Another winters day

A very cold cloudy day with the sun not appearing until around 18.30. First stop this morning was the Willow Trail, 100+ Swifts fighting the strong north easterly over approach track and trail, a few Reed warblers were still singing but most birds were keeping in cover in the horrible wind. I only opened the hatch at Hanson for a few seconds as the wind blasted in.
The track to the pines was much the same, though duck numbers appear to building up. In the screen hide a pair of Swallows appear to nest building, so please be careful if you in there if the hide has not already been closed.
Dengemarsh Gully was an avian free zone. On Dengemarsh the Common Terns still on there rafts but no Hobby's.
A message from CT had me going to the Midrips where the cold North Easterly blasted across the bank and me wishing I had worn my gloves as well as the 2 fleeces I had on. On the second pool complex a summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was on show with a Knot, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 40+ Redshanks, 16+ Ringed Plovers, 12 Avocet, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 + Wheatears and at least 40 Shelduck.
This evening a trip down Galloways found 2 Stonechats, 6 Meadow Pipits and a Red-legged Partridge.