Given the forecast of heavy rain, only three of us turned up, and, by luck, got the
only couple of hours when it didn’t pour, and it was certainly worth it. Well over 30
species recorded in the gloom, of which the highlights were a small group of Eider,
including at least 2 male, roosting on Finger Point, 2+ Turnstone, several distant Knot,
c. 20 Sanderling, including great views of a nearby foursome of varying plumages, 1
Common Sandpiper, several Sandwich Tern and up to 5 Common Terns. The latter
were rather distant over the sea, but later perched in the Bight. A single adult
Gannet, 5 – 10 Swallow hunting along the dunes and beach, 6 Wheatear (4 on a
fence in the Bight, 2 more on the beach), and lovely views of a male Cirl Bunting
feeding two juveniles on the beach side of the dunes. Some other birders saw Scoter
and a Marsh Harrier, but we missed those.
The next walk is at Beer Head on Monday 23 September, 0930.
