WWT Slimbridge sightings 14 May 2007

14 May 2007 From Holden Tower/Dumbles edge/Middle Point still 550 Dunlin, breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint, 2 Turnstone, 40 Ringed Plover and 10+ Sanderling. A Little Tern fed along the tideline and 3 Common Tern were also seen. The Great Skua was around the estuary and 2 dark phase Arctic Skua headed North between 0843-0846 past Middle Point, they were struggling into the headwind. A passage of LesserBlack-backed Gull was visible with a few Great Black-backed and Herring also. At 1350 two small, black mantled Lesser-B-B Gulls were resting on the sands, although distant they were the same tone if not darker than the G.B.B.Gulls present but the Bonxie flushed them off and they went downriver. It is possible that they were Baltic Gulls as they did also look short-legged and long winged. A real surprise was a pair of Wheatear at Middle Point, only the second record this May proving what a poor month for some passerines it has been.