Another dismal day weatherwise but it did produce a few birds at sea and at the Patch. Most birds at sea were flying west and included 25 Manx Shearwaters and 140 Gannets whilst there was an adult Roseate Tern and two Yellow-legged Gulls at the Patch.

Family parties of Wheatears, Black Redstarts and Stonechats were very obvious around the Observatory and 14 Sand Martins flew through. A Hobby hunted over the area during the morning.

4th

A long seawatch during the afternoon produced four Manx Shearwaters and a Red-throated Diver west and five Arctic Skuas flying east whilst at the Patch there was an adult Roseate Tern, two Arctic Terns, two Mediterranean Gulls and two Yellow-legged Gulls.

Passerine migrants included 12 Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail. A Hobby hunted over the area and two Collared Doves were also seen.

A day of almost continuous rain and limited coverage. A one-hour seawatch in mid-morning produced five Manx Shearwaters and there was a Roseate Tern, two Mediterranean Gulls and 80 Kittiwakes at the Patch in the evening.

A Black Redstart was singing from the power station.

8th

A large feeding flock offshore during the morning included 100 Gannets, 2000 Herring Gulls and 200 Sandwich Terns whilst at the Patch there were two Mediterranean Gulls, six Yellow-legged Gulls and two Arctic Terns.

There were at least three Black Redstarts around the power station and 60 Swifts flew over.

Very little of note today with just a second-summer Mediterranean Gull, five adult  Yellow-legged Gulls and 60 Kittiwakes at the Patch and 55 Common Scoters flying west.

Overhead, a Hobby and 250 Swifts were seen and the usual Black Redstart was singing from the power station.

There were large numbers of birds offshore with the arrival of shoals of Mackerel with at least 100 Gannets, 1500 Herring Gulls and 200 Sandwich Terns feeding in the area. A Black Tern was also seen offshore and at the Patch there were five Yellow-legged Gulls including two juveniles, two adult Mediterranean Gulls and two first-summer Arctic Terns.

There was a large movement of Swifts with at least 500 passing through and also 40 Sand Martins and two Yellow Wagtails. The male Black Redstart was singing from the power station roof again.

The highlight of the day was an immature Spoonbill which flew over the power station and out to sea. There were two Mediterranean and three adult Yellow-legged Gulls at the Patch and an Arctic Skua and two Eider flew by offshore.

Some diurnal movement occurred with 110 Swifts, 100 Sand Martins and six Yellow Wagtails passing through.

Large numbers of birds offshore again with at least nine Yellow-legged Gulls (including seven juveniles) and an adult Mediterranean Gull at the Patch and 200 Sandwich Terns feeding offshore.

The trickle of migrants overhead continued with a few Swifts and Sand Martins and 11 Yellow Wagtails passing through and a Greenshank also flew west offshore.

Following a very busy weekend for fisherman, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was found caught in fishing line. The bird was released but did provide an excellent opportunity to study the fine plumage details of this species at close range (see below.) 

Also of interest, a Bee-eater was seen well for a few minutes on the RSPB reserve at Dengemarsh during the early morning. 

A better day than of late with a trickle of birds overhead and large numbers of birds at the Patch. Notable birds passing overhead included a Hobby, 16 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail whilst in the trapping area there was a singing Lesser Whitethroat.

The Patch provided plenty of interest with at least three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, an adult Little Gull and a minimum of 14 Yellow-legged Gulls including ten juveniles. Of greater interest, one, possibly two, juvenile Caspian Gulls were also present.

Of interest from outside the Observatory recording area, an adult Pectoral Sandpiper was found shortly before dark as the tide came in at Lade Sands. Seven adult Mediterranean Gulls were also seen here.

There was no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper at Lade Sands.

The Patch also provided considerable interest with an adult Caspian Gull of note (see photos), along with two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, an adult Little Gull, 14 Yellow-legged Gulls and a first-summer Arctic Tern.

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There was very little in the bushes except for a Lesser Whitethroat but overhead a Whimbrel, 150 Swifts, 300 Sand Martins and ten Yellow Wagtails passed through.

There was a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an adult Little Gull, 12 Yellow-legged Gulls, an adult Roseate Tern and single juvenile Arctic Tern and Black Tern at the Patch.

A Black Redstart was seen around the Power Station and three Willow Warblers were seen in the bushes.