Monday 23rd September 2013

A punishing six hours of searching offered little of note. 19 Dark-bellied and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and only 265 Wigeon, 4 Teal and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.  At hide tide, 74 Ringed Plover, 41 Dunlin, 24 Sanderling, 301 Redshank, a Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Bar-tailed Godwit, 287 Curlew, a Whimbrel, a Snipe and 6 Turnstone.  At sea, a Red-throated Diver still, a huge Arctic Skua looped inshore briefly to chase terns, c30 Sandwich, 5 Common and 3 Arctic Tern.  Overhead, 234 Swallow, a Sand Martin, a Grey Wagtail and c35 Meadow Pipit.  No interest emanated from the bushes.