April has been a relatively quiet month at Hayle. In common with all British estuaries, this is not the most productive month of the year as most of our over-wintering waders and wildfowl are leaving for their breeding grounds in the arctic. However, with migration in full swing, you never know what can turn up so although our "resident" birds have now departed north, others are arriving from the south and, particularly on days with inclement weather, these stop off on the estuary to feed up. Thus we have seen small flocks of Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Common Sandpipers all passing through lately. Yesterday at Porth Kidney beach at the mouth of the estuary there were 15 Whimbrel and 2 Sandwich Terns roosting on the sands and it was a welcome sight to see so many hirundines feeding in the lee of the wind along the face of the sand dunes: 100 Swallows, 10 House and 8 Sand Martins. A Wheatear was also present here and up to four Whitethroats were present in the scrub - all newly arrived.