This mornings due south winds offered little expectation of migrants and this was the case with just a handful of birds ringed in Essex farm. However, late afternoon good numbers of Swallows appeared over Longis Common and subsequently 23 were caught on Longis Reserve bringing todays new birds ringed total to 30. Other species ringed were Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and Goldfinch.
I spent the day guiding for Naturetrek and passerines were thin on the ground bar Robins which were present at several locations. We had good day, seeing Water Rail and Teal on Longis Reserve along with 2 smart Whinchats and 4 Stonechats. At Bray Bay there were 5 Sandwich Terns, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Little Egrets, 18 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel. At the high tide wader roost near Fort Clonque were 51 Curlews, 1 Whimbrel, 300+OystercatcherS and a Peregrine over. In Longis Bay 6 Little Egrets at high tide. At Platte Saline 4 White Wagtails, 1 Cormorant and a Common Sandpiper, and finally a Cormornat and a Turnstone behind Mannez Lighthouse.