firstreesjohn
Well-known member
In the same month last year [https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=366562], that list mainly consisted of the commoner warblers and chats - leavened with 5 Pied Fly days. This month was roughly similar, though fortunately with many fewer ‘non-notable’ days. It was enlivened by single Pied Flies (on 9th, 24th, 25th & 28th) and with a few much more interesting, if all-too-brief, birds. These offerings meant that I was rarely bored after the long trek east from the Beach Road.
The possible Pallid Swift was most frustrating: brief and avoiding capture by camera, quickly climbing high against the bright blue sky. Subsequently, I learned that comparably unsatisfactory views of a ‘possible’ were had at Kelling - by two experienced observers earlier in the morning.
The least said about the Marsh Sandpiper, the better. Suffice to say that I heard it, the birder next to me heard and saw it (high and going away) and performed excellent detective work after the event.
The appearance of a female Wasp Spider on 13th, after three years’ absence (the previous one was last sighted on 10 August 2016), was most welcome. What wasn’t was being stung with the news that it had been seen there for at least the previous three days: I was decidedly waspish ! What was more than disappointing was the hacking about of the surrounding vegetation - presumably in order to make photography easier. This resulted in the destruction of another web and the disappearance of a second Wasp Spider.
The photo of a Sand Martin on 4th was memorable for me: the bird held this strikingly angular shape for many minutes, as it faced into the strong breeze. Would it be successful in its long journey south, then return to breed in the cliff (if that survives !) next spring ? I’m sure we all pray for young Sandy.
The Grayling, on 23rd, was my latest, I believe. I’m told they can be seen for up to another month. I wish all of them would show their upperwings in this manner - even if she’s so faded as to make recognition problematic.
The month peteared out with a few Whimpers. An exciting record on the last day was my first Volucella zonaria at the site. The prospects for September don’t exactly thrill, either: no Easterlies are forecast until at least the middle of the month.
The possible Pallid Swift was most frustrating: brief and avoiding capture by camera, quickly climbing high against the bright blue sky. Subsequently, I learned that comparably unsatisfactory views of a ‘possible’ were had at Kelling - by two experienced observers earlier in the morning.
The least said about the Marsh Sandpiper, the better. Suffice to say that I heard it, the birder next to me heard and saw it (high and going away) and performed excellent detective work after the event.
The appearance of a female Wasp Spider on 13th, after three years’ absence (the previous one was last sighted on 10 August 2016), was most welcome. What wasn’t was being stung with the news that it had been seen there for at least the previous three days: I was decidedly waspish ! What was more than disappointing was the hacking about of the surrounding vegetation - presumably in order to make photography easier. This resulted in the destruction of another web and the disappearance of a second Wasp Spider.
The photo of a Sand Martin on 4th was memorable for me: the bird held this strikingly angular shape for many minutes, as it faced into the strong breeze. Would it be successful in its long journey south, then return to breed in the cliff (if that survives !) next spring ? I’m sure we all pray for young Sandy.
The Grayling, on 23rd, was my latest, I believe. I’m told they can be seen for up to another month. I wish all of them would show their upperwings in this manner - even if she’s so faded as to make recognition problematic.
The month peteared out with a few Whimpers. An exciting record on the last day was my first Volucella zonaria at the site. The prospects for September don’t exactly thrill, either: no Easterlies are forecast until at least the middle of the month.
