Crests!

 Goldcrest with injured eye

Several Goldcrests and a Firecrest in the old lighthouse garden first this morning, with a few Goldcrests in the Station Gorse and West Beach, also a few Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches and Chaffinches over head.

A walk around the trapping area/Desert with AJG and JTM, saw of note a Ring Ouzel, more Goldcrests, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Brambling, Great and Green Woodpeckers and a Common Darter.

Fortunately the other eye is good

Common Darter in the trapping area

DW saw a Snow Bunting on the beach at The Point which flew off west. I walked along the beach from the sea watch hide to the Diamond and back in the hope of relocating the Bunting, needless to say I failed to find it or to see anything much of note apart from a late Small Tortoiseshell.

An early afternoon visit to the ARC from Hanson where the islands are quickly becoming submerged, saw 12 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwing among the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail and Wigeon. In the Willow Trail more Goldcrests, another Firecrest and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Still at least 6 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall and Great White Egrets scattered around the reserve.

Mid afternoon till dusk in Makepiece Hide watching the Gulls come onto roost was disappointing, as only a small number came in. Just 2 1w Caspian Gulls and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls came in.