28th April 2021

 Weather: NE force 3/4   cool and cloudy

 The Pinkfeet are still flying north out of the estuary, can't be so many left now but 132 were counted away soon after dawn. 

 Migrants were scarce again this morning, today it was a north easterly, not especially favourable at this time but at least 2 Greenland Wheatears and 5 Goldfinches made it here. The breeding birds became a focus of interest and 2 Meadow Pipits were retrapped from 2 years ago, both were large males. It is important that experienced birds like these are part of the breeding population of Meadow Pipits. 

Apart from the regular breeding Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Wrens, other hopefuls in the breeding stakes this year include a pair of Pied Wagtails, a pair of Blackbirds, the Rock Pipits and possibly a pair of Robins. The day was good for Whimbrels, there were at least 43 roosting over the tide. They were probably the most noticeable birds during the day. Two summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits saw out the tide on the west side with the Whimbrels and a few of the smaller species. 

A pale phase Arctic Skua was seen chasing the terns, the first recorded here this year, while other sea birds included 24 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, 14 Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, 7 Common and 60 Sandwich Terns.

 The single Brent and the pair of Eider still remain.

photos JE, AS