Weather: WNW force 4, rain at first, veering NW 4
As the morning tide came in 2 adult Mediterranian Gulls were spotted on the East Hoyle, one had a colour ring which was sadly too distant to read. The on-shore wind gave good opportunities for close pictures from the sea. Sixteen Gannets dived off the island.
Sandwich Tern numbers have built up to about 200 now with some feeding young.
Also recorded on the sea were a single Common Tern, 8 Common Scoter and 5 Manx Shearwaters which flew east across the mouth of the swash, west of the island. Nine Little Egrets were counted and the best of the waders were 12 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plover and 300 Oystercatcher.
The 2 Eider noted were the flightless female which has been in the area for many years now and an eclipse plumage male. On the island 2 White Wagtails and 2 Goldfinches were noted, also a passing Greenfinch with about 40 breeding Linnets still showing.
Earlier before the tide a Peregrine was on the sands eating it's kill while later the female Kestrel was here, hunting the island voles.
A couple of the less common plants seen here today were the Sea Holly and some Glasswort.
Photos AEH
