Wood and Curlew Sandpipers

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, sw 2-4 - Its been slim pickings on the local patch over the weekend with a blustery wind making for difficult viewing conditions at times. A few Yellow Wagtails and Sand Martins continued to drift south, along with Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats in the bushes, plus a Wheatear and Whinchat yesterday near Mockmill. On the bay the 300 plus Sandwich and Common Terns roosting at low tide included up to six Black Terns.
Dengemarsh Gully/Galloways - 0700hrs - The gully was virtually devoid of birds this morning, although it was a little better on the road down to the sea at Galloways where six Whinchats were the highlight, plus Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard.

                                One of six Whinchats by the Galloways bend

RSPB - A Wood Sandpiper in front of Firth hide was good to see as they`ve been few and far between this autumn. Also on Burrowes, Ruff, Common Sandpipers, Greenshank four Great White Egrets and a Black Tern. Over the road on ARC two Little Stints were present, plus Green and Common Sandpipers, LRP, Blackwit and Lapwings. Later in the afternoon the first two Curlew Sandpipers of the season dropped in, while a Glossy Ibis was reported from the hayfields.

                               Wood Sandpiper from Firth hide