Seasalter - 1st June

Down at the seafront I hoped the high tide roost would still have some waders for the June list and sure enough the the 4 dunlin were still present along with 28 turnstones, 13 ringed plovers and 2 curlews plus c.30 oystercatchers, 1 lesser black-backed gull and black-headeds and herring gulls.

Swallows and swifts were going west all morning, my rough count being, 12 swallows and c.60 swifts.......couldn't watch these all the time!

Turnstone

Over on the plots the wind was keeping a lot of stuff down but as the morning went on I was able to tick off 6 whitethroats, 5 sedge warblers, 2 cetti's, stonechat, marsh harrier, chiffchaff, cuckoo, reed bunting, common tern, reed warblers and 1 lapwing.

 Common Tern

 Sedge Warbler

Marsh Harrier

A couple of azure damselflies made an appearance, a fresh, green female had me looking in the books to confirm the ID

Best sighting was that of two baby fox cubs along the track, they allowed me to get fairly close as they seemed quite interested in me but mum came along later and they all scarpered into the grass.

Waders, Woods and Marsh Warbler

30th May

I went down to the seafront to check the presence of any waders which proved fruitful again, the 4 dunlin, 2 sanderling, 9 turnstones, 22 ringed plovers and 5 curlew still lingering on...for what. Another surprise was a lone bar-tailed godwit that kept company with the curlew and oystercatchers. The 37 strong shelduck flock still patronized the area in front of the outfall, now almost a month, why they are here I don't know, I've never see so many at this time before. The only other birds of note were a couple of common terns and 4 egrets.

On the plots the usual species including buzzard, whitethroat, stonechat, goldfinch, swallows and swifts, also a fox in the pumping station grounds.

 A young Fox I Think

Swift

As the tide came in the waders flew to one of the beaches as someone felt the need to walk out onto the 'island that was' and flush them. In a way, fortunate, as I was able to get a closer shot from the top of seawall down onto the beach.

 Dunlin (a big one on the left) and Ringed Plover

The left hand sanderling seems to have a very long bill!

From there I had a diversion to Tesco after which I made a quick visit to a pond in Thornden Wood to photograph some odonata. The only ones on show were broad-bodied chasers and a couple of blue-tails, a bit disappointing.

Watching the chasers I noted that after mating the female went to deposit eggs into some floating weed but escorted/guarded by the male who stayed quite close while she did this.

Early evening, I received a text from Andy Malone who heard a marsh warbler singing whilst walking his dog. Fortunately, Andy stayed with it as my ears would never pick it up but I did manage to get a few distant shots.  

Marsh Warbler

Westbere and Seasalter

28th May

Just before going to Westbere I stopped to check the HT roost finding; 34 turnstones, 5 dunlin and 14 ringed plovers.

At Westbere it was still windy and mainly sunny which was not the best conditions. I met Mike Roser, Warren Baker and friend, all of us hoping for some good views of odonata. 

 Blue-tailed Damselfly

 Variable Damselfly

Baby Blackcap on path!

Spoonbills at Grove

27th May

After hearing about the Grove spoonbills I nipped down there at 7.00pm., rather dull but they were still visible from the ramp allowing me a couple of record shots. Plenty of coloured rings!

Waders Still Present at SS

26th May

I only had a chance for an evening visit today and to my surprise again waders are still present on the 'island' roost. I counted 34 turnstones, 4 dunlin, 25 ringed plovers and 2 sanderling. Also a cuckoo was calling all the time from the plots.

  What was once an island has now joined the main beach which may lead to the roost being disturbed 

Some nice vegetation growing on the beach at Seasalter

Seasalter Again

Mon.25th May

A visit to the HT roost at Seasalter this evening produced 11 dunlin, 23 ringed plovers and 13 turnstones, unusual for this time of year. Unfortunately, whilst I was watching some 'chap' just walked out onto the 'island' (that was, now joined to the beach) and scared everything off. How is it when you are clearly watching something people feel the need to go and do this - he was just seeing how far he could through stones. Give him the benefit of the doubt, he perhaps didn't realize what I was doing with my scope!  Also 1 Sandwich tern and 4 egrets over the plots. It was just a short visit and quite cold. 

Seasalter

24th May

As the tide was going out I was surprised to see 6 dunlin, 6 ringed plovers, 4 turnstones and 6 curlew still to be seen on the shingle bar. Inland, the coot family still had their 7 chicks and the stonechat family were still active along with all the reed warblers and whitethroats etc.. Geoff recorded a bearded tit and an overflying greenshank which is a new one for the year. A short visit tonight revealed 71 black-tailed godwits near the Sportsman, close into the beach as the tide went out. Also 2 sandwich terns, 4 common terns, 3 egrets, whitethroat but still no little tern.  There were 5 possibles this morning but being so far out it was not possible to be sure.