Although we're well aware that spring's far from over there was nonetheless quite a feel of the summer doldrums about today's very uneventful proceedings that played out under a blazing sun and in just a waft of an easterly breeze. A Cuckoo at Southwell and a Whinchat at Barleycrates Lane provided just about the only interest around the south of the island, where new arrivals on the ground could otherwise just about be counted on the fingers of one hand; waders fared a little better, with 20 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Whimbrel at Ferrybridge. A trickle on the sea included 43 commic terns, 42 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver and a Bar-tailed Godwit through off the Bill and 34 Arctic Terns through over Chesil.
Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel - Ferrybridge, 18th May 2014 © Pete Saunders
...and the Bar-tailed Godwit in action: