Suddenly we're a week into September. There is a definite feeling of the beginnings of autumn on Blakeney Point. On Friday the first Robins of the autumn were seen. At the same time, summer doesn't seem to be completely over and the sun keeps on shining. The second brood of Swallows in the Tern Hide have just fledged and there are five chicks on the side of the Old Lifeboat House which are almost ready to leave the nest. Over the past few weeks Hobby sightings have been frequent.
Hobby (Joe Cockram)
Numbers of widlfowl are increasing in the harbour and lots of waders can be seen...
Sanderling (Joe Cockram)
There are still plenty of butterflies around, with Small Tortoiseshells being particularly numerous, along with Small Whites, Graylings and even the occasional Clouded Yellow.
Small Tortoiseshell (Joe Cockram)
There have been a few autumn migrants since we last blogged, mostly Whinchats, Wheatears and Willow Warblers (the three Ws) with a few Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and the occasional Sedge Warbler.
Wheatear (Joe Cockram)
The most notable bird sighting was the Western Bonelli's Warbler on Friday evening, as our Twitter followers will already know. This was seen and heard in a bramble bush east of Great Sandy Low and looked like it was going to spend the night there. Alas, the next morning there was no sign of it.
It is always worth looking out to sea. Occasionally Harbour Porpoises can be seen. Two were spotted from the Point on Friday.
- Ajay with thanks to Joe Cockram (Seasonal Ranger in 2010 and 2012) for his photographs
I run a blog for Smestow Valley LNR. I have started a nature network to protect our patches and coordinate wildlife surveys. Please could you email me at smestowsightings@gmail.com and I can send you more information. Regards, Chris Millward.
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