Thursday 9th July

A significant upswing in Mediterranean Gull sightings since 2000 has been generated by passage birds from about mid-June to early-November with a peak in July and August.  Notably heavy since 2017, the forecast for the site to support a three-figure count was achieved in style today with 123+ Mediterranean Gull present, 52 offshore flew south or foraged offshore early morning and another 71 were in the estuary.

Two Arctic Tern offshore included a first-summer bird and another immature (2cy or 3cy) was in the estuary.

Immature Arctic Tern (2cy or 3cy) on 'Woodhenge' - Lee Collins

The west-southwesterly breeze and light overnight rain drew observers to the sea where also seen were still large numbers of gulls foraging offshore which included lots of Kittiwake; also 70 Gannet, seven Manx Shearwater, five Common Scoter, four Arctic Skua, few Sandwich Tern, two Yellow-legged Gull, single Great Skua, Fulmar,  Common Tern and the immature Great Northern Diver again.  

The only other report today was of the three 'red-head' Goosander still fishing the estuary shallows.