Nope, not even a puddle. It's barely damp. #HytheLagoons

Bit disappointed in Claudia. The forecast all day heavy rain turned out to be drizzle, light rain and occasionally, what I like to call, 'rain' (maybe 'heavy' rain has been reclassified?). My dream of a reborn patch lagoon has been downgraded to a vain hope of a puddle. #HytheLagoons

An almost birdless slog around the patch was finally rewarded when a distant airplane turned out to be a White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately stayed rather distant but never mind, a full fat patch tick. #HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

The last 2 young Swallows finally fledged at work this morning. Bonne chance.

Checking out every Cormorant paid off when one turned into a Glossy Ibis as it flew over work. #HytheLagoons

10 years ago today on patch, I almost trod on a Corncrake. It's moments like that that have kept me going again and againand again. Sometimes I wish it'd never bloody happened. #HytheLagoons

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a 1st for the garden.

Actually a few birds about. Best of which were Spotted Flycatcher (less than annual), 2 Whinchat (previously annual but less so recently), 2 Yellow Wagtails (seen annually but not usually by me 😄) and Coal Tit (again, less than annual). Amazing what a bit of rain can do #HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

This evening's totals. 1 Robin 2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only 2 Wren, heard only 1 Blue Tit, heard only And that's it. I wish I was joking, I really do. On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls. #HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

Totals AM Finches 1 Gold Buntings 0 Chats 2 Robin Thrushes 0 Tits 5 Blue Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel Starlings 0 Pipits 0 Wagtails 0 Hirundines 1 Swallow Seagulls A few unfortunately #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

Spent a bit of time listening to Sham 69 this evening.... which was nice.

Had that first "What the feck is that...oh, a Reed Warbler up a tree" moment of the autumn this morning. Plenty of other warblers too with Whitethroats and Lessers everywhere, a scattering of Reeds, Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

After the amount of adults that were around earlier in the year I'm a little disappointed to find only the one Elephant caterpillar in the garden.

Visited the patch this morning and didn't return depressed. Result! #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

More than a dozen butterflies of 5 species on the buddleia. Ok, so it may not quite be a return to the 70s but it is not far the total for the whole of last year.

Horror Clowns are Dickheads has just made me spit my beer. A good start. #halfmanhalfbiscuit

Stand down everyone, I finally saw a House Martin today. What.A.Bird!✅

No matter how much I expect it, the first sight of the lagoon completely devoid of water really gets me down. I'm sure birding used to make me happy. Seems a long time ago. #HytheLagoons

When I tell non-birders that I haven't seen a House Martin this year they seem to grasp just how drastically the population must have dwindled. A lot of birders on the other hand, immediately tell me where I can see some, as if me ticking them off in my I-Spy book of birds is the important issue.

17 Swifts screaming over the garden which is the biggest flock I've seen this year. Sad. #essexbirding

This silly fecker flew into a window today. A little rest in a bush and flew away strongly. And yes, I do have arthritic hands.

Ooh, look what I just found in the loft. Unfortunately, it no longer fits. It's punk innit!

Green Hairstreak in the garden just now. Only had less than handful in the 28 years we've lived here.

There's only so much "Yes, it is lovely but we could do with a bit of rain" I can muster before I shout "NO IT F*CKING ISN'T!" and kick someone's head in. That's what cloudless blue skies do to me. Obviously, the next time I hear "Isn't it lovely?", I'll nod, smile and die a little bit more inside.

2nd week in May and, as becoming the norm, a total lack of hirundines. Rather depressing. #HytheLagoons

LRP, 11 Greenshank, 3 Avocets, pair of Tufties (year tick) and Water Rail on the lagoon. 50 Mallard have appeared from somewhere, more than double the usual amount. Garden Warbler still. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

Blimey, the Essex Bird Report is chunky this year, must be all my records from The Hythe!

Just watched Man.Utd v Lyon and suddenly realised that some people prefer Rugby. What's that all about?

