Normally Kilnsea Wetlands are better known for the waders and wildfowl in Autumn and Winter but it is rapidly becoming an all year site. With yesterday’s fantastic numbers of Sandwich Terns along with 4 spoonbills, 1 great white egret little gulls common terns and the summer breeding little terns proving beyond doubt that there is some great birding to be had even in the traditionally quiet month of July.

I arrived at just after 6 and the sun was well up (sun rises are just too hard at this time of year!). The first thing I noticed since my last visit was the amount of noise-mainly from young Sandwich terns that had been brought by their parents from breeding grounds further north. At first the parents were bringing very small fish but as the sun rose (an potentially the temperature increased) they were bringing back large sandeels which no doubt made for a substantial meal. A quick scan on to Beacon Ponds had me viewing a distant great white egret which soon came very close and was not deterred by my presence one bit.

Back on to the wetlands and the little gull numbers were starting to build. These diminutive gulls are at their best in mid-summer with a sooty black head and bright red feet. As the end of the month approaches, their black heads get increasingly faded and disappear altogether as we get closer to autumn.

Another look on to Beacon Ponds produced the rather spectacular sight of around 40 little terns taking flight to see off a kestrel as to flew too close to the breeding area.

Someones dog was clearly out of control as it splashed around at the edge of the lagoon, perilously close to the breeding area-thankfully it appeared that no lasting harm was done.

One last look at Kilnsea Wetlands resulted in a nice fly-by from a pair of common terns and spoonbill numbers increased to 4 albeit they remained distant.

By 10am the sun was up, the heat was increasing as was the heat haze.

Time to go.

Another fantastic visit to the Uk’s premier wildlife watching site.