Most waders for a while

The day didn't start off promising for "Irish sea day" at Half Moon Bay, with early showers and overcast. But it brightened up and ended up warm and sunny.

Half Moon Bay (Malcolm)

Just an hour mid morning

Grey Wagtail 1 came in off from the west

Pied Wagtail 5 feeding on kelp fly maggots in the wrack on the tideline.

Grey Heron 2 - 1 north and 1 chased east by territorial gulls

Little Egret 1 feeding

South shore (Malcolm)

Couldn't get to Red Nab early enough in the afternoon to watch the tide approach it, so I went out on the mud from the saltmarsh, expecting the Peregrine or holidaymakers to flush the Red Nab gulls. It didn't happen!

Mediterranean gull just 1 adult rested with the Black-Headed and Common gulls on the mud

This Lesser Black-Backed gull took exception to me!

Common and Black-Headed gulls stretching their wings

Curlew only 30 seen heading south, but it was late in the tide and most would already be at their high water roost.

Whimbrel 3

Whimbrel 

Lapwing 2

Swallow 1 south

Heliport wall - Near Naze (Malcolm)

I just stopped by on my way home, and miraculously, there was no disturbance. It was almost high water and the Near Naze and Heliport wall were full of waders.

Just Oystercatcher on the Near Naze

But a nice cosmopolitan mix on the sloping heliport wall.

Best estimate of numbers

Oystercatcher 930 (Near Naze and sloping wall)

Redshank 200

Knot 37

Turnstone 24

Redshank, Knot and Turnstone 

Oystercatcher and Knot

So, seven species of waders today. I'm going to check out the skear in the morning, it will be interesting to see what waders are there.