Friday 9th August

05.15-08.00 from the sea watch hide with CP, JTM & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Teal: 1W
Common Scoter: 19W
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 404W
Cormorant: 8 around
Oystercatcher: 2W
Knot: 25W
Whimbrel: 17W
Great Skua: 3W
Arctic Skua: 1E
Kittiwake: 32W
Mediterranean Gull:1W
Sandwich Tern:  331W
Common Tern: 92W
Swift: 6 out
Sand Martin: 7 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1

4 of the Wood Sandpipers from Hanson Hide

 3 Visits to the ARC today saw at least 8 Wood Sandpipers probably 12 as 4 flew high west over the track to the screen hide, also of note 2 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, 5 Common Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Garganey, 2 Little Gulls among the usual wildfowl and waders present.

2 Greenshanks with a Wood Sandpiper

13.00-15.30 & 15.30-16.45 from the fishing boats with AJG & JTM also LH & PH who did the second period and sent me there numbers:
Common Scoter: 51W
Manx Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 46W
Cormorant: present n/c
Ringed Plover: 1W
Oystercatcher: 1E
Whimbrel: 3W
Great Skua:1W
Arctic Skua: 1 around
Kittiwake: 6W
Mediterranean Gull: 4W all juveniles
Little Tern: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 191W
Common Tern: 248W
Sand Martin: 67 out
Swift: 79 out

 Late afternoon a Pied Flycatcher turned up in a private garden on the estate, many thanks to Dave & Sheila Bunney for allowing me access.

Humming bird Hawkmoth in the same garden

 Wood Sandpiper at Firth this evening

 Some of the Wood Sandpipers, Redshanks and a Knot at Firth this evening that dropped in briefly during a shower, also many Swifts that appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

 2 of the 6 Wood Sandpipers that dropped into Firth during a shower

 2 Little Terns at Firth this evening

Pitsea ringed Black-headed Gull 2PRF at Firth this evening it was also present on 02/08/2019. There were also several colour ringed Great Black-backed Gulls present on the islands in a an influx of Gulls today.

Tufted Duck and her brood from Firth