A decent morning with, once again, very little breeze on a SE>1 and full cloud at 14 degrees.
I'm beginning to wear a track along the west bank I've been on it that many times but, needs must, as that is where the waders are preferring at the moment, rather than the south shore.
Not a wader present this morning but a good count of 86 LBB, 3 Herring and 14 Black Headed gulls but all very agitated keeping on the water or in the air and very noisy as if something threatening had flown through, which could account for no waders. It was about 30 minutes before they started to settle down and return to the shore.
A clear out of Stonechat from yesterday with just 3 distant birds present but no Whinchat and very few Mipits and Goldfinch.
The south shore held 9 Wheatear including 2 juvs whilst one chunkier long legged Wheatear stood out from the crowd with its very deep colouring and more upright stand. I took it as a good contender for a Greenland, leucorhoa, showing 7, possibly 8, primary tips as opposed to 5 or 6 on a Northern although none of these characteristics can be used as a definite i.d. saying it could even be an 'intergrade'. Its a bit early for Greenland at this site as they are usually the last through although I have had them previously at this time of year.
A Willow Warbler was nice to get in the lagoon tree but I could'nt check the passerine hotspot in the compound with Sunday sailors arriving.
Overhead a Raven was cronking over the quarry whilst, movement wise, 38 Swallows headed >NE and a single Cormorant headed >SW very high.
A single Tufted on the water and the local female Mallard which has done well to hang on to its 4 young which now look ready for fledging anytime.
Just 3 weeks now before the skeins of Pink Footed geese start to show, usually round Sept 12th.
A sunny day given for tomorrow with a light sou'wester starting off at 15 degrees. An unusual forecast for a usually wet Bank Holiday Monday.
BS