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

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.