Spoonbill!

Arriving at an empty car park by the power station did not bode well. Either BB and AJG had been and gone or decided not to bother, the latter being the case.

07.25-08.30 from the sea watch hide joined by PT:

Red-throated Diver: 1E

Fulmar: 4E 1W

Gannet: 58E

Brent Goose: 6E

Common Scoter: 3E

Mallard: 2E

Shoveller: 2E

Sandwich Tern: c10 o/s

Common Tern: 2E

Comic Tern: flock of 70 that spiralled up high and disappeared E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Harbour Porpoise: 2+ o/s

A Black Redstart was at West Beach. In the trapping area I heard and caught glimpses of the Hume's Leaf Warbler, which is now getting very hard to see with all the leaves and buds on the Sallows, also there 2 Chiffchaffs.

At Scotney 18 Avocets and the 2 Egyptian Geese on the back pits, a Common Buzzard over, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Corn Buntings around the farm and a Swallow through, but no sign of the Long-tailed Duck,the Little Ringed Plover was still on the turf but elusive.

A late afternoon walk from Springfield Bridge around the reserve was more in hope than expectation. As passed the top end of Hay field 3 an adult Spoonbill flew towards me from Christmas Dell and looked as if it would settle in the hay field but attention by Crows persuaded it to turn and head in the general direction of the observatory. A few minutes later I saw it circling over the visitor centre, it then dropped onto the causeway between Christmas Dell and New Excavations. Little else of note was seen during the rest of my visit.  

Adult Spoonbill over Hay field 3

Spoonbill Christmas Dell from the hide