Sep07
30th - An early start around the bushes produced 1 Pied Flycatcher, 15+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Garden Warbler and 8 Blackcaps, overhead 135 Siskins, 4 Redpolls and 5 Brambling flew N.GG/JBS.While taking a break at Pat's kiosk we were delighted when a Puffin went past heading N.GG/PRD. A look out to sea at high tide produced 1 adult Little Gull, 4 Red T Divers, 4 Sandwich Terns and 1 Gannet N, also 1 Pintail and 12 Brent Geese S.On the scrape, 5 juv Little Stints, 9 Ruff, 8 Blk T Godwits, 21 Snipe and a single Pink footed Goose with the Greylags.8 Stonechats were also noted. GG/PRD/KA/AD.
29th - Winds were favourable today but did not bring in the birds we wanted, but we did have 5 juvenile Little Stints, 5 Ruff, 3 Blk T Godwits, a Yellow legged Gull and 3 Med Gulls on the scrape.SC/PC/GG/JBS/KA/AD. A male Brambling, Pied Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears were by the toilet block, 2 Siskins N, 2 Blackcaps and 5+ Chiffchafs. GG/JBS.The bushes to the W of the gun turret held an elusive Cetti's Warbler.AEC/GG/JBS. An afternoon sea watch 1 hour after high tide produced a Long Tailed Skua and Arctic Skua, 5 Gannets all going N. A single Common Scoter flew S. 26 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone and 1 Sanderling dropped in around the sluice area, a single Whitethroat in the bushes and 8 further Siskins over the carpark.GG/AD/KA
28th - A wet and windy morning made birding difficult, on the scrape were 4 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 6 Blk T Godwits,1 Pintail and Wigeon now 120+. 2 Redpoll flew N, 1 Wheatear along the seawall with 2 Stonechats.Good numbers of Meadow Pipits were evident and a steady trickle of Swallows, Sand and House Martins. Singles of Pintail and Brent Goose flew N. GG.A late afternoon look at the sea produced 3 Common Scoter, 3 Brent Geese and a Gannet all flying N.GG
27th - An Arctic Tern on the scrape today with 8 Sandwich Terns, 6+ Ruff, 5 Blk T Godwits, 3 Dunlin. 8 Brambling flew over the sewage farm and a Purple Sandpiper was with 4 Turnstone near the sluice. A fem/Imm Merlin was also noted. JBS.
26th - On the scrape this morning were 4 Ruff, 1 Blk T Godwit, 16 Snipe, 64+ Wigeon. KA. Also seen was a movement of 200+ House Martins S, 5 Siskins N , 1 Redpoll S, c40 Meadow Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 4 Stonechats. On the sea 1 Red T Diver, 1 Sandwich Tern and a Hobby moving S. RA.
25th - Signs of birds moving this morning with 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Ruff and 8 Sandwich Terns on the scrape, also the female Pintail and 2 Blk T Godwits still present.Among the blk headed gulls were 2 Med Gulls 1 adult and a 1st summer. 2 Siskins flew S over the car park and later a Redpoll also flew S, along the seawall 14+ Wheatears were seen and 2 juvenile Whinchats were by the golf course dump. A fem/Imm Merlin flew in off the sea. Around the bushes were 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Goldcrests.GG. Early evening 1 Dunlin and Snipe numbers were up to 32. KA.
24th - On the scrape, 1 juvenile Little Stint, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 2 Blk T Godwits, 1 Dunlin, 12 Sandwich Terns, female Pintail, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail over.GG/PB/KA.,at sea 6 Pintail flew S and 5 Gannets N early morning, mid afternoon 3 Arctic Terns and 1 Sandwich Tern flew S.GG/KA.
23rd - Birds reported for today were 1 Little Stint, 2 Avocets, 4 Ruff, 6 Blk T Godwits, 1 Dunlin, 25+ Snipe, 1 Sandwich Tern, a female Pintail, also a female Marsh Harrier, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler. JBS/JK/KA. Also 1 Whinchat, 3 Stonechats and 2 Wheatears.JBS.
21st - Only 2 Ruff and 1 Blk T Godwit on the scrape this morning, the 1st summer Med Gull was sitting on the sea by the sluice.2 Chiffchaff and 1 Lesser Whitethroat around the bushes was all that was noted GG.The Little Stint again on the scrape mid afternoon, 22 Curlew on the golf course and a Wheatear and Stonechat along the sea wall. JBS.This evening in addition to the stint there were 3 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 4 Blk T Godwits, 23+ Snipe and 40+ Wigeon. KA.
20th - The Little Stint was still present this morning, Blk T Godwits up to 6 and again 3 Ruff.GG. A brief mid morning sea watch produced 1 Guillemot and a adult and juvnile Gannet S.SC. Afternoon on the scrape was much the same apart from a 1st summer Med Gull among the Black heads and a look at sea produced 8 Gannets flying N and 3 Sandwich Terns S..KA/.GG
19th - A juvenile Little Stint on the scrape this morning with 3 Ruff, 4 Blk T Godwits, 1 Dunlin and 20+ Snipe.An early morning look out to sea only produced 3 Sandwich Terns, 37 Wigeon, 11 Common Scoter, 6 Teal and 6 Oystercatchers all moving S.GG. Afternoon, no sign of the stint, at sea 1 juvenile Gannet flew N and 9 Brent Geese flew S. KA/GG.
18th - An afternoon seawatch yeilded 1 Gannet, 5 Sandwich Terns and a group of 14 Oystercatchers passing, also a Hobby over the carpark. JBS.
16th - Only reports were from a late afternoon visit, birds seen were 4 Ruff, 3 Blk T Godwits, 21+ Snipe, 1 Ringed Plover, 57+ Wigeon. At sea a single Gannet flew N. KA.
15th - On the scrape were 5 Ruff, 26 Snipe, and 2 Med Gull a juvenile and a 2s as the highlights, around the bushes 2 each of Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chifffchaff also 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear. SC/PC/AD. Only additions for the afternoon were 2 further Stonechats m/f, 7 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover. KA. A late evening seawatch produced 2 Manx Shearwaters and 2 R T Divers N, 8 Gannets S. AD
14th - Migrant numbers still poor with only 4 Lesser Whitethroat ,3 Chiffchaffs and a single Wheatear seen, the scrape was mainly unchanged with 5 Ruff, 1 Blk T Godwit, 25 Snipe and 66 Wigeon. The sea was very quite with only 3 v.distant terns passing. GG. 2 Greenshanks were seen on the scrape mid morning. JK
13th - Todays sightings were, on the scrape 5 Ruff, 25+ Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit and a brief Redshank. Also noted were 2 Stonechats, 1 Whinchat, 4 Wheatears, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, A flock of 55 Meadow Pipits were flushed. GG. A Spotted Flycatcher was posted on the board.
12th - An early morning seawatch produced 18 Arctic Terns and 5 Commic terns flying NE, 1 Hobby and 8 Wigeon in off. Disappointing around the bushes with only 2 each of Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.GG. Afternoon on the scrape were 4 Ruff and 20+ Snipe. KA/GG
11th - A mid morning seawatch produced 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Gannet flying NE, a Red throated Diver flew SW. GG. 3 Ruff, 20+ Snipe still on the scrape but little else due to the high water levels.1 Whinchat on the fences.KA/GG
10th - Early am 2 Spotted Flycatchers by the toilet block, a large hirundine movement between 0730-0915 estimates of 800+ Swallows and 250+ House Martins moving S.On the scrape still 4 Blk T Godwits, 3 Ruff, now 18 Wigeon.GG.Midday 1 Spot fly still present, at sea a Arctic Skua flew SW and 2 Manx Shearwaters flew NE. GG/KA
9th - This morning on the scrape were 4 Blk Tailed and 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 1 Golden Plover, 12 Snipe JK. 2 Spotted Flycatchers in toilet block bushes, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8+ Whinchats on the fences and 4 Wheatears on the seawall, a Guillemot swam SW close in. PRD/CJ. An evening visit produced 2 Ruff, 2 Blk T Godwits, 20+ Snipe and 12 Wigeon.KA
7th - Early morning on the scrape was 1 Greenshank briefly, 1 Blk T Godwit, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Snipe, between the toilet block and the dipping pond area were 1 Spotted and 1 Pied Flycatcher. Common warbler numbers had increased with 12+ Lesser and 10+ Common Whitethroat, 8 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs noted. JBS.Late morning a Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff were seen and a fine White Wagtail. SC/PC Hobby and 4 Whinchat were seen in the evening. JBS.
6th - Early morning a Ring Necked Parakeet flew over the carpark, a single Spotted Flycatcher was around the toilet block bushes, a Whinchat, Grey Wagtail and Little Owl were also seen and on the scrape 2 Ruff and 3 Snipe. AL.Late afternoon the Kingfisher flew over the scrape, 3 Whinchats were along the fences and at sea a Guillemot flew north also 6 Sandwich Terns.GG/KA/JBS.
5th - This morning only 1 Ruff, 1 adult Yellow legged Gull, Kingfisher and 3 Snipe on the scrape. The toilet block bushes held a Spotted Flycatcher and there was 1 Stonechat and 7+ Whinchat around the fences. A steady trickle of House Martins and Swallows heading south, also 2 Sandwich Terns south. GG/PB
3rd - Scrape very quite with only 5 Snipe of note, 1 Pied and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were by the "Dipping pond" in the sallows, also 100+ House Martins, 30+ Swallows and 20+ Sand Martins were heading south.1 Whinchat and 3 Wheatears were also noted.SC/GG
2nd - A better day today with 1 Pied and 4 Spotted Flycatchers along the back of the car park tree line, also a Green Sandpiper on the approach road puddle.GG. High water levels on the scrape appear to be restricting wader numbers with only 9 Snipe and 1 Dunlin seen. Around the sluice area were 5 Wheatears, and 4 Whinchats by the fences. At sea 3 Grey Plovers flew south, 9 Common and 2 Sandwich Terns were also noted. Late afternoon 2 Swifts flew SW. GG/PRD/KA
1st - Early morning 15 Common Scoters, 1 Whimbrel flew south, 3 Little Egrets north, the scrape was very quite with only 3 Snipe seen. JBS. Other birds seen were 3 Sandwich Terns, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 1 LittleOwl, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Yellow Wagtail. GG/KA/PRD.