Weather: E force 3/4 drizzle early and rain showers later.
A very high tide today meant waders rested towards noon as feeding places became scarce.
A Greenshank was in the lagoon early on then roosted with Redshank on Middle.
A male Merlin flew south near the light.
...... then a female/immature Merlin was robbed of its prey by a large Peregrine (immature/female), another Peregrine which was an adult was also recorded as was the Kestrel. Sea birds were had to come by apart from 3 Red-throated Divers but a count of 425 Common Scoter, mostly distant, included a small number that were close to the island.
Cormorants left the estuary before the tide, 650 in total, and a single Shag was about the island. There were 8 Eiders including an adult male. A Snipe at the south end was the best wader today, although large numbers of other species could be counted at the high tide. No less than 11,000 Oystercatchers roosted and also able to be counted were 123 Curlew, 223 Dunlin, 87 Redshank, 41 Ringed Plover, 64 Turnstone, a Grey Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Passerine migration was impressive again especially 62 Siskins, several Meadow Pipits and a Redpoll. Two Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were here, while some of the regulars present on the island were 6 Blackbirds (some may be new birds judging by one that was ringed and exhibited a long wing length), 2 Song Thrushes and 9 Rock Pipits. A young Grey Seal decided to haul out by the north end slipway.
The moth trap was not deployed this morning but a Dark Arches moth was noticed resting on the sleeve of the Newton trap.
Photos SRW
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