Warm, dry and sunny, N 2 - A cracking morning to be out and about around the local patch at Lade with Ted. The Black-necked Grebe count was up to six on south lake; whether or not some or all were from the flock of a fortnight ago its impossible to say. Either way its the most I`ve seen here in nearly 20 years, where they were in company with 25 Great Crested and eight Little Grebes. When we first arrived in the early morning chill, hundreds of Sand Martins were feeding low over the water but as the temperature rose so did they, skywards and away south on their long journey towards Africa. Grounded migrants included a handful of Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers by the ponds and several Wheatears and Stonechats on the Desert along with a light overhead passage of Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. Whilst scanning from the ramp news came through of an Osprey over the point, of which I had distant views of as it went out to sea. Also noted: a Raven and a Ringed Plover over calling, a Green Woodpecker on the Desert and two Common Sandpipers around the lakeside margins. NB: A Black Tern was also seen on lake this morning (DS).
Moving onto Kerton Quarry where the high tide wader roost comprised the usual hundreds of Oystercatchers, Curlews and gulls, plus 100 Sandwich Terns, 10 Med Gulls, six Knots, six Bar-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel. Duck numbers were low but did include two Shelducks. Whilst there everything briefly took flight as an Osprey flew over and headed out across the bay, presumably a different bird to the one earlier.
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