Waders???

After almost a month of in activity on the patch, mainly due to laziness and chasing endemics in Sri Lanka I finally made it out again on Monday to try and climb off the bottom of the table, which has now been completed for January and looks like this:

Yellowcraig 69pts
Ely 62pts
Aberlady 59pts
Girdleness 59pts
Hopton 55pts

Having seen one Redshank and bugger all else on the wader front through January I was suprised to return to the patch and find waders everywhere (ok, maybe not everywhere but there were 11 in total). Firstly, a Ringed Plover flew past along the beach, swiftly followed by a Redshank. On the cliff top a large flock (6) of Oystercatchers was busily feeding on the poor attempt at a pitch and putt course. Two Purple Sandpipers then flew north just out at sea and finally a Turstone was on the beach briefly before flying south. A lone Fulmar was also out at sea. With 5 ticks and shit weather I almost turned and left but the rain eased and I headed for the sewage works. The usual mix of Skylarks, Jays, Green Woodpeckers, Tits was joined by a wee flock of thrushes, consisting of 4 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing and a Fieldfare. A flock of 6 Lesser Redpolls busily fed near the sewage works pond. The old railway line was very quiet but a Firecrest made a brief appearance. Finally, as I walked along the cliffs on the way home 2 Shelducks were flying south out at sea! A ten tick day!!! That leaves me on 59 species (68pts).