The highlight of a quiet seawatch this morning was a colour-ringed Little Egret (blue C3) fishing in the rockpools, which is from either Norfolk of Notts – more to follow. Otherwise a build-up of terns included 80 Sandwich Tern at the Brigg / bay corner and another 37 north, and six Arctic Terns and 37 Common Terns (also north); at the Gap, a Black Tern went north (KC) as well as a Bonxie, a Pintail, five Manxies and 111 ‘commic’ terns. Two Ruff and two Dunlin were among waders at East Lea. The Greylag flock has built to an unfortunate high of at least 380 in the north of the area.
Colour-ringed Little Egret (Mark Pearson)
Yesterday (20th) saw some light movement at the Gap with highlights including 13 Yellow Wagtails and three Corn Buntings north, single Greenshank and Ruff west, and 102 House Martins south. Good numbers of hirundines remain in drifting loose flocks throughout the area but most appear to be present rather than actively migrating, although 139 Swallows and 84 House Martins were recorded doing so at the Gap on 19th.
Two Corn Buntings south and a single north were recorded passing the Gap on 18th (KC), while the season’s first Wood Sandpiper was at East Lea (KP, PP) along with a Green Sandpiper, two Little Egrets and a Black-tailed Godwit.