A touch of west in the wind helped

The northerly wind was still quite fresh, but more to west today. The sun was out early but cool in the wind. It clouded over by lunchtime with just a few sunny spells later.

South shore ((MD)
07:15 - 08:45 just before high water.
Wheatear- initial walk from Red Nab to the saltmarsh located 7, return walk 45 minutes later found 12. They seemed to be moving through quickly but could have included some of the same birds. One near lighthouse in the evening brings day minimum to 13.

This juvenile provided a good shot of its flight feathers.

Rock Pipit 1 on saltmarsh, 3 Red Nab plus 1 near lighthouse in the evening.

Rock Pipit

Meadow Pipit 1 - grounded on Red Nab

Meadow Pipit

Mediterranean gulls - I managed to confirm 12 on Red Nab, almost certainly woefully undercounted. Pete counted 36 yesterday. Probably similar today.

Waders:
These neap tides do not cover the mud out from the saltmarsh at high water. With the low sun behind you,  it is ideal to view the feeding waders from the mud in front of the saltmarsh. Unfortunately today's tide was a bit too low (7.7m) so the waders remained a long way off. Even so there were c2000 on the water's edge nearest to Ocean Edge. Comprising, in order of abundance, Knot, Grey Plover, Curlew, Bar-Tailed Godwit and Dunlin.

This small group were resting closer in.
Mainly Grey Plover with a couple of Knot and Dunlin in the middle.

Little Egret 13 - including this group of 9 on the saltmarsh. At least 4 of these, and probably 5 were juvenile (by absence of plume). All 9 were constantly preening with their heads buried, so it wasn't easy to check.

The juvenile far left still has yellow/greenish legs.

The juvenile far right looks particularly waifish.

Evening check of Jetty area and outflows
Common gull 1 juvenile on No.2 outflow
Mediterranean gulls - 46 feeding on the beach next to jetty, including 1 juvenile

Juvenile Common gull

Juvenile Med gull

Hopefully more records to come.