The Somme 30/04/2019

 Turtle Dove at Saille-Bray

 1 of the White Storks at Saille-Bray

Tuesday 30th April CP picked myself, MH and AJG up at 04.30 and headed for the Eurotunnel. WE arrived at Saille-Bray around 07.00. Song Thrushes were everywhere singing and many with beaks full of food for their young, a Savi's Warbler was reeling and showing well for the scope out in the reed bed but for the first time we didn't see any Bluethroats even though 4 were seen a couple of weeks ago, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers and Common Whitethroats were singing, a couple of Grey Partridges were seen, as well as all 3 Egrets, Storks, Marsh Harriers, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff,  Black-winged Stilts, White and Yellow Wagtails and a lovely Turtle Dove and much more.

 4 Black-winged stilts at Saille-Bray

 White and Yellow Wagtails at Sailly-Bray

 At Least 22 Black-winged Stilts mating at the pools near Saint Valery-sur-Somme

At the pools near Saint Valery-sur-Somme more Black-winged Stilts, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, Avocets, many Greenshanks, many Great White and Little Egrets, Spoonbills, Storks, Yellow Wagtails, Little Ringed Plovers, Hobby and the common Warblers. 

 Black-winged Stilt and Wood Sandpiper near Saint Valery-sur-Somme

 100+ Whimbrel in Le Crotoy Harbour

A cooffee stop at Le Crotoy Harbour saw 100+ Whimbrel, 100+ Redshanks, many Greenshanks, more Egrets, singing Nightingales and the only Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the day.

 8+ Black-winged Stilts at La Basse Pools

La Basse Pools as usual gave us superb views of more Black-winged Stilts, Cattle and Great White Egrets, Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Storks, Common Buzzards etc.

At a nearby car park 6 Nightingales were singing around us and a Tree Pipit was seen.

 10s several Cattle Egrets at La Basse pools

 Great White Egret at La Basse pools

 Reeling Savi's Warbler near Le Crotoy

We finished the day at a reed bed near Le Crotoy where 3 reeling Savi's Warbler were located, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Bluethroats, Water Rail, more Egrets, Storks, Yellow Wagtails, Greenshanks as well as Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. A superb end to a great day out with many thanks to Chris for doing the driving.

Black Redstart in the usual garden at Nolette