June 2009

June is a very quiet month but not without interest. There may be a few late waders at the beginning of the month and a few early ones at the end. Some rarer birds have occurred such as both Red-backed Shrikes which turned up in 2000 and 2001, our only Hawfinch in 2002, courtesy of Barry Hunt whilst I was away in Peru, and a Marsh Warbler in 2004. However, more often than not, fewer species are recorded in June than any other month of the year.

So June turned out much as expected without any big surprises. At the half way stage of the year, we are level on species with last year.

30th - sunny and calm and warm. A little fillip (not Hurst) at the end of the month with our first Common Sandpiper of the return passage on the groynes at the eastern end of the beach and a Yellow Wagtail in the marsh. Also, there were three Little Terns flying east with the early morning Sandwiches, an adult and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull and an adult Common Gull.

Redshank - Geoff Burton

Amongst the non-avian wildlife, there was our first Small Skipper butterfly and a Drone Fly, eristalis tenex; a hover fly that mimics a honey bee (note the single pair of wings) - thanks Andy!

Drone Fly - Geoff Burton

29th - sunny, calm and very warm. A Fulmar flew west close inshore. The first for two weeks; reports tail off as the summer progresses. The Moorhen with two young was seen in the brook opposite the sewage works entrance again. Waders included single Whimbrel, Curlew and Redshank. Our first juvenile Sandwich Tern of the year was seen accompanying one of its parents (quite early I think). An adult Lesser Whitethroat in the wood and Chiffchaff by the obs suggests that they are probably unobtrusively raising families.

The warmth brought butterflies out in force; there were the three whites, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood, Painted Lady and, surprisingly, our first Comma of the year. A total of 14 species for the year so far.

27th - light cloud, light NE wind. Seven Lapwings and five Curlews flew west and a flock of 13 Oystercatchers were on the beach. A juvenile Stonechat, seen briefly in the grassland, may have come from nearby breeding sites on Herne Bay Downs or at Seasalter, as wintering birds do not usually arrive until late September.

26th - cloudy with a light westerly wind. A little more activity this morning as would be expected, or at least hoped for, towards the end of June. A female Shelduck circled the area a few times early morning and four Mute Swans (two adults and two immatures) made two appearances, flying west over the marsh at 8.26 and south over the sewage works at 9.13 a.m. Ten Common Scoters circled round offshore whilst, later, a drake flew east more purposefully. Our first Whimbrel of the "autumn" flew west over the sea, three Curlews also flew west and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull flew west along the beach. Birds of the year putting in a first appearance included a juvenile Ringed Plover and Black-headed Gull on the beach and a juvenile Pied Wagtail on the shingle ridge. A juvenile Blackcap was drinking in the brook and a Grey Wagtail dropped into the sewage works.

24th - sunny with a moderate NE wind. A flock of 17 Common Scoters flying east and a single Great Crested Grebe that landed on the sea were both new birds for the month. A Moorhen was in the brook opposite the entrance to the sewage works with two chicks; this is the third or fourth attempt to breed but the first young seen. A Curlew flew west and two adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen on the beach briefly.

Two Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were also seen.

22nd - sunny with a light westerly wind. Quiet and rather familiar. Eight Gannets and a Little Egret flew east, an Oystercatcher and a Redshank were on the beach and a single Curlew flew west. Two Common Terns were seen offshore. Three Swallows over the area are thought to be local breeders.

20th - cloudy with a moderate NW wind. Rather cool. The wind direction set up an early feeding movement of Swifts, we've had few such movements so far this summer. 20+ Gannets were lingering offshore, there was a Redshank on the beach, a Little Egret in the brook and a Curlew flew west. There were many Sandwich Terns offshore but four Common Terns flying west were the first seen here this month.

18th - sunny with a light westerly wind. A Little Egret was on the beach where 15 Turnstones were roosting at high tide. Single Stock Dove and Turtle Dove came down to the beach, a Sparrowhawk flew through the churchyard and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in pine corner. At least two families of Whitethroats were seen, a juvenile Blackcap was in the churchyard and an adult Chiffchaff was in the wood.

A good day for butterflies with seven species seen; Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Small White and Holly Blue - a total of 13 species for the year so far.

16th - sunny at times with a moderate NW wind. Birds of the day were two Avocets that flew west over the sea at 7.23 a.m. Otherwsie, eight Gannets circled around over the sea close inshore, a Hobby was seen on two occasions and a Curlew flew west pausing briefly on the beach. There were three Kestrels hunting over the rough ground beyond the Seaview Caravan Park and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again.

A Large Skipper by the obs was the first of the year.

At Swalecliffe, second only to being harassed by dogs is the danger of being mown down by cyclists, who rarely see the need to warn anyone of their approach. So for a neutral, it was amusing to witness an altercation between a cyclist and a dog walker. The cyclist claimed that he had been bitten by a dog to which the owner responded by claiming that the cyclist shouldn't have been cycling along the footpath. True I suppose but a tenuous defence. The cyclist followed the dog walker around demanding his name and address but was waved away. He never got it. It reminded me of the occasion when a dog walker remonstrated with a cyclist who nearly flattened her dearest, by screaming after him that people come first, dogs second and cyclists third!

In the afternoon, Andy and I met Peter Brooks from the Council and Ingrid Chuddleigh from Natural England to discuss the work to cover up household waste that is coming up through the shingle on the beach. A useful and amicable meeting ending in agreement to do the work in September after the breeding season for Ringed Plovers was over. We were also able to show them a Ringed Plover which neither of them had seen before!

Ringed Plover - Geoff Burton

15th - cloudy and calm. 11 Gannets and a single Fulmar flew east, a Shelduck flew west, a Little Egret was over the beach, 16 Turnstones were roosting on the beach and a Redshank was roosting along the brook. Two Swallows were seen carrying nesting material, suggesting local breeding, and an adult Lesser Whitethroat was in pine corner. 57 Carrion Crows were on the shingle ridge at high tide.

At least four Burnet Moths were seen.

Meadow Pipit - Geoff Burton

14th - Greg Herne saw little of note from an avian viewpoint but five species of butterfly - Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Large White plus our first Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth of the year maintained his interest. The Book suggests late June for the emergence of this species and the first last year were seen on 25th.

13th - sunny, calm and warm. A Fulmar, seven Gannets and a Little Egret flew west, another Little Egret flew east inland, and six adult Kittiwakes flew west together. 19 Turnstones were roosting on the beach and a Redshank and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull were also seen on the beach. Another Cuckoo sighting as one flew steadily west pursued persistently by a Meadow Pipit whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker, in the sewage works trees, was the first here since March; typical post-breeding dispersal probably of a juvenile. Slightly more activity than of late!

Salsify - Geoff Burton

12th - sunny and calm with birds to match. A Grey Heron flew west distantly over the sea and a Sparrowhawk was perched in bushes along the east bank. A migrant Reed Warbler was at the obs as was a Chiffchaff , the first seen for two weeks, but probably a breeding bird silently and largely unseen just getting on with the job. Likewise a female Reed Bunting seen in the marsh and not noted for a month.

The first Essex Skipper of the year was also seen.

10th - light cloud and calm. Two Fulmars flew west, five Gannets east and a Little Egret also flew west. A Lapwing was seen over the beach, a Stock Dove on the beach and a Cuckoo flew across the grassland into the sewage works. Two late migrant Reed Warblers were in song; along the east bank and in the churchyard. And a pair of Jays were scolding a Carrion Crow in the wood; they must be nesting nearby. Meanwhile, Carrion Crow numbers on the beach had risen to 66.

8th - mostly sunny, decidedly cool. A Little Egret was on the beach, a Lapwing (our first since 1st March) circled over the beach and a Curlew flew west. Three Sand Martins flew west and may have been from the Bishopstone colony but six Swallows are more likely to be late migrants. Canada Geese do not seem to occur in this part of Kent in any numbers these days and so a flock of 27 heading NW over the sea towards Sheppey was a bit of a surprise. They were accompanied by two Greylag Geese. A pair of Goldfinches were accompanied by a fledged juvenile begging for food.

Yellow-horned Poppy - Geoff Burton

6th - cloudy with a light to moderate easterly wind. Rather cool. An adult Kittiwake flew east and a Redshank flew along the beach. A Cuckoo flew east across the ascrub and appeared to land in tamarisks near the caravan site. Unusually, a Turtle Dove was singing in the churchyard but flew away into the estate. There were 53 Carrion Crows on the beach.

Skylark - Geoff Burton

4th - sunny with a moderate northerly wind. A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was seen over the beach near the obs. Three Swallows and a House Martin flying west were, presumably, residual spring migrants whereas a party of at least four Long-tailed Tits by the obs pointed to an already successfully completed breeding season for another species.

2nd - sunny with a light to moderate northerly wind. Eight Greylag Geese flew east early morning, a Little Egret flew east along the beach and 25 Turnstones were roosting amongst the groynes at the eastern end at high tide. A pair of Mallard were in the brook but there's been no sign of any ducklings this year, so far at least.

It was with dismay and disbelief that I saw a digger and a dumper truck trundling along on the seaward side of the shingle ridge all the way from the eastern, Hampton end to the mouth of the brook. After a few hurried phone calls, I was able to ambush the Council's sea defences man on his way to brief his men on their work for the day. This, it transpired, was to spend the day filling up the dumper truck with shingle from beside the mouth of the brook at the western end of the ridge and taking it back along the shingle to the eastern end to cover some exposed household waste. The heavy vehicles had driven through an area where two pairs of Ringed Plovers are attempting to breed (as they do every year). I pointed this out to our man from the Council who responded by saying that he had the approval of Natural England to carry out the work. I said that it was against the Law to disturb nesting birds and suggested that Natural England's approval could not get round this. He said he was prepared to delay proceedings whilst Natural England were contacted. This proved quite difficult but in the end they were contacted and backtracked on their approval and the work did not go ahead. A sense of Deja-vu; about three years ago English Nature gave their "assent" to similar work, suggested that the vegetation on the shingle should be avoided and when we spoke to them just said that they didn't know about the Ringed Plovers. Exactly the same advice and disclaimer this time. As the site is an SSSI, the Council is obliged to consult Natural England but Natural England do not appear to have local knowledge and, judging by their subsequent comments, much in the way of expertise. We are meeting with the Council and Natural England on site in two weeks time.

1st - sunny with a light NE wind. Two Gannets and a Guillemot flew east and a first-summer Common Gull flew west. There were 20 Turnstones, in drab non-breeding plumage, roosting at high tide. Two Stock Doves were on the shingle ridge. A fittingly low key start to the month.

Green-veined White and Speckled Wood butterflies were also noted.