19/08/2026

In the light rain early this morning all 3 Egrets could be seen at the ARC, also 2 Hobbys, 2 Bearded Tits and the usual array of Sandpipers and eclipse duck.

Great White Egret from Hanson at first light

Wood Sandpiper from the Screen

A distant young Water Rail running around on an exposed peninsular viewed from the Screen

2 of 5 Garganey from Hanson this morning

Early afternoon at Firth in light rain waders were dropping in, c30 each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 5 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstones, 4 Common Snipe, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers most departed as the sun came out. Along the bank a Garden Warbler, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Among the Common Terns a couple of Sandwich terns, 2 Black Terns and the White-winged Black Tern.

Little Ringed Plovers from Firth

There were several Common Snipe visible from Firth

Juvenile Black Tern (Left) Juvenile White-winged Black Tern (Right)

White-winged Black Tern from Firth this afternoon

                                       White-winged Black Tern from Firth this afternoon

                                    White-winged Black Tern from Firth this afternoon

                                       White-winged Black Tern from Firth this afternoon

A check from Hanson late afternoon found the Pintard

18/08/2026

An hour in the sea watch hide early this morning was a little disappointing, Sandwich and Common Terns, Gannets and Mediterranean Gulls all messing around feeding off shore, 315 Swallows and 107 Sand Martins flew SW past the bouy, a single Grey Seal and just 2 Harbour Porpoises.

While having breakfast in the garden I was joined by this beautiful Sparrowhawk, which is doing a great job keeping the feral Pigeons out of the garden.

Another visit to the old sand pit found just the 2 Ruff, 8 Common and 1 Green Sandpiper. Most the warblers from yesterday had cleared out. 118 Golden Plover were on the ranges but no AGP.

With a Dentist visit this afternoon my birding was curtailed.

The local Little Owl was out today

A Green Woodpecker in Lydd Fields quite scarce here

Shore Wainscot a very irregular visitor to my trap

A Beautifully marked Ni Moth was the mothing highlight, only my second this year, 3rd ever.

17/08/2026

One of at least 7 Ruff at the old sandpit

An early morning visit to The Midrips looking for the American Golden Plover drew a blank on that, but still many Yellow Wagtails still present and c150 Golden Plovers. At the old sand pit, 7 Ruff, 11 Dunlin, 10 Common Sandpipers, a Wood and Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and 2 Juvenile Marsh Harriers, Hobby and Peregrine were all noted, along with lots of common warblers in the bushes there.

Ruff at the old sandpit

                                                      Common Snipe at the old sandpit

Common Snipe at the old sandpit

Dunlin at the old sandpit

Ruff at the old sandpit

Sedge Warbler at the old sandpit

Common Whitethroat at the old sandpit

Juvenile Caspian Gull Dengemarsh

Juvenile Caspian Gull, Dengemarsh

Greenshank at Dengemarsh

Reported from the ARC today per JY, BW et al 3 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 4+ Common Sandpipers, 5 Garganey, juvenile Little Gull, the Pintard along with many eclipse wildfowl.

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern viewed from Firth

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern and a juvenile Black Tern viewed from Firth

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern a Little Stint and a Ringed Plover viewed from Firth early evening

Greenshank viewed from Firth early evening

Little Stint viewed from Firth early evening

Juvenile White-winged Black tern viewed from Makepiece

16/08/2026

Golden Plover at The Midrips early this morning

Despite intensive scanning of the Golden Plover flock I was unable to find the American Golden Plover, though only half the flock from yesterday was present this morning.

The Hobby giving me the side eye as it hunted Yellow Wagtails along the Green Wall

Large numbers of Yellow Wagtails were present all along the Green Wall

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Good numbers of Meadow Pipits were also present

At least a dozen Wheatears along the Green Wall

The main excitement on the reserve was the discovery of a juvenile White Winged Tern on Burrowes, a delightful bird that unfortunately refused to come near me, a juvenile Black Tern was also present. A few Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank were about the best of the waders.

A late afternoon visit to the ARC saw 2 Garganey, a juvenile Little Gull, Wood, Common and Green Sandpipers among the Gulls and wildfowl.

Juvenile White Winged Tern

Juvenile White Winged Tern

Juvenile White Winged Tern