A lot of things get me down these days, climate change, threat of war, cost of living, not seeing a Small Tortoiseshell this year, (not seeing much of anything this year actually) but what's really depressed me is eating a shop bought tomato after a couple of months of home grown only.

Sitting watching House Martins and realising that it's only the second day this year that you've seen any is quite depressing.

It's called summer, enjoy it.

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!