Even hotter!

Dense banks of rotting seaweed in small secluded bays are my hunting grounds now that waders have started moving south. This one had three fantastic summer-plumaged adult curlew sandpipers this morning.

Nipped out pre-breakfast to avoid the heat of the coming day and to have another crack at Gröthögarna. Checked Hovs Hallar first though, hoping for a rosefinch (reported last week), nothing doing though did get a reasonable view of an icterine warbler. This species is widespread and vocal here but I see very few each year somehow.

Gröthögarna was the place though with a singing quail audible from the car park on arrival, calling from the field just inland, my first in Skåne! The harbour beach had a few waders; little ringed plovers (3), dunlin (4) and common sandpiper (8). Walking up towards the headland the first bay had my hoped-for curlew sandpipers (3 splendid adults), as well as dunlin (10), greenshank (1), wood sandpiper (1) and common sandpiper (4).

Drove home for breakfast and then took the team to the beach for a swim. I wandered along the beach to Stora Hult, a few waders here with more little ringed plovers (3), dunlin (7), greenshank (1), green sandpiper (1), wood sandpiper (1) and common sandpiper (2). The first 1K Sandwich terns of the year are on the wing. Managed a short spell at Ranarpsstrand too before I picked up the team. The highlight here was a close fly-by 2K hobby, winging south down the coastline. Also here wigeon (4) and goosander (7).