Tuesday 22nd September

An overcast start saw a small fall of migrants including the first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn, at least 12 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap and single Goldcrest, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. Also present 100+ Linnet, 20 Goldfinch and, on the sea wall, two Grey Wagtail.

Spotted Flycatcher - Dean Hall

An Osprey was in Shutterton Creek on the rising tide with a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the Bight at high tide. Counts from the estuary included 136 Teal, 74 Ringed Plover, 44 Dunlin, 30 Knot, 28 Sanderling, 26 Sandwich Tern, 18 Greenshank, 12 Wigeon, eight Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, two Kingfisher and a Whimbrel. A Kingfisher was also watched fishing off the beach perching up on groynes.  

Other Wildlife: In the afternoon sunshine insect activity increased on ivy with several Ivy Bee Colletes hederae, a late worn Hairy-saddled Colletes C. fodiens and hoverfly Humming Syrphus S. ribesii. Across the reserve at least ten Clouded Yellow with a few moving through on Warren Point.

 Hairy-saddled Colletes C. fodiens - Alan Keatley

Ivy Bee Colletes hederae - Alan Keatley

Humming Syrphus S. ribesii - Alan Keatley

Clouded Yellow - Kevin Rylands

Along the beach and Warren Point dune specialists included a Strand-line Burrower Broscus cephalotes, a seaweed rove beetle Cafius xantholoma under driftwood and spider wasps; Leaden Spider Wasp Pompilus cinereus and Bristle-tailed Anophilus A. infuscatus, plus a Sand Bear Spider Arctosa perita.

Sand Bear Spider Arctosa perita - Dean Hall

 Bristle-tailed Anophilus A. infuscatus - Alan Keatley

Strand-line Burrower Broscus cephalotes - Alan Keatley

Cafius xantholoma - Alan Keatley

On Sycamore leaves several Harlequin Ladybird variants including a yellow emerging adult, the wings yet to harden and change colour to reveal the patterning. 

Harlequin Ladybird - Alan Keatley

Common Darter - Dean Hall