Little change from yesterday. A three hour seawatch  from 0830 (HT 0845) produced northerly passage of 100 Sandwich Terns, 14 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 unidentified distant skuas, one Red-throated Diver, 15 Gannets and 12 Cormorants. To the south were 25 Sandwich Terns, 7 Common Terns, 12 Gannets and 28 Common Scoters, while a Kestrel arrived in off the sea. Apart from 58 Whimbrels, waders on the mudflats were not in good numbers. A Peregrine patrolled the shore and 300 Swallows flew north along the dunes with 6 Sand Martins and 3 Yellow Wagtails. A Marsh Harrier and 3 Kestrels on the dunes and 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank on the flashes.

 A morning seawatch produced 169 Sandwich Terns, 23 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, Pomarine Skua, 2,200 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Scoters, 10 Cormorants, 13 Gannets, 26 Dunlin, 14 Sanderlings, 10 Oystercatchers, 16 Curlews and 42 Whimbrels.   On the landward side were 6 Kestrels, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 4 Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, 33 Golden Plovers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and a Willow Warbler.

9th

aN evening visit to Quad 3, but still only modest numbers of terns in two hours on the high tide.   156 Common Terns, one Arctic Tern, 31 Sandwich Terns, one Arctic Skua, 5 Shelducks, 12 Common Scoters, 8 Gannets, 4 Cormorants, 1,300 Black-headed Gulls, one Mediterranean Gull, 4 Ruffs, 59 Curlews, 27 Whimbrels, 250 Oystercatchers, 70 Sanderlings, 15 Dunlin, one Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstones, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Grey Herons and 4 Kestrels.

A Hobby was noted before it headed towards Quad 3.   A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was also recorded.

Between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall today were 280 Swallows, 6 House Martins and 11 Swifts NW, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Whimbrel, 10 Redshanks, 16 Golden Plovers, 34 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Tufted Ducks, Little Egret and Mediterranean Gull.

A seawatch in the fresh SW wind was quiet, hence 20 Sandwich Terns, 27 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, 5 Little Terns, Fulmar, 5 Gannets, 6 Common Scoters, 3 Cormorants, 2 skuas sp., 31 Sanderlings, 8 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones, 22 Whimbrels, 3 Curlews, 10 Oystercatchers and a Knot.  Also noted on the landward side were 2 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover (heard), Redshank, 400 Swallows, 13 Sand Martins, 5 Common Swifts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Herons, Common Buzzard and 6 Kestrels.

 

31^st

Stonebridge to Pye's Hall today.   510 Oystercatchers, 125 Whimbrels, 4 Curlews, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 32 Dunlin, 30 Knot, 26 Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 10 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, one Little Egret, one Grey Heron, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns, Willow Warbler, Kestrel and Marsh Harrier.

 

28^th

    A 3rd cy Pomarine Skua flew north close inshore.  An Arctic Tern also headed north.   South were 37 Sandwich Terns, 12 Common Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, one Little Gull, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Gannets, 3 Cormorants and 15 Common Scoters.   Arriving from the sea and continuing SW inland were 50 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 84 Common Swifts and 2 Black Terns.   The last fed over the flashes for a few minutes before leaving overland.

 

Waders included 660 Dunlin, 220 Sanderlings, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 95 Curlews, 87 Whimbrels, (the highest daily count since 1990), 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 32 Knot, 6 Redshanks and 14 Grey Plovers.   On the dunes were 2 Teal and singles of Kestrel, Barn Owl, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo and Grey Heron.

 

27th

A Black Tern and 2 Arctic Skuas north during a two hour seawatch around high tide, while to the south were 70 Sandwich Terns, 25 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Gannets, 14 Cormorants, 6 Guillemots, 4 Common Scoters and 10 Shelducks.   Waders were 132 Sanderlings, 79 Dunlin, Turnstone, 19 Curlews, 12 Whimbrels, 32 Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Knot and a Ruff.   The only other birds of note were 200 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins, 10 House Martins, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels and a juvenile Cuckoo.

 

26^th

   It was certainly hot at Quad 3 this morning.   Best birds were 11 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Sand Martins, a juvenile Cuckoo, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 3 Little Egrets, 80 Common Scoters, 17 Sandwich Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Cormorants, 35 Curlews, 8 Redshanks, 4 Golden Plovers and 10 Dunlin.