A run up to the Bay in the hope of another view of the mobile Bridle Tern ,on it’s return from a visit to Saltholme , saw me join around 120 very disgruntled folk, either staring into space at Chevington or searching among the hundreds of feeding terns off Cresswell village . Out of these guys, only one other was a local. Much grumbling was heard about giving up twitching!
Back to those common Terns, and yes, many were of that species , together with Arctic and Sandwich either loafing on the rocks ,or bringing in fish to the many young birds – around 400-500 birds in total. An Arctic and a Pomarine Skua caused a bit of concern ,before moving on .
Up at East Chevington, another mixed group of Terns- about 100 on the N. pool.
A Barn Owl hunted at Cresswell,hovering often in the dunes and taking prey to it’s young. A single Avocet, a Little Gull and 2 Black tailed Godwits also here, as were several Reed and Sedge Warblers,and a Grasshopper Warbler. ( On my last visit a few days earlier 5 Arctic Skuas were at the pond , before flying south west ,then turning over the village to reach the sea).
Down at St Marys, the first returning Golden Plover seen on the rocks -29 birds with 6 Dunlin. A 2nd year Med. Gull also on the shore and an adult seen at nearby South Beach, Blyth.
A.S. Jack ( inadvertently omitted my name from last St Marys post.)