Thursday 26th September 2013

Gloomy, misty and a light SE breeze.  A Wryneck appeared late morning in the meadow behind the tractor compound before flying off to 'Cuckoo's Nest' (the copse on the dune ridge).  The bushes and dunes also held a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear, 16 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff and 7 Reed Bunting.  In the estuary, 10 Brent Geese, a large raft of Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe.  In The Bight on the rising tide, a pair of Peregrine consumed an unidentified wader, but other waders still boldly dropped in, totals being 59 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 2 juv Curlew Sandpiper again, and 314 Dunlin, a welcome ten-fold increase.  Also 2 White Wagtail there.  24 Sanderling were again on the beach.  The sea was quiet, brief looks produced a Balearic Shearwater, 2 Great Crested Grebe, the raft of c.40 Common Scoter, 33 Sandwich and an Arctic Tern.  A Water Rail called from the Main Pond.  Overhead, a Tufted Duck flew in off, circled and continued up estuary; also over 101 Swallow, 4 Grey Wagtail, 59 Meadow Pipit, 25+ 'alba' Wagtail.