Terns and Gulls at Salford Priors

Salford Priors reference map

Pophills wader scrape

Two Little Egret on Oystercatcher Island

The site continues to attract good numbers of both Common & Green Sandpipers

Pophills early on Sunday morning

Old Workings Lagoon

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Main Pit in evening light

The time spent at the gravel pits this year has really reaped dividends in terms of species count and enjoyment. With four of us now visiting site regularly we are benefiting from more coverage. This was highlighted last weekend where we shared each others finds to see some great birds.

Friday afternoon started the flow when Mike had seen eight Common Terns land briefly before heading south. Thankfully I got on site before the final bird left to record another point in the Patchwork Challenge.

Saturday's treat was a male adult Peregrine hunting the main pit for breakfast and taking passing swipes at the Coot as it was frustrated to miss out on a Common Sandpiper.

The drake eclipse Garganey was present up to and including Sunday, a stay of 16 days. A great record for the site. Sunday sightings included a Hobby, six Common Sandpiper, 11 Green Sandpiper, calling Redstart, Turtle Dove, Stock Dove, five returning Teal and Sand Martins passing through.

An after work visit on Monday produced my first Gravel Pit Mediterranean Gull on the wader scrape among the Black-headed Gulls. The bird was juvenile and is a 2 point bird on the patch challenge. The following night I met up with Paul in the hope of a repeat appearance but we had to settle of a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and some superb views of one of the Little Egret.