6th May 2014

Weather:- W later NW force 2/3, sunny and mostly warm
After an excellent spell for migrants, the wind has finally turned west, dampening the hopes of members while it lasts. True to form there was very little in the paddocks at dawn although 2 Willow Warblers came in later, and the 2 and then 3 Wheatears passed through very quickly. Staying longer were 4 White Wagtails around the north end giving hope of some to be ringed and for most of the time they were elusive but one eventually sampled the meal worms and was ringed, becoming the 5th caught this spring. First thing this morning a female Goosander flew across between the islands where a Common Sandpiper called around the rocks. The 2 resident Swallows had to contend with 50 or so migrants through their feeding area, also a single House Martin, while a Goldfinch was the only non-resident finch. Small flocks of Dunlin still fly about the sands, and a larger group of 700 flew north after dawn, other waders on the log today were 10 Whimbrel, 7 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit. A female kestrel arrived late morning, earlier a Peregrine was at a kill off the east side.
Ringed:- 2 Willow Warblers, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin          [ 520-30 ]
(DB,CJ,DCT,PT,NDW)