Will Spring Ever Arrive?

I awoke this morning to a light dusting of snow and after getting ready at 5.45am I made my way down to Reculver where it was just below freezing. I spent 4 hours walking down to Coldharbour and then inland to Chambers Wall car park before returning the way I had came. Walking along the seawall was hard work with a biting east wind and freezing temperatures, add to this light snow showers and you can imagine the scene. Despite the conditions it ended up being another productive session with plenty of birds to see which included 4 Mallard, 15 Redshank, c200 Brent Geese, 4 Pintail including 2 drakes were flying around the Oyster farm, 7 Oystercatcher, 10 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Meadow Pipit and a steady movement of Gulls including 38 Kittiwake east, 16 Little Gulls east provided the entertainment with the camera although the results were nothing special as there was little light to be had.

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

There were also good numbers of Lesser black and Great black backed Gull moving along with plenty of Herring and lesser numbers of Black headed and Common Gulls. Whilst scanning through the Gulls I picked out 2 Sandwich Tern (119) flying east close inshore and not long after 1 Knot (120) flew the same direction. Other birds noted included 5 Turnstone, 4 Reed Bunting, 25 Cormorant, 3 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier and on reaching Coldharbour I was surprised to see 6 Avocet feeding in the pools, 8 birds being seen later on in the morning. Walking inland at least gave my face the chance to warm up and the eyes to stop watering but I could not find the hoped for Firecrest in the bushes. Walking back along the seawall with the wind behind me was almost nice and birds noted were 6 Curlew, 1 Peregrine, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Red breasted Merganser flew west and on reaching the Oyster farm I saw the first of 2 Black Redstart seen today, the other bird being a stunning male bird on the rocks below the towers. I met up with Chidders briefly where we took shelter from the wind and discussed the birding world. 1 Kestrel was seen and 1 Gannet flew east along with 2 Common Scoter. Home by 10.15am to a cup of tea and sausage sandwiches, very nice! I only hope this weather improves in the week and allows the incoming migrants to be able to find enough food to get by, otherwise this could spell bad news for them. Hopefully a visit or two in the week if the weather allows and maybe the next installment of migrants will have arrived.

Kittiwake

 Juvenile Kittiwake