As a dedicated follower of the weather forecasts, I took the opportunity to visit various sites on the peninsula on the first, and possibly only, sunny day for a while, but only managed Dale airfield, the Gann and Marloes Mere.
Winter migrants were noticeable by their absence with only single pairs of Teal and Tufted Duck and singles of female Wigeon and male Gadwall. There was no sign or the Goldeneye or Garganey. A pair of Mute Swans were swimming around together and obviously not nesting, but two Canada Geese were at the opposite ends of the mere and may have had partners on nests and there were plenty of male Shovelers visible, but I think I only saw one female. Two pairs of Coots both had two chicks. A Curlew called from the marsh, but was not seen. A Fox approached from the west heading towards the mere, probably disappointed by the high water levels - I have seen foxes there before and they patrol around the edge of the mere, but do not like getting their feet wet.
There was a late influx of dozens of Swallows and Sand Martins, but no House Martins. A Hen Harrier had been reported to NT staff in the morning, but it was not around in the afternoon. There were a handful of Whimbrel at the airfield, another eight at the Gann and a visitor reported a couple at Martin's Haven, but none at the mere.
Around the mere Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings were singing and showing well, Skylarks were singing everywhere, but Chiffchaffs were less evident and I do not think I heard a Willow Warbler all day. A very vocal Whitethroat was near the Hookses at the airfield and showing well in the sun:
The Gann was very quiet with only the Whimbrel on the beach and about 40 Oystercatchers on the islands in the lagoon. The feeble falling tide did not seem to attract anything in to feed and the gull roost of about 100 birds was very settled. It contained a single Common Gull along with Herring and Lesser Black-backeds. The apparently resident Cetti's Warbler called out from the scrub as I returned to the car.
The highlight of the day was a Little Ringed Plover that conveniently allowed comparison with a nearby Common Ringed Plover, showing many of the distinctive differences given in the books, and flew away slowly enough for me to take a decent picture for a change:
