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What to look for in August
The quietest months are past and although you may think of August as a summer month, in fact in the bird world, this is the real start of autumn.
There is a single Black Necked Grebe record in August and a single Slavonian Grebe record, although these species are considered more as rare winter visitors.
Young Grey Herons can appear now, fresh from their breeding areas. The 2009 Great White Egret appeared on August 13th and further birds have been seen in 2012, 2016 and 2018 as they become more common nationally.
Occasional Common Scoter have been seen in August with recent records in 2000 and 2004.
An Osprey was seen in 2004.
The waders start to appear if water levels are low enough. There are 3 August records of Curlew, 9 records of Dunlin and the only record of Curlew Sandpiper was on the last day of August 1967. 'Autumn' Green Sandpipers may be seen in August and it is a recent favourite month for Greenshank as well. The 2009 Spotted Redshank arrived on August 13th and stayed for a week. Nearly all records of Ringed Plover have been in August and half of the Little Ringed Plovers, as have half of the Oystercatcher records and 2 of the 4 Turnstones. Low water levels persuaded a Black Tailed Godwit to stay for 3 days in August 2004 and 'Blackwits' were then also seen in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
The Black Tern and Common Tern records peak in August and September with a smaller but similar peak for Arctic Tern. 2 of the 6 records for Sandwich Tern were in August.
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