I dreamed Friday night about finding a male Redstart on the patch, so I was a bit disappointed when one failed to materialize on Saturday. Fast forward 2 days and pretty much the first bird I raise the bins to is an absolute cracking male Redstart. Only my 5th here ever. #essexbirding #HytheLagoons

9 Med. Gulls over the patch this evening. Sometimes even I will look at seagulls. #EssexBirding #HytheLagoons

Anyone used or had any feedback on the Topdon ts004 thermal monocular? It's pretty cheap and as no-one will lend me a more expensive model I was thinking of giving it a go. #BirdingGear

Frustrating morning at work with news of a Spoonbill (patch tick) just 120m downriver but visibility in the fog was around 80m. Another report of it flying past a minute before I went out for another look. It finally did the right thing though. #essexbirding

First proper visit to the patch this year and managed to dig out a single Jack Snipe and a Water Rail amongst others to take the year list to the stratospheric heights of 46. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

After a first full day on patch my year list stood at 11. The first couple of hours this morning has increased it to 14. It's going to be a long year. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

No sign of the Yellow Warbler at The Hythe this morning.... what's that, wrong Hythe? That explains the pleasing lack of twitchers and the less pleasing but not unexpected lack of birds. A nice brick red Blackwit providing the only splash of colour in the gloom. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

@merseabirder.bsky.social Any truth in the rumour that a woman was seen releasing around a dozen Grey Squirrels on the island as she didn't think it fair that there weren't any?

Can't believe it's my first (and last, obvs) gig of the year and it's...bearing in mind last year I saw Idles, Buzzcocks, Jamie T, The Ruts, Steve Ignorant amongst others...Abba Reunion!! Mind you, it's feckin' marvellous!

Appears to be just a single Jack Snipe on the site so far this winter. 40 Common also. Cracking male Marsh Harrier has been around for a week or so. Anyone else noticing a lack of Common Gulls? #HytheLagoons #essexbirding

Strayed off patch this morning and onto the badlands of Mersea Island. Not only did I have stonking views of the Shore Lark but I also avoided the local militia. There's no way I would have passed their stringent credit checks and would have been laughed off the island. #gerrorfmyland #essexbirding

Another day, another Ruff. This one a very handsome chap. #essexbirding #HytheLagoons

Finally caught up with one of the "easy" absentees from the patch year list today when a Ruff flew over. Year list currently stands at 120 which is not too bad for Hythe Lagoons. #essexbirding

Two Pink-feet yesterday were not only a year tick but also a patch tick. I've probably seen more Red-breasted Geese in Essex than Pink-feet! #essexbirding #ukbirding

A Peregrine taking a pigeon this afternoon made a cold day at work just about bearable. Not sure I've seen one make a kill before.

I've still got Scotch Bonnets and Tomatoes ripening In the garden, Sweet Peas and Cannas still flowering and my Alstroemerias, which I grew from seed this Spring, have just flowered for the first time. It is November, isn't it?

Just stepped into the garden to the sight and sounds of 2 Ravens and a Peregrine having a bit of a tear up plus Merveille du Jour on the wall. Which was nice.

Raven, 2 Cattle Egret, 7 Greenshank, Green Sand, 10 Ringed Plover and a very decent smattering of Blackwits, Redshank and Snipe made for a pleasant post-work stroll. #HytheLagoons #ukbirding #essexbirding

A pleasant stroll on the patch this AM to clear the head after last night's Oktoberfest was rewarded with good views of Jack Snipe. Also 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and a Greenshank on the lagoon. Bushes very quiet with only a pair of Stonechat and a few Mipits. #HyteLagoons #ukbirding #essexbirding

Loving this #BirdingGear idea. Anyone using this combo and is it any good? Seems a lot of dough to someone who's never spent more than £100 on a tripod.

Got home to this beauty in the garden

Bit quiet on the patch this morning but Whinchat, 2 Stonechat and a Cattle Egret made it worthwhile. #HytheLagoons #essexbirding #ukbirding