June 2007

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Saturday 30th:

The three adult Roseate Tern were again around the reserve with a single Arctic Tern.

Friday 29th:

The three adult Roseate Tern remain on site roosting on the Railway Saltmarsh.

Thursday 28th:

A single Roseate Tern was again offshore with at least 30 Common Tern.

Wednesday 27th:

Terns remain the order of the day with three Roseate Tern remaining around the estuary mouth and saltmarsh along with 150 Sandwich, 50 Common and a Little Tern. 12 Common Scoter were also offshore.

Tuesday 26th:

Two Roseate Tern were still present this morning. No other news was received.

Monday 25th:

At least one Roseate Tern was offshore this morning with 10 Common Tern, an Arctic Skua and four Common Scoter.

Sunday 24th:

Three Roseate Tern remained around the reserve today, along with 130+ Sandwich, 10 Common and a Little Tern. Offshore there were at least 13 Storm Petrel heading south in the morning with three Common Scoter, two Arctic Skua and a distant diver sp on the sea. Waders in the estuary included four Dunlin, three Turnstone and two early returning Black-tailed Godwit.

Saturday 23rd:

Seawatching from the seawall during the morning produced a minimum count of 36 Storm Petrel with many lingering. Most were very distant off towards Orcombe Point, but several did come in closer during the morning. Also offshore at least three dark phase Arctic Skua, two Roseate and 12 Common Tern and 24 Manx Shearwater going south. Later two Roseate Tern were in the Bight, metal ringed on both legs, a third bird was in the Railway Saltmarsh. Also in the estuary c190 Curlew, 20 Redshank and two Dunlin. Elsewhere on site a Common Sandpiper was on Warren Point, as were three Cuckoo - sat together on three fenceposts and a brood of six very young Shelduck were noted.

Roseate and Sandwich Tern 23/6/07 © Lee Collins Roseate Tern 23/6/07 © Lee Collins

Friday 22nd:

Good seawatching conditions continued with at least three Storm Petrel offshore along with an Arctic Skua. In the estuary two Roseate Tern were roosting with other terns on the Railway Saltmarsh.

Thursday 21st:

A short seawatch between 10 -11am produced two Balearic Shearwater and two Storm Petrel south along with 50+ Manx Shearwater, 50+ Gannet, 20 Sandwich Tern and an Arctic Skua.

Wednesday 20th:

No news was received.

Tuesday 19th:

The only news received for today was of three Roseate Tern, in the Bight on the receding tide.

Monday 18th:

At least three Roseate Tern remained onsite with 35 Common, and one Little Tern. Also on site, an adult and one second summer Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua and 12 Manx Shearwater offshore.

Sunday 17th:

Four Roseate Tern were again on site today, both offshore and in the estuary with at least eight Common Tern. Also offshore a single Storm Petrel, 16 Manx Shearwater, a first summer Mediterranean Gull with 450 Black-headed Gull and a probable Black-throated Diver. In the estuary there were 12 Dunlin, seven Whimbrel, two Knot and a Grey Plover with 33 Sanderling on the beach.

Saturday 16th:

At least three Roseate Tern remained offshore with 130+ Sandwich and 10+ Common Tern. Also offshore two Arctic Skua with 1100 Herring Gull on the sandbars at low tide. A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was in the estuary with a single Turnstone and 12 Dunlin. 23 Sanderling remain on the beach.

Friday 15th:

Good feeding conditions offshore combined with the poor weather brought in four Roseate Tern, along with 10 Common and two Little Tern. With the terns there where 154 Black-headed Gull, c60 Kittiwake and two Arctic Skua. Nine Manx Shearwater flew west during the day. Over the evening high tide there were seven Whimbrel roosting on Finger Point with 108 Curlew. 25 Sanderling, 14 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover were on the beach.

Thursday 14th:

Good numbers of birds again feeding offshore with 120+ Sandwich Tern, 100 Kittiwake, 14 Common and an Arctic Tern. Waders on the beach at high tide included c30 Sanderling, 17 Dunlin and 15 Ringed Plover.

Wednesday 13th:

The overcast conditions, showers and cool breeze gave the day an autumnal feel and return passage has already started with 85 Curlew in the Railway Saltmarsh and 50+ Black-headed Gull around the Bight. Waders present over the evening high tide included 19 Ringed Plover, 19 Dunlin, three Sanderling, a Grey Plover and a Knot. Offshore there were 70+ Sandwich Tern were feeding with 100 Kittiwake and eight Common Tern. Elsewhere 80+ Starling were feeding on Warren Point and several family groups of Linnet were in Greenland Lake.

Tuesday 12th:

The only news for today was of two Redshank in Shutterton Creek, an early autumn record, perhaps linked to an almost complete failure of breeding birds at the north of the estuary.

Monday 11th:

No news for today.

Sunday 10th:

An unexpected highlight was a Whooper Swan in Shutterton Creek, regulars saw three swans there during the day but with up to four Mute Swan around didn't actually check them! This is only the eighth site record and not surprisingly the first in June. The only other news came from the high tide where there were 15 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling and 13 Ringed Plover.

Whooper Swan 10/06/07 © Dave Smallshire

Saturday 9th:

Typically quiet June birding continues with sightings limited to six Sandwich Tern offshore and around 45 waders present over high tide, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling in equal proportion.

Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th:

No news was received.

Tuesday 5th:

There was no sign of the shrike today, offshore there were three Manx Shearwater and 20 Common Scoter.

Monday 4th:

A welcome late spring highlight today in the form of a first summer male Woodchat Shrike around Greenland Lake. The fourth record for the recording area, the last was on this date five years ago. It was heard singing on occasion and seen to remove and eat half a shrew from a larder. The only other news was of 20+ Manx Shearwater, 12 Common Tern and three Common Scoter offshore.

Sunday 3rd:

Two juvenile Coal Tit at the east end of Greenland Lake were the first records of the year, another good records was a Black Tern reported flying north up the estuary late morning. The high tide wader count revealed 150 Oystercatcher, 40 Sanderling, 16 Dunlin, six Ringed Plover, two Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere a raft of c50 Common Scoter were offshore, eight Manx Shearwater flew east, 80 Sandwich and three Common Tern were in the estuary and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

Saturday 2nd:

No news was received for today.

Friday 1st:

There was no sign of the Kentish Plover but the Curlew Sandpiper was still present along with 20 Sanderling and at least 12 Dunlin.

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