Autumn migration has certainly been picking up over the last few weeks with some of the highlights being a hobby on 10/8 (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB Images), yellow wagtail with sightings of individuals on nine dates, an osprey over on 20/7, and a green sandpiper on 17/8.
Wading birds have also included greenshank on four dates with four birds on 3/8, individual knot on 19/7 and 24/7, ringed plover on four dates with a maximum of nine on 14/8, a spotted redshank on 16/8 and three bar-tailed godwit on 18/8. Black-tailed godwit have been regular with a high count of 14 on 14/7, as have whimbrel with a maximum of 12 on 15/7, and dunlin with a peak of 19 on 11/8. Common sandpiper have also continued to be present with a maximum of six seen on 14/8.
Other water birds of interest include great white egrets on nine dates including four birds on 8/8, 9/8 and 15/8, two Mediterranean gulls on 18/7, four sandwich terns on 5/8, a kingfisher on 15/7, and regular great crested grebe with up to two present. Little egret have also been very numerous with a high count of 61 on 11/8.
Notable passerine migrants have also included three crossbill over on 21/7 and the same number again on 22/7, a juvenile wheatear also on 22/7, and a juvenile redstart on 27/7.
Meanwhile a good variety of butterflies have been present with wall brown (pictured) being of particular interest seen along the estuary track on 16/8 and 17/8. Other species regularly seen have included gatekeeper, meadow brown, common blue, speckled wood and holly blue, along with six-spot burnet moth.
Dragonflies have included southern hawker, migrant hawker, emperor, common darter and black-tailed skimmer.