Still quiet between showers.   Spent the afternoon at Quad 3.   Highlights were 14 Tufted Ducks, 26 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Shovelers, 5 Shelducks, 4 Little Grebes, 22 Redshanks, Common Snipe, 3 Common Buzzards and a Wheatear.

Not a great deal apparent in the cold wind, and visibility only moderate to poor.   3 Goldcrests, Corn Bunting, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Canada Geese, 11 Tufted Ducks and a Fulmar were the best birds

Very pleasant weather again on the dunes.   Best birds were 13 Tufted Ducks, 13 Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, 2 Teal, 4 Shelducks, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 8 Redshanks, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail and 500 Herring Gulls.

24th

12 Tufted Ducks, 20 Teal, Wigeon, 9 Little Egrets, 14 Redshanks, Corn Bunting, Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Lapwings, 3 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, Merlin and 700 Herring Gulls.

23rd

 I assume that yesterday's Red Kite was one of the two seen leaving Spurn.   Despite the good numbers inland, they are still quite noteworthy on the coast.   The best birds today were 11 Tufted Ducks, 7 Shelducks, Wigeon, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Common Partridges, 9 Curlews, Woodcock, 2 Kestrels, Common Buzzard, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Redwing and 2 Gannets.   The Gannets and Woodcock were new records for the year.

22nd

This morning at Quad 3, there were 15 Tufted Ducks, Wigeon, 4 Teal, 13 Red-throated Divers, 7 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 18 Redshanks, 12 Curlews, 2 Kestrels,   2 Grey Partridges, Wheatear and 2 Mistle Thrushes.    In the afternoon CA had Wheatear (another?), Chiffchaff, Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzards, Hen Harrier and Peregrine.

21st

This evening there were 8 Grey Herons, 13 Little Egrets and a Common Buzzard over the Warren.

 Rather quiet today.   The first Corn Bunting of the spring was singing well.   Other birds included the Water Pipit, 2 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 19 Curlews, 8 Redshanks, 25 Dunlin,  70 Sanderlings, 14 Tufted Ducks, 10 Mallard, 7 Teal, Wigeon and 5 Little Grebes.

I made a full circuit of the realignment site, but the buffeting wind was a nuisance.   Very few waders present, hence 43 Redshanks, 11 Oystercatchers, 6 Grey Plovers and 12 Curlews.   Also recorded were 8 Mallard, 33 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks, 19 Shelducks, 5 Little Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, Kestrel, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 30 Stock Doves, 19 Linnets, 10 Twite, 23 Goldfinches, 4 Rock Pipits, 8 Meadow Pipits, 11 Reed Buntings, 12 Yellowhammers and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

   There were more birds in the bushes today, but practically the bread and butter species.   Main birds were 70 Linnets, 12 Chaffinches, 5 Blackbirds, Robin, 2 Grey Partridges, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 9 Meadow Pipits, Rock Pipit, 21 Redshanks, 80 Curlews, 10 Tufted Ducks, 9 Mallard, Greylag Goose, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Coots, Little Egret, Grey Heron and 4 Cormorants.

 A lovely day again, but not much change.   Best were 8 Cormorants, Red-throated Diver, 6 Tufted Ducks, 4 Teal, 4 Little Grebes, Little Egret, Grey Heron, 2 Shelducks, 13 Redshanks, 69 Curlews, 270 Starlings, 4 Meadow Pipits, 60 Linnets and the first 2 Goldcrests.

Very pleasant at the south end this afternoon.   Best were 7 Cormorants, adult Mediterranean Gull, Red-throated Diver, 19 Brent Geese, 3rd cy male Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Lapwings, 7 Curlews, 20 Greenfinches, 60 Linnets, 5 Meadow Pipits, 4 Little Egrets, 7 Tufted Ducks, 8 Coots and 11 Redshanks.  

   Much less about today at the south end.   2 Little Egrets, 4 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Ducks, 7 Teal, 8 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 85 Curlews, 500 Dunlin, 30 Sanderlings, 32 Grey Plovers and 250 Knot.

4th March

Considering how uneventful it has been at the south end lately, I thought I would try a change and do the full circuit of the realignment area.   With a nice light SSW wind and no-one around, I had a most enjoyable morning and early afternoon.   On the shore side mainly between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were 300 Knot, 110 Redshanks, 60 Curlews, 118 Oystercatchers, 120 Sanderlings, 670 Dunlin, 7 Grey Plovers, 470 Brent Geese, one pale-bellied Brent Goose, 16 Shelducks, Cormorant, 6 Little Egrets, Grey Heron and 4 Rock Pipits.   The realignment area itself is already holding a fair amount of rainwater and of particular relevance along the new bank were 70 Goldfinches, 65 Reed Buntings and 55 Yellowhammers.   These last counts are absolute minima as birds were darting back and forth along fences and bushes and probably were even more numerous.   Also in this area were 60 Stock Doves, 29 Mallard, 3 Tufted Ducks, 140 Teal, Wigeon, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Coots, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Ruff, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Partridges, male Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and a Short-eared Owl.