Two Minke whales went north past the Brigg this morning with a third past the Gap earlier, and other movement at sea included 97 Sandwich Terns and 46 Knot. On the Brigg, a further 51 Knot were among a good cast of waders which also included 15 Dunlin and 21 Turnstones, as well a a further 13 Sandwich Terns and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull among increasing numbers of large gulls. A single Wood Sandpiper and three Common Sandpipers were at the Dams / East Lea.
Mediterranean Gull, Dams (Mark Pearson)
Yesterday (30th), three Wood, five Green and seven Common Sandpipers were commuting between East Lea and the Dams, while three Pied Flycatchers (an unusually early high count) and a small increase in common warblers was evident in Top Scrub.
On 29th, a Spotted Redshank circled the Dams but though better of it early on, where threes of Golden Plover and Redshank and four Black-tailed Godwits also went over. The godwits soon returned to East Lea, where there were three Wood Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and a Little Egret. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at the Dams late on; Up to four Dunlin and five Snipe have also been frequenting both wetland sites in recent days.
Holly Blue (Judith Henley)
On 28th, a Pied Flycatcher (the season’s first) was in Top Scrub, two Wood Sandpipers and 33 Teal were at the Dams, and off the Brigg, 14 Sanderlings, a Common Sandpiper, two Golden Plovers, 54 Whimbrel, 15 Knot and 27 Sandwich Terns went south.