Saturday 22 June 2024

Curlew and gull numbers continue to rise

Warm and sunny after overnight rain. A light west wind.

South shore
I had a walk along the sea wall mid morning on the rising tide (Malcolm)
Little Egret 2 on Red Nab
Curlew 157 minimum number. Birds seen on, flying to and flying from Red Nab.
Just a few of the Curlew moving on from Red Nab

Black-Headed gulls not counted today, but definitely more than yesterday so 100+
It's good having lots of gulls on the outflows again

Kittiwake 1 first summer
Five gull species in this shot. The Kittiwake is central and looks large as it was
closer. Also, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Common and Black-Headed gulls

First summer Kittiwake. Had been resting on the wooden jetty before a
feeding trip to both outflows and patrolling the sea below the sea wall

Mediterranean Gull 2 - 1 adult flew east, this distant one on the shore looked to be an adult also, but a zoomed in shot revealed it to be a second summer.
Second summer Mediterranean gull, at least its legs were visible today 

Rock Pipit 2 - one near waterfall and one along the sea wall.
Peregrine Falcon 1 over Nature Park

Also in Nature Park
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap.
Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Bullfinch
Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-Tailed Tit
Blackbird, Song Thrush
Robin, Dunnock and Wren

The only butterfly seen was a single Ringlet.
Male Ringlet, also spotted by Janet a little later


Heliport (Malcolm)
Just a stop off towards high water.
Roosting Oystercatcher, plus a single Knot
(where the sea meets the rocks at the very left of this shot)

Solitary Knot
Rock Pipit 2 foraging amongst the Near Naze rocks