Monday 11th July

The summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with 65 Sandwich Tern (11 juvs), 15 Dunlin and a couple of Mediterranean Gull also in the estuary.

Sunday 10th July

Much of the action was offshore with three Pomarine Skua south early morning, a Bonxie south late morning and 45 Manx Shearwater and 42 Gannet south in the evening with two Arctic Skua harrying terns and 33 Common Scoter on the sea. Counts from the estuary included 277 Curlew, 62 Sandwich Tern, 20 Dunlin, 15 Mediterranean Gull and four Whimbrel. Elsewhere the Teal remains on the Main Pond, now in eclipse plumage, and at least one Treecreeper was in the Entrance Bushes.

Saturday 9th July

Single Pomarine and Arctic Skua were offshore during the morning with 42 Common Scoter and seven Manx Shearwater. In the estuary counts included 342 Curlew, 55 Sandwich Tern, 12 Turnstone, seven Whimbrel, seven Dunlin, four Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Wheatear was an early migrant.

Friday 8th July

Curlew numbers have increased with 369 roosting in the Railway Saltmarsh along with 30 Redshank, 10 Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, a Common Sandpiper, four Mediterranean Gull and eight Dunlin. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua was offshore with 10 Sandwich and three Common Tern.

Thursday 7th July

An evening visit saw the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary along with 280 Curlew, 44 Turnstone, 20 Redshank, 12 Whimbrel, five Dunlin, two Ringed Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore 45 Common Scoter and six Great-crested Grebe were new arrivals with five Arctic Skua distantly harassing a lone Kittiwake.

Wednesday 6th July

Counts over the evening tide included the first two Common Sandpiper of the autumn with 301 Oystercatcher, 240 Curlew, 219 Black-headed Gull, 15 Redshank, eight Mediterranean Gull, five Dunlin, two Ringed Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Slavonian Grebe.

Tuesday 5th July

Waders continue to pass through with tern and gull numbers on the rise. Counts from the estuary included 277 Curlew, 139 Black-headed Gull, 39 Sandwich Tern, 19 Redshank, 18 Shelduck, three Dunlin and two Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the first couple of Sand Martin of the autumn flew through.

Monday 4th July

Counts over the evening high tide included 282 Curlew, 24 Sandwich Tern, 17 Dunlin, eight Redshank, four Mediterranean Gull, two Ringed and a Grey Plover.

Sunday 3rd July

A sub adult Pomarine Skua joined a dark phase Arctic Skua harrying the 57 Sandwich and single Common Tern offshore. Wader counts included 274 Curlew, 12 Dunlin, six Redshank, two Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Bar & Black-tailed Godwit and a Sanderling. Also in the estuary eight Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe and 11 Shelduck.

Saturday 2nd July

Both tides and over 11h:35m of effort today.  Most interest was at sea on the evening when four Arctic Skua chased a single Kittiwake high into the sky for prey, also a single Great Skua flew in, an immature Great Northern Diver loafed far out and a Little Tern inshore briefly landed on the beach.  Also out there, c.20 Kittiwake, 18 Gannet, 15 Manx Shearwater, ten Common Scoter and two Guillemot. 

Over the high tides, wader counts were 320 Oystercatcher, 234 Curlew, ten Whimbrel, eight Little Egret, eight Redshank, seven Black-tailed Godwit, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Sanderling and a Dunlin.  The resident Slavonian Grebe remained in the estuary near the railway wall.  On the beach and in the saltmarshes, 104 Black-headed Gull, 44 Sandwich Tern, 18 Great Black-back Gull, eight Little Egret, four Mediterranean Gull (two adult, a second-summer and a first-summer with a green ring) and three adult Common Gull.

The drake Teal was still on the Main Pond.  At least 21 Swift flew west, though five Swallow and four House Martin seemed to be locally foraging birds.  The bushes revealed a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, two Bullfinch and single-figures counts of the regular warblers.

Wildlife news: The first Southern Hawker of the year was around the Main Pond with Small Skipper and Gatekeeper also making their first appearance. Elsewhere a Golden-ringed Dragonfly was hunting around bushes below John's Watch.

 Blue-tailed Damselfly - Alan Keatley

Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa - Alan Keatley