Tuesday 19th August

The early morning rain seemed to arrive too late for any migrants to drop into the bushes, but had the opposite effect in the estuary with a minimum of 564 Ringed Plover, the highest count since 610 on 18th August 1996. Other waders around the Bight included 200+ Dunlin, 16 Sanderling and 10 Turnstone.

A continuing arrival of terns was also notable with 370+ Common and 140 Sandwich Tern joined occasionally through the afternoon by an adult Roseate, a juvenile Black and the adult and juvenile Little Tern. 

Black Tern - Lee Collins

Little Tern - Lee Collins

Also in the estuary 225 Redshank, 15 Whimbrel, 12 Greenshank, 11 Teal, seven Mediterranean Gull, and single Bar and Black-tailed Godwit.

Elsewhere two Balearic Shearwater, eight Common Scoter, four Arctic Skua and an Eider were offshore with a Teal at the Main Pond. 

Ringing News: Amongst the increase in terns there were six colour-ringed Sandwich and a juvenile Common Tern from Holland and an adult Common Tern from Poland. A Norwegian marked Ringed Plover was picked out amongst the throng along with the long-staying Hampshire juvenile. 

Common Tern - Lee Collins. Polish ringed.