Sat 28th Dec 19

Jonn Hall

Approach to hide rather soggy, but nice to be back after my Christmas absence. Water very high and at first glance, lowish bird numbers but will have a proper count. Actually a lot better than I thought. 140+ Greylag C 160 Lapwings 190 + Teal couldn’t actually find a single Wigeon but I could have missed the odd one . 12 Shovelers 9  Shelduck Family of Mute Swans dropped in 2 Adults 2 Cygnets 10 Mallard on pond 8 Canada/hi-brid just arrived. No Raptors or Owls. Leaving hide at 11.07.

I had another wander to the hide late morning, c 200 Wigeon were sitting on the sea off the sluice, 3 R T Divers went N.

From the hide : c140 Greylag, 6 Canada's, 6 Mute Swans, c 500 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 11 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 100+ Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 2 Curlew (over), 1 BlkWit, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 3 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Water Rail.

On the return a single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall beside the sluice.