7th June

With so far to go the arctic waders are always on the move that bit later than the passerine migrants and it was Ferrybridge that came up with both the variety and numbers again today. A Curlew Sandpiper was the pick of the bunch, but a nice back-up cast of 45 Sanderlings, 30 Ringed Plovers, 8 Dunlin, 6 Turnstone, 3 each of Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot, and 2 each of Grey Plover and Whimbrel - along with burgeoning numbers of Mediterranean Gulls - represented a nice early morning return from the sandflats; nearby off Chesil a late Red-throated Diver was also of note. The lingering Serin popped up twice today, first at the Obs and later at Sweethill, whilst odds and ends by way of late passerine migrants scattered between the Bill and Southwell included 2 each of Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, and a single Yellow Wagtail. A lone passing Arctic Skua was the best from the sea at the Bill.

A few from Ferrybridge this morning; the Curlew Sandpiper © Debby Saunders (top) and Pete Saunders (bottom)...



some of the Knots © Debby Saunders (top) and Pete Saunders (bottom two)...




...and the two Whimbrel © Pete Saunders:


And the Serin when it dropped in at Sweethill © Pete Saunders: