Thanks for the call about the Rouzel and Wheatear.

Nope, not even a puddle. It's barely damp.
#HytheLagoons

Bit disappointed in Claudia. The forecast all day heavy rain turned out to be drizzle, light rain and occasionally, what I like to call, 'rain' (maybe 'heavy' rain has been reclassified?).
My dream of a reborn patch lagoon has been downgraded to a vain hope of a puddle.
#HytheLagoons

An almost birdless slog around the patch was finally rewarded when a distant airplane turned out to be a White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately stayed rather distant but never mind, a full fat patch tick.
#HytheLagoons
#EssexBirding

As long as there's a Sibe Thrush, a Needletail and a yank or two, I'm guessing most birdspotterers don't really give a damn.

The last 2 young Swallows finally fledged at work this morning.
Bonne chance.

Checking out every Cormorant paid off when one turned into a Glossy Ibis as it flew over work.
#HytheLagoons

Seems likely 😂

Probably stringy anyway. Never got past the committee 😄

10 years ago today on patch, I almost trod on a Corncrake. It's moments like that that have kept me going again and againand again. Sometimes I wish it'd never bloody happened.
#HytheLagoons

#wrongsettingsmyarse

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a 1st for the garden.

Actually a few birds about. Best of which were Spotted Flycatcher (less than annual), 2 Whinchat (previously annual but less so recently), 2 Yellow Wagtails (seen annually but not usually by me 😄) and Coal Tit (again, less than annual).
Amazing what a bit of rain can do
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

This evening's totals.
1 Robin
2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only
2 Wren, heard only
1 Blue Tit, heard only
And that's it.
I wish I was joking, I really do.
On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls.
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

Joking. Love it. Pulls you in.

It's alright.

In addition to this there were also zero Larks, zero Sparrows, zero Ducks, zero Geese but there were a few corvids and Woodpigeon plus 1 Stock Dove and 1 Moorhen.

Totals AM
Finches 1 Gold
Buntings 0
Chats 2 Robin
Thrushes 0
Tits 5 Blue
Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff
Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
Starlings 0
Pipits 0
Wagtails 0
Hirundines 1 Swallow
Seagulls A few unfortunately
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding

😂 Seagulls are easy.

I've spent the afternoon pottering about in the garden with frequent glances skyward....I've seen 2 seagulls.

Ill-informed or not giving a shit?

Spent a bit of time listening to Sham 69 this evening.... which was nice.

Had that first "What the feck is that...oh, a Reed Warbler up a tree" moment of the autumn this morning. Plenty of other warblers too with Whitethroats and Lessers everywhere, a scattering of Reeds, Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler.
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding

Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar.

After the amount of adults that were around earlier in the year I'm a little disappointed to find only the one Elephant caterpillar in the garden.

Visited the patch this morning and didn't return depressed. Result!
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding

Marvelous 😀

More than a dozen butterflies of 5 species on the buddleia. Ok, so it may not quite be a return to the 70s but it is not far the total for the whole of last year.

I'm going to move up there, sounds idyllic.

That'd count as a big day at The Hythe.😂

Oh god, it really is shit up there isn't it.😉