After a night that saw the wind freshen up and the passing of the first substantial drop of rain for a while there were more positives on the bird front, with waders well represented at dawn: a Curlew Sandpiper was the pick of the bunch at Ferrybridge, where 65 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, a Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper also featured; additionally, 2 Sanderling passed by off the Bill. The sea also perked up with Balearic Shearwaters returning in numbers off the Bill - around 70 seemed a likely cumulative total for the day; a Sooty Shearwater also passed by along with a steady trickle of Manx Shearwaters, whilst at least 3 Yellow-legged Gulls were knocking about amongst the offshore and loafing gull flocks.
Portland's contribution to what was seemingly a geographically pretty widespread early flurry of Curlew Sandpipers was this nice-looking single at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:
