4th and 5th May


Damp in the morning of the 4th but it brightened up later in the day; the birding doldrums continued though with another quiet day in field as migrants on the land consisted of single Sparrowhawk and Merlin, 5 Whimbrel, a Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Doves, 13 Sand Martins, 29 Swallows, a Rock Pipit, a White Wagtail, 44 Wheatears, a Redwing, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Brambling and the only notable event of the day – a bit of a corvid arrival including 19 Hooded Crows and 27 Carrion Crows.

                Other little bits included a Manx Shearwater offshore, the Kumlien’s Gull still and the steadily increasing Arctic Terns, today reaching a count of 131.

                Bright and sunny on the 5th with some good wader counts dominating the log which comprised 127 Ringed Plovers, 412 Sanderling, 70 Bar-tailed Godwits, 7 Whimbrel and 357 Turnstone; along with these 202 Arctic Terns was another increase, a female Garganey was on Ancum where the Whooper Swan remained while 18 Shoveler was a good count and 4 Long-tailed Ducks were still offshore.

                Land migrants included a Merlin, 4 Woodpigeons, a Collared Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 18 Sand Martins, 2 Rock Pipits, 51 Wheatears, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Rook, 5 Carrion Crows, 2 Goldfinches, a Common Redpoll and a smart male Brambling in full song at the Obs.


Arctic Skua                                           Simon Davies


Mixed waders                                    Simon Davies

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