16th-17th May

Coastal waders continue to dominate sightings over the two days with some impressive numbers passing through, especially on 17th and the majority being in smart summer-plumage. Counts from that date included 8 Golden Plovers, 200 Ringed Plovers, 106 Knots, 389 Sanderlings, 166 Purple Sandpipers, 124 Dunlins, 20 Whimbrels, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 1210 Turnstones. There was also our second Pectoral Sandpiper of the spring which showed well for an hour or so on a small scape near Bridesness, and a Wood Sandpiper was at Ancum (with it or another at Gretchen briefly on 16th) while the days highlight was our second Goosander of the year-a redhead which flew south over the island mid-morning. Other birds of note from the 17th included a Barnacle Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 21 Lesser black-backed Gulls, 5 Collared Doves, a Woodpigeon, a Tree Pipit, a handful of new Warblers including a Garden Warbler and a late wave of Wheatears with 71 counted. The previous day (16th) had been quieter but there were 2 Common Sandpipers and with roughly half the number of the above wader species present. Arctic Tern numbers were up to 866, a male Redstart and 4 Mealy Redpolls were seen and there was a movement of hirundines, with 144 Swallows, 8 Sand Martins and 3 House Martins having gathered at the south end by the evening.

Pectoral Sandpiper