An incredibly wet Swineham was swimming in birds. Great to see the pools holding water, although that wasn’t difficult after today’s weather! Stilt Pools was ram packed, holding, 325 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank, 5 Mute Swan and 5 Curlew. Two Cattle Egret and 4 Cetti’s Warbler along the Two Rivers Walk were welcome additions to the 140 Coot, 1 Pochard, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swan, 3 Shoveler, Mallard and Kingfisher occupying the gravel pit.

Lytchett Fields performed much the same as yesterday, with unrelenting rain, hundreds of waders and no Dowitcher to be seen! Although the Wood Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 470 Dunlin, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow and Wheatear made for some top birding. A late Osprey was also recorded over the fields late morning! Meanwhile, an early visit to Middlebere on the rising tide produced an impressive c.600 Avocet, 16 Spoonbill, 1 Spotted Redshank, 250 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 15 Lapwing, 1 Grey Plover, 30 Redshank, 3 Curlew and a Barn Owl on arrival.

Baiter early doors saw 4 Wheatear, 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone & 3 grounded Swallows. This was the theme of the day with thousands of hirundines, mostly House Martin, after a huge passage through Dorset yesterday with several sites seeing similar gatherings today due to the rain.

Black-tailed Godwit – Stilt Pools – Gary Hayman