An attempt to re-find the Caspian Tern seen yesterday briefly at Big Waters drew a blank unfortunately. Started at East Chevington where the single Roseate Tern was still in with the tern flock on the beach by the South Burn outlet. 70 Sanderling there a sign of returning waders. Little on North Pool unsurprisingly as the water level is still too high. On to Druridge Pools and a Greenshank seemingly all of note. The muck field north of Bell’s Pond between Cresswell & Druridge held a large gathering of Mediterranean Gulls with at least 30 present though undoubtedly more as hard to pick out all birds. Cresswell Pond was quiet with a Ruff, Common Sandpiper, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Little Egrets, a female Goosander and a Water Rail. No sign of the recently present Curlew Sandpiper.
Have added a pic of the Pectoral Sandpiper seen on Tuesday at Newton. It has been pointed out that this is more likely to be an adult as juveniles rarely arrive from the breeding grounds in the high Arctic this early. Looking at the photo again even though the white tramlines on mantle are very pronounced and scalloping of coverts pronounced it lacks the rufous neat scapular edging of a juvenile. Pectoral Sandpipers were thought to have bred in Scotland in 2004 & also in Svalbard in 2013 so early juveniles may be possible in the future.
Tim Dean
