ANXIOUS OYSTERCATCHERS

An oystercatcher chick was being anxiously watched over by the parents by the beach behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Monday 13th. The chick has left the dinghy but the high tides don't leave it much dry land to get onto that's safely away from walkers and their dogs. One dog walker was asked to put his dog on a lead after it ran along the shoreline chasing after the oystercatcher parents.

Along the Strood seawall on Monday a hobby was seen briefly catching insects, a male marsh harrier and a buzzard were seen over the fields, while a yellow wagtail, corn bunting, three reed warblers and two reed buntings were noted. Five common terns were fishing along the channel, five little egrets, 15 curlew, two lapwing and a pair of redshank were on the Ray saltings. A buzzard and a marsh harrier flew over Coast Road.

A female ruddy darter was seen in Feldy View on Monday - the first report of the season for the Island. Two holly blues, three small tortoiseshells and half a dozen meadow browns were also seen.

Steve Entwistle saw a painted lady, black-tailed skimmer, emperor dragonfly, along the Strood seawall on Monday, also two linnets, reed warbler and two whitethroats.

On Monday afternoon Steve visited Cudmore Grove and noted eight sand martins, mistle thrush, Cetti's warbler, two reed warblers, a pair of pochard and three tufted duck on the pond, two meadow browns, male brimstone, black-tailed skimmer dragonfly.

The regular cuckoo was calling again in Firs Chase early evening on Monday. It has been calling very early in the mornings recently and throughout the day too, then some late calling just before dark.

On Saturday 11th a common tern was fishing up and down the Maydays creek at high tide.

The common tern dived down several times into Maydays creek after small fish.

Also seen were a male marsh harrier, buzzard, cuckoo, great crested grebe, two redshank, lapwing, displaying meadow pipit, four reed warblers, five whitethroats, three reed buntings, also three house martins over the buildings and a Cetti's warbler singing at Haycocks yard.

A common seal was resting on saltmarsh, also four small heaths and five meadow browns.

Andy Field photographed a crab spider with prey on a common spotted orchid near Shop Lane on Saturday morning. The nightingale was calling by Shop Lane, also two chiffchaffs, ten swallows, three reed warblers in the dyke, two marsh harriers, two buzzards and a yellowhammer on the walk to Reeveshall.

Andy Field photographed this aptly named swollen-thighed beetle on a rose flower.

A bit horrified to see a grey squirrel at our bird feeders in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday evening. A trap was quickly set even while the grey squirrel was hiding in the tree, although it still remains at large.

Only about thirty moths in the trap in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday night including this strikingly marked barred yellow.

The once scarce evergestis limbata has become a regular through the last couple of summers.

The beautiful plume was also seen.