Distant Osprey

Walking to The Patch this morning a Grey Heron flew out to sea, once there in the company of DW and AJG  c170 Common Scoter flew east and c90 west,  a single Shelduck flew east also 9 Oystercatchers and 2 Kittiwakes. On the beach and over The Patch up to 3 Mediterranean Gulls, c 30 Common Terns including a first summer bird and 6 Sandwich Terns. 15 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins flew east. Mammals were represented by a Common Seal, a Grey Seal and 4+ Harbour Porpoises. A Black Redstart was singing inside the power station complex.

The south end of the ARC held a Little ringed Plover, Little Egret and 100+ Hirundines and Swifts. Arriving home a few minutes later a tweet from BP (AKA King Squacco) alerted me to an Osprey over the south end of the ARC. I found it among a swarm of Gulls with my binoculars but by the time I got the scope out of the car and set up I was unable to find the bird again. A very unsatisfactory from the garden tick.

 A late morning/early afternoon visit  to The Midrips with AJG found the summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper still present, also 4 Grey Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, a Turnstone, 14 Avocet, 20+ Ringed Plover, 40+ Redshank, several flottillas Liquorice Allsorts (Shelducklings) and 4+ Wheatears including 2 juveniles.

This afternoon by the track to The Pines my first Painted Lady of the year, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Marsh Harrier. The Swallows are still in residence in the screen hide so please be careful if you use the hide.
On Burrowes 15+ Common Terns with a single Sandwich Tern and 2 Marsh Harriers over the Open Pits. Many Swifts and Hirundines over the pits taking advantage of the masses of insects there.