16th April 2024

 Weather: NW force 4/5

 Following yesterdays gale the strong north westerly blew sand across the foreshore as the tide was very small. A Chiffchaff was on the island but we had to wait until later in the afternoon for the bonus of a male Blackcap to ring.

Four Goldfinches  and 3 Woodpigeons visited, one of the group arrived randomly from the south. 

Earlier the sea was the main interest in these conditions, and a good list resulted from a period of watching. Counts included 176 Gannets, 200 Common Scoter, 3 Razorbills, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, a Red-breasted Merganser, while terns noted were 16 Common and 3 Arctic with 280 Sandwich around all day. 

 

There are still plenty of Brent about, 122 counted today as they gathered with 2 of the 7 Eiders as the tide flooded.

Some were getting feisty before departure.

Four Little Egret were feeding in the gutter with some of the 65 Redshank.

No real tide today to make the waders crowd into a roost, but some others seen were 44 Knot, 45 Ringed Plover, 32 Turnstone and 5 Purple Sandpipers. Large numbers of herring (and other large gulls) were feeding on starfish and razorclam wreck following weekend storm.

 

 Ringed: 1 Blackcap.

Photos: SRW