7th July
Norman reported a good collection of Waders and Gulls in the vicinity of Saltmarsh Pool today: 8 Black-tailed Godwits in Summer plumage, 420 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Redshank and 1 Adult Mediterranean Gull. The warm humid conditions brought out insects and good numbers of Swallows hawking after them along the Saltmarsh. As the tide came in late afternoon Curlew and Oystercatcher could be heard and seen on the tideline.
Oystercatchers on tideline.
Cormorant drying its wings in the bay and a good collection of Gulls too.
The Saltmarsh looking spectacular with its covering of Sea Pinks.
A Curlew wending its way along the edge of the tide.
8th July
The bank up to the road from the Natterjack pools, yielded a surprise this morning. A couple of Natterjack toadlets were spotted crawling through the damp vegetation.
Natterjack toadlet about 1.5 cm long. The yellow line down the middle of its back is an identifying feature and distinguishes it from the common toad.
Male Blue-tailed damselfly on reeds in nearby pool
Rich herbage on bank above pools. The gorse which had been growing in this area had been cleared by the Campfield Workparty in a recent Autumn rotational coppicing activity. It is good to see how well the underlying vegetation had regenerated and was now providing support for the many butterflies, insects and dayflying moths which were flying today.
Meadow Brown on Bugle on dry bank.
Ragged Robin amongst marsh reeds.
9th July
A hot and humid day with thunderstorms most of the afternoon.
Blackheaded gulls on Saltmarsh Pool
A flock of about 300 Oystercatchers on the mudflats as the tide was making.
Cattle on the mudflats where it's cooler - keeping away from the flies.
Ringlet still flying. This one was sunning itself on Lonning hedgeside vegetation. A few Red Admirals were to be seen too.
10th July
White Ermine Moth - normally flies late night but this one was observed flitting about the vegetation on the side of the lonning early afternoon.
11th July
Butterflies were very much in evidence on this hot and sunny day - particularly on the herb-rich margins of the Lonning.
Herb-rich margins of the Lonning with amongst other flowers, Tufted Vetch and and Yellow Meadow Vetchling.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly.
A good number of Meadow Browns were flying on the Saltmarsh along with Green-veined whites.
Large Skipper on Saltmarsh.
Prickly Restharrow growing on the sides of the dubs on the Saltmarsh, is now in flower.
Pied Wagtail, here on barn roof, can be regularly seen in the vicinity of North Plain Farm.
16th July
Had been raining heavily overnight but cleared up after lunch. A walk down the Lonning at 11am revealed Swallows hawking overhead; Barn Owl hunting in the meadows: a Heron flying over the track: Goldfinches and Chaffinches flying in the hedgerows; good numbers of Meadow Brown and Green-veined Whites, nectaring on Bramble flowers particularly; an adult with two young Heron feeding on wetland infront of the Hide. At dusk a Roe Deer could be seen silhouetted against the sunset, grazing the Hawthorn bushes infront of the West Common hamlet.
Heron on wetland.
Green-veined White on Bugle
Sunset and 'glory' beams over Campfield Marsh