Tern it down....

......come on Tern it down...
I cant stand no more of that god awful sound
so for gods sake Tern it down....!
          Turn it Down, Bennet, Anthony/Scott, George/Gordon, Rexton

Obviously one of the highlights today at the pits was the Common Tern, my first for the year, that sat for a while on one of the posts.  Does anyone know where the nearest breeding colony is?....Is there a colony closer than Rye Harbour, which must be about 30 miles away??

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo

0530 - 0800 NE f2-4, overcast, cool

I arrived about an hour later than I meant to....having set my alarm on my phone...but I set it for Monday morning rather than today, Sunday....!  Perhaps things happen for a reason....maybe I would have missed this Tern if I had been earlier.....
Today was the official WeBS count for June, so it was more about counting what was on the pits than doing a complete sojourn around the site.

The bright and breezy Dyers Greenweed....or 'waxen woad'......was looking rather splendid....

Dyers Greenweed, Genista tinctoria

......you can eat the leaves....or pickle the flower buds and use them instead of capers (should you ever be out of capers and the shop is shut)....not that I am planning to go and do either of these....nor will I be colouring any clothing with this plant, which apparently gives a 'green colour' (that may be obvious)....and if you have gout, rheumatism...or that well known modern phenomenon, dropsy (these days a doctor may refer to it as Oedema).....this may be the plant for you....though I would suggest seeking a medical (and possibly a mental) opinion first....

Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Feral Pigeon, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Crow, Great Tit, Wren, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Linnet, Goldfinch, Magpie, Robin, Dunnock, Skylark, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, Jay, Long Tail Tit (including brown juveniles), Greenfich.

Warbler Count
5 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Chiffchaff
6 Blackcap

Nightingales have ceased....

On the pits.....
34 Mallard
46 Coot
5 Moorhen
12 Mute Swan
8 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
11 Tufted Duck
7 Greylag Goose
3 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
4 Lesser Black Back Gull
1 Black Headed Gull
1 Common Tern
1 Kingfisher