Barred

A short, but excellent seawatch from Whitburn this morning. three species of Skua with 2 Pomarine, 3 Arctic and 2 Bonxie. A drake Velvet Scoter blasted north and a 2nd summer/winter Mediterranean Gull drifted south. A Green Sandpiper picked up by Paul head south over the Obs was my first from a seawatch.

After a late second breakfast it was up to Holy Island for another go at Icterine Warbler. Again no luck, an hour spent staring into a garden at the Snook failed to turn up anything. On to Half-moon Slack where a very skulky Barred Warbler saved the day. Also here were several Willow Warbler and a Redstart. Another Redstart was at Chare End, but that was it with the island over-run with tourists. Plenty of butterflies in the sun with loads of Meadow Brown, smaller numbers of Dark-green Fritillary, Common Blue, Large White, Red Admiral and Peacock. A very smart Painted Lady was only my second of the year.

Painted Lady

Called in at Shibdon on the way home where there were 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin. George had 3 Green Sandpiper and 10 Black-tailed Godwit this morning.