Another day of quiet contentment with lots of variety but small numbers of birds. The highlight of the day was a drake Garganey seen drifting on the sea past the Bill, accompanied by a lone Puffin. The Turtle Dove resumed its position at Reap Lane along with singles of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart. Overhead, Yellow Wagtails continued to move with c.30 throughout the day, including those in the fields around Barleycrates Lane. Garden Warblers and Whinchats put in a good show with the island total reaching double figures. The sea was quiet but those stalwarts who stuck it out were treated to views of seven Eiders, two Great Skuas, one Arctic Skua. Ferrybridge continued its form with 107 Dunlin and three Sanderling on the exposed shore.
The non-avian highlight of the day was a procession of Clouded Yellows heading up the West Cliffs around Blacknor.
Garden Warblers are the epitome of understated beauty © Roger Hewitt:
With almost nothing entertaining us on an evening seawatch at the Bill we took a punt on getting to Abbotsbury before dusk after news had broken of a Whiskered Tern having appeared there. The tiresome walk over the shingle from the beach car park to the tank teeth obviously put off other prospective viewers because to our surprise we had the bird to ourselves as it showed blisteringly well in the last remnants of daylight © Martin Cade:
