Tuesday 24th September 2013

Again quite gruelling; in the estuary 16 Brent Geese, 473 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 106 Mallard (counted out at first light from the roost) and the Slavonian Grebe.  A Mediterranean Gull was amongst the 215 Black-headed Gull on the mudflats. At high tide, 19 Little Egret, 31 Ringed Plover, 7 Grey Plover dropped in, a Knot, 31 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling on the beach, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 324 Curlew and 261 Redshank.   At sea, 3 Balearic Shearwater, including one close inshore briefly with the Shag feeding flock.  Overhead, c85 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 9 Grey Wagtail, c.50 'alba' wagtail (some from a reed-bed roost) and 117 Meadow Pipit.  The bushes and dunes were flattered with a Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler and 4 Reed Bunting, otherwise very quiet.