A Wash Out

First thing this morning sea passage was nil in the drizzle! I gave up after 45 minutes with grand totals of 12 Common Terns, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Swallow in and a few Gannnets off shore with a couple of Harbour Porpoises.

A Black Redstart on the power station wall and a Willow Warbler by the car park were the only birds of note on the way to the obs.

At the back of the obs was a Whinchat my first of the year, a wander around the southern part of trapping area and the desert in the increasingly heavy rain was virtually bird less. Back in the moat several Common Whitethroats and the Whinchat.

At the south end of the ARC a party of 21 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Whimbrel and the Spotted Redshank. A Great White Egret was sheltering under the bank, also another on New Diggings and 4 Swifts through.  

A brief dry spell early afternoon allowed a wander around the Willow Trail and up to the tower with King Squacco before the rain set in again.  In that time a Lesser Whitethroat was singing by the car park as were Common Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti's Warbler which were found all along the walk, also plenty of Reed Buntings and a 3 Whimbrel. At the tower we just missed a male Hen Harrier but saw 2 Marsh Harriers and a Hobby another first of the year for me.