Castle Island on Sunday 18th proved a good stop ,as 27 Black tailed Godwits fed in the muddy shallows of the island. Nearby,among the flocks of Lapwings and Black headed Gulls,were 3 Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. A female Gooseander fished the river,as did several Common Terns.
Moving on to Cresswell where I had just missed a Merlin go through,a Barn Owl showing well,and a Spotted Redshank on the mud . 3 Knot, several Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper had returned to feed. Another good number of Black tails here, this time 23 in total, some coming in from the north east.
Heading up to Druridge Pools, a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail showed in front of the hide,and a family of 4 Otters had been seen earlier.Two Kestrels seen also. A Sparrowhawk caused panic among the Swallows and Sand Martins feeding over the main pool, 40+ of the latter counted. Large young in the Swallows nest in the hide.
Butterflies included around 25 Walls, 15 Large Whites, a Small Copper and one of each of Dark Green Fritilliary and Comma. Several Peacocks and Tortoiseshells.
At St Marys, today 81 Sanderling now and 36 Ringed Plover on the beach with a single Bar tailed Godwit. A large flock of Oystercatchers gathered at their high tide roost on the island. 80-90 House Sparrows was noteworthy too. No sign today of the increasing Golden Plover flock. No doubt in the nearby fields somewhere.
At Seaton Sluice , 90-100 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins and several House Martins were gathered on wires and feeding over grass banks, many of the Swallows being youngsters.
Here on the 19th, 7 Whimbrel flew south.
A.S.J.
