Saturday, 6 May 2023

Saturday 6th May

A very wet start to the day, slowly clearing to a dry and sunny end, The conditions no doubt hampered migration but the year's first Lesser Whitethroat made landfall along with single Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler.

Visibility offshore was poor first thing, but occasional breaks showed there seemed to be little moving with just 12 Gannet, 10 Kittiwake, three Fulmar and a Manx Shearwater south although a few small groups of Dunlin and Whimbrel were watched arriving.

A smart adult Little Tern was in the estuary over high tide, with two Sandwich Tern, a first summer Mediterranean Gull and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Wader numbers were similar to recent days, with arrivals, departures and some still refuelling, including Whimbrel D23 for a third day. Counts included 62 Dunlin, 54 Whimbrel, 46 Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Sanderling, 12 Ringed and nine Grey Plover, five Turnstone and a Knot.

Wildlife News: An increasing number of plants are coming into flower each day with Yellow Flag and Yellow Rattle both out this afternoon, along with a growing number of clovers and trefoils. The three Green-winged Orchid continue to bloom.

Green-winged Orchid - Kevin Rylands

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