7th August

With no end in sight to the dry, scorching conditions it was no great surprise that today didn't come up with numbers even if it wasn't too bad on the variety front. The modest arrival of 25 apiece of Wheatear and Willow Warbler at the Bill was accompanied by a few Sedge Warblers and singles of Tree Pipit, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher, whilst overhead there was a light passage of hirundines along with the likes of 2 Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover; the wader theme also saw a small increase into a three figure total of Dunlin at Ferrybridge, singles of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit new there and 2 Turnstones and a Whimbrel through off the Bill. Mediterranean Gulls continued to make up the bulk of the moving numbers offshore with 200 through off the Bill, where 7 Balearic Shearwaters and a Yellow-legged Gull also passed by.

Two Scarce Bordered Straw and a Bordered Straw were the best of the immigrant moths at the Obs where a small arrival of 4 Crescents was also of note.

Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit looking dazzling amongst the waders at Ferrybridge today; it's so easy to take them for granted and forget the backstory that in the three months since we last saw their kind in this plumage on the sandflats at Ferrybridge they've likely been right up to the Russian Arctic tundra and back © Martin Cade:



The Southwell Barn Owls continue to perform nicely © Pete Saunders: