Sightings June 2010

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1st Two Little Egrets were the best of an otherwise very quiet start to the month.
2nd Very quiet and nothing of note.

On the RSPB Reserve a fine first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was seen around the Hookers/Dengemarsh area.

Red-footed Falcon
Click for larger image

3rd Very quiet again.

The first-summer male Red-footed Falcon showed well on several occasions during the day around the Hookers/Dengemarsh area of the RSPB Reserve.
4th Still very quiet in the Observatory recording area.

The first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was seen on several occasions during the day around the Hookers/Dengemarsh area of the RSPB Reserve and then flew into the Lydd Ranges in the evening where it showed very well from Galloways Road.
5th A Honey Buzzard flew north over the Point at around mid-day.

The first-summer male Red-footed Falcon showed well during the day around the Hookers/Dengemarsh area of the RSPB Reserve.
6th Very quiet. A Nightingale continues to sing in the area.
7th A second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was seen at the fishing boats and a Hobby was hunting over the Long Pits.
8th The second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was the fishing boat again and four Mediterranean Gulls were also seen. A Hobby was seen on the beach. There are at least two broods of fledged Black Redstarts which can be easily seen along the power station fence/wall.
9th A Marsh Harrier and a Hobby were seen over the area and a Mistle Thrush was seen in the bushes.
10th An increasing damp and windy day produced five Mediterranean Gulls and a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull at the Patch in the evening but very little else.
11th A seawatch during the morning produced seven Manx Shearwaters whilst an evening visit to the Patch revealed 14 Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua. The second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was also at the fishing boats in the morning.

At least 80 Swifts also flew over.
12th Nine Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull were seen at the Patch.
13th Sixteen Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull were feeding at the Patch and a Turtle Dove was also seen (only the second of the year).
14th Seven Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.
15th A Hobby was seen at the Long Pits and 17 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch. More unusual were two Black Swans which flew past the Observatory in the evening.
16th The highlight of the day was a very brief Common Rosefinch which sang in the trapping area for a short time during the morning. Continuing yesterdays theme of odd wildfowl a White-fronted Goose flew east along the beach. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and 14 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch.
17th A flock of nine Shovelers flew east, eight Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch and a Hobby was seen at the northern end of the recording area.
18th Eight Mediterranean Gulls and the second-summer Yellow-legged Gull were seen. A Hobby was seen at the northern end of the recording area again.
19th At least six Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch but very else little to be seen on another cold and windy day.
20th Eight Mediterranean Gulls, a first-summer Little Gull and two Little Terns were feeding at the Patch.
21st First signs of "autumn" migration with 38 Sand Martins moving south east during the morning. Two first-summer Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch.
22nd Single first-summer Mediterranean and Little Gulls were seen at the Patch.
23rd Four Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch.
24th The most unusual record of the day was of a Marsh Tit seen perched on the power station fence for a few seconds during the morning. Five Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch.
25th Two Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch.
26th Five Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Gulls and four Black Terns were seen at the Patch.
27th One Mediterranean Gull was seen offshore and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
28th A Great Skua and six Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore.
29th Four Mediterranean Gulls flew over the area during the day along with over 330 Swifts and seven Sand Martins.
30th All the days interest was at the Patch where there was a considerable increase in the numbers of gulls present including 73 Mediterranean Gulls, a first-summer Little Gull and a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull.