Waders on the realignment area were 55 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper, 130 Dunlin, one Curlew Sandpiper, one Little Stint, 3 Ruffs, one Whimbrel and one Common Snipe.   Other waterbirds were 37 Mallard, 57 Teal, 4 Shelducks, 11 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 2 Cormorants and 6 Little Grebes.    Also of note were 4 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, one Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtails, one Common Redstart, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 45 Swallows.   100 Linnets and 25 Goldfinches were on the ragworts and a further 300 Linnets together with 42 Stock Doves were at the NW corner of the area.

         After closer inspection of last week's Ruddy Shelduck record, I have determined that this bird was a hybrid.   Initial head-on views at distance showed only the buff on the head, but later closer sightings revealed grey on the crown and nape that suggested that Cape Shelduck had contributed to its ancestral line.    At least this would confirm the bird's captive origins.   Whilst researching the hybridization of Shelducks, it was interesting to learn that some authorities still consider Ruddy and Cape Shelducks as conspecific.