15/08/2026

Stick insect in the scrub around the Observatory

There are numerous Wasp Spiders around the observatory

It was a great surprise to flush a Red Kite off the beach at The Midrips, whetherit was already feeding on carrion or had arrived from the sea and was resting I don't know, they are definely not resident on the shingle at the moment

Red Kite over The Midrips

American Golden Plover on the shingle by the village at The Midrips appalling heat haze

Zoomed in image of the American Golden Plover 

A very scarce Marsh Mallow MothMarsh Mallow Moth  

A Pale Shoulder a very scarce immigrant moth

13/08/2026

There were several Pied Flycatchers around again today, this one was at at Southview courtesy of Dave and Sheila Bunney.

Spotted Redshank with a Common Redshank at Firth yesterday

Spotted Redshank and Common Terns at Firth yesterday

Greenshank at Firth yesterday

7 of 11 Common Redshank at Firth this afternoon

Also around Burrows today 3 Greenshank, 8+ Common Sandpipers

One of two Ruff at Firth this afternoon

 

2 Garganey at the ARC this afternoon

Also at the ARC 4 Common Sandpipers 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Wasp Spiders at the ARC this afternoon

This hybrid duck has been at the ARC for a couple of weeks at least but is very elusive, it looks to have Pintail in it and possibly Pochard, it does spend much time diving.

Hybrid Duck with Coot

11/08/2026

My early morning sea watch 06.30-07.30 showed very little improvement, 

2 Common Scoter E

2 Oystercatcher E

180 Sandwich Terns E

5 Common Terns E

7 Mediterranean Gulls E

5 Harbour Porpoises present

1 Grey seal present

A single Pied Flycatcher, 1 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat were seen at Galloways early morning per CT.

From Hanson late afternoon 3 Green Sandpipers and 2 Wood Sandpipers per JY.

One of at least 4 Pied Flycatchers around the Long Pits this afternoon 

A message from Owen saying he found 3 Pied Flycatchers in a short walk at the Long Pits, inspired me to venture out this afternoon into the easterly gale, once in the shelter of the bushes it was very warm, I found 4 Pied Flycatchers, also 3 very smart juvenile Lesser Whitethroats, a few Common Whitethroats along with 3 Willow Warblers and what looked like a family of Chiffchaffs.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

This one opposite the research station was a little shy

Wasp Spider by the track to Hanson. Many thanks to Richard for pointing it out.

Whinchat at a very windy Galloways late afternoon

 

10/08/2026

An early morning wander around the southern end of the trapping area was very disappointing, seeing just a few each of Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat and hearing a noisy Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a few Sand Martins and Swallows moved East overhead.

A cycle ride out to Scotney saw the pair of local Little Owls, many Yellow Wagtails, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Common Snipe, a Greenshank, 3 Dunlin and a Little Stint. A White Cheeked Pintail was at the Sussex end of the main lake

Little Owl

White Cheeked Pintail  at the Sussex end of Scotney main pit.

Yellow Wagtail using hay bales as a vantage point for fly catching

A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon in the company of John Young

There were a few Sandwich terns and Mediterranean Gulls off shore this afternoon, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Oysercatchers and a Turnstone flew east at the fishing boats.

 Drake Garganey 

From Hanson late this afternoon 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers and 2 Garganey.

08/08/2026

This fine chap greeted me at the Jurys Gap car park early this morning, the first of many seen on the ranges today

There are still a few recently fledged Wheatears at The Midrips

Some of the many Mediterranean Gulls that were scattered along the beach at The Midrips

As I started to make my way back to the car park, a message from Barry Wright about a male Montagu's Harrier seen by him, Gary, James and Ravi hunting the Green Wall at Galloways and heading roughly in my direction, which encouraged me to stay where I was a little longer, after about half an hour I was thinking I must have missed the bird, it appeared from behind a mound moving quickly and distantly West through the haze. I managed to obtain a few poor record images before it disappeared again. The bird did make a couple more appearances, once at Jurys Gap over the sewage works and then again heaing back towards Galloways.

The Wicks now dry

The Midrips drying out rapidly

Despite its dryness it still held 14 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, 18 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Curlew and Whimbrel flew over. 2 Hobbys were hunting the ranges.

There were 100s of Pained Ladies along the Green Bank at The Midrips

Juvenile Cuckoo on the beach in horrible haze, it then took flight from a Crow and flew directly at me.

Thanks John Young for editing the above image for me, taking out some of the haze

Turnstones over The Midrips

A late afternoon visit to the reserve saw nothing new from Hanson. On Burrowes the 3 Black Terns were still present, also a Wood Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank flew over.