En-route to hides – collard dove, linnets, pheasant, wren, blackcap, woodpigeons, blackbirds, whitethroat, crows, moorhen, cettis calling, chiffchaffs, heron, blue tits, jackdaws, mallards and dunnock. Hide one – pair of garganey were the highlight of the visit, greylags (with goslings), 5 shelduck, 16 avocet, meadow pipits, stonechat (male only), skylarks, 2 knot in breeding plumage, 1 bar-tailed and 64 black-tailed godwits, coot, 2 lt egrets, Canada geese, 10 redshanks, herring gull, 2 gadwall, 3 dunlin, gt tit, 4 lapwing, pied wagtail, gt black-backed gull, 3 sand martins, 2 shoveler, 5 swallows, cormorant, 2 ringed plovers and 1 lt ringed plover. Goldfinches, ls black-backed gulls and reed warbler singing en-route to platform. Snipe platform – 32 mute swans )my highest count here), 2 pairs lt grebes, 1 black-headed gull, 5 males and 2 female tufted ducks. Seawall – single whimbrel only. Hide three – 2 oystercatchers, 3 more singing reed warblers, 24 more avocet, 4 more shoveler, wigeon pair, pintail pair, reed bunting and a buzzard. Other: orange tip butterflies and hairy dragonfly.
