A visit between 15.30 and 17.30 Monday afternoon. The reserve initially seemed totally devoid of birds and people. 1 juv. Ruff on reedbeds, c100 Goldfinches, 5 Yellow Wagtails. From the sea bank: 1 Whimbrel flying over saltmarsh 1 adult Shag (dumpy, all black apart from yellow gape) flew past and landed in large pool inland of seawall. After diving once, it flew off East. Pool in wet grassland close to seawall: 1 juv L R Plover 1 juv Ringed Plover 2 Little Stint 4 Dunlin All together and giving excellent comparative views In ditch in wet grassland: 1 Garganey (pale spot on lores, pale stripe above eye and less distinct mark below eye. longer beak than teal - c200 of which were on the reserve. Finally 5 Greenshank flew in and landed briefly on the freshwater marsh.
Hugh Dorrington
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