A fair day all round: passerine migrants might have fallen just about as far short of Nanjizal numbers as was possible but at least a tiny handful deigned to drop in, waders continued to increase in numbers and variety, whilst the sea saw the strongest movement of
Gannets of the year. Passerine arrivals included the autumn's first
Grasshopper Warbler, 5
Willow Warblers and 2
Wheatears on the ground and 83
Sand Martins through overhead, whilst waders included 65
Dunlin, 32
Ringed Plovers 5
Sanderling, 2
Turnstones and singles of
Little Ringed Plover,
Grey Plover,
Curlew,
Whimbrel and
Redshank at Ferrybridge and 2
Whimbrel, a
Ringed Plover and a
Dunlin at the Bill. After yesterday's poor showing the sea was the day's surprise package, with 400
Gannets (in three hours - with plenty more unquantified movement later on), 55
Common Scoter, 30
commic terns, 5
Balearic Shearwaters, 2
Arctic Skuas, 2
Yellow-legged Gulls, a
Manx Shearwater and a
Great Skua through or loitering off the Bill.
Sadly, less of a familiar sight these days than they used to be a few decades ago when falls of well into three figures weren't at all unusual in late July, it was still nice to see a few young Willow Warblers today © Martin Cade:
The first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn from the Crown Estate Field nets this mrng - slightly oddly, a worn adult and not a sparkling fresh youngster
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 24, 2024 at 7:00
The Ferrybridge wader selection included singles of Little Ringed and Grey Plovers © Martin Cade:
