16/02/2022

A very uninspiring sea watch this morning, visibility was down to c600mts in the drizzle and salt spume being blown by 50MPH wind.

08.00-09.30 from the hide joined by RW

Common Scoter: 3E.  2W

Red-throated Diver: 31W     

Great-crested Grebe:  1W    1 on

Fulmar: 10W      1E

Gannet: 15W      20E     

Cormorant: Present n/c

Kittiwake: 3W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: 35W

Herring Gull: present n/c 

Guillemot: 434W 

Razorbill: 4W

Auk sp: 32W      

Harbour Porpoise: 3

After the sea watch I decided to wander down to The Patch, as the reserve would be a complete waste of time in todays weather with no hides apart from Dennis's. On arrival there was only a few Gulls over a non existent boil and a few in the roost which was not surprising as high tide was approaching. I sat it out for an hour with a steady trickle of west bound Guillemots and Red-throated Divers noted, I couldn't see the Iceland Gull but once again I wasn't that surprised considering the weather. As I stared out to sea a 1w Caspian Gull came along almost in touching distance, by the time I grabbed the camera it was almost gone.

At the fishing boats the wintering Polish ringed Black-headed Gull TJVV immediately came to some bread but nothing else of note. 

On the way back home for lunch I stopped on the causeway spotting the Smew in among the Tufted Duck and Pochard, just had time for a couple of quick snaps before the boys in blue arrived.

Another sea watch with RW this afternoon was abysmal in the deteriorating weather.

The 2w Iceland Gull at The Patch yesterday

The 5 Whooper Swans at Baynham Farm yesterday, but no sign of them today per PT 

One of the 4 Cattle Egrets that appear to be wintering at Cockles Bridge