4th-5th May

The southerly winds continued, which brought in some good numbers of birds. The 4th was relatively quiet, Arctic Terns rose to 202, and migrants included 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin and 1 Willow Warbler.  The 5th was a better day, with the first 2 Lesser Redpolls and the first Swift of the year recorded. Also seen were 26 Carrion Crow, 5 Woodpigeon, 55 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 26 Wheatears (including 2 Greenland) 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Siskin, and singles of Tree Pipit and Goldfinch. Wader flocks have been gradually increasing with good numbers on the 5th, 430 Turnstones, 217 Sanderling and 113 Purple Sandpipers were counted, although Whimbrel numbers were down to 4. Arctic Terns kept streaming in with 390 seen, and 67 Kittiwakes were sighted passing by offshore. On both days Peregrine and Merlin were present, as were a pair of Garganey on Garso and 3 Barnacle Geese in fields near Hooking. 

Short-eared Owl (photo George Gay)

 Dunlin and Sanderling (photo Euan Ferguson)

Wader flock (photo Euan Ferguson)


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