Easterly and North Easterly airflow during this period without an awful lot to report though some nice birds and close views of things I don’t see very regularly. A continental Coal tit on the 31 was nice, angrily popped up in front of my in the Top wood clearing and eventually showed nicely.
Steve Ray had found a Dartford Warbler in Fan bay last week. I’d seen it from a distance a couple of times however it gave itself up tremendously on the 1st, showing down to a few feet.
The forecast for the 3rd was pretty strong NE winds and a Seawatch from the bay was highlighted by a brilliant Leach’s petrel initially picked up by Phil close in heading upchannel, shearing beautifully in great light, I later picked up what we presume was the same bird slowly heading downchannel slightly further out. Nige picked up an equally close Pale–bellied Brent goose and other seawatching highlights include a drake Long tailed duck, Pintails, RB merganser, Bonxie etc Avocet and 4 Redshank, the latter of these actually pretty rare bird locally.
An attempt to bring some gulls into the bay was halted when I realised a Purple sandpiper was sitting directly at my feet, on the groin at the North of the bay, not very often I see them upclose so that was enjoyed.
A few days left of calm weather before I head to India for work, I’ll be certainly spending some time looking for rare Wheatears!
