11:05-12:40 – Julian Russell reported a Spoonbill on the east flood and also that a Turtle Dove had returned to its station on the weather vane. I dropped into see them; the Spoonbill, initially asleep, performed well feeding in the NW corner of the east flood. A flock of 28 Knot came in with five in Red breeding plumage though the others were not that Great. An immature Great Black-backed Gull was resting on one of the islands and a Corn Bunting flew east over the road. It was good to see Murray Wright down at the marshes again. He reported having seen two Common Sandpipers along the creek. Bo Boelans reported a Hobby and, apparently, one had been seen the day before.
I saw Philip Goatcher at Swalecliffe who reported seeing three Little Terns on the Swale off Uplees on 29th. New birds for the year have been queing up for attention in the last few days. However, the year total of 128 species at the end of the month is ten species down on the same time last year. Birds not yet reported include Swift and Lesser Whitethroat.
Geoff Burton
Spoonbill – Mike Gould
Knot – Mike Gould