A Freezing Reculver!

With a few year ticks needed to make my list look at least a little respectable I was out driving the lanes this morning at 6.30am where in a biting wind I did not manage to see or hear any Owls. I then parked up at Chambers Wall in the car park in the slowly growing light when a shape caught my eye flying low against the hedges. It was a Long eared Owl (73) and I managed to see it briefly in silhouette before it vanished, a pleasing start. After wrapping up I then decided to walk down to Coldharbour and west up to the towers before walking back behind the Oyster farm and along the embankment. On the seawall it was freezing and my face felt pretty numb throughout most of the session but a few birds were noted including 292 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 36 Redshank, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Mallard offshore, 2 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher, 5 Shelduck (74), 7 Grey Plover, 2 Red breasted Merganser (75) flew east, c250 Brent Geese, 2 Stonechat, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Common Gull  (76) were noted in with a few Great black backed, Herring and Black headed Gull. There were 3 Little Grebe, 1 Spotted Redshank (77) was in a pool in the south eastern corner of the Oyster farm, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Kestrel and a quick look at Shuart for Woodcock did not produce the target but I did note 2 Goldcrest and 1 Great Tit (78). On the way home I called in just south of Reculver and noted 1 Chris Hindle, 1 Anne Hindle, 6 Bewick's Swans, 4 Mute Swans, 9 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall (79), 3 Pochard 4 Teal and 1 Mistle Thrush.