1st-15th July

Waders were the main birds of interest in the first half of July, with a Red-necked Phalarope seen on Gretchen on the 3^rd alongside the first Curlew Sandpiper of the year. Another 3 phalaropes were on Gretchen on the 10^th, which increased to 4 on the 11^th and 12^th.  Bar-tailed Godwit numbers remain unusually high on Gretchen with 87 counted on the 5^th. Other wader numbers are rising with 63 Knot and 62 Dunlin recorded on the 14^th, 7 Purple Sandpipers on the 11^th and 400 Golden Plover on the 15^th.  Stragglers of spring migration included a Chiffchaff and Sand Martin both at Holland on the 2^nd. A Short-eared Owl was at Sandar on the 5^th. The main effort at the moment continues to be focused on ringing, with 100 Black Guillemot chicks so far and the final Arctic Tern chick total 212 birds. A productive 3 nights of Storm Petrel ringing at Bewan saw 430 birds netted, including a retrap Leach’s Petrel ringed here last year. 

 Red-necked Phalaropes

Curlew Sandpiper 

 Arctic Tern chick

Great Skua chick

(All photos George Gay)