Grass snake
22 Jul 2015
We had a grass snake in our greenhouse yesterday. About 60-70 cms long.
Jason
Community Notes
Curlews
13 Jul 2015
Another sign of autumn – about 20 curlews roosting in the mown fields at the back this afternoon.
The last time I heard the cuckoo was 6 July and most of the adults will have started their return journeys south by now, though we usually get one or two juveniles on the wires in August (they have to find their own way back, amazingly).
Jeremy
Marsh Harriers
25 Jun 2015
A pair of Marsh Harriers were seen by Erica and myself circling over the meadow between the road and the sea wall near Oxley Dairy.
Celia
Hedgehog
11 Jul 2015
Just after 10pm I was standing on my back veranda (Coast House) and heard a rustling below me. It was a dry hot evening. I went to get a torch and crept in the direction of the sound. To my delight I just caught site of a medium sized hedgehog as it scurried off having heard me move It's several years since I've seen one here- or anywhere.
Celia
Avocets
11 Jul 2015
The two pairs of avocets breeding on the pools just south of SS have brought off at least two young, which were scampering around this afternoon. Amazing that they pulled it off, what with dogs, foxes and human interference. And there may be more to come ...
Jeremy
Pygmy Shrew
08 Jul 2015
Caught a 'pygmy shrew' in one of our small mammal traps today. It really was tiny: the body couldn't have been more than 50mm, though the tail was almost as long again. Deserves it's Latin specific name of 'minutus'.
Jeremy
Grasshopper warbler
06 Jul 2015
A grasshopper warbler was singing near the Sluice this morning. A strange hign-pitched whining noise, rather like a fishing reel paying out, which you could easily mistake for an insect call of some sort. I heard them near there early in the spring and it would be grand if this means they stayed to breed.
Jeremy
Common sandpiper
02 Jul 2015
There was a common sandpiper on the mud exposed at low tide on the shingle spit past the Beacons. I hardly dare say this, but it's the first sign of autumn, since this is a returning summer migrant heading south again after breeding in Scotland or the North of England. We can expect other returning waders in the next few weeks.
Jeremy
Barn owl
29 Jun 2015
Barn owl out again this evening over the fields. It now seems to be appearing here every night –wonder where it is roosting or breeding. Anyone know?
Jeremy
Marsh harrier patrol
28 Jun 2015
Saw a nice male marsh harrier patrolling the grazing marshes today. Since I've also seen barn owls and short-eared owls doing the same in the last few days this must be good news for the mammal survey team. These raptors wouldn't be here unless there were voles and other rodents around. They are probably better at catching them than we are, but keep trying please!
Jeremy
