Christoph writes:
The nice weather that allowed Sayam to join our team did not last. We are back to fog and cold wind and the snow piles in the village have still not melted. But all this does not seem to deter our SbS. We encounter daily displaying pairs and singing males all over the spit and moraine hills. In total we estimate at least 7-8 pair, but possibly several more, and our search is not complete. It looks like a similar number to last year, but it is still too early to say. However the activity of the birds is promising and we look forward to a good season. These days are a fragile period of pair-bonding and nest-starting and we are all best advised to keep out of their territories for a few days before we try to look for nests!
There is ample distraction. The whales are still nearby, all sorts of ducks are still migrating while many settle in the small lakes and Pavel turns his attention to the breeding Red Knots.