17:45 > 19:0
21C Sun, calm.
A longer linger around the site. The Common Redstart still remain, now on its 7th day at least.
Highlights though were groups of Arctic Terns and Northern Wheatears. Looking from the riverside back over the site towards the gravel banking at the end of central field a flash of white caught the eye. Homing in it was a Northern Wheatear and on closer look one of a pair. Close by a third bird was found. Thinking back its the first time theres been this number on site since the 'golden era' of spring last year.
Better was to follow. A group of six Terns were spotted drifting in from the west. At first I thought they must be Commons but when five of the group landed it was clear that (some at least) were not. Three were juveniles and the two on the nearside of the group that landed clearly had black descending much lower than the eyeline. The viewable older bird was a more uniformly grey and than a Common at this time of year and as far as I could see no discernable black top to the bill. The two farside birds, a further juvenile and an adult, could not be 100% ID'd but given the arrival and continued proximity to the three other birds I toook them too to be Arctic Terns. The sixth bird remained airborne for the five minutes or so that the birds were on site. It made a couple attempts at fishing and just as I was getting the news out via text, after been mobbed by a handful of Gulls (the Terns not me) it was joined by the other five all heading off easterly towards Linford along the valley.
Also on site pairs of both Little Egret and Green Sandpiper and a single lingering Sand Martin.
On leaving the Bats were already out around the farm buildings.
**I was to see Bats in three further places on my way home round the Galleon and along Trinity Road in Old Wolverton then at the top of Jersey Road in the centre of Wolverton itself. Its been a few years since I can remember seeing them in so many places.**
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