Pretty quiet on the patch during the last week but the resident pairs of Oystercatchers and Common Terns remain although the former didn't hatch any young and the latters were predated within 48 hours of hatching by the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull that's also been devouring Black-headed Gull chicks along with Gadwall and mallard ducklings and it's most recent liking Coot chicks. Up to five Little Ringed Plovers are being seen daily but the only other waders during the past week have been the first returning Common Sandpiper on the 26th and a Curlew south-east on the 27th. A Lesser Whitethroat was still rattling on the 28th, two Herring Gulls were still around on the 27th, an out of season Meadow Pipit was present on the 25th, a Water Rail was calling on 24th (and 22nd), three Teal were present on 22nd when a female Great-spotted Woodpecker was feeding a dependant juvenile, suggesting local breeding and the last Great Black-backed Gull of the spring / early summer was seen on the 21st. All the usual dragonfly and butterfly suspects except Southern Hawker and Gatekeeper have been seen including the first Essex Skipper of the year.