Migrants in the rain

An hour at the fishing boats in the rain was uninspiring. A few Terns and Gannets feeding off shore, the only birds moving were 22 Teal and 2 Wigeon west.

At the south end of the ARC 2 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Little Egrets, from Hanson another Black-necked Grebe, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper,1 Common Sandpiper and a few Sand Martins over the pit. Round the hide and in the bushes by the track to the pines in a short let up in the rain c20 Common Whitethoats, c15 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 6+ Yellow Wagtails.

 In a morning and afternoon visit to Galloways and Dengemarsh 2 Common Redstarts, 4 Whinchats, 6 Wheatears, c 30 Common Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a few Swallows. Also a Pied flycatcher per Neil Burt.

 Late morning round the observatory, Lloyds, West Beach and the Lighthouse 2 Pied Flycatchers (my first of the year), the juvenile Cuckoo still by the Heligoland trap, 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 6 Common Whitethroats.