31/08/2025

This Great White Egret was about the only notable bird at the ARC during my visit this morning

I made a quick visit to Jurys Gap late morning to see the Dotterel but all I saw was 11 Golden Plover, typically a little later after I'd gone it was found again.

A full list of todays sea watching numbers

Most of my day was spent sea watching which was quite productive, it was good to see a decent number of birds moving, which will hopefully get better next month.
 

This 3rd calendar year Gannet came into the Gull melee at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile/1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile/1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile/1w Yellow-legged Gull at the the fishing boats this afternoon

One of over 2,000 Sandwich Terns past The Point today

This gorgeous  Striped-Hawk Moth was a big surprise in my trap this morning after last nights strong wind and rain.

30/08/2025

Much time in the last few days has been spent staring out to sea,where at least 50 Balearic Shearwaters have been recorded, as well as 60+ Arctic Skuas, a couple of Bonxies, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 1,000+ Sandwich Terns. but only small numbers of Common Terns and Black Terns.

On the land the odd Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Common redstart, Whinchats and Wheatears, 4 Grasshopper Warblers along with Wiilow, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warblers and Blackcaps but again only in small numbers.

Today Owen found a Dotterel at The Midrips which although showed quite well was always distant on the shingle through the heat haze. My first 2 Spotted Redshanks of the year were found on Burrowes by JY early this aternoon, unfortunately an opticians appointment meant icould not spend much time admiring them.

Waders have in general been thin on the ground but a flock of 70 Redshanks at Firth yesterday was exceptional.

One of four Grasshopper Warblers trapped and ringed on the 28th

Balearic Shearwaters

Juvenile Kittiwake

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull moulting into 1st winter plumage

Wheatears by the sea watch hide

27/08/2025

 This mornings sea watch with Richard was again very poor, another sea watch mid afternoon by JY saw 3 Black Terns and and a loafing few Arctic Skuas, late afternoon early evening per Jacob more Black terns and at least 8 Balearic Shearwaters as the wind picked up.

Unfortunately most of my day was spent waiting for deliveries at home, though I did manage to get out late afternoon, where from Firth 5 Garganey dropped in, as did 5 Little Stints and a Black Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtails were present with Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, also a Red-crested Pochard was present from Dennis's. Very little was from the ARC, from Lade the 5 Black-necked Grenes were still present and another Black Tern.                                                                  Little Stints at Firth                                                        5  Garganey from Firth late afternoon

3 of 4 Ruff from Firth

Juvenile Black Tern with Juvenile Common Terns from Firth

Yellow Wagtails from Firth

A Star-wort Moth less than annual in my trap

Acrobasis Tumidana, my 5th this year

A male Four-Spotted Footman

A Rosy Wave

26/08/2025

Juvenile Hen Harrier over The Desert

Sea watching this morning and this afternoon was agin poor considering the date, no Shearwaters and just a handful of Arctic Skuas lingering off shore, very few Common Scoters and Waders.

The ARC only held 3 Ruff and 4 Common Sandpipers on note. Good numbers of Hirundines were moving through the peninsula along with a few Yellow Wagtails. Another Osprey flew through the peninsula then out to sea.

At Lade the Black Tern was still present along with 5 Black-necked Grebes,. Kerton Road roost held 500 Oystercatchers and 2 each of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit. A dental appointment put an end to my time out birding.

The juvenile Hen Harrier spiralling up over the beach before flying out to sea

 

Sandwich Tern from the fishing boats this afternoon

23/08/2025

An hour from the sea watch hide this morning produced of any note a single Great Skua West and 4 Arctic Skuas moving East,

A wander around The Desert was very disappointing with just a handful of Common and Lesser Whitethroats and not much else until Jacob caught the Gropper.

A lovely juvenile Grasshopper Warbler trapped in the TA this morning, many thanks to Jacob and the DBO ringing team for showing the bird

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler showing the lovely lemon underparts

From Hanson 4 Ruff, 5 Common Snipe, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 LRPs, 5 Dunlin, 2 Knot, Common and Green Sandpiper plus the usual Egrets and Wildfowl.

Burrowes was much the same with addition of a Little Stint per NB, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Caspian Gull.

 1of at least 2 Fledgeling Reed Warblers still being fed on the reserve

Juvenile Ruff and Reeve showing nicely from Firth

This stunning Striped Hawkmoth was very nice surprise in the trap this morning

My best year of Large Thorns with another 4 today

 

22/08/2025

                     White Stork on a lamp post at roundabout at Brenzett on the Appledore Road                                            Oystercatchers roosting at the Kerton Road Pit                        Just when I thought I'd re-found the Fan-tailed Warbler out pops a Sedge Warbler.

After viewing the Stork early morning I went to Galloways, hoping to see the Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola) again as the wind had finally abated. I and everone else present had no luck with the warbler, some compensation was had when a Dotterel flew over calling, an Osprey flew through before I Arrived. 

Another Osprey flew out to sea from the Point late morning. In the trapping area a Pied Flycatcher was flitting about per Jacob but The Point was fairly quiet.

At the ARC a Wood Sandpiper, 6 Ruff, Common and Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover the usual Egrets and Wildfowl.

5 Black-necked Grebes at Lade South Pit this morning per PT, a Black Tern there this afternoon per KE.

                       Acrobasis Tumidana  The highlight in an otherwise poor catch last night