The WEBS count at Quad 3 at the south end saw an alarming near lack of waders on the shore. This was compensated by the good numbers of birds seen on the sea in flat calm conditions, and like Cliff Morrison undertaking a count south of here at Saltfleet, I was well pleased with the counts and variety of birds. There were two large rafts of Common Scoters totalling 1,800 birds well out from the shore which would not have been visible in a moderate swell. Also seen were 13 Brent Geese, 7 Teal, 3 Eiders, 12 Wigeon, 3 Mallard, 34 Cormorants, one Shag, 7 Red-throated Divers, 8 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 16 Little Gulls, 5 Gannets, one Great Skua, one Great Crested Grebe and one Red-necked Grebe.
On the dunes, a few more migrants were in evidence, hence 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 35 Blackbirds, 6 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 15 Robins, 20 Goldcrests, 7 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler (trapped and ringed), Blackcap, 20 Lesser Redpolls, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Peregrine.
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