Diminishing Returns

The anticyclonic conditions persist with a light northeasterly to easterly wind. The migrants have presumably poured through already as there seems to be less and less each day. We need a change in weather and fortunately there is change in the forecast with a strengthening easterly airflow for the next couple of days and then hopefully some southeasterlies and a southerly airflow later in the week. 

On the way to the Bill this morning I stopped off at Ferrry and the Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Garganey were all still present with Green and Common Sandpiper, LRP and a Greenshank in the Channel. On the way back from the Bill Ian and I stopped off again and did the Tramway too HERE where the highlight was a couple of Cuckoo. Later in the day I did Church Norton HERE and had another Cuckoo, three Wheatears and also a nice group of Knot with some summer plumage birds and plenty of Whimbrels right across the harbour. 

The Bill was quiet HERE the highlight being a flock of Sanderling on the Beach and the lightest of passage. I tried again in the late afternoon/evening with Marc, Adam, Chris and I and had a couple of Arctic Skuas (and missed a Pom by the customary 15 mins), 3 Kittiwakes, 4 Great Northern Divers and good numbers of Little Terns. 

In the late morning I checked out Medmerry and Stilt Pool on the Bike HERE. Highlights included 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed and Ringed Plover, a Wheatear and a Stonechat and good numbers of singing warblers on the banks. 

So the first day with no new year ticks. Hoping the change in weather shakes things up a bit. 

Sanderlings at the Bill

Male Garganey back on Ferry after disappearing yesterday

Adult summer Black-tailed Godwit- the only one around as far as I know

Whitethroat at Medmerry 

Small Mottled Willow. Despite the very cool night temperatures still had this, Dark Sword Grass and Rusty-dot Pearl last night so clearly a bit of insect migration going on. The forecast is for some milder nights so fingers crossed for more moth action as it's been very slow this year so far.