Another day out with Ian Smith started at the Gann where the star of the show was the long staying Osprey. It spent some time perched, preening as shown in Brian's photo in the post below then for nearly an hour put on a great show as it fished along the river towards Mullock Bridge and then over the pools with a couple of breaks perched back on the pines the other side of the river. There were several dives down to the water but no fish taken. Excellent views of an obliging bird seemingly at ease with people nearby.
Otherwise there were 50 or so Curlew which flew into their roost only to be put up by the Osprey and, on the pools, again disturbed by the Osprey, 14 Redshank, 5 Greenshank and 4 Dunlin. Also 6 Little Egrets. On the beach 4 Turnstone, 14 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover. A Peregrine flew past some way off.
Onto Dale which was very, very quiet - just 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits and a Red Kite. Most interesting was this Manx Shearwater skull forming a pellet coughed up, presumably, by a GBB Gull.
Last stop of the day was a very busy Deer Park. 2 Chough a Raven and a Wheatear the only birds of note were eclipsed by a total of 22 Grey Seal Pups on the beaches with 8 or more adults close into the shore.