Unsurprisingly in the very strong North Easterly this mornings sea watch was disappointing.

07.00-08.15 with RW

Common Scoter: 11E    14W  

Great-crested Grebe: 2 present

Oystercatcher: 1E

Kittiwake: 6E      

Mediterranean Gull: 2 around

Sandwich Tern: 2E    

Common Tern: 24E

Auk sp: 2E  

Fulmar: 1W

Manx Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 14E    18W

Swallow: 4 in

Swift: 1 in

Grey Seal: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Four-spotted Chaser

After the sea watch I went to the ARC, the wind was howling across the track to Hanson but I still managed to hear the Bearded Tits. In the hide the cold wind again howled through the open flaps, the islands that are gradually being exposed held some resting Tufted Ducks and dabblers but no waders yet. The Willow Trail was less exposed allowing 100s of Damselflys to rest on the reeds and boardwalk, also several Four-spotted Chasers. Getting back to the car I received a message from DW that 2 Red Kites were over The Point heading in the general direction of Dengemarsh. I drove down the track to Dennis's Hide which gives a good all round view and quickly spotted the Kites over the Open Pits, they were circling quite high but moving towards me, one of the birds started to lose height over Burrowes and wasn't much more than roof top height as it passed over the VC and Dennis's hide, both birds then melted away to the North West.

Red Kite over Dennis Hide this morning

Greenshank on the flood behind Christmas dell this afternoon

2 Avocet dropped into the flood behind Dengemarsh Hide late afternoon

Common Sandpiper on the small island to the left of Firth. 

Burrowes held 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, 7 Ringed Plovers and 3 Grey Plovers late afternoon.