Thursday 3 May 2018

`Missing` shorebirds

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - After the excitement of yesterdays seabird passage it was a return to more mundane fare today commencing with a circuit of the local patch. Pretty much all the breeding birds are now on station, although hopefully there should be a few more Whitethroats to come. Several Cuckoos were actively flying over the reedbeds, checking on the Reed Warblers no doubt, while a Sparrowhawk took a Starling off the shingle ridges. On the passage migrant front, Swift, Swallow and Yellow Wagtail all noted flying over, plus five grounded Wheatears on the Desert. As the shingle warmed up so a few Buzzards, Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel hit the thermals. Once again there were few waders on the beach at the Lade end, so I decided to go in search for the `lost` shorebirds.
Littlestone - Found `em! Yes, they were all on the foreshore at low tide opposite the old lifeboat station: 210 Oystercatcher, 180 Curlew, 55 Barwit, 40 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling, 15 Knot, 8 Ringed Plover. Was also good to see a few House Martins flying around the traditional colony on the Gothic house.
ARC - Very quiet here this afternoon, in contrast to yesterday, with just a couple of Little Egrets and a Hobby of note.

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