2nd June - cool northerly again, 12mph, very brief sunny intervals afternoon, 13C

I visited Brandon Marsh this evening not expecting too much due to the cool, dull weather again (the forecast is for summer returning over the coming weekend).  It was good to see that Oystercatchers and Lapwing pairs had chicks out and about, the Redshank may have to, but I could not see them.  Interestingly the two largest Oystercatcher chicks swam across the open water to get from island to the next, I've not seen them do that before.

Common Terns seemed to be sitting on eggs.  Sand Martin were dashing about catching food for young and a few Swallow and Swift made brief appearances

A single Ringed and Little ringed Plover were on the main east marsh island.  There were plenty of Gadwall, some looked like they had begun moulting.  Also, two Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Mallard and a pair of Teal.  About 100 Lesser-black backed Gulls and a few Herrring Gulls were present and more  Gulls were coming in as dusk approached.   

Bird song was much reduced, Blackbird, Song Thrush were the obvious giving it ago.  Occasionally, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Cetti's Warbler would sing.  A Cuckoo did call frequently, which was a bonus as they will some be quite again.  Several Great spotted Woodpeckers were around, presumably some were young that have fledged and a Green Woodpecker often called.

I saw 54 species in all, however not surprisingly, many insects and butterflies were conspicuous by their absence.