Dropping down the track from Gupton to Starman's Hall, 520 golden plover, 300 lapwing and 70 curlew in field S of Starman's Hall. An hour later I saw over 1000 golden plover flying east very high, at around 1000 feet, in V's and wavy lines - half of the original 500 were still on the ground when I walked back, so at least 1200 goldies in all.
Excellent if brief views of the marsh harrier in flight. She spent an hour half-hidden in a blackthorn bush in the middle of the reedbed preening. Sadly no wildfowl at all, as someone has unblocked the outfall and all the water has drained away. The usual Cetti's and water rails, lots of snipe flying about in small parties.
A couple of days ago, 2 female merlins - one was sitting on a big bale by the roadside just outside Castlemartin before flying onto the range, the other down near the hide.
