September 2006

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Report sightings

Saturday 30th:

A Sooty Shearwater which flew south late afternoon, the first of the year, was the only news received for today.

Friday 29th:

A Buzzard flew over the reserve, six Knot were at the high tide and migrants included six Chiffchaff and a Wheatear.

Thursday 28th:

A Hobby flew over the Reserve this morning and the Wryneck remains in the Warren Neck. Also on site a Common Sandpiper, 10 Long-tailed Tit, seven Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, a Wheatear, a Blackcap and a Sparrowhawk, with 20+ Swallow and single Grey Wagtail, Rook and Peregrine overhead. A White Wagtail was on the high tide roost with a Curlew Sandpiper, 59 Ringed Plover and smaller numbers of Dunlin and Sanderling. In the estuary 315 Wigeon, 22 Canada Geese, 20 Mute Swan and nine Teal were in the Shutterton Creek area with 419 Curlew, 212 Redshank and 21 Little Egret on the Railway Saltmarsh. Offshore a dark phase Arctic Skua passed south.

Wednesday 27th:

Offshore 75 Sandwich and four Common Tern were being harried by two Arctic Skua with two others moving south with a single Balearic Shearwater and 15 Common Scoter. The Beach roost held 60 Ringed Plover, 41 Dunlin, five Sanderling and two Curlew Sandpiper one of which appeared in front of the hide. Elsewhere the Wryneck was again on Warren Point, at least eight Long-tailed Tit and two Chiffchaff were by the First Pond, seven Jackdaw and a Raven flew over Greenland Lake, a Peregrine was on Warren Point, six Swallow flew west down the estuary and 14 Little Egret were on the Railway Saltmarsh.

Tuesday 26th:

Migrants reported today included eight Chiffchaff, four Blackcap, three Wheatear, two Goldcrest, two Sedge and a Reed Warbler with three Grey Wagtail overhead. Elsewhere six Eider were offshore, the Wryneck remains on Warren Point and the Spotted Crake was again on the Main Pond.

Monday 25th:

Two Curlew Sandpiper were present over the high tide with 214 Redshank, 50 Sandwich, five Common and an Arctic Tern also present. Migrants included 19 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap, four Wheatear and two Whitethroat. Both the Spotted Crake and Wryneck are still present.

Sunday 24th:

Counts from the estuary included 2232 Oystercatcher, 440 Wigeon, 130+ Dunlin, 45 Redshank and 20 Teal. Amongst these were three Curlew Sandpiper, three Greenshank, a single Shoveler and a drake Pochard, the first on site since December 2003. Offshore there were at least five Arctic Skua, 85+ Sandwich, six Common, two Black and an Arctic Tern. Migrants included eight Blackcap, seven Chiffchaff, three Wheatear, two Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler with 20 Sand Martin, four Rook and four Grey Wagtail overhead. Elsewhere a Great-spotted Woodpecker and Mediterranean Gull were present and the Spotted Crake and Wryneck remain.

Saturday 23rd:

A Hobby flew west over the Reserve this morning, only the second record this year. Seawatching produced four Balearic and one Manx Shearwater, with single Arctic Skua, Little and Black Tern. In the estuary there were 465 Curlew, three Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint and a Pintail. Elsewhere on site one Wheatear, a Kingfisher at the Main Pond with the Spotted Crake and the Wryneck still at Warren Neck.

Friday 22nd:

Despite the overnight winds the sea was very quiet early morning with a single Arctic Skua the only noteworthy sighting, although later in the day there were three Balearic and a Manx Shearwater with 40+ Sandwich, four Common and an Arctic Tern. A site record count of 855 Great Black-backed Gull, a nationally important number, were roosting on Warren Point, before being flushed by walkers. This disturbance also meant few waders were present over the high tide, especially with the Peregrine and Sparrowhawk again on the prowl, in the estuary there were 300+ Wigeon, 140 Redshank, 35 Little Egret and a Greenshank. Over the evening tide there were c150 Dunlin, c50 Ringed Plover, 10 Sanderling, three Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint. A Wryneck found late on on the Dune Ridge at Warren Neck was presumably the bird seen on Warren Point at the weekend. Elsewhere migrants on site included c20 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap, two Wheatear and a Whitethroat, six Grey Wagtail flew over and the Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond with at least three Snipe.

Thursday 21st:

The Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond but no other news was reported.

Wednesday 20th:

Early morning there both Pomarine and Arctic Skua were offshore with a juvenile Arctic Tern, later on there was also single Little Gull and Black Tern. The evening high tide produced three Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stint with the waders, but they were always flighty, with a Peregrine and Sparrowhawk again making successful hunts. Early morning a second winter Mediterranean Gull was in the estuary with 135 Sandwich Tern and an intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Sanderling 19/9/06 © Darren Maynard

Tuesday 19th:

The Spotted Crake is still present on the Main Pond and continues to show well, now beginning to show signs of red at the base of it's bill. Strengthening winds brought two unseasonal Roseate Tern offshore, along with three Common, two Arctic and 40+ Sandwich Tern. Overnight rain had dropped in a few new migrants with counts of 19 Chiffchaff, 14 Blackcap, seven Wheatear, three Whitethroat and single White Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow and Reed Warbler. Overhead there were c40 Meadow Pipit and eight Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere a Great-spotted Woodpecker was by the Main Pond, 700+ Wigeon are now in Shutterton Creek, along with 26 Brent Geese and two Curlew Sandpiper were on the beach.

Monday 18th:

The Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond, now into it's third week of residence. Apart from no sign of either Wryneck, no other news was received for today.

Kestrel 18/9/06 © Dave Stone

Sunday 17th:

The Bight once again produced the best bird, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, only the sixth site record. It was however flighty during its frustratingly brief stay and only showed well for a few minutes on the beach. Yesterday's Wryneck remained on Warren Point all day, and a second bird was found at the eastern end of Greenland Lake mid afternoon, before moving to the Wryneck Path. To complete the rarity list the Spotted Crake continued to show on the Main Pond throughout the day. Migrants on site included 18 Chiffchaff, 14 Blackcap, six Wheatear, four Reed Warbler, three Whitethroat, three White Wagtail and two Willow Warbler, with two Song Thrush and a noticeable increase in Robin perhaps also relating to migrants. Early morning again saw a movement of House Martin with 120 going east, also overhead 50 Swallow, eight Grey and a Yellow Wagtail and two Grey Heron. Over the high tide the WeBS count included 1141 Wigeon, 644 Oystercatcher, 620 Curlew, 220 Teal, 201 Redshank, 157 Great Black-backed Gull, 119 Dunlin, 32 Ringed Plover, 18 Brent Geese, the first of the autumn, 12 Sanderling, six Curlew Sandpiper, six Knot, five Greenshank, four Grey Plover, two Little Stint and single Ruff and Turnstone. Also on site today eight Pintail, the first of the autumn, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 16 Sandwich and one Common Tern, c50 Common Scoter and a Red-breasted Merganser.

Curlew Sandpiper 16/09/06 © John Fortey

Saturday 16th:

A Wryneck was a surprise find amongst waders in the Bight mid morning, it was later relocated on Warren Point were it showed well at times. Other migrants on site included seven Blackcap, five Chiffchaff, three Stonechat, two Whitethroat, a Wheatear and a Whinchat was reported. Early morning 870 House Martin flew NE in just half an hour, but other passage was limited to 11 Rook, three each of Yellow and Grey Wagtail and two Buzzard. In the Bight there were three Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper with the waders, but they dispersed before high tide after both Sparrowhawk and Peregrine successfully took Dunlin. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake was reported on the Main Pond, 155 Redshank, 100+ Wigeon, 11 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank were in Shutterton Creek, 12 Eider were off Langstone Rock, 11 Collared Dove were over the Car Park, a site record count, and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the Entrance Bushes.

Wryneck 16/09/06 © Lee Collins

Friday 15th:

Fresh migrants on site included two Sedge Warbler and two Stonechat, having been absent since mid summer, with 12 Chiffchaff, eight Blackcap, four Whitethroat, two Wheatear, two Reed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher also present. Overhead vis mig included 65 Meadow and a Tree Pipit, five Raven, two Rook, three Chaffinch, four Grey and a Yellow Wagtail, 85 House Martin, 40 Swallow and a Sand Martin. Elsewhere there were very few waders over the high tide with eight Knot the highlight, the Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond, showing very well this morning.

Thursday 14th:

Four Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint were present over the high tide, also in the estuary 126 Wigeon, an overnight arrival, 12 Little Egret and at least two Greenshank. Sylvia warblers had increased overnight with at least 21 Blackcap on site along with seven Whitethroat, seven Wheatear, six Reed Warbler, six plus Chiffchaff, four White Wagtail, a Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew over the Car park and at least five Grey and a single Yellow Wagtail flew east.

Wheatear 14/9/06 © Darren Maynard

Wednesday 13th:

Offshore six Balearic Shearwater passed south with two Fulmar and an Arctic Skua, also offshore c60 Kittiwake, c50 Sandwich Tern, c30 Gannet & 55 Common Scoter. Counts over the high tide included 180 Ringed Plover, 111 Dunlin, 17 Sanderling, and four Turnstone. Elsewhere a Merlin flew again the beach and the Spotted Crake was still present.

Tuesday 12th:

The Spotted Crake continues to show on the Main Pond along with Little Grebe. Large numbers of tits were around the First Pond and the Back Path early morning with eight Great Tit, 15+ Blue Tit and 10 Long-tailed Tit. 150+ hirundines went over at 7.45 am, mainly House Martin plus 14 Blackcap, six Whitethroat, nine Chiffchaff and singles of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. Over the high tide were single Curlew Sandpiper, 110 Ringed Plover, c150 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 15 Sanderling plus four Wigeon and seven Mallard. Offshore were four Eider and two Arctic Skua, Common tern, Artic tern, six Fulmar, and five Common Scoter. with Also on site: two Rook, three Meadow Pipit, single Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail over.

Curlew Sandpiper 12/09/06 © Dale Cooper

Monday 11th:

The only news received for today was of the Kentish Plover and a Curlew Sandpiper at the high tide and the Spotted Crake still on the Main Pond.

Sunday 10th:

The Kentish Plover remained on site showing on the Beach over high tide and then later on in the Bight, also present amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plover, a Little Stint, four Greenshank, three Knot, three Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Turnstone. Offshore there were at least six Balearic Shearwater lingering close in with a distant Manx Shearwater south. The Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond, showing well today also there a Little Grebe and a Snipe. Migrants included a Spotted Flycatcher in Dead Dolphin Wood, a Whinchat on Warren Point, 13 Blackcap, eight Whitethroat, seven Chiffchaff and a Reed Warbler as well as at least one Wheatear and two White Wagtail. Elsewhere an Osprey showed very well over the Bight, 19 Wigeon and three Teal were in Shutterton Creek and 16 Grey Wagtail, 11 Meadow and a Tree Pipit flew over early morning.

Saturday 9th:

The highlight was a juvenile Kentish Plover found in the Bight with 134 Ringed Plover on the falling tide. Other waders included 1100 Oystercatcher, 750 Curlew, 130+ Redshank, 12 Sanderling, three Knot and a Turnstone. Seawatching in the strong southerly winds produced four Manx Shearwater, two Arctic and a Great Skua south with two Little Egret and a Merlin north. There was also a light passage of hirundine offshore including at least three Sand Martin. There were few migrants in the strong wind with just four White Wagtail and two Wheatear noted. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake was reported again on the Main Pond, a Buzzard flew low east, nine Eider were off Langstone Rock, an adult Mediterranean Gull was off the seawall, a Grey Wagtail flew over and a Red-breasted Merganser was in the estuary. The Kentish Plover was still present over the evening tide along with a Curlew Sandpiper and offshore three Balearic Shearwater.

Friday 8th:

Over the morning tide five Curlew Sandpiper, the first of the autumn, were on the beach with the Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock, also there 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Sanderling, three Turnstone, three Whimbrel, two Peregrine, the Little Stint and 578 Great Black-backed Gull. Overhead passage was limited to three Grey and a Yellow Wagtail, three Sand Martin and a Meadow Pipit. Grounded migrants included 17 Blackcap, seven Chiffchaff, six White Wagtail, three Whitethroat, two Wheatear, two Reed and a Garden Warbler. Offshore a Balearic and six Manx Shearwater flew south with c30 Common Scoter and an Arctic Skua around all day. Elsewhere 850 Curlew, c200 Redshank, 10 Wigeon, the first of the autumn, nine Teal and two Greenshank were in the estuary, an Osprey flew west mid morning and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach in the evening.

Thursday 7th:

The first Little Stint of the year was on the beach this evening with 167 Dunlin, 100+ Ringed Plover, a Knot and a Turnstone, also there three Mediterranean Gull, two adults and a juvenile. Migrants around the site included 12 Chiffchaff, 10 Wheatear, six Blackcap, two Whitethroat, two Willow and a Reed Warbler. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake was seen briefly, three Grey Wagtail flew over with two more on the Main Pond, two Rook flew west, two Arctic Skua were offshore and at least one Greenshank was in Shutterton Creek.

Wednesday 6th:

Early morning saw 15 Arctic Skua offshore along with the Red-necked Grebe and a southerly movement of 55 Common Tern. Over the high tide there was a noticeable increase in Dunlin with 250+ present in the Bight along with 100+ Ringed Plover, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit and two Knot. Also there two Wheatear, at least five White Wagtail, a Sparrowhawk and a Whinchat, elsewhere a second Whinchat was in Greenland Lake and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the beach. The Spotted Crake showed well on the seaward side of the Main Pond.

Tuesday 5th:

A Pomarine Skua was reported offshore with at least six Arctic Skua and the Red-necked Grebe remaining. The Spotted Crake also remains on site continuing to show occasionally on the Main Pond. Elsewhere two Mediterranean Gull were off Langstone Rock and three White Wagtail were in the Bight.

Monday 4th:

The Spotted Crake is still on the Main Pond showing well occasionally. At least 25 Arctic Skua were offshore early evening again with a single Red-necked Grebe. Over the high tide c150 Ringed Plover, 100 Dunlin and a Greenshank were in the Bight. Elsewhere an intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull was on Bull Hill and three Wheatear and two White Wagtail were in front of the hide.

Sunday 3rd:

Seawatching early morning produced two Storm Petrel, six Great and two Arctic Skua south, before the wind switched round to the northwest. Later in the day however large numbers of gulls, Gannet and Kittiwake were feeding offshore and these attracted a minimum of nine Arctic and two Great Skua into the bay, with a single Long-tailed Skua also lingering. Also offshore two Red-necked Grebe, a Balearic Shearwater, at least two Arctic Tern and nine Eider. Over the high tide 135 Ringed Plover and 82 Dunlin were in the Bight with a single Knot and a Greenshank, also there two Yellow-legged Gull, both different to yesterday, and 22+ Lesser Black-backed Gull including an intermedius. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake was still on the Main Pond, although was only seen briefly on a couple of occasions, an Osprey flew west over Shutterton Creek, a White Wagtail was in front of the hide and nine Wheatear were onsite.

Saturday 2nd:

The strong southerly winds produced two firsts for the year, in the morning a Long-tailed Skua was seen passing south with good numbers of Gannet and Kittiwake and a Grey Phalarope was present in the Bight for two hours early afternoon. Also present at least two Yellow-legged Gull amongst the large Gull flock in the Bight during high tide. Elsewhere the juvenile Spotted Crake remained on the Main Pond whilst at least 80 Sandwich and 14 + Common Tern remain on site.

Friday 1st:

The juvenile Spotted Crake remained on the Main Pond, but was elusive for much of the day. Other than a general lack of migrants no other news was reported.

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