Broom takes the biscuit with bird after bird being found - excitement all day in NE winds and rain

The day started with 3 full breeding-plumaged BLACK-NECKED GREBES on the Pillinge Pit at Marston Vale Millenium Park. They performed well all day (JG, LGRE, MJP, LC, BC, BN, et al).

Then Mark Thomas started a day-long vigil at Peacock's Lake, Broom, with Matt Burgess for company for most of the morning. BAR-TAILED GODWITS were moving with firstly 11 east, followed by 26 NE, before the first of 2 GREY PLOVERS came through. The second proved more obliging and stayed long enough in the adjacent soil field to the west to allow LGRE, BC, LC, MJP, JG, Mark Ward and SCB to connect. A drake and two female GREATER SCAUP dropped in late afternoon, followed by a WHIMBREL briefly.

At around lunchtime, Richard Bashford found an adult KITTIWAKE on floodmeadows at Begwary Brook, Wyboston, but it had already gone 10 minutes later when LGRE visited. A cracking summer-plumaged BAR-TAILED GODWIT made up for it, showing very well on Derek White's (JG et al). Five ARCTIC TERNS were also there (LGRE).

Meanwhile, at Gypsy Lane East Pits, Broom, 5 DUNLIN there were followed by 5 GREY PLOVERS and a flock of 32 BAR-TAILED GODWITS (MJP) with BLACK TERNS at Cainhoe (Peter Soper) and Brogborough (Neil Wright), with the first-summer LITTLE GULL still at the latter site (MJP, NW).

Late on, a female WHINCHAT was by the middle track at Blows Downs (Rob Dazley, LC, BC, LGRE)