoter were offshore and three Teal and a Kingfisher were at the Main Pond. 

Other Wildlife: Clouded Yellow remain a feature with at least 10 across site along with a dozen Painted Lady, Small White and a Comma. Numbers of Rush Veneer disturbed from the grasslands were supplemented with half a dozen Silver Y and the first second generation Yellow Belle.

Migrant Hawker were conspicuous around the scrub with a few Common Darter at the ponds. Also on the wing the first Ivy Bee Colletes hederae of the year,  a couple of Hornet Plumehorn and a Star-winged Ragwort Fly Trupanea stellata.

Star-winged Ragwort Fly Trupanea stellata - Alan Keatley

Turning the tables for flying insects were the spider hunting was Anoplius infuscatus and the ichneumon Tromatobia lineatoria, a species that lays eggs in spider egg cases. 

Anoplius infuscatus - Alan Keatley

Tromatobia lineatoria - Alan Keatley