Thursday 23rd April

On the morning tide, 49 Pale-bellied Brent Geese came in off the sea and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser were present again in the estuary.  Wader totals were 11 Grey Plover, three Ringed Plover, 101 Dunlin, four Sanderling, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Curlew and c.15 Whimbrel.  A Hobby passed low overhead though passage was light with only a single Sand Martin, 20 Swallow and five Goldfinch through.  In the bushes and reed-beds, the site's first for the year two Sedge Warbler and four Reed Warbler, also five Whitethroat, four Blackcap and three Chiffchaff.  Quiet at sea, at least 20 Sandwich Tern, two Great Crested Grebe and two Guillemot the only birds of note